it’s Always Sumthin’

Yesterday morning I was doing my usual wake up routine of lying bed, drinking tea, doing a crossword puzzle when there was the sound of something crashing...loud crashing.  Immediate thought was that the cats had finally managed to pull over a bookcase or the TV.  (Not really a possibility as everything is well mounted and immovable.). But the crash went on.  Got up went into living room to see this tree crashed up against the house.  I guess all the rain and general damp we have had finally weakened this large branch, that was quite rotted at the base  so it finally fell.  Happily no windows were broken, no roof bashed in, just a very leafy bower against the house.  Everything is so green and happily growing this year that we are going to have to clear a lot of overgrowth to get to it.  It's on the north side of the house so not terribly sunny, definitely doable and there is the added bonus of winter's fire wood.

Meanwhile things are growing and catching up after a chilly May and early June.  My hydrangeas look wonderful even with the neglect of last year.  The roadside orange dallies are in full swing.  Lots of buds on both daylily varieties and asiatic lilies.

As always, take care, and thanks for stopping by.............*s*

 

Aloe Time

I finally have managed to get all my aloes out onto the deck.  There are thirteen pots, maybe fourteen; I've lost count.  Many of the pots have multiple plants.  When I start a new plant I just cut off the top, peel away a few leaves and stick it in some potting soil.  The root I repot.  It always put at least three pups sometimes more.  I seem to be totally unable to toss anything resembling a plant that might grow.  I only discovered a few years ago that roots will grow when I left a cut off stem in the pot and it began putting out pups

 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* 

It's SuMMER!

We, or rather Proge, finally bought a new lawn mower last week.  So of course, it immediately started raining and drizzling.  Definitely too wet to be mowing the hay field that once was our so-called lawn.  Lawn by our definition is anything green enough to provide coverage.  

This is an early spring photo of the flamingos.  Right now they are so deep in green that only their heads show.  Reminds me that I need to add to the flock. But mowing is slowly but surely happening.

 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*

RANT!!! OR......How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall?

A picture because.....

 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*

Happiness is a Teapot

Oh! Frabjous day!  Call!  Callay!

For reasons known only to itself I am once again able to post photos here on Blogger!

After the kitteh help with the first pot, I started another which I am now in the process of painting.  When I start a new form and design it's a long process with many sketches in my journals.  I still prefer to work on paper with pencil/pen/ aquarelles.  The brain, eye, hand connection  gives me a strong sense of what will work.  Transitioning from a flat surface to a 3-D form is always interesting.

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* 

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*

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*