Packing Peanuts, D.C. and Bubble Wrap, Please!

 So, I spent time with family last week, celebrating fourth of July and well, actually just celebrating life together.  My parents are amazing; pottery is definitely a family thing as they've been collecting packing peanuts.  Brought over 7 bags back with me in my rental car, plus some boxes that I found at a nearby auction place and broke down.  (Boxes on left).  What is harder to find is bubble wrap.... or poppers.  Any ideas as to where to get that from--- would love to used recycled bubble wrap as I shop boxes from here to there.

 Came back and my plants are happy- due to the rain around lately.  Cuts down on the water bill too, which is a very good thing.

On my way driving back from PA I stopped in DC which was wonderful, yet a bit overwhelming and HOT!  I have blisters on my feet to prove.  It was a gorgeous hot day and I thought to myself of how much I would love to live near DC.  So many sights to see; I hardly saw much in the 4 hours I was there.  The 90 degree heat slowed me down a bit...  Next post will be about what I did see.

The Washington Monument.  Heard it was damaged in the earthquake.  Didn't know that- scaffolding all around... 

 Spent lots of time in PA with these two.  Precious Lily and Garrett- almost 5 and almost 3.  Life is too short to not be with family.  Even though I'm 8 hours away, I see family every other month or at least once every three months.  It's so worth the extra money.  It was simply wonderful having two little helpers or sidekicks around much of the time.  They are so well behaved which makes a huge difference.  They even helped me load the packing peanuts into my rental car.  Of course, they thought they were real peanuts when I said that word.  :)
Most importantly, they are full of tons of love and joy which made our time together unforgettable.  They grow so fast; they are so precious.

Here's a snapshot of my next post.  Went to a museum on the Mall that had a Ceramics Exhibit!  Lucky me.  Of course, I spent most of my time at the mall right there.  More soon...
Any ideas about where to get recycled bubble wrap?

Oh, and found this frog outside my garage door.  It has been so wet-- that the green frogs are so happy! Initially, he was in an old pottery bowl of mine playing in the rainwater collected in it.  Then I scared him, unknowingly....  Thanks for reading!  

Happy Fourth! Colors Everywhere

Happy Fourth of July!  Was just thinking how easy it is to take for granted our freedoms.
This just happened to be my breakfast.  Whole wheat waffles with fresh fruit and syrup.  Yum!  Even picked the red raspberries myself here at my parent's house.  :)
This reminds me that colors, art, and designs are absolutely everywhere- which inspires me to go put some clay out in the sun--- to help reclaim it.  :)  My sister Maria is on her way with her family and my brother Matthew will be here at some point so it will be a busy wonderful day.  Looking forward to it but enjoying a quiet, gentle morning.

Reclaiming Clay Wisdom, an Outdoor Auction Market and Free Boxes!

 Before reclaiming clay talk, here are two of my favorites- my niece and nephew.  I love it when they hear my name and RUN--- I mean run to me.  Age 4 1/2 and 2 1/2.  They are among the best.

Even though the ground was wet we picked black raspberries, mulberries, and in this basket is peas and also some mint tea.  They both ate as many berries as we picked.  They choose fruit over ice cream often for dessert.  I love this!  

 Now onto reclaiming clay.  I brought this bag full of clay trimmings and these plates and another whole bag to begin to reclaim.  No pug mill.  Just the old fashioned way.  I usually just put it out to dry in blobs in the sun, yet there isn't any sun these days.  Might put it downstairs next to the furnace to dry out a bit.  Any reclaiming clay wisdom?  It just takes SO MUCH TIME.  Oh well...

 Went to the nearby Roots Auction market with my sister Marcella this morning.  It was so funny how just about ANYTHING, and I mean anything was for sale.  Like these old soda pop cans above.  Mello Yellow, RC, Crush, sarsaparilla, you name it!

 And then things were for sale that I never imagined would be.  Like an old E.T. metal tray and play cars that didn't have all their wheels.  Worse than a yard sale, but oh so funny!

 Back at my parent's house.  So much rain that the flowers and plants are so green and the soil is just wet.  The caladiums are gorgeous and well, there's even a mushroom of some kind in the bottom left hand corner of the picture.

 Didn't go dumpster diving but got these boxes at the old auction market from the candy stand.  My parents also save and keep an eye out for peanut fillers and the plastic poppers that I'll take back with me as I'm out...

 More gorgeous flowers... my mom is the best gardener I know.  She makes it look easy.

 Oh, and back to the Roots Market.  Marcella loved the $1 table.  She ended up buying a necklace for well, $1.

 Even the coca cola display had some interesting things on it.  Notice- more cans!

And then there's James, Marcella's boy.  Another favorite.  He's almost 13 mos. old and loved throwing the peas out of the basket.  Crawling everywhere and oh so cute!  Next summer he'll be running around....  And he has more curls than some 2 year olds!  Sweet, caring boy.
Thanks for reading... and I'd love your reclaiming wisdom!  I wonder if there is a faster way for those of us who are pug-mill less.

Zinnias, a Break and a New Form

 Zinnias from seed!  Oh, and wildflowers too.  Great to grow in part because they're inexpensive to buy from seed.  There's been a bunch of rain recently- so the flowers are happy.  Me too (little watering needed)!

 Am spending some time with family so today I'll miss Moral Monday---- gathering to protest what's going on with the legislature in NC.  Thankfully, thousands are expected to gather at the General Assembly building nonviolently protesting about things like the fact that NC decided to refuse the federal assistance for over 70,000 who are receiving unemployment benefits.  So starting today- that many and their families will go without.  That's just ONE of the many issues.  Google Moral Monday and North Carolina to find out more.

 Can't remember if I've posted this before- I'm glad that I'm finished making plates for awhile and am eager to try new glazes.  Just gotta buy a little dry glaze materials to test them out.  Looking for a clear blue one and happily I've found a recipe to try!

 Am in PA and on my way up from NC I passed by DC and just had to stop at the Washington National Cathedral.  Could see myself living in the DC area in the years to come.  Oh, how I love that place!

 I never can get enough time in it.  A holy place- and one that is respected, no matter what one believes!  Many a president's funeral was held here, and countless other 'big' gatherings.  I arrived at the middle of an Evensong service.  Heavenly choir music filled the space!

 So, part of the joy is that I get to play with these two while here.

 And this one will soon be walking.  (13 mos. old now).

And well, here's my sister and I (Maria is on the left).  Being what we were- two peas in a pod.  I just saw this pic on the kitchen counter.  No wonder people thought we were twins at that age!  

 There doesn't seem to be enough time in the studio these days.  I am in PA for a few days so that means more time away from the wheel and it has been a wonderful break I must say to have time in between jobs.  Inventory is low though and I have several sales coming up, so next week I'll get back to the wheel and make more bowls like this one and some new forms too.

 Here's a random picture.  With all the rain a toad emerged outside my studio.  Sorry for the blurry pic, but he was so small and a bit frightened of me...

 And the gladiolas are blooming!

 Beautiful orange...

My latest tumbler.  6 inches high.  Will make the next ones taller as they'll get smaller in the kiln...  This one just emerged.  I'm finding out it takes awhile to come up with a new form that I like.  This one is a keeper.  May write words on it using an underglaze pencil and see how that works, because it's too thin to etch words on using a sgraffitto tool.
Thanks for reading and for keeping in touch too.