Bye Bye July!

We have had what we think is a pair of bluebirds visiting.  The first photo I took was months ago of what I assume what was the same one sitting outside a window in late snow flurries.  He was definitely not the bluebird of happiness!

Yesterday we were happy to watch Mama (?) with three babies taking baths in a puddle formed in a   tarp we have by the wood pile.  I wish I had been able to get a picture, but no go!

We have been seeing more wildlife this year.  I think it's because the old farm down the hill from us is being developed.  We have a pair of red foxes, many more deer, and turkeys among others.  Although it's kind of sad to see a place going to houses, I take comfort in the fact that the Management Area still covers a lot of this area.

The hot weather continues.  Rain, except for a few showers, continues to elude us.  Hopefully we will get some today!  At last the pool is swimmable and the various caterpillars have pupated and laid their eggs.  Maybe we will have a cold winter and a wet spring.

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

Have an enjoyable Sunday, stay cool......or warm if you are down under.

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

Kitty Creamers & Wildlife

Sunday morning, looking out on the deck, watching the squirrels gobble up the bird seed.  This is what happens when there is no dog around.  I have nothing against wildlife; there is a cuteness factor I'll admit to.  I would just like the squirrels in particular to stay away from the house.  They can be amazingly destructive.  I think I'm going to give in and buy some goat food to feed them away from the house.  It has worked before!.......we'll see. grasshopper.....we'll see.

Still and all it's a sunny, if cold, day and I am listening to Baroque in Boston.  I look out into the woods and see chipmunks n the stone wall.  Mama doe with her two babies are behind the wall.

Kitty Creamers

 I seem to tell stories even when I am not thinking about them.  I made these for my guys as an experiment to see if I could make a two tablespoon mark for their morning milk.  I put two tablespoons rice in them and marked it with a pencil. I can get the proportions right because I know this clay body.  It's easier to after a bisque because there is no shrinkage between bisque and glaze.  Then I painted the ring freehand with black stain. The kitty designs were an afterthought to see how the line would work as a framing device.  I once fired these using Spectrum Majolica White.  I have some luck with once firing with commercial glazes, as long as I am only glazing one surface.  Normally I use a glaze I got from Linda Arbuckle.  It has a richness that isn't found in even the best commercial glazes.   

The Dumpster Duo....Aloysius & Kiki LaSois

These are two of the three little culprits that live with us.  I call them the dumpster duo because, even though we got them six months apart they were both living in dumpsters when they were rescued.  Aloysius was the last one to come in.  He and Kiki bonded within a few weeks, something I have never seen in adult cats.  They have become a lot needier since BreezytheDog died.