Feeding birds through the winter has been a family activity for over 25 years. It started as a homeschool project where we could observe wildlife first-hand. We learned about bird identification, social behavior (pecking order on and around the feeder), and which physical characteristics of birds dictated food choices (sunflower seeds, thistle, millet, nuts, berries... Continue Reading →
The End of A Season
When leaves fall as well as the temperature, it is time for me to call an end to my throwing season. Because my back porch is not enclosed, I throw things during the warmer months. The warmer months tend to be May through October around here. But much work remains despite putting my pottery wheel... Continue Reading →
Just Frogging Around
Waiting for me in my splash pan this morning! Gray Tree Frog The frog wanna-be-potter was placed just off the back porch onto a nice cool shady rock. The frog climbed up onto a fern frond. The frog watched me for a seemingly very long time. I honestly thought it was contemplating whether or not... Continue Reading →
Summer! Where did you go?
It has been a bit hot on my back porch this month. I have been firing loads of greenware (air dried unfired clay) in the kiln for a bisque firing. The bisque firing prepares the air dried clay (greenware) for glazing. Days are growing shorter. Kids are back in school. It is the end of... Continue Reading →
Wordless Wednesday From My Back Porch
Mine Mine and Mine New items will be in my shop next month! Meanwhile, enjoy your summer. Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Take Time
The falling leaves gather around my pottery wheel. My throwing days have come to an end for the year. The temperatures have dropped quite dramatically this week making it a challenge to photograph my pottery on my back porch. "They" say it may snow this weekend! This month I have been busy with many behind... Continue Reading →
Squirrel!
Would you look at that! It's mid-October. And here I am running around like a squirrel gathering nuts before the snow falls! Instead of gathering nuts . . . I'm glazing and firing. Glazing and firing. Repeat. Mugs, after their 1st firing, waiting to be glazed. Glazed mugs drying. When I'm not glazing and firing,... Continue Reading →
A Message from BackPorchStudio
2020 has definitely been a challenge for me as well as so many other people. I lost my Mom in June. I lost my Mother-in-law in September. And I lost Missy Kitty in October. Though social media and blogging took a backseat, I have been blissfully busy filling orders @ etsy.com/shop/BackPorchStudio My inventory is low.... Continue Reading →
Behind the Scenes of a Part Time Potter
Today was glazing day. And laundry day. Glazing and laundry on the same day? What could go wrong? I shouldn't ask. It is still 2020 after all! While eating lunch, I noticed a young Robin drinking from one of Miss Kitty's handmade water bowls. It is nice see other critters enjoying a drink from my... Continue Reading →
You Can Lead a Cat to Water
The back porch has a half dozen handmade pet dishes filled to the brim with cool fresh water. I made them just for her, Miss Kitty. She prefers drinking from the Tonka dump truck. It used to be our son's now it's our grandson's Miss Kitty's. So, I keep it filled with cool fresh water.... Continue Reading →
What did I do on my summer vacation?
Originally posted in September 2018! Not much has changed in our backyard. We are a little older and hopefully a little wiser. Summer vacation? Well, I really didn't have one but I sure enjoyed my summer! I enjoy summer, vacation or not. Summer is my favorite season! Being on our back porch throwing things,... Continue Reading →
Sunflowers Maybe
Who doesn't love sunflowers? Creatures big and small love sunflowers! I started planting sunflowers early spring all to have a creature eat every last sunflower seed! I suspect a squirrel. Photo by Juhasz Imre on Pexels.com I planted another round sunflower seeds. Thrilled to see them sprout to six to twelve inches in height! Yeah!... Continue Reading →