Off and Away

In just a few hours, I'll travel to Bolivia to see my extended family there- my father's side of the family. It is a miracle I am going. t will be great fun, yet packing was quite an adventure. Bolivia is beautiful (Andes Mountains and more), yet it is a poor country and it's winter (no snow thankfully) and what do I take for a 10 day trip?

These will go with me. They're gifts for my aunts; each made out of phoenix clay and they have a little bit of design on the top. They're the right size for jahwa (my phonetic spelling) which is a very HOT salsa that is eaten with almost everything. They still claim me as one of the family even though I don't eat it. Not the best picture either. Oh well...

Gotta go find a piece of pottery for my grandparents. And I'm trying to travel light.

I was just thinking and when I'm too busy, one way to know is that I don't have time to read pottery blogs. :( Like today.

How I'll miss being at the studio. Might be able to post some during my trip. I'll be back on the fourth of July.

Time

Time is precious. I really enjoyed my time here, visiting with my parents, siblings, and grandparents while here in PA. Missed seeing my one sister, Maria and her family with a new addition. I have a new niece! :) They live a couple hours away.

Also, this is also the first time ever, I think that I will see both sets of grandparents within a week's time. With one side of my extended family living in Bolivia, I hardly ever get to see them. Plus, it's pretty amazing that with me being in my mid-30's, that all four of my grandparents are still living. I think this is rare. I'm so lucky.

Here are Paul, Anna Mary, and I; a picture taken recently. They have taught me much. Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa! Back to Charlotte tomorrow.

Time Away

Time away from the wheel has been good, although I must admit I really miss it. It's always good to be with my parents and during this visit this city girl (me) has been learning much about what's growing. My mom has a green thumb.... and my dad too. Tonight, Mom picked a few of the black raspberries and I helped a bit. This was the first of the upcoming harvest, so just a half a pint.
Some of these will get eaten. They're organic. :)

Soon, these will be blackberries. Come August, I'm told.

This is fuzzy leaf mint tea which is the best only when made by Mom. My parents sell it at their business (tea with mint it's called), a soft pretzel business at a Farmer's Market in Wayne, PA. The tea is a favorite.

My mom has so many kinds of flowers that there's no way I can capture them all. Here is a beautiful clematis.

There has been alot of rain in PA, but these peach roses have made it through. Gorgeous! I must say too, that it's great to read blogs while away from the wheel. Thanks for the learning in the blogs. I've got lots of ideas for what to do when I return...

Breakfast

Sadly, I'm away from the studio until July 5, when I return from traveling. It's hard to believe I won't be making pots until then or even have my hands in clay. :(

Right now I'm in PA visiting my parents and some siblings for a few days. And this is what I ate for breakfast this morning!

My mom makes the BEST homemade strawberry pie there is. All of it is homemade. She didn't buy the filling; all made with a graham cracker crust. Strawberries from their garden too; I'll take some strawberries back to NC with me (there won't be any pie left!). :) Is there a better breakfast? Maybe I'll have some more pie for dessert at the end of the day.
Glad there's still some left.