More Surprises

I had an unexpected visitor today. My friend, Al the potter stopped by. Now I'm set for Christmas gifts for some of my team members. I can't (won't) show you what I purchased, but be sure they are special. He is involved in various activities of the area, including one this weekend. Check out the links.

Artist Tour

The next big happening is the annual Pumpkin Tour coming up soon.

Pumpkin Trail

I am honored to know this man. He is a very special friend.

Local Update

Kirk Van Zandbergen is the photographer who created these shots with his drone when in my town recently. They are amazing and so beautiful.  He is the owner at Van Zandbergen Photograph - Studied Industrial/Scientific Photography at Brooks Institute of Photography. The first photograph is named "Winter Solstice in Montrose Pennsylvania."  His prints are for sale by personal request. 

And now for my weather report. It wasn't as awful here as it could have been. The orchid photo is from yesterday. It is thriving well!

I took the thermometer pictures at 7am this morning. Quick shots! I trickled water from both kitchen and bathroom faucets to be sure although good heat tape is in action as usual every year. We didn't loose power! Today there is a windy situation, but it's not extreme. 

Well that's all for today. Maybe I'll just start my annual paper shredding project during the next few days. Old electric shredder long gone, so heavy duty scissors will be put to good use!

Bowl Me Over!

It all started when My friend The Potter posted a photo of him holding the first large bowl he completed while in college. (Marywood University is a higher education institution in Scranton, PA. Study academic programs in biotechnology, architecture, communications, art and more.)

Here is the photo and the text that got my interest: July 6, 2021...Dad was cleaning and found an old time box of pots from 20 years ago and in it was one of the very first large centerpiece bowls I was able to get through the gas kiln at Marywood University in 2001. The rim roll was not completely closed but it appears done was better than perfect at the time. Mum has all my early things. She shows them to visitors when they stop by. A bit embarrassing. 

My thought was, "Gee I would really like to have that bowl!" The next thing was that he had another post: 

Description

This Large Centerpiece Bowl was handmade by my own hand and fired to 2300f in the gas kiln.

The bowl measures 12 in. wide by 5.5 inches high.

All proceeds from this sale will go to a fund to benefit Bill Payne and family to help with medical bills.

Aug 28, 2021

I have a large centerpiece bowl and a platter I am putting up for sale to help raise money for Bill Payne and Family for medical bills.  If you wish to purchase, click the link.

                         SOLD! Thanks so much!

Didn't I jump right in! The proceeds of the sale will go to the fund raised to help the family in need, and Al and I benefit, knowing we have contributed. 

Al brought it over to me today. Just touching this 20 year old gem makes me feel good, but best of all is the history of when it was made, who made it, and how it will help others.

He enclosed a nice card for me and I will treasure both the bowl and the card and most of all - the friendship of this special man.

I'm already thinking of cold salads, cake batter, fresh whole fruit, and so much more....

Don't forget to tap on image to view larger

Sweet Beauty and a New Pot!

This has been a day with lots of activity. It started off with the PT giving the Mister a real workout at 8:30 AM.  Then a long-time friend and neighbor picked up my laundry and delivered it back before supper. Gee, such service! Another neighbor took the time to pick up the Mister's insulin from town and deliver it here. We don't want to run out of that as I had ordered it the day before. A phone pep talk came from our daughter who lives nearby. I went out to the road, got the mail and brought back some Iris that were in bloom at the corner of the porch so I could have their beauty nearer. I had planned ahead and had scissors with me as I was determined to have some in here. They don't last long, but I do it every year.  My mother or perhaps my father had planted them sometime in the 60 years that the cabin has been here and they are a treasure to me. There are more on the beach front, but I dare not try to walk there. The doctor's nurse called and helped with advice regarding whatever might be needed if he isn't improving. Options were discussed.    A N D... A BIG surprise delivery came from my dear "Pot Delivery Guy." You know, the artist who is a newer friend and so very talented and generous with his work and interests. WOW! WOW! It has been quite a day.

please tap on image to view larger if you please

A big thanks to all who encourage and help us through this big change in life. We have a huge support system going on and it is very helpful. The blogging community is such a strong support that I treasure it too. It is connecting. Important.

P.S. Most of my friends know that I really don't care for cut flowers from a florist and only treasure those from home-grown flowerbeds and all wildflowers. 

Out and About

A friend took me for a ride today and we had many laughs and a really nice time together during the trip. The Creek Road Pottery was the destination. I needed more bowls. I came home with two more soup bowls and another bread baker! I got to meet the potter's mother, Nancy, a lovely woman and receptionist at the pottery sales/display barn. There were other artists there as well with their art and it was a wonderful morning for me.

I say I needed more bowls. Of course that means that I wanted more bowls. The first two I bought a while ago are perfect for soup, cereal or ice cream but I wanted two more just a tiny bit larger. Got 'em! I also got another little bread baker and now we can have larger stews and meals served in them as well as baking the breads.  

I would tell you that if you never have had a hand-crafted kiln fired and glazed bowl, you are missing out on a special feeling when you hold and use it. The best part is that the potter himself is a very nice man who bends over backwards to please and is a true artist in every meaning of the word. Lucky me! Affordable art!

Of course since you can't really touch and feel these with your hands you can click on an image and give your eyes and mind a treat!

Sunday Surprise

Today the potter stopped by to pick up a box and packing materials that I had saved for his reuse after he delivered my fermentation pot on May 3. He came with a surprise for me. Another first! This little mug has the same rutile glaze as the other pot but it is special because it is a first try at using the speckled clay with manganese which gives it a peppery specked look on the bottom where there is no glaze. His composition is really pleasing to my eye with the ribs in the center of the body. Best of all - it is one of his "wobbly top" mugs. Yes, the rim is not a perfect circle. It feels really nice when I hold it in my hands. It hold 1 1/3 cups of liquid.  I treasure it already. I love my gas fired mug gift! These are his pictures of my mug. 

He also brought the gift of a book that he read and I already had it on my library list to order: "Man's Search For Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl. I look forward to the read.

+++++++++++++++++

Someday, 100 years from now, a little glazed mug will be found among stuff saved in an old barn or home, and the finder will say, "I know who made this! It is a clay artist from the year 2020, you know, the COVID-19 Pandemic year! He did great work and everyone loved his creations. This is valuable in many ways! His name was Al Wayman."

Glass Art and THANKS Brother!

I have wished for a crystal ball ever since the early 1960's. I thought maybe I could see visions of some sort by looking in the ball in a quiet place of solitude. Then I forgot about one until just lately when I see that photographers are using and experimenting them in their artistic works. Again I wished for one and even bookmarked a page to buy myself one but could never justify the expense. I wanted a high quality and large one! I mentioned it to my brother a couple of weeks ago because I knew both he and my nephew had made some in the past. I remember my nephew tried to take a picture outdoors on a sunny day and, as he was holding his reflective sphere, he experienced a burned thumb when trying to take a photo. My brother had designed a machine to make glass spheres in his "glassman" business. He told me he sold a lot of them.

Nephew's thumb burning

Several years ago, both of them visited an artist who lives about 30 miles from us. They came back excited and he had given them each some pieces of his glass to work with. Today a large ball, made by my brother of Christopher Ries's glass was given to me. It measures about 3.15" (approx. 80mm) and weighs 650g (about 22.93 oz.) Brother created it from one of the square blocks of optical glass. I was overwhelmed! I set it on a hard plastic dip cup and took 3 pictures. Now I need to make a velvet pouch for it's keep!

 I am thinking about finding a round clear rubber ring to help place it on things to shoot my pictures. Something soft so as not to scratch it. To learn more about Christopher Reis, click on the links below. He was just featured on our local tv station about a week ago.

Christopher Ries

Christopher-Ries
Christopher Ries on Local TV

Keepin' Busy Today

Busy day in the old cabin this morning. Son-in-law just came over to take our 2006 truck for state inspection. He’ll go over it thoroughly first to be sure it’ll pass. We feel safe when we travel, knowing it is maintained so well. 

I have old fashioned style split pea soup simmering on the stove. Yesterday I cooked down the Easter dinner ham bone, put the pot outdoors overnight to bring the fat to the top so I could skim it off this morning and start the soup. It will be finished this afternoon and I will share some with our daughter, when her husband returns to deliver our truck. 

It is pouring down moderate to heavy rain as I write. The Mister is shredding old files that I shouldn’t have kept since 2002! Now it must be done. We have been procrastinating attacking this project for way too long. It is a start but will probably take us all summer to complete. The shredder is a small size and needs to rest and cool down after every ten minutes of work. The Recycling Center will take it all if we empty the big black bagfuls into the waste paper bins. So far we have two of them! We have no other way to eliminate such an accumulation of personal documents. 

We hung a clock and a lovely tile of a hand-painting on the log wall today. The clock was a recent gift from a dear long-time friend. The artist who painted the tile is well known in our area and a lovely lady and friend to boot. I’m proud to have two pieces of her work. The “Roosters” is a wonderful depiction of our country life.

Since going outdoors to clean up the yard is out of the question today, I hope to make some Rice Crispy Treats this afternoon to appease the sweet tooth issue we both have.

If you would like to see more of Christine's work, please click on the links below.

Artworks by Christine Lathrop

Art For Sale by Christine Lathrop