Watching clouds

What's that big black cloud in the sky?

There are lots of white clouds, and there's blue up there too...

Oh my, looks like...

The fog is in the valley, and that's the ridge line that's grey...that's earth up in the sky!

I love living in the mountains.  And lest you think I'm just sitting on my balcony looking at clouds (or through the window more likely) I did get to Lake Tomahawk this week.  So more of those shots tomorrow.

The clouds were still playing games with mountains when I got to the lake.

Today's quote:

Extend the boundaries of the glowing kingdom of your love, gradually including your family, your neighbors, your community, your country, all countries -- all living sentient creatures.

Paramahansa Yogananda

On habits

There are the kind of habits which make our lives easier, in that we can be thinking of something else while we step into our slacks with one foot first rather than the other, or put that sock on first, or even brush our teath on that side first...easy going habits.

Then there are the ones that just evolve over time and then we notice that they don't work any more.

This morning I realized how much my morning routine followed the demands of my pets.  And how I had a habit of sitting at the computer with my sweet Muffin demanding more and more as the years went by.  I of course provided what I could, and received a warm lap buddy some of the time.  Now that she can no longer wake me up, her sister-in-kind does, in her very own manner. 

As Panther steps on my hair on the pillow then settles in to purr and sleep on top of my head, I am reminded of all those meows and pats and even claws on skin that Muffin would give me.  And when Panther doesn't want to sit on my lap any more, I wonder if she only used to do it because I liked it.  She has a claw problem, and has to be very careful about how any fabric can catch her claws.  I love waking up with my pet demanding my help.  It makes me have a good reason to get out of bed on dreary mornings.

But back to topic. 

Bad habits are such that we receive no benefit, unless it's possibily an immediate gain with a long-term-pain attached to it.  Good habits are those that our mothers tried so hard to instaill in us.

The trick is to see which ones are worth keeping, at least to see that we have them.

That's one good thing about recently moving...I'm setting up some new habits...routines which I didn't have before.  And obviously leaving behind some as well.

There are still too many tuperware tubs of things in my small home.  I have habitually ignored them.  But since I try to not be a hoarder...(she tells herself frequently) I must work to combat the "save it you might need it later" attitude.

Off I go to try to live more intentionally.  Wish me luck!

 Quote for today:

Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps.

DAVID LLOYD GEORGE

New color combo

New for me, anyway...a combination of turquoise satin liner on bowls and cups.

Then Matt Black exterior.  But the edges were dipped in a glaze we call plum.
It's plum lovely the way different colors come out of it.  On the turquoise side...deeper drippy blues.
On the black side, melting purples.

These bowls aren't as deep as some I've made in the past.  But they are heavy duty to keep that soup/stew/pot pie nice and hot till it's all gone.  And just imagine how lovely it will look!

These are easy stacking, easily dishwashed, microwavable, and ok in an oven that isn't too hot when the bowl is placed in it and the contents aren't cold. 

Special price too, and I'll probably be taking orders...at the Tailgate Market the next 3 Saturdays...last outings!  But there are still 2 more sales (indoors) which I'm scheduling.  Holly Jolly at Black Mountain Center for the Arts 5-8 pm on Fri. Dec. 4. That's upstairs next to the gallery.

And my final sales opportunity for this year is the McDowell County Appalachian Potters Market, at the Marion High School on Sat. Dec. 5, from 10-4.  I know this is a ways out to put on your calendars, but it's the best show, and I'm one of the lucky potters (in a booth with Cathy Babula).

Living with character defects

By my age I've accepted that I'm just a certain way.  Acceptance doesn't mean change, unfortunately, at times.

That I am a creative person is something I don't want to change, and is probably not a defect of my character.

I'm honest...another character trait that's mostly lauded.

But I'm a terrible housekeeper, a poor maintenance type.  So I'm accepting it, and still working to at least make myself be more able to live in a clean house.  Well, with allergies that knock me down with coughing, it's a survival trait that I now depend upon.  That there may be mold behind these freshly painted (built in 1981) walls, just indicates to me that I've got to work extra hard to keep my side of the new paint cleaner.

I now don't leave the tub to dry after a shower...it's got to be dry within an hour of a fan or the window being open.  Nothing is allowed to drip drip drip either.

But back to my current dilemma.

Can you see the little dust ring left from the glass left on the dresser for just a few weeks?

There's construction going on, and I leave windows open when I can.  So dust has been settling on everything for this first month of living here.

Oh no, this means it's everywhere!

So I can't possibly pick up each piece of pottery and dust it and the shelf which held it.  Can I?
Nope, my solution is to pack some of the pots back up...label where I pack them (of course) and not have them collecting dust.

I need to dust regularly too.
Any other solution?

I wish I had a grandchild around who could do this.  Wouldn't that be nice?  But they all live hundreds of miles away.

Shucks.  I'll have to wear a face mask to do this.  But it's time to put my big girl panties on and go to work.

Sunshine envy

What's that white bright light up there in the sky?  It's too bright to look at, as all the white clouds magnify the glare.  The fog in the dips between the ridges is thinning in its presence.

But rain is our usual fare these days.

I wish I didn't need to sell pottery at an outside venue.  Oh my!

But having so much rain here is just as understandable as having none in other places...a bit of the earth that is adjusting to what these little ants called humans have been able to wield as their influence upon nature.

For now I shade my eyes in joy from that bright sunlight.

And I'm so terribly grateful to have a secure warm dry home.

Today's Quote:

Each of us can become a blessed channel of peace for the healing of Earth's wounds: We can awaken from apathy and find creative, non-violent ways to transform the abuses rampant in today's world.

Nan Merrill with Barbara Taylor
Peace Planet: Light for Our World

All tidied up

Coats can hang behind the front door now.  Thanks to a dear friend who can wield a hammer and drill and screw-driver much better than I can.

Kitchen has lots of personal touches now.

Put out some snacks for folks who might or might not come over, since rain is forecast.

Peek into bedroom to make sure cat is comfy in the bathroom and not able to dash outside.

My desk/laptop/CD player/ fish tank and TV...everything for business and entertainment!

A rather long room is nicely divided by the love seat.

A lovely house blessing was enjoyed by all my guests...and especially me.  Thanks ladies!

Quote for today:

...there are no wrong turns, only unexpected paths.  Mark Nepo

My life as background to creativity

Good November first...
All Saints day, for those who know saints.  I've learned a few from my Catholic friends.  And researched a few just out of curiosity.

I'm relaxing here with coffee at desk, on laptop with fingers stretching and wiggling again. 
They've been doing other things lately.  Not pottery, alas.

But next week yes!  Christmas is upon us full swing.  So something or another to celebrate that season.

Remember when stores didn't do Christmas till the day after Thanksgiving?  Ha ha.

I've got waaay more pottery than a "hobby potter" should have.  On the other side of that, I've got waaaay more pottery than a "clay artist" should have.  That's what I chose to call myself.  So there's lots of art, artistic things, and not so artistic functional things around my house.  And not all made by yours truly.

This afternoon I'm doing a House Blessing, to officially make this new apartment my own nest.  Some friends will help with an elemental blessing.  I'm looking forward to that.  (So far it's not raining here!)

Blogging has really been fun, my journalling of various experiences.  Should I keep doing this?  I'm kind of making it less about clay work and more my own life these days.  Mmmm...perhaps my own life has become the forefront where it will again settle into the background to creativity.

We shall see.  First see ya in the funny papers...

Quote for today:
The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed. Carl Jung