Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Spring and Pollen and Pots!

I've started glazing the bottom of Tyrian Turtle.  He will have three coats of Spectrum #799 Majolica White.  When I am working on a piece I find it easiest to complete one area before doing the other.  The glaze looks gray because I like to add some black ink to the second coat.  This simple trick makes it really easy to see where I have missed glazing.  Once I am finished I will paint a layer of wax over it to keep it fresh and unsmeared.

I do have a plan for the whole turtle, so it's not a case of doing one surface and then doing something  completely different on the upper shell.  When I am painting I like to work over the entire surface at once.  It keeps the design consistent.

Upside down the cracks become evident. I think I was putting it together with everything being at different stages in drying.  Consistency is crucial when handbuilding large work.  


We had our first Luna Moth of the year show up on a pollen filled screen last night.  Summer is definitely on its way!


The pollen has been thick and yellow this year.  The winter went on for so long that everything is blooming at once.  At least we did not have a freeze after the blueberries flowered.  We may end up with a good crop!

 More plants are starting to bloom.  We took the net off the pond at just the right time.  Unfortunately the pond pump needs some work so we just have the little one going.
 
Below is the beginning of the yellow flag season.  We cut them back severely last year which seems to be keeping them in check, although nothing will keep them completely in check.


 I've also planted a canna lily by the pond.  It will have to be taken up in the fall....if I remember!


Since Aloysius did his last running away and exploration stunt we have been taking him for walks in the garden every day. Here he is among the alpine strawberries and bloomed out violets.

 He's been wearing Winter's harness at its smallest settings.  Since he loves the walks so much we are going to get him one of his own.


Now to get a new pool liner and get it up and running so he can do some swimming and we will be well on our way to SUMMER!

As always, thanks for stopping by...............*s*

19 comments:

  1. I can't wait to see the turtle, good tip about the ink in the glaze to see, what kind of ink do you use? your pond looks so inviting; that canna is a beautiful color more peach than the usual orange ones I see, will it make it overwinter? I've heard alpine strawberries are wonderful I tried them when I lived by Mt. Lassen but never got them to take; I do love luna moths; I've only seen one and that was in Arkansas - here is a link to a plate I made years ago I need to make another with underglazes now that I know about them - http://bluestarrgallery.blogspot.com/2008/04/luna-moth-long-leaf-plate.html

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    1. Hi Linda....I add any ink or food coloring I have on hand. It all burns out.
      I bought the canna because I like the color. It will have to be taken up and stored like dahlias over the winter.
      I have grown alpine strawberries from seed at my back house. I bought these plants and put them in about two years ago. Once they take they are pretty hardy.
      We get a lot of luna moths in warm weather, but that is fairly recent; they used to be few and far between.

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  2. Luna Moth!!! I love them but have never seen one down here that wasn't deceased. Aloysius looks quite smart in his harness!

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    1. Hi Claudia....Luna moths were rare up here until a few years ago.

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  3. He wants to go swimming? Gracious, what an adventuresome cat!

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    1. Hi Barb....No Aloysius doesn't go swimming, but he did try to walk on the net covering the pond!

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  4. Dearest Suzi,
    There is always something when you own a home, a garden and a pond... Husband Pieter too had to work on the pump for watering and we bought a new big one and he managed to repair one big one. We need desperate more rain, only got one shower last night.
    Your turtle will look spectacular no doubt when done entirely as you plan to.
    Love the cat leash, that's how our first Spooky loved to walk with me!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Hi Mariette.....Home upkeep never stops, does it? We have had dry weather since the snow melted. Fortunately the water table is still high.

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  5. I just LOVE the pondside yellow iris out now!

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    1. Hi Gary....I love yellow flowers in the spring. I think because it's a color that is non existent in the winter landscape!

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  6. How fun that you're walking your cat with a harness. By the way, she's a cutie.

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    1. Hi Vanessa...Thanks. BTW Aloysius is a he. Hard to tell from a picture!

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  7. Great idea adding the ink to the glaze.

    You’re garden looks beautiful, enjoy the nice weather.

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  8. Hi Lori.....Thanks. The garden is coming slowly but surely!

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  9. I will be so glad when the pollen is gone. It's almost over here. You can't sit on anything outside with out wiping off the thick, yellow layer.
    Aloysius looks so cute in his harness. A safe way for him to explore the great outdoors.

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  10. Hi Michele....I have to wash the windshield before I can see to go out the driveway! It's the one drawback to spring!

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  11. Do you want me to send you some of the squash and black bean seeds ? if so email me with your address again and I'll send some

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    1. Hi Linda...Thank you; that is so sweet of you! I would love some seeds. Not too many because we have to grow in baskets or in spots where Woodrow can't get to them. I'l send an email with info.

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  12. six seeds each should be enough to be sure they germinate, the black beans take longer than the candy roaster squash. the squash needs quite a bit of space. If I thought they'd make it I'd send you two plants of each via the mail already germinated, but not sure how to pack them. I know mail order nurseries do that. Hum, let me know your address as I had it somewhere but with moving and all who knows.

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