yes, it's complicated........

When I set up my Facebook account there was a box marked "relationship"  I checked, "It's complicated".  My email box filled up immediately! 
The onslaught of remarks summed up..... but he is such a nice guy how could you possibly say "It's complicated"? 
However all my friends married over 20 years laughed and said ........ if you've been married 28 years it's always complicated!  I left all remarks unanswered.

The morning started out great!  My "complicated" partner of 28 years went sailing until 1 p.m.  I was in the studio working, the dog was dancing to the Gloria Gaynor; " I Will Survive" and groundhog had found my purple green beans........ life is just so normal some days.
The temperature ramped up to 90 degrees in the shade, with high humidity; my underpants on fire, shirt wringing wet and delusional thoughts swimming in my head after sitting in a studio with a 2200 F. kiln cooling;  I walked out of the studio to find this right about 2:20 pm!

He had just finished mowing the yard in the heat of the day.  I would like to point out he is not fond of mowing so he practices the art of, run mowing.  Mowing is not a race, it's just something that must be done.  He was moving so fast he mowed the tomatoes, the cucumbers, blooming nasturtiums and anything else that crossed the path of the mulching mower.  When I pointed the stubs out to him, he plead ignorance.  What was I thinking?  I left him alone with the mower........... thank goodness the dog was laying splayed on the cool concrete studio floor after his dancing attack or he would have had the mohawk haircut.

So I ask you........ is this attractive? 

Yes, it's complicated.......... and yes, he really is a nice guy! 

  Oh and Happy Birthday Rachael........ this is your Dad.........

hot studios, cold feet and gardens...... oh my!

July 17th and August still to go.......... vacation?  Nahhhhhh, break out the lawn chairs and huddle up next to that kiln!  Whoa!  Gardens are slowing and on my walk last night I noticed the trees looking tired, dusty, droopy and no longer emerald green.  Guess those 90 degree days are taking their toll on everything.  Just about the time my gardens are looking like toast I drag the hose around; a little water and you get a pretty big bang for your buck.

Spending most of my time in the studio this summer and not the garden, my shelves are filling.  Time to fool around with new forms and test glazes.  Round about 2 p.m. my underwear spontaneous lights on fire and it's necessary to retreat to paperwork and email, in the one air conditioned room in the house. 
Running back out to the studio around 6 p.m. and able to work after the sun goes down; Ohio has become the new tropics.  Handles pulled at 10 a.m. and absentmindedly left on a shelf to harden are still flexible the next morning.  Great weather for porcelain!!  Taking advantage of the humidity I started playing around with thrown, altered and joined pots.

Getting ready for the American Craft Exposition in Chicago, http://americancraftexpo.org/
(check out the emerging artist page!!) I am in shear panic mode.  The studio is filling quickly as are the boxes of pots being lugged up stairs and stored in an empty bedroom. 

Some glazes work and some don't........ then again after spending years working on throwing thin I am now thinking of beefing up my pots so they don't split apart with a glaze doesn't quite fit.......grrrrr....

Needing more room in the studio Gestures Gallery, http://www.gesturesshop.com  just graciously took a huge load of functional pots!  Anybody need a pate' dish? 

Definitely feeling like the white rabbit who is very late for a very important date!  As I read their American Craft Expo blog: http://americancraftexposition.wordpress.com/ and go through the website and read the reams of information I have received in the mail I must say I'm getting cold feet.  I really need to make my hotel reservations but why?  Do I really need to leave the sanctuary of my studio?  What was I thinking?  I have no idea why I sell pots...... making, it's all about the making. Selling? Good heavens I hate shows..... feels like I'm standing there with no clothes on and my bacon is in full view.  Abby and Rachael where are you?
I can feel the hives breaking out as I type......... sheesh, get over it and go make pots!

July 4th .........

July 4th....... the dog loves this holiday!  Doggie downers are in order for the weekend and for me too.  Mojito season is upon us. I cut back the mint and just didn't have the heart to toss it in the compost pile; gardeners whip out those cocktail shakers!  Temps have been brutal and I find myself retreating from the garden post haste.  My diet consists of watermelon, ice cream and lemon water.     

Mulch is wonderful thing in this heat!  The gardens look pretty perky considering no rain and 90 degree heat.  Over the years I have taken a hint from mother nature and planted native species or as close as I could get.  The gardens take less touching, less water and seem to tolerate the weather better than plants from ........ Argentina or China.  

Veggies are gasping and the lettuce has bolted.  Not too worry as the kohlarabi and peas have stepped up to the plate.  

Thought I was having a chipmunk or squirrel problem as I noticed peas disappearing at an alarming rate.  No matter as there was still enough to go around.  

Walked out of the studio last week and found the rare giant pea eating lab, belly crawling around the fence and snacking!

My birthday was stellar as I worked the farmers market on a lovely summer day and Rachael sent home the halibut from Alaska!  Holy Halibut!!

from this ....... to this! 

53# of halibut ready for my culinary talents.  

In return I have sent 5# of Slovenian smokies, a bottle of Jim Beam with two of my favorite wood fired shot glasses and 4 mugs to pass out to the crew who helped wrestle this fish in.

Wish I could be there to help drink the Jim Beam and listen to fish tales around the campfire!

Miss you guys!

and HUGE THANK YOU TO:  MINTO!!

Minto made this beautiful cutting board for my kitchen.

Most of the tropical wood is from shipping pallets and old construction projects.

Wood order from left to right:

1. Palm (tropical pallet)

2.  Maple

3.  Ipe'  (Indonesia or S. America)

4.  Paduak (ditto)

5.  Brazil Cherry (pallet wood)

6.  Paduak

7.  black walnut

8.  ??????

9.  Jack Fruit

10.  Maple

11.  Purple Heart

Well campers, the thermometer is registering 88 degrees at 10:30 a.m., humidity is climbing and it's time to go strap on the respirator and mix glazes.  Hoping to fire a kiln by fireworks tonight. 

The dog and I will be under the bed........ 

Happy 4th!!