Wordless Wednesday

 

My First Octopus

 From the way the various birds and bees have been acting I think they are looking for water.  Rooting around among my artifacts I found this bird bath/platter what have you.  I am pretty sure it's one of the first thing I made after switching from a high talc, low fire white to terra cotta, which would take me back to 1990.  Have no idea of the glaze, I was trying various studio glazes and still learning to mix Mason stains. In the 'flesh' it's obviously over fired., but still usable. 

 I know the clay was the old Miller #25 terra cotta with 10% frit 3124 added.  This clay body wears like iron.  It's no longer available.  I don't think Miller even exists these days. I am trying a body from tuckers which also has frit but haven't had a chance to fire it yet.  

We haven't had a lot of rain in the last few weeks which is pretty normal for this time of year.  It looks like hurricane Erin will be too far off shore to bring us any rain.  The tides however are dangerous.  Toes crossed that people have the sense to stay away from the shore........probably a vain hope.

Stay strong and as always, thanks for stopping by..............*s*

Late Afternoon Tea...Day 7

Doesn't feel like a week has passed. Toes crossed everyone has been enjoying tea none way or amother

This may be the teapot that inspired my love of tea, making teapots, and majolica.  The handle got broken several years ago.  I have the pieces so I will mend it at some point.  

Thus was my Nanu's teapot which supposedly she and Gramp bought on their European honeymoon.  I have my doubts as it says 'Made in Italy' on the bottom.  Perhaps purchased at some sort of import shop?  I will never know.  The glazes probably are leaded so it hasn't been used in many many years.

I remember as a child being fascinated with the decorations.  Now I am thinking about making a replica.

We'll see, grasshopper, we'll see..............

Stay strong, and as always, thanks for stopping by.
 

Afternoon Tea....Day Six

 One of the very first teapots I ever made waaaaaaay back when.  It's high fire, so it was before I switched exclusively to low-fire.  I would say ca.1988 when I had only been potting for a few years.  I think I painted an Albany Glaze on and rubbed it off. The interior is lined with it.

I've been having a lot of fun unearthing old teapots.  Perhaps I will go on looking for hidden and forgotten pots.

We'll see, grasshopper, we'll se...............

Stay strong and as always, thinks for stopping by........*s*

Afternoon Tea...Day Five

I bought this teapot many years ago at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen summer festival at Mt. Sunappe, New Hampshire.   Unfortunately I lost the maker's card.  It's porcelain with this very pretty glaze.  Holds about three generous cups and pours very nicely. The opening is big enough to accommodate one of my brewing baskets. 

 I always drink loose tea.  Since I started using the baskets it has made clean-up whole lot easier.  At one point I thought I was giving in to modern laziness.  I have since found many antique pots with brewing baskets made to go with the teapots.  

Stay strong and as always, thanks for stopping by.............*s*

Afternoon Tea....Day Three

Another so-called 'one hour teapot'.  Made this a very long time ago.  Unfortunately I don't remember the glazes, but the are most likely Spectrum.  It's been sitting on shelf, not sure why.  I like the handle and lid.  It holds about three generous cups and pours very nicely.

 I find it very interesting that I rarely have a spout go wrong.  I just wish I could figure out what I am doing right!🤭

I really should try for a better picture.

Stay strong and as always, thanks for stopping by......*s*

Afternoon Tea....Day Two....and.........

International Elephant Day.  This little teapot and cup by Gary Rith feels particularly appropriate!

 I love the way cup and pot fit together, to say nothing of the jolly little elephant.

It's a perfect 'tea-for-me' size, which will be enjoyed on my deck this afternoon.

Stay strong, and as always, thanks for stopping by.............*s*

Afternoon Tea Day One

 National Afternoon tea week is August 11-17 this year.  I am going to try to post a teapot for each day.  Operative word is *try*.  May be pots I have made, in the process of making, or by other otters that I like. 

This is a little two-three cup pot I handbuilt over a form I made.  The process was originally posted on the Ceramics Monthly site..  I think it was called a one hour teapot.  But....me being me I probably spent several hours on it.  And then there is the decorating and my first time panting. grapes. 

I made this many years ago long before Covid and my various, myriad health problems began interfering with life.  It still sits on my unfired shelf.  Perhaps when the weather cools and I get the kiln room sorted I will actually manage to do a firing.

We'll see, grasshopper............we'll see..........

Stay strong, and as always, thanks for stopping by.........*s*

OOPS!

 Not really the way to celebrate a one year anniversary. 

 Thursday, August 7 was the one year anniversary of my hip replacement.  This is one of the smartest things I have ever done.  I am only sorry that I waited almost two years to get it done.  Fear and anxiety are not good friends.

I can still be vey bad at judging seating heights.  Went to sit on a toilet, forgot it was not the high riser I am used too.  OOPS!  BOOM!  No harm done, but it was a surprise.  As my sweet P. used to say, "Presence of mind, Suzi, presence of mind."

I hate that we are more than halfway through the summer, but as I have said many times in many places toes are crossed for one of our long, warm autumns.

Meanwhile I deal with the pool which is developing a myriad of problems.  

It's always sumthin !

Stay strong, and as always, thank for stopping by................*s*

Wordless Wednesday

 Stay strong, and tanks for stopping by...............*s*

Mixing

A few months ago I managed to absolutely destroy my wonderful little Bosch mixer.  I used the blender attachment to make almond butter.  Big NO!  The blender worked well for everything else but nut butter completely did it in. It came with a three year warranty, but I bought it right after Covid began so that was long gone.  And from what I can see Bosch no longer makes the compact. mixer.

I was not sure what I wanted to do about a replacement so I have been making a lot of batter breads and, yes, even buying bread. Looked at various mixers.  What I really wanted was the Ankarsrum, but the price, grasshopper.......way out of my range.

A few weeks ago I was looking arounds and came across this KitchenAid factory refurbished mini-pro On sale, with free shipping directly from the company so I decided to give it a go..  

It did arrive almost a week later than the original arrival date.  My quarrel is not with the time it took, but the lack of communication on the company's part.  It was listed on my card as sale pending.  That note went away after two days.  Complete silence and no response to my attempts to communicate.  Then wonder of wonders, I got a notice saying the mixer was shopped.  Checked and indeed the charge was on my card, and it arrived when they said it would.  KitchenAid makes great items, but their communication skills are not great.  This is not the first time I have been through this with them.

Rant over, the mixer is here in great shape.

I've only used it once so far to make bread.  I like the stainless bowl and the coated dough hook and mixer blades.  I haven't tried whipping anything yet the balloon whisk looks like it will do the job.  One thing I like about the dough hook is the shield which keeps the dough from traveling up the mixer.  

I will be using this mostly for bread and other large items.  Most of the time I used my hand mixer, or immersion blender, both KitchenAid and still going strong after many years.

So now I can get back to experiments in bread without destroying my poor wrists.  I want to save them for my pottery.

Stay strong and as usual, thanks for stopping by.......*s*

Lilies

My favorite lilies that sort of grew by themselves by my door.  Unfortunately between being top heavy with blooms and weight from rain the main stalk snapped.  Or else our new ground hog friend took a taste and decided they were not for him.

I put them in water out on the deck.  Can't have them inside due to allergies and cats.  But I am fine with them outside.  Get to enjoy them from the sunroom which is my day room and when I am outside.

Still.....I would prefer them on the actual plant.

Cannot believe that we are halfway through the best of summer.  Still so much to do!  And as always toes are crossed for one of our long, balmy autumns.

I don't like to mention it because that is usually a signal for things going amiss, but I am going to try (operative word *try*). to post here often.  I am returning to thinking of it as a daily journal to set down thoughts, ideas anxieties....name it.  I like the idea of using this because it's not as public as FB.

Stay strong, and as always, thanks for stopping by................*s*

Time Fugits

HARES AND RABBITS