Summer!

And it is passing way too quickly.  Here it is the middle of July and I feel like we have barely begun.  I blame it on the winter that wouldn't quit and the chilly spring.

Meanwhile I have been glazing and making at a slow but steady pace.  Below are two terra cotta planters that I bought and have glazed with spectrum glazes.  I used to these with great success.  I scrubbed the surfaces with a clean scrubby and vinegar and let dry.  Toes crossed that all goes well!   

These are Italian terra cotta which as I recall was far more successful than Mexican terra cotta.  I would say it's the formulation of the clay body than anything else.  We'll see, Grasshopper, we'll see..... 

I finally finished painting the turtle!  I was held up by a disastrous spill of wax across the tree.  I carefully scraped it down to the clay, then sponged and scrubbed (very carefully) with vinegar.  I ten had to dry it, which took forever with the humidity we have been having.  I then had to reglaze with three coats carefully brushed on. When the glaze was dry I could get down to repainting.  I probably would not have spent so much time on what is an experiment if I had not been three-quarters done!

I also managed to break my mermaid mold.  Sculpy breaks if you drop it.  I can't even blame the cats!  So I am making a new clay mermaid so I can make a new mold.  One more thing!

Speaking of Mermaids....Click on the link to see my dear great niece in her mermaid guise. Mermaid On The Beach, scroll down about two thirds of the page! 

Today would be my sister's eightieth birthday!  Here is a very old snapshot, probably taken by our older brother with his Brownie.

We are in the back yard of our house of our house in Hyattsville, MD.
Our father was working on government stuff during the war.  It was all very secret so we never really knew what he did.  My mother always said it was the smallest house we ever lived in, but there was a housing shortage and everybody made do.

The dogs are Duke and the tail end of Duchess, siblings barely out of puppyhood.

Aside from pottery and gardening we are preparing to put the new liner and pump in the pool.  We thought about replacing the whole pool, until we priced a new one.  For less that one third of the cost we can replace everything for less than a third the cost of a new one

Here's to summer days!

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

"Nothing of Importance Happened Today"

The phrase is apocryphal rather than true, according to what I have researched.  However, it does pretty much sum up the attitude of  G.B. at the time!

 

 The Goony Birds have paraded and are enjoying their annual celebration!

We did a marathon watching of John Adams on HBO yesterday.   Watching the early episodes I realize once again how the whole idea of independence was pretty tenuous.  There is still something pretty wonderful that it all worked out.  Yes, we have problems, but as evidenced by SCOTUS decisions we are willing to reconsider and change.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

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


  

July

Hares and Rabbits!

 Enjoy July!

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

A New Friend?

 This dragonfly landed on my sleeve when I was out by the pond.  For some reason it took a liking to me.  When I tried to move it walked onto my hand.  Fortunately I had my camera with me so I managed, rather awkwardly to get a few shots.

I think I'm going to be doing a lot of winged critters on my pottery for the next few months.

Here a couple of small piggy banks.  It's odd that I have lived among oak trees for the last forty years, but have rarely used them in my work.  Go Figure!

The flower pig is an experiment.  The feet are glued on and it's glazed with one design then a couple of coats of glaze and a new design.  Toes crossed, that this works!

The sun is trying hard to come out after a week end of rain.  We had over  3&1/2 inches over the week end.  No complaints as we had all of 1/3 in in May!

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

Litha, Summer Solstice

It's looking like a day of rain for the Summer Solstice.  Somehow I don't think we will be doing any outdoor celebrating today.  Ah well, rain is an important part of life too.  Living in the woods the threat of fires in times of drought is always a worry.

Here are a few photos of the flora and fauna from the last week or so.

  

 This is the time of year for Luna Moths.  This one was tucked into a shaded corner outside my window.  They usually like to hide up in trees during daylight hours, so I was happy to see him/her where I could get a good shot.

I thought at first this was a black swallowtail, but I see now that it doesn't have any tails.  I'll have to look this one up.

The large white dahlia broke off when I was taking the plant out of the car.  I've been enjoying it next to my computer.

More dahlias.  I lost all mine last year in an early deep freeze, There are so many beauties out there that I am like a kid in a candy store!

This is a new, to me, passion flower.  I find they winter over quite well.  I consider them an investment!

I love this time of year when everything is so green and lush.  Winter is very far my thoughts these days.

Wishing a Happy and Joyful Fathers' Day to all the daddies out in the world!

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

We Painted The Cat!

NO!  Not that cat!

This one.  I got this at some secondhand shop several years ago.  It doesn't look too bad in the photo, just a nice white cat.  You have to see it in person to truly appreciate the pearlescent effect!

 I wanted a black cast iron cat made from this mold.  When I saw this I realized a can of barbecue black would do the trick!  Now he can sit in the garden among the flowers!

This is not a snap dragon but a Snap Godzilla!   I stuck his head on the stick to get it out of the way, then thought, "Hmmmmm, I know of someone in blogland who would appreciate this!" So this one is for you,   Gary

Have a great week end where ever you are in the world!

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

Camera Found

I forgot that I put it in the safe place I use when I have been taking pictures outside and am not going upstairs right away.  It's an old terrarium I use to keep the cats away from precious things. 

I have been working on the bottom of Tyrian Turtle.  I generally use some sort of mandala on the bottoms of my turtles.  The rounded shape seems to call for it. The bottom is not generally seen, but an interesting design is a nice surprise when it's upended. Next I will wax the design so I can put in the background color without smearing or otherwise messing it up.

  I don't know if this could be called a true mandala as it has five points instead of the eight I usually see.  It's very Atevi.  Those of you who read CJ Cherryh will get it.

We have had over two inches of much needed rain.  Everything is blooming, including the poppies!  This year I am also planting California poppies.  Toes crossed that they will reseed themselves from year to year.

I bought the dahlia and will buy more as I didn't get them up in time to avoid frost and winter!  I like having some in bloom because the toes I plant will not bloom until August!

It's sunny but below seasonal warmth.  I will be able to work in the garden this afternoon.  It should be warmer by them!

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