Monday, August 4, 2025
Lilies
Friday, August 1, 2025
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Windows
Reading Barb's post today about leaving car windows opens brought back some memories or....
WHY I ALWAYS CLOSE CAR WINDOWS
Many, many years ago I had one of the last VW Squarebacks sold in the USA. Loved that car, AKA The Little Red Schoolbus. The window opening went across the top and down the side, very nice when you wanted just a bit of air and a breeze. One day left window cracked, went inside, thought no more about it until following morning when then husband came in and asked, "Why did you leave your lights on overnight?" Me, "Lights on? I didn't leave the lights on I came home from picking Proge up. It was afternoon, it's summer and sunny. Why would I have lights on?." We go out to jump car. Little hand and footprints on car, BY THE WINDOW! Our little raccoon buddies had been visiting. Immediately pictured raccoon perched on car, reaching in with one arm and playing with knobs and handles and very handy lights. Even turned lights to high.
So a salutary lesson was learned🤭
Thanks, Barb, for the memory!
Stay strong, and as always, thanks for stopping by.................*s*
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Sonnet #33
I started the morning with a reading of Sonnet #33 by the Bard himself. It somehow feels appropriate for our times.
I read the sonnets in no particular order, but simply open my book randomly. It seldom disappoints.
As always, stay strong, and thanks for stopping by.........*s*
Thursday, July 3, 2025
it’s Always Sumthin’
Monday, June 23, 2025
Aloe Time
I blame my success on benign neglect. They get sun and minimal amounts of water over the winter. This also seems to encourage flowering which is strange and wonderful. Only began happening a few years ago.
Yes, we are having hot weather, but really it's in the 80ºF. with lots of humidity. I stay outside on the deck under my umbrella, with iced tea, and a fan. Actually got a heat advisory warning from the local police saying to say hydrated etc and listing cooling places.
Mostly I want to say, "Use the wits you were born with. Stay out of the direct sun, wear sun block, hat and sunglasses.
Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noon day sun. Noel Coward
As always, take care and thanks for stopping by..............*s*
Saturday, June 21, 2025
It's SuMMER!
Life is progressing slowly. After too many years of neglect it's wonderful and amazing to be able to go out and putter around pain free.
Lots of heat expected in our area although local weather says 80ºF-ish. That's entirely bearable in my book. I do have to resew a couple of rib pockets on the deck umbrella. We had wind yesterday. One heavy gust blew the umbrella off the deck and into the back yard. Fortunately except for a couple of torn pockets everything is still in good working order.
I remember when I started potting, low these many years ago, I had my first very heavy (motorized) kick wheel set up out under the trees. It was a lovely shady outdoor studio. Occasionally I would fire up the generator if I was working on a large piece but mosly I used it as a kick wheel and enjoyed the quiet of the woods. At that point we lived completely off grid, used the generator at night. I do enjoy living with power, but if I still had my back house I would seriously be going solar and off grid.
Happy memories.
As always, stay safe and thanks for stopping by.............*s*
Monday, June 9, 2025
RANT!!! OR......How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall?
This is inspired by recent posts on various FB groups by potters who insist they have no artistic talent. When I was managing an art store it was an almost daily occurrence that (usually) women would come in and rave about genius, talented grands, then say they themselves had no artistic talent. When asked why they felt that way the answer was usually that some adult, often a teacher, had told them they had no talent when they were in second or third grade. EXCUSE ME!!!???
I think of my mis-quote of Thomas Edison....Art is 5%inspiration and 95% perspiration.
The way to develop artistic ability is to work at it the same way you work at developing any talent. Work at it! That means keeping a blank book near by and making marks whenever you can. No computer drawing programs! There is a connection in the brain between eyes and hands that is re-enforced when actually putting pencil to paper. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is another way to start.
Developing any talent takes many exercises. Pablo Casals said when asked why he practiced at ninety said, "Because I think I'm making progress."
Learn to see what you are looking at. Look at a leaf. Draw what you see, not what you think is a leaf. Hold it. Feel the shape, the texture, the veins. Start to draw what you see. First attempts may be off, but keep doing. Little steps. How does a line define a space? How does the light affect the object. How does placement influence how we view an object?
Take a mug or cup you use often. Place it on the table or space where you normally use it. Now place it in a white, open cube or on a riser or box, preferably white, with a blank wall behind it. How does the location and space around this common object affect how you view it
Not everyone will be a Durer, or Rembrandt, or Matisse. But everyone can learn to create and enjoy the process.
Yes, developing an ability is work. You don't become a master potter, glassblower, weaver etc. over night. Why on earth would you expect to be proficient at art the first time you set pencil to paper?
This may be subject to more ranting! I hate seeing people selling themselves short!
As always, stay well, and thanks for stopping by...........*s*
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Happiness is a Teapot
Now that I am able to post photos I am off to take more......poppies, fish it goes on.
As always, stay well, and thanks for stopping by.............*s*
Friday, June 6, 2025
Restart
WELL! Had my annual physical yesterday and man did I screw up. I knew that my abandoned eating since Christmas would be problematic, but no to the tune of sending my A1C up to 7.5. Sooooo...it's back to counting carbs and watching what I eat....such fun!!!
On the other hand my eyes are doing fine. My right eye which has the retinal tear looks like it needs surgery, but according to my doc in this case looks are deceiving. I am seeing very well, as long as I continue to do so, no surgery. He is mystified as to why this is so, as am I.
Everything else appears to be under control, my white blood count is looking very good. I do need to schedule a mammogram and a f/u colonoscopy.
I think being 82 takes up too much time being preoccupied with health.
Think I'll go work on my latest teapot, which for some reason I cannot post a photo of.
Stay safe and dare I say healthy? As always, thanks for stopping by..........*s*
Monday, May 12, 2025
GRRRRRR!!!
I have been sulking because for some arcane reason blogger is no longer allowing me access to my photos. Yes, I know many post without pictures, but I don't......didn't.
Had my 82nd birthday last month. It rained. Still wondering how the f....I got to be 82. I don't think I am much wiser with age. But I am enjoying making some new pots.
For the first time in a few years I have been enjoying spring, now that it is finally here! I am in the process of moving from my upstairs winter space to my real studio downstairs. Also planting and planting new stuff. Trying to be a bit more sensible and get pots and planters ready before I go nuts buying plants. Key word here is 'try'.
Proge rigged up a pulley from the deck so we don't have to go out to what was the laundry area to hang clothes. The dryer has gone the way of all flesh, but with warm weather we are hanging clothes out anyway, so a new (used?) one is one the back burner.
Today I am starting on opening the pool. It's kind of a mess as it was never opened last year, due to my hip.
Getting a hip replacement was one of the smartest things I have ever done. I just have to remember to exercise regularly. Since I stopped dancing back in the dark ages exercise has never been a strong point with me.
As always, stay well and thanks for stopping by..............*s*
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Well That Was Fun!
Lost our electricity yesterday with no warning and no apparent reason, until we heard the sirens going by. There was an accident down at the foot of the hill. Fortunately no ambulances to I assumed no one was injured. I think a telephone pole may have been taken down. We had to go out for some propane tanks and could see many truck and police cars if we looked the other way. It must have been a doozy as we were without power for about ten hours. Got out the inverter and the gas burner so we could have light and cook supper. Power came on around eight-ish, sans internet. That finally was restored at 12:00 PM, today.
One of the disadvantages to living in an all electric house is that when power goes we are up a certain creek. Power inverter and gas burner are always on hand. Unfortunately it was also raining so cooking outside was a large no.
We seem to be in for a bout of chilly gray weather with intermittent showers. But the daffodils are blooming and the crocuses are trying to come up. I need to clear their bed.
Since I am now able to get around easily I am just a wee bit impatient.
As always,..............thanks for stopping by........*s*
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Spring
HAPPY IMBOLC
Although the springiest day was yesterday. The first daffodils bloomed, the sun was bright and warm, birds were chirping away. We even lit up the grill for the first time since Christmas.
Chillier and gray today, but it feels like we turned the corner on winter. I say this advisedly as it is not unknown to have sudden snowstorms on Easter.
I am ignoring large portions of the world as a means of survival.
We'll see, grasshopper.............we'll see.........
Thanks for stopping by..................*s*
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Hares and Rabbits
WOW! Not sure where February went but glad to welcome March and longer, (toes crossed) warmer days.
When I was still working with my developmentally delayed students, pot hangers were always a favorite project. Considering that I retired fifteen years ago these have been around for a while. Standing bun is from a different series.
Whistles and 'whisky' sippers are my go-toos when I haven't been working for a while, or am just feeling at a blah standstill.
This winter has been a bit easier than the last few. I think due to several things. ! started preparing in mid September, got sunroom set up, set up SAD lamp, started St. John's Wort. But I think the biggest thing is being pain free for the first time in years. THR (hip replacement) was one of the smartest things I have ever done. Fear held me back from doing it much earlier......dumb move, grasshopper...
As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by..............*s*
Friday, February 14, 2025
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Friday, February 7, 2025
Twenty in Twenty


Friday, January 31, 2025
Blue Skies
@suzicaswell.bksy.social......if anyone is interested.
Stay safe, and as always, thanks for stopping by................*s*
Monday, January 20, 2025
Sunday, January 5, 2025
Twelfth Tide
Old Christmas is past
Twelfth tide is the last
As we bid you adieu
Great health in the New.
As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by.............*s*
Friday, January 3, 2025
Turtle
Well! I made it through another year. Biggest thing was the hip replacement. My only regret is that I waited so long to do it.