Don't Like the Weather?

Just wait a few minutes!  Last week it was 20 with an added wind chill.  Right now it's 60 and supposed to be in the fifties and sunny tomorrow.  I could really go for this kind of winter.

Lately this is KikiLaSois's favorite way of sitting on the couch to watch tv and give everyone the kitty stink eye.  She is the quietest cat I have ever had with a little tiny mew.  If you can hear her purring from a foot away she is truly ecstatic!

Below are two clocks that survived the firing.  I had them ready to go ages ago but life kept conspiring!
They are only about eight inches across.  They can go on the wall or on stands.  I'll show those next firing!

The S.C.A.A.  Christmas, excuse me, Holiday Sale starts Friday the day after Thanksgiving.  I hope all who are in the area will come by!

Stay warm and dry in all this rain.

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

Spring may Finally Be Here

Mind you, I am not saying it is spring, but KikiLaSois has taken to sitting on the plant shelves, something she only does when it gets warm.  Who knows why.

The photo below is Kiki lounging in one of my bird baths/serving dishes.  I took it last year.  This is a cat that loves sitting in my bowls.  If I don't cover them I can be sure of finding a cat in it.

Nothing, however, will match the day I walked into my old studio and found my five Siamese cats each sitting in a freshly trimmed bowl in a row on a table by the window.

Lots of daffodils are in bloom,but this little guy showed up by the pond this year.  I have no idea where it came from but it sure is cute!

We've been seeing lots of frog eggs in in the pond.  This big guy just showed up today

Sadly we seem to be missing our biggest white fish, Moby.  We are hoping she is hiding in the weeds, as mating season is starting  The males chase the females to the point of harassment.  They hide in weeds and roots to rest.

I haven't been doing a lot with clay as I have been trying to get my studio into a semblance of working order.  There's something about a clean studio that just calls to me.

Enjoy the week end and, as always, thanks for stopping by...........*s*

OOPS!

I just realized that I never connected this to Sunday Ceramics 14.  Go ever and take a look at the potters who meet up at Kim's.

Studio work has mostly been limited to cleaning and straightening my studio and chasing cats out of bowls.  This is a daily occurrence.  Part of the cleaning is making some covers for the front of my shelves.   It always amazes me how junk accumulates over the winter.

Enjoy the week ahead and again, thanks for stopping by..........*s*

Cake and......

A Tomato.

We picked this big beauty last night for a BLT supper.  Home grown tomato, locally cured bacon and farm stand lettuce on beer bread.  The ordinary elevated to the extraordinary by choice of ingredients.

The sandwiches were delicious!

Plum Cake......it came from the Food 52 site.  Unfortunately the site is not connecting today.  Fortunately I printed the recipe.  So without further  ado.....

PLUM CAKE

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Prep nine by two inch round cake pan.  Butter pan, cut parchment paper to fit bottom of pan and butter. Dust with flour.

Measure and sift together in small bowl:
1&1/2 Cup flour
1 Tsp. baking powder
1/4 Tsp. baking soda

Beat together until light and fluffy:
1/2 Cup soft butter
2/3 Cup granulated sugar

Beat in one at a time:
2 Large eggs
3/4 Cup sour cream (I used whole milk Greek yogurt)
1/2 Tsp. Finely grated lemon zest

Beat in flour mix at low speed (I did this by hand)

12 small plums
2 Tblsp. Brown sugar

Cut plums in half and pit.

Spread half the batter in the pan.  Sprinkle with 1 tblsp. brown sugar.  Place 12 halves, cut side down on batter.  Dollop and spread remaining batter.  Arrange remaining plum halve cut side up.  Sprinkle with remaining sugar.  (Depending on size and variety of plums you may need fewer than 12.  I used eight.  The recipe originally called for prune plums, but any variety will work.)

Bake 50 - 55 minutes, turning pan halfway through baking time.  Inserted toothpick should be clean.

Let cool 20 minutes.  Invert onto plate, then invert again onto serving plate.

Serve with sweetened whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or plain.

This recipe can be found on Food 52-Your Best Plum Recipes.

(As I mentioned before the link is not working, but this is a site worth visiting.)

Later edit:  The link is working.  There's a nice how-to pictorial there Plum Cake.

And finally.....KikiLaSois looking disgusted at Winter's antics.

And more fish, which all the kitties would probably enjoy 'meeting.'  Thankfully they are all indoor cats!

 Enjoy what  looks to be a beautiful day.

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