Pottery. Photography. And All Things Handmade.
Last week we took a trip to the mountains of Western North Carolina home to my side of the family. I wish I could say the trip was for pleasure but the goal was to attend to family estate business. Though my North Carolina elders have all passed, we were left to sort through contents... Continue Reading →
The calendar says it is autumn but the Cosmos say otherwise! Click on each image below for a larger view. Be sure to notice the pollen dust on the busy bee! Sunflowers are finished. I harvested their seeds for next year. Left a few for our resident squirrel. 🐿️ We had two special guests this... Continue Reading →
As summer comes to a close, so does a chapter in my life. My childhood home will be empty for the first time since we moved in forty seven years ago. Though my Mom and Dad passed away some time ago, my little brother continued to live in the house where he raised his two... Continue Reading →
Waves of memories. Waves of grief for a life taken too soon. But also waves of joy for the life we had together as sister and brother. Just as there are waves in the ocean, grief has waves too. Some waves are gentle. Some waves surprise me. And some waves knock me off my feet.... Continue Reading →
My little brother passed away last week after a short, fierce battle with cancer. I admired the passion with which he lived his life and the joy he found in music. He was a gifted self-taught musician. Guitar was his instrument of choice. When he wasn’t earning his living on a roof, he spent his time... Continue Reading →
It was May 20th when I finally sat down behind my pottery wheel for this throwing season. It takes me four to six weeks to create pottery from a ball of clay to a glazed piece. My newest addition to my standard mugs are my dragonfly mugs which came about accidentally! The first mug I... Continue Reading →
Finally! A slight break in the rain last week! Three days of glorious sun! 🌞 Which means I have been busy in my back porch studio and back yard. The first job I tackled in my back porch studio was cleaning my kiln shelves. As a potter, keeping kiln shelves in tip top shape is... Continue Reading →
I am back behind my wheel throwing things! Because my back porch studio is open to all the elements and whims of Mother Nature my production is determined by the weather. We have had rain and thunderstorms just about every day for two weeks which is slowing production down quite a bit. Meanwhile, the squirrel(s)... Continue Reading →
Warm but not warm enough. Lawnmowers on the back porch for maintenance. Folding chairs are in the back of the car along with blankets, coats and umbrellas for soccer season is under way. My pottery wheel tucked away against the wall waiting patiently. Meanwhile, my brother was back in the hospital for ten days. His... Continue Reading →
My family elders have all passed away leaving me with boxes and boxes and boxes of old photographs, letters and memorabilia. I'm left piecing our family history together from boxes, something my elders said they would do one day. Photographs tell a story, unlock memories, and reveal connections to people, places and time. While sorting... Continue Reading →
Life is made up of moments and if we're lucky to have a camera near, we snap! Click on an individual picture below to start a slide show and read captions. "When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness."... Continue Reading →
The first day of the Winter Solstice ~ the shortest day of the year here in the Northern Hemisphere. Chilly but no snow today. A sigh of relief and joy as parcels and packages have reached their destinations! I've made my lists and I'm checking them twice, three times and more! The house is quiet.... Continue Reading →
Change. Adult children. Changing holiday traditions. Adjust. All things new again. In the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. Kahlil Gibran
Last week we had our first snow! The snow dusted the back porch and some late blooming flowers. We had our first snow! First snow on top of blooming flowers. Last week my brother had surgery. His is now home after a successful surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his lung. Thank you for... Continue Reading →
A carpet of leaves are scattered across the back porch. I fired my last kiln load of the season. I made new plate settings to go with our new kitchen and I am tickled with the results! The mug on top is a prototype of soup mugs I plan to add to my shop next... Continue Reading →
The days are shorter. The nights are longer. This summer's end we find ourselves gathering pumpkins! Grandson found the largest pumpkin. It weighed forty pounds! 😳 I picked up a teeny tiny pumpkin weighing in at one pound two ounces. Once home, the carving of the Jack-O-Lanterns began! We had enough pumpkin and pumpkin seeds... Continue Reading →
A huge thank you to everyone for your kind thoughts and prayers! 🥰 I was reluctant to post anything about my brother's crisis but I am glad I did. We are making our way through fear, anxiety, many doctor appointments and a lot of waiting. Meanwhile . . . I continue to throw on my... Continue Reading →
He's making progress. Not at quickly as he and I would like but it's progress. Mental illness and depression are not easy subjects to tackle, despite the fact that many of us have had contact or personal experience with it. It can be debilitating, frustrating, even deadly. It is horrific to witness such suffering. But,... Continue Reading →
Friends, if you are so inclined, please pray for my brother and every area of his life: healing and peace to replace pain and loss. Thank you so much❤️
Happy Thanksgiving! "What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?" Erma Bombeck
“Grandma! Grandma! There are snakes in the pine trees!” our grandson shouted excitedly as he was running to the back porch. Knowing that we do have at least one snake I thought to myself, “Drat, that snake had babies!” So, I grabbed my camera and asked our grandson to show me the snakes. (Yes, I grabbed my... Continue Reading →
I'm trilled to have help with seemingly mundane household chores. Laundry, especially. Laundry seems to be one unending chore. When dear husband helps, I love it. Lately, however, his help has created a small problem for dear daughter and me. You see, dear daughter and I are approaching the same size in everything. As I'm... Continue Reading →
Back Porch Studio 