Boogie Oogie Ooogie!!

The firing was a great success!!! Yea!! I'm very happy. Not one bad piece in the bunch. Well, actually I did have one mug that I kinda discarded but not because of an actual fault. I had mixed up a test glaze and it came out fine, technically, but was absolutely one of the ugliest colors I have ever seen. Blecccc!
But the rest came out very nice and so I am encouraged and looking forward to creating more work.

Beatrice (one of my readers) had mentioned having great difficulty finding handmade mugs with good handles and I find I must brag on my handles just a little. I am constantly amazed at some of the god-awful, uncomfortable, awkward mugs and handles some potter produce and some even seem to think the more elaborate the handle, the better it is. I find that to be just the opposite. A mug must feel right, be comfortable in the hand and not harbor any more weight than is necessary in order to be a really good mug. I think most potters just don't want to take the time to learn how to pull a good handle basically, and so create these monstrosities that end up being way too big to fit right. The handle must fit close to the body in order for the mug to be balanced correctly. And I really hate these stupid handles sculpted to look like tree limbs or some asinine crap like that. If you can't pull a decent handle just leave the damn thing off and don't try to cover up that fact with some artsy-fartsy tentacle sticking out there.

Okay, so I'm off my soap box for now. So, ya'll tell me what ya'll think of this glaze. It is a new one I have mixed up but I think it is a little too much on it's own. I used a tan, ash glaze on the exterior and I think the two colors go well together; I guess. I think a slightly darker brown on the outside would look better. Oh, I realize the picture here does not really show the outside well but you can see a little of the color on the rim.

Now I just need to throw like hell and try to produce a good bit of stuff for Christmas. I believe I may try to have a Studio Open House for Christmas and invite some of my former customers and all.

Homegrown

I think Jack and I have been making some progress, albeit small steps, towards producing more food here. He has been experimenting with sprouting seeds, which is pretty cool, and can be done by even apartment dwellers. He came up with this little set-up that fits under the countertop and will hold about 6 quart jars, or 4 quarts and 2 gallons. I like the neat little trays for the water to drain into. The lids have mesh or cheesecloth so the water can pass through easily. The jar closest to this end has alfalfa sprouts, then radish, winter wheat and fenugreek and broccoli. So far, the alfalfa and radish have done the best. In fact, we ate those on salads tonight along with stroganoff I made with deer meat, which I killed last year. We also had homegrown tomatoes and local onions in the stroganoff. The sprouts were very tasty and they are really healthy for you. They can also be added to soups and slaw and the larger sprouts can be used in stir-frys.
Do any of you sprout seeds and if so, which are your favorites??

The cabbage and broccoli are doing good. This is cabbage in the front, broccoli in the background. If all my cabbage plants do well I may try my hand at some homemade kraut this year.

I finally got around to planting my garlic today but it's still regularly in the 60's and 70's here, so I think they will be fine. I believe I planted somewhere around 50-60 cloves. These are planted on about 4-6 inch centers, which some might say is a little close, but hey, what the heck. I need to pack stuff in where I can. I added some bone meal and more compost to the area so I'm hoping these really do well. I go through a good bit of garlic with cooking and pickling, especially with Jack here now.

We also discovered a bit of a surprise in the garden today. We were out there prepping the area for the cold frame and Jack asked me why I had not picked all the fruit before the last cold spell. I said what??? There wasn't any fruit growing in the garden. Oh, yes there was too. He went over to this one overgrown little spot, which I thought was the remnants of a cucumber vine. He pulled back the dead grass and low and behold, there were scads of these things on the ground!

I had to laugh in amazement. Back in the summer I had bought an African Horned Melon from the grocery store and upon getting it home, discovered it really wasn't that good. So, I ditched the remains in the garden for compost. I never thought about it seeding itself. But wow, did it ever! There were probably a dozen or more of these bizarre and very prickly fruits. Unfortunately, they really are not very good. Mostly seed and a rather bland taste. They are cool to look at though. However, they do turn bright yellow when ripe and I thought they would be good for self defense. You sock somebody in the head with one of these babies and it would probably get their attention. The thorns on them are very sharp.

So, tomorrow morning I get to open the kiln on a glaze firing, so ya'll keep your fingers crossed for me. It would really be nice to have a great firing.


*Neil Young

Stuck

Gaaaaaaackkkkk! Ugh, I feel like I am stuck in the worst combination of writers' block and just mental disorganization. I guess I've got so many projects going on at once around here that I literally can't think straight, much less form any kind of sensible writing. I have at least, been trying to focus on my studio and the goings on there this week and I have limited my gardening to after 'work' hours or the weekends. I am trying to maintain actual studio hours like it's a job. Because it kinda is, if I am going to try to make any money at it. So, one project is to lay up this small block wall in the basement. I may not have shown many photos of my basement/ studio but it is not a full basement. The concrete floor exists only in half of the space. The rest is storage over dirt floor. Anyway, this little knee wall will divide these spaces and give me a clean, defined edge for the working area. I am going to backfill with gravel and then pour a little concrete pad on top, which I then will install metal shelving on top of. I am in great need of shelving to organize my tools and hardware. This will also give me a little more space because now those shelves sit out on the concrete floor. Now, I ain't no block mason, so don't be dissing on my block work. It is functional but it ain't purty. It is fairly straight though. After I laid the first course I drilled the floor about every other cell and drove in rebar to anchor the wall. I then laid the next course and will fill each cell with concrete.

I have also been throwing as regularly as I can, in between all the other stuff I've been doing. This is the bisque load that came out this morning. I spent most all day today glazing and getting ready to fire again tomorrow. I felt like I was really making some progress but as I was cleaning up this evening and putting the glazes away, I came to a very discouraging realization. I have two glazes, a slate blue and an oatmeal, that look almost identical in their liquid states and.....yes, I had mixed them up, thinking that I had glazed certain pieces in one color when in fact, it was the other color. Now, had these only been glazed in that one color, it wouldn't be much of a big deal. But no, I like to mix colors and double dip some stuff for effect. So, the secondary colors I used, that go well with one glaze, don't necessarily go with the other glaze. And it goes on and on. One glaze must be applied thinly etc. Blah, blah, blah. Bottom line, I get to wash all that glaze off the pieces in question and start over. Damn.

So, anyway, other things are going well. Jack is experimenting with sprouting seeds for eating and I'll show that soon. He is also building the coldframe for me. He kinda fusses about actually building anything for me because I think, he thinks, I'm going to criticize his work, seeing that I am a carpenter, but as long as it holds together and looks halfway reasonable, I am okay with it.
And I think he came up with a good idea for the foundation of the coldframe.

Too Soon To Tell

There's a lot more pottery back in the shadows that you can't see; I've been trying to turn out a fair amount this past week. I've been fairly pleased with what I've been making but am still unsure how this is going to go.
I read today that one of Birmingham's oldest and best known art galleries, that specialized in Alabama artists, is going out of business citing the worsening economy. This will be the second one this year as another well-known and long time gallery went out months ago. Several artists I know personally that used to be able to support themselves solely on their art, have had to pick up other jobs this year. And these are really talented people, not half-ass 'artists' painting ducks with ribbons around their necks or some crap. Helluva time to be launching a new art business. Of course, mine isn't all new. I still have something of a clientele. And the Internet lets artists reach many, many more people. But....things are still very shaky and all reports I read indicate things may get worse with food costs going way up. I went grocery shopping today and was shocked to see what coffee is now going for.
I guess I'm still going to give it a try though. If I can get my garden in full production mode that will help a lot, to produce much of my own food. Heck, I might could grow enough of some things to sell a little and getting some chickens will help a great deal also. Jack cut down a couple of damaged trees for me to make way for a chicken coop and yard and even cleaned up the area, taking the wood to the splitting area and hauling off the limbs. For a city boy not used to such work, he sure is working awfully hard. He's taken to the chainsaw and axe very well, even though he loves to complain that I'm a slave driver. We've been looking over some coop designs lately and now I need to go through my accumulated materials and just see what I've got that could be used for the chickens. Let me just say their coop is probably going to be quite 'eclectic'. But fun!
Well, off to bed now. It's rainy and cool here tonight, so perfect snugly sleeping weather.


*Bonnie Raitt

How Bizzare

I have been meaning to put this photo up for some time as I found this about a month ago. Right before Jack and I went out to Arizona, I noticed this yellow jacket nest in the ground one day as we were experimenting with putting up his tent. It seemed large as there were lots of the little buggers going in and out of the hole but thankfully, they did not bother us. I made a mental note to dispose of them when we got back because they had built right near the clothes line and it would be my luck to get them riled up just hanging out clothes. Well, after we got back I was out doing a little yard work one day and noticed this big hole in the ground. Upon investigation I surmised that armadillos had dug the nest up and eaten most of it. I don't know of any other critter that could have managed that without being stung so bad they would have run away. I had noticed in the previous months that armadillos had been digging here and there in the yard but I don't bother them. They are only after grubs, which turn into Japanese beetles among other things, so I let them have at it. Well, apparently they like grubs of all kinds because they had completely decimated this yellow jacket nest. I found pieces of it strewn all over the yard. I guess they picked it apart to get out the larvae. There were also lots of dead adult yellowjackets lying in the hole.
I know many people despise the ol' dillers but I don't mind them; same with the moles that lots of people drive themselves crazy trying to run off. They do make little holes or mounds here and there but I've never had them destroy many plants like a lot of people claim they do. An occasional veggie victim here and there but to me, the pests they eat are worth a few uprooted plants on a rare occasion. Most everyone else around me has horrible problems with Japanese beetles and such but I rarely see more than a handful around my house and I can pick them off by hand and squash them. And now that I know the 'dillers eat yellowjacket nests, well, they are greatly welcome to root around a little. I had a heckuva time trying to eradicate one nest last year the the bees had dug right in the middle of a trail I frequent to the spring. I tried several bombs and sprays and don't know that I really succeeded but these ol' possums on a half shell made short work of them it seems! Saves me money and aggravation. The only thing better would be if they would eat fire ants too! I think Nature itself will often provide for it's own control and management if we would just let it, no chemicals needed.

Get It While You Can

Ya'll know I don't care much for the Big Box stores but I do shop at Lowe's at times and the one near me is having a clearance sale on a lot of their trees and such and I thought some of you might be interested. I was kinda shocked to see they had all their fruit trees marked 50% off, so I snapped up 2 plum trees and another apple. Now, of course, I'm sure it depends on the store in your area. Many of them might not even have plants but I thought if this one did, maybe some in your area might. These are healthy, 3 gal. trees, over 6 feet tall and I got them for $9.95 each. I thought it was a good deal. When I planted them I was happy to see that they were not root bound also, so these trees appear in good health and will not be stunted.

I also got 3 perennial flowers (the yellow ones, upper right) for $2.00 each and 6" mums for $.25. Yes, twenty-five cents each. Now, yes, these look kinda ragged and the flowers are faded but I plant them and mulch them good for the winter and next year they come up fine. The red one in the front is one I got on special last year. It grew well over the summer and bloomed like crazy this fall. Now, I know you can't eat mums and a lot of people prefer to focus on food-producing crops right now but I think we all need some pretty things to look at too.

The rest of this is just a few more gratuitous fall foliage shots. Some of the maples around here are so beautiful this year. This is one right off from the deck and I can't wait until it's bigger.

I'm still throwing and trying to be productive around here and hopefully I will have more to show ya'll lately. It seems like I have 20 million projects going on and just need to finish one! Well, time to get going. Hope the weather is as great for you all as it is here.


*Janis Joplin

Summer Moved On

And with it have come some changes to things around here. The frost bitten tomatoes and peppers have been pulled up and cabbage and broccoli planted. I believe the cabbage should do well, the broccoli I'm not so sure of. Never really grown that before so I don't really know what I'm doing. I hope to get some spinach planted soon also and a cold frame built in order to have lettuce and maybe some green onions through the winter.

The figs have been mulched heavily and put to bed. They had fruit this year but it never ripened. I hope that changes next year. I love fresh figs.

The lavender has been weeded, given a haircut and new starts transplanted. The two plants on the far left are the cuttings I took off the first plant and sprouted using the willow water. I would have had three more had I not been lazy and made sure they didn't dry out when they were just getting started.

Much produce has been dried and put up. Here is apples, if I can stop munching on them, onions, lemon zest and more of those dang cayenne peppers. Oh, and some new lavender cuttings soaking in new willow water.

And I even started throwing again. Not a huge start but I am making progress. It's getting time to really kick it in high gear though.
I am feeling better at times but am still having down times. Last night was rough but I am optimistic that things will continue to improve overall.

Winner

I have not forgotten about the drawing we were supposed to have! I'm still not feeling real sporty but I am doing better and have been meaning to post a little anyway. So, my niece and her boyfriend came down over the weekend and I remembered that I needed to have this drawing. Drew is real outgoing kinda guy so he graciously volunteered to do the honors and have his photo put up here showing the results. So....drumroll please!........

And the winner is Hermit Jim!!! And yes, in case anybody is wondering, Jim's name only went in the pot once, just like everybody else! So, email me at edificerex@hotmail.com Jim with your info and address and I'll send the CDs on to you. Congratulations!

In other news I have been getting a little done around here and hope to have some pictures to show of it soon. I've been doing some major organizing and working in my clay studio in order to get that stuff going again. I should be able to start throwing again this week.
I've also gotten some work done in the garden with a few crops planted for fall and winter. Jack has been a great help around here chopping wood and doing the worst of the clean up in the garden, amongst other things. It really makes a big difference to have a second pair of hands I'll tell you. It makes the day go more enjoyable and you can often actually tell you got some stuff done at the end of the day.

Ain't Nothin' But A She Thing

So I went in today and had that small procedure done that I told ya'll about last week. I certainly hope that it helps my back and other pain I was having. I'm not going to go into details about what they did because all the women will cringe and draw up and ya'll guys might run away and never come back! Anyway, it was supposed to go quickly and easily, so they don't normally give you anything for pain. So, it didn't go so quickly or easily. The doctor had a little trouble completing the procedure and was afraid he was really going to hurt me, given I had not been numbed. I told him I was okay (well, I lied a little but I wanted to get it over with) so he tried for a third time and was able, thank God!, to finish. Had he not, he said we would have had to go up to surgery and let them put me under.
So, all of that to say that I might lay low for a day or two. I had to take some pain meds and I always get loopy and sleepy when I take something like that. But if I don't answer comments or so I'm still okay...just sleeping or resting.
However, "I'll be back." I said that with my best Arnold voice. And hopefully I'll be back better than ever and really show ya'll some work getting done!


*Salt-N-Pepa

Spooky

I guess you can tell by the look on Grendal's face that she was not really happy about posing for this Halloween photo. I'm not sure why...she normally gets a kick out of pictures but maybe she was mad because I didn't get her a good costume! lol! I had to bribe her with kitty treats to get just a few photos.

Anyhoo, I hope you all have a nice All Hallow's Eve, however you choose to observe it, if at all. If nothing else it's a good time to enjoy this harvest time with warm, comforting food and friends.


*there have been several versions of this song.

Fight For Your Right

I recently ran across this article over at Homesteading Neophyte's and was disturbed enough to want to share this. Our government is apparently on a mission to control all of our food and destroy all small, local farmers. Please check this article and information out and contribute if you are able and feel inclined. They will not stop unless we resist. I, for one, refuse to get my food from nasty, drug-laden factory farms anymore and these small dairies and farms are increasingly becoming a major target for the FDA. Money talks you know, and Corp. Food and Big Pharma yell the loudest apparently.
Please share this and get involved before they take away all our rights to even feed ourselves.

*The Beastie Boys

Life In Technicolor

I realized very late last night that the title of the last post I made was appearing on several of ya'lls blogrolls, depending on how you have your settings. (For some just the title of the blogs appear.) I didn't think about that when I made the post and immediately chastised myself for doing that. I know I have several religious people that read and link to my blog and you probably don't want such language appearing on your page. I apologize for this oversight and will try not to let that happen again. Sorry.
It did however, cause referral hits to my blog to almost double. lol! Maybe next time I'll title one "Great Big Knockers" or some such! Ha! just kidding....

As is usually the case, things have improved and I am not in such a horrible mood. You know how it often is that when things seem to be going really well, something else will come in and try to cause it all to go straight down the crapper. But, like I said, things are better now.


*Coldplay

Crazy Bitch

Well, this is certainly a night for the Halloween season. Storms moved in this afternoon, reflecting the overall mood that pervades this place. At one point lightning illuminated the house on regular intervals. A light show specific to solar houses; especially those that don't have curtains. Even with many of the windows open, the air is still thick and heavy. Not much of a breeze blowing despite the foul weather.
I think I shall name this land The Valley Of Misfit Things (a homage to The Isle Of Misfit Toys) and I will be Queen MoonRacer. Queen of all Fucked Up Things. I will scour all of the local animal shelters and only take in creatures that are deformed like me. You know, 3-legged dogs, 3-legged chickens.... beings that no one else wants. And I will take care of them and give them a full life. Well, the chickens might eventually go in the freezer but they will be happy up until then. Makes sense to me. We can relate to each other. You know, animals seem to understand things about people even though they can't speak. It won't matter to them the way I am. They will be my children since I can't have my own. They will be my companions since I don't know how to maintain such a human relationship.
And Grendal can be Second-in-Command! I may even make her a little hat to wear! She would probably get a kick out of that. Now I must go and ready the projectile turtles and man-eating goats*. (long time readers know) Even I have sense enough to know when I'm whipped.

Quiet Times

Hey folks! I'm still around. Things have been a little slow around here but I have managed to get a few things done. Jack and I worked in the garden some more (mostly Jack) clearing overgrowth and brambles and have actually got it in pretty good shape. I have started the new layout and sectioning for the area but don't have any pics for you as I misplaced my camera. I think I left it in Jack's truck but I will get some new photos up when I get the camera back. I also planted cabbage and broccoli after amending the soil a bit more. That seems a never-ending chore. I may ask my next door neighbor, who rents her pasture out for cattle, if I can do some poop scooping around the barn. Aged cow manure is great for the garden and yes, I will make sure it is well aged.
I am installing a gravel walkway around the perimeter of the garden with the planting area sectioned up into quarters. I believe this will help me keep it in better order and make it easier to control weeds.
Lately though, I have been in kind of a funk again, due to a great extent to having some real issues with my back. It's not so much my back but another internal problem that is causing pressure on my back. Long time readers know I have an abnormality with an organ and an issue with this is causing some severe lower inflammation, which is affecting my back. I went to the doctor this past week and have decided to have a small procedure next week that I believe will relieve the problem. For now, regular doses of a prescription anti-inflammatory are keeping it manageable but I abhor such drug use and don't want to continue doing that.
It may be quiet around here until I get to feeling better but I will try to continue to post some. I have been feeling quite isolated here lately also, so I don't want to disappear all together. I enjoy the contact with my readers, distant though it is. So many people my age, or thereabouts, have families and are super busy with them, so it's hard for a single person to socialize with them. Of course, I'm rather used to spending time alone though, so it's not a great hardship.
I'll be back soon.

I Shoulda Known

Ha! The office called today about me coming back to work. Seems they have something of an 'artsy' type project they feel would be something just for me. Actually, it sounds interesting and possibly something that would be fun. The general superintendent also mentioned that after I complete that project, one of the other supers has been asking about getting me on his newly started job. Blah. And to top it off, the job is in downtown Birmingham. Not a fun place to work. But, we'll see. None of it may come to be anyway.
In other, more important news, I have almost completed the clerestory area. Just a tad more touch up on the paint and install a little metal trim on the roof.

This shot better shows the newly sided end, although that bright spot blocks out how well the siding matched up between sides. Oh well, you get the idea. I did a real good cleaning on the windows also and removed the screens, which are on the inside of this type window. They are dark colored screens and I thought it might possibly give me a slight bit more solar gain if they were not there. The sunshine does seem brighter inside the house and those windows won't be open now anyway, so no screens are needed.


The local farmers' market is closing this week so I made one run there yesterday and picked up a few things to put up for the winter. I am drying some onions now, per Karl's example, and will probably get some more. You are right Karl, dried, those things are like candy! I also put up some green beans and have several pounds of apples to dry or put up some other way. From what I have been reading lately I believe we may experience some really high food prices this winter in the grocery stores, so I am trying to stock up on some stuff now, while the prices are good. There were so many problems with many countries wheat and corn harvests this year that many things could be affected. You have to keep in mind that much grain is used for livestock feed, not just our consumption as bread products, so the price of meat, milk and eggs, etc. could go way up.
While I was putting up food and cooking a really nice dinner, Mouser Jack cleaned the garden up for me. I know, it still looks like shit but that is because I let it go so long, not because he didn't do a better job. I actually have two tomato plants that are still producing and two cayenne pepper plants that may never stop! Those things are the most prolific plants I have ever seen. As a matter of fact, if anyone would like some seeds from these cayenne just email me with your address and I'd be happy to send you some. I'm not sure the exact variety but they are very robust to say the least.
My blueberries and raspberries are still doing well it seems although I had one of my best apple trees to die suddenly a couple of weeks ago. Not sure what happened there but I need to replace it pronto. I really want to have some producing fruit trees as soon as possible. The garden needs some major work soon because I have some cabbage and broccoli starts that need planting, along with maybe some spinach and lettuce. I really want to try to keep some crops going all year around and with our relatively mild winters I believe I should be able to. If I can keep my brain focused on it.
Well, I didn't mean to babble on this much but anyway, that's the deal! lol! There town is having it's annual Covered Bridge Festival tomorrow so Jack and I are going to hit that for a while and see what's up and maybe roam around looking for some yard sales.

Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?

Alright folks, ya''ll can be honest with me....I know my posts lately have been just absolutely boring as hell. I know it, I know it. *sigh* I've just seem to have had a lot on my mind since returning from out west and I've had a heckuva time trying to put those thoughts into words. There are many things that concern me right now and many things that I feel may not need to be put off much longer.
Of course, work is a concern but that may have answered itself. I have heard through the grapevine that the company has gotten a couple of new jobs but whether or not I will be called back remains to be seen. It doesn't look real promising and the issues with my back may help persuade me to seek another way to make a living. In the past I have made a decent living off my art and this may be possible again. Maybe. The economy was in much better shape back then but, on the other hand, the exposure of the Internet was not as available either. I have just seen so many people put off living their life the way they really wanted to in order to work some other job just a little longer, or until they had a certain number of years or whatever and then right about the time they achieved whatever, they dropped dead or something else came up and they never got to do what they really wanted to.
Perhaps I have always fallen back to construction because I fear I will not succeed as an artist or fear the amount of self-promotion that will require. There is a certain amount of comfort in what you already know.
However, I really feel this 'now or never' kinda mood over me. I'm no spring chicken as Daddy Rabbit has reminded me. How long am I going to justify putting off what I claim to be what I want? Did that make sense?

I am thinking more and more these days also, that a more self-sufficient life may be quite prudent. Things are not going well for our country, I don't care what the government or media keeps telling us. Now, I do not consider myself to be a 'doomer' or some such but I do consider myself realistic. The repeated incidents of food supply contamination along with the mounting power of Corp. Food and Big Pharma leaves me a little more than wary of store-bought food and any other industry that claims to have our best interests in mind. I don't want those people dictating what I eat and I don't want to participate in the continuing suffering of animals raised under big corporation standards. Or lack of standards I should say. I've bitched and ranted about all kinds of stuff on here and feel that it is way past time to make a concerted effort to live out what I talk about. I have the resources and I can do better than what I have been doing. Things will not change for us socially or economically until we get involved and quit allowing ourselves to be herded like sheeple to the slaughter. Big Corp. owns our country now and I don't want any part of it. It's going to be a tremendous amount of work for me to turn this place into a working farm but I feel that is what I need to do. Perhaps I will have some help; perhaps not, but it doesn't really matter. As many of us who can need to work against what is happening to our food, our health and happiness.

One Step Closer

So, all of the siding for the clerestory area is finished! Now, I just have a little bit left to install on the east end gable and it will all be done! Yay! Of course, I still have to get up there and finished painting everything but that's not too big a deal. I do have a little roof trim to finish up there actually. That's embarrassing that I have let that go so long but....whadya gonna do? Just the best you can I guess. And I have a couple of little decorative touches I want to install but that shouldn't take too much. At any rate, I am getting closer to finished overall and that is the main thing. You just have to keep plugging away at all the little things.

After I finished caulking the newly installed siding I took a break from that to split some firewood. The caulking would need time to cure anyway before I can paint it so I went on to something else that is much needed. Capt. Jack has been chomping at the bit to split some wood on a large scale so we broke out all the mauls and axes and such and worked until evening on that project. This stack is probably 10 feet long and is barely even a decent start to how much wood I need, but you got to start somewhere. I've got plenty of trees that were felled last year or so that are ready for splitting, so it is just a matter of summoning the gumption to do it. It looks like I will be laid off for a while anyway so I should have plenty of time. I still think a mechanical splitter will be a good idea for the future. My back is just not what it used to be.

Oh, for an update! Capt. Jack finally prevailed over the mice. He had used peanut butter, as a couple of you suggested, but these wily mice were able to lick the traps clean (twice even!) without springing them. I could tell Capt. Jack was becoming a little frustrated. How embarrassing for a former Marine to be outsmarted by two little mice! Ever determined though, he resorted to more drastic measures. He finally wired an almond to each trigger of the traps. The mice would have to really to some serious maneuvering to get the prize off this time and sure enough, they tripped them. Capt. Jack was gracious in his victory however, giving the mice warriors their due praise for a good battle. He saluted their courage and ingenuity. He has however, now proclaimed himself Capt. Jack the Great White Mouser so I don't know how long I'm going to have to suffer through that.

Well, I know I have not had any interesting house posts in some time and I hope to remedy that soon. Ya'll bear with me. I have so many projects going on it's hard to concentrate on one but I am trying to finally knock some stuff out completely. I have taken some time lately, as ya'll know to get out and have some fun and enjoy life a little, and I really have enjoyed myself. It has been really nice but I really need to buckle down now and finish some things. I have really been putting some serious thought into work too. Do I really want to go back to construction? Can my back take it really? So, we'll see. I have so enjoyed the past few weeks and am really feeling it is time to just work for me, instead of 'the man', as it were. I really need to get things together here at home. Get the garden really producing, some animals and my art going again. I mean, with everything paid for and not really having any bills, I should be able to work at what I want. That was the whole point in doing this anyway! Or at least that's what I thought.

On The Road Again

Well, actually I am already home again but I did go off on another short trip over to northern Georgia. . The area is beautiful though. I have been to Helen several times but had never been up towards Dillard etc. In a lot of the 'touristy' areas you could see lots of big trout. Couldn't catch them however. We also explored several craft shops and found this one gallery that supported several potters. Most of the work was of really beautiful quality. And yes, I do occasionally purchase the work of other potters. I really need to get back to throwing myself. And build a wood-burning kiln. 

I also hiked up to Anna Ruby Falls, which is a very lovely area. The trees were more in color over in Georgia than they are here and the weather was gorgeous! So, I have actually been working on the house and have made some decent progress on the siding. I just need to run two more small pieces on the last side of the clerestory and put the final coat of paint on and then done, done!! Well, I do have one other really neat project I want to make for the clerestory, which I will show ya'll soon. I think it will add a sweet little touch to the house. I have discovered that I have mice in the basement also.

Don't Know Why

Hey Folks! well, sorry I haven't been posting much since my return. I guess I've got a case of the 'blahs'. Post-vacation letdown? Maybe I'm overwhelmed by all I need to do around here? Nah, I don't think that's it. It's kinda odd to be alone for such extended periods of time. Well, at any rate, I just haven't had much to say. I'm still cleaning and caulking and getting ready to finish the painting on the siding. I discovered yesterday evening that I'm out of the siding stain color, so that's a trip into town today to get more. I need to buy groceries anyway.
So, that's the exciting lowdown for today. Pffft. The leaves are starting to turn here and that's always kinda somber. I love the feeling of fall but I know it will only bring winter, which means awful cold, and that sucks. I do not do well in cold weather. I know you northerners are laughing at my idea of cold but now, our winters are miserable cold due to the high humidity. It's a wet, penetrating cold that you just can't shake.
And I have still been having awful pain with my back. Got to find out what's going on there.

So, blah. What's going on with ya'll? Oh, I am trying to clean up the basement/ studio and get back to throwing. I have many clay projects I want to start on soon, especially if I'm going to stay laid off.
Hey Anon, that left the comment on the really old post: I did get it and reply to it! Thanks for writing!
Anything any of ya'll want me to post about? Any projects or whatever ya'll want to see?


*Norah Jones

Back To The Grindstone

Okay folks! I swear, no more photos of vacation, talk of vacation or reminiscing of vacation! I shall not inflict any more of my travelocities on you lest I start losing readers!

Anyway, things are pretty much back to normal here. Just working around the house. I have been on a major cleaning spree since returning home and have already taken yet another load of stuff to Goodwill. I reorganized and added shelving to my one existing closet so that it is easier to access. Now, to just put a door on the thing. I really need to hang the interior doors but when you live by yourself that just doesn't seem like much of a priority.
I seem to have a fair amount of motivation since returning and am eager to get some projects finished around here. Like the siding. Geez! I must finish that crap, painting and all!
So, when I have a few pics of my projects I'll be back, which will hopefully be soon. I know none of this stuff is particularly exciting so I'm not going to foist my caulking expertise on you either! lol!

Oh yeah, I know several of you have left comments of late concerning Lika. Here's the deal. Lika doesn't live here anymore. He got real bad about wanting to wander off and I felt he was bored and lonely here by himself because of how much I work. At first, he just went over to the next door neighbors to play with their dogs and they didn't mind, so it was okay. But then he started to go further and I can't afford to install a fence of any kind. Plus, to me that is kinda cruel, to make him live alone; dogs are very social creatures. I also refuse to keep a dog in the house; which again, is keeping him alone. I know this will probably get me some ugly comments but dogs are meant to live outside in my world and Lika did have a nice doggie door for the basement with a nice bed. So, I let him go live with a couple in town that have a fenced yard and another dog. He just wasn't happy here and I was not able to spend enough time with him.

A Thousand Beautiful Things

Well, I didn't buy a thousand things but it was hard not to! There was so much art everywhere out west I just wanted to go wild. Alas, the reality of my bank account took hold and I was able to contain myself. Now, I know I preach all kinds of anti-materialism and anti-STUFF stuff but now, real art is another matter! lol! I did want to pick up a little something from most of the major sites we visited and sweet Capt. Jack bought me a couple of things also, so I have several nice objects to decorate my house with. I have been very conservative over the years about buying decorative stuff because I didn't want to fill the house I knew I was going to build with a bunch of junk that had no memories or meaning for me. I want to be able to look at most anything in my house and say, "oh yeah, I remember when I went to so and so and we did this and so on....."
The clay lizard I picked up at the Riverwalk in San Antonio. He's kinda kitschy but I like him. He is going to be displayed on the wall. The necklace and earrings were made by Navajo craftsmen and I got those in Taos and Santa Fe. Also, the bundle of sage and juniper which they use for smudging as a sort of purification ritual for your home. The small clay pot I bought from an old Navajo lady at one of the entrances to Canyon De Chelly. There are half a dozen Navajo that will set up at all the drives into the canyon and hawk their stuff to the Anglos. Now, one thing about getting in or around any of the reservation land is that the poverty that exists there is mind-boggling. The poorest I have ever seen here in the south still have way more than most you will see on a reservation. In the white man's eyes, these people have nothing. Less than nothing. And perhaps because since I was a small child I have felt for the gross injustice and cruelty these people have suffered over the centuries, I will buy any quality work from them that I can afford to. The lady told me her son made the pots; I don't know and it really didn't matter. They are handmade and I know she needed the money. It's not much but maybe it will help some and I know what it is like as a craft person trying to make a living.
The print is from the Grand Canyon. I really liked this lady's work. She also designs the t-shirt for Phantom Ranch, which is at the bottom of the canyon where you can spend the night. I think you can only get the t-shirt if you actually go down there.

Now, this, is my prized possession. This is Honan, the Badger and you can tell by the claw marks on his cheeks and his two, upright, feather ear spikes. He is an authentic, Hopi katsina. Most anywhere you go out west you will find Navajo kachina, even, to my great disappointment, at the gift shop at the Grand Canyon. See, the Navajo versions are counterfeits and I meant to spell that the way I did. 'Kachina' is just the corrupted Anglo pronunciation of the Hopi word 'katsina'. Katsina are not part of the Navajo belief system but they have no problem ripping off the dolls to make a buck. The Hopi however, still use the katsina in their everyday life, so they are not marketed to outsiders much. Often, if you want one, you must go to them. The dolls are simply a physical representation of the spirits that guide the Hopi way of life and are used to teach the children the lessons. For half of the year the spirits abide on top of the San Franciscan Mtns. near Flagstaff but for the other half, they come down and dwell among the Hopi on the Mesas, teaching them the way to live. The katsina appear during dances held monthly, sometimes weekly, during the spring and summer. Of course, they are the men of the village dressed up as the katsina but the men wear masks, so you are not sure who is who.
You can find the dolls in some knowledgeable shops sometimes, but you will pay A LOT of money for one there. Fortunately, as I said before, the Hopi are very friendly and gracious people and if you enter their land with respect and some knowledge of what you are looking for they will help you. Of course, they want to make some money but they appreciate someone who appreciates their work also. It also helps, if you are looking for a specific katsina, if you ask for it specifically by name. Like Honan or Kweo (the wolf). Honan the Badger is a healer and I became intrigued by him because there is a badger that lives near the road at the beginning of my driveway. Now, all my life I have lived in Alabama and have never seen a badger, until I moved here. I have only glimpsed him a few times, as they are quite fast, but I'm sure that is what he is. I have seen his striped face. The interesting thing is that this land I have is filled with medicinal plants of all kinds and the Hopi believe that the badger shows the people how to treat themselves because he digs in the ground and knows all the roots. I had a herbalist friend of mine visit a couple of years ago and he was astounded at the variety of helpful plants here in my valley. So, I thought Badger was an appropriate addition to my place.
And, if you are ever on Second Mesa on the Hopi reservation, stop in a little shop called Tsakurshovi and say 'hello' to Janice and Joseph, the owners. They have an amazing collection of katsina, many carved by Janice's nephew, and many other items and books and they will tell you all about the best local sights to see. They are an absolute fountain of information and hospitality.


*Annie Lennox

Sweet Home Alabama

Okay, ya'll knew I was going to have to use that song now, didn't you? lol! We are home finally! We had a great time but it is so good to be home and sleeping in my bed and bathing in my wonderful shower with it's non-chlorinated spring water. We stopped at a grocery store near the house to pick up a few things and I swear, when we walked in, the store was playing 'Sweet Home Alabama' on it's sound system.

I put together a few fun facts of our trip I thought ya'll might like:
*We traveled through 6 states (not including AL) for a round trip total of 5,426 miles.
The states included Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado.
*We visited 9 National Parks or Monuments and hiked somewhere around 22 miles total within these parks.
*The parks included Big Bend, Carlsbad Caverns, The Petrified Forest (which includes part of the Painted Desert), Wupatki/ Sunset Crater, The Grand Canyon, Canyon De Chelly, Aztec, Mesa Verde, and Chaco Canyon. Sorry guys, but we did not stop by Palo Duro. We didn't make it to the area until around sunset and the park would be closing soon so we just kept going. Maybe next time.
* We just happen to stumble upon 2 festivals going on in 2 towns. An art fair in Taos and the big Hot Air Ballon Festival in Albuquerque.

. I have several beautiful mementos from this trip. I'll show those to you in the next post and maybe some more scenery photos.
It really was a trip of a lifetime.

Homeward Bound

Sad but true folks, we are on our way home tonight. We visited Chaco Canyon yesterday and hiked around that area for a while. (I just realized the above photo is not from Chaco but from Aztec; oh well) It was very interesting and it made for some thoughtful reflections at times. I'll write a bit more about that when I get home but for now just a quick post to let everybody know what's going on.

We are worn out basically and ready to go home. I'm tired and tired of my nose bleeding for the past two weeks. Apparently this drastic an altitude change has affected my system quite a lot. It has not been drastic nose bleeds but it's gross and I won't say any more. The dry air has wrecked havoc with many things, let's just say. I feel like those little lizards I have seen in the desert out here! lol!

Anyway, we are on our way back while things are good. And while we still have some money. We are both out of work too, you know. I miss my shady valley with it's clear running creek and the cool mornings I know are waiting for me there.

So, we are in Lubbock, Texas tonight and are going to try to hit Louisiana by sleep time tomorrow. Whether this is possible or not I don't know but we are going to hoof it. Therefore, I probably will not post again until we arrive at my home. I will see ya'll then!

Rock Of Ages

The past few days we have been exploring the Anasazi ruins of Wupatki and Mesa Verde National Monuments. I was quite impressed with the ancients stone laying abilities. Not only are the stones laid with a great technical proficiency but there is a true artistic sensibility to them also.

Even a playfulness in some cases it would seem. They just built around anything they couldn't move and would even throw in an odd colored rock here and there to break up the pattern.

This particular wall is at Wupatki and I just loved how they flushed up their wall with the line of the natural stone foundation so perfectly. It's like the laid stonework just grows out of the earth.
Just beautiful.

This is at Canyon De Shelly, pronounced like Canyon De Shea. A absolutely beautiful place but with horrible history. I felt odd here. This was the start of the Canyon del Muertos (Canyon of the Dead). I believe so named because this is the area where Kit Carson and his men slaughtered so many Navajo as he was trying to drive them from their land. He finally did drive them off to another state, then, the federal government decided the land wasn't worth anything anyway and so they let the remaining Navajos come back. Seems the logic and efficiency of our government hasn't changed much over time.

And this is the ever famous Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde. It was impressive but this is the closest you can get unless you pay the park rangers $50 a head. You can walk through a couple of the other sites by yourself though. You will also hear a lot of French and German being spoken at these sites as those countries seem to have an almsot cultish obsession with our ancient southwest. I found that very curious but the phenomenon is large enough that it has even been written about. Who knew?

We also made a trip through the Navajo and Hopi Reservations an a quest for me to find Honan, the Badger. The Hopi reservation is smack in the center of the Navajos so I had to go through them to get to the Hopi. It was very interesting though and the Hopi are very kind and friendly. The Navajo a little less so but we had a great time. We finally stumbled upon a little store on Second Mesa and met a wonderful Hopi lady and her husband, an Anglo. We talked with them and browsed their store for over an hour I bet. As the Hopi do not like photographs to be taken, I have no pictures but I have recorded the experience in my heart as they say we should. I will introduce you all to Honan the Badger when I return home.

Tonight we are in Durango, CO and will head out for Aztec and possibly Chaco Canyon tomorrow. From there I'm not sure. We are getting tired and missing home a little at this point but are still having a great time and seeing so many wondrous things. Oh, we finally got to try Indian fry bread; it is very good. Something like our southern funnel cakes if dunked in honey.