Pottery. Photography. And All Things Handmade.
We enjoyed Christmas morning with our grown children and grand. We carry on the tradition of Citrus Eye Opener punch, Creamy Potluck Potatoes and Chex Mix. New Year's was quiet. Time spent reading, reflecting and watching collage football. Meanwhile we set out peanuts everyday for our resident squirrel and birdseed for the birds . .... Continue Reading →
What better way to welcome the month of December? Snow! Squirrel was quite happy to see me set out peanuts! Just as I turned to go into the house, squirrel leapt off the tree branch and bounded toward the pile of peanuts on the back porch. The birdbath, filled with leaves and water, froze over... Continue Reading →
Believe it or not, tender sadness & sparkling joy are able to mingle. Surprisingly, bittersweet ache and hearty laughter can fit together like a hand in a glove. ~Linda Stoll Broken-Hearted Holdiays
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 →
Winter is on the way. I can feel it. Yesterday's storm brought high winds, rain, cooler temperatures and a double rainbow. We are to have our first frost this week but the flowers don't seem to know it. Delicate pink nasturtium caught my eye. Looks as if it is a watercolor painting. I strolled through... 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 →
Summer is here! Things are heating up on my back porch . . . in between rain showers, of course. I've been working on dragonfly mugs for what seems like a long time. Now they are glazed and ready to fire. As I was rolling my kiln onto my back porch from the garage, the... Continue Reading →
It was a busy week last week now that spring has definitely sprung. The dandelions are thriving IN the garden bed! I thought they looked so cheery and left them there. In fact, I decided to not plant a vegetable garden this year for a several reasons: Squirrels and rabbits eat everything and I mean... 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 →
I knew it was going to happen. Why? Because it happens every year. Winter. Winter. Winter. Blah. Blah. Blah. Then WHAM spring! Everything is popping: our adorable yellow winter aconites, daffodils, tulips and forsythia. The grass is quickly coming out of dormancy. Husband predicts we could be mowing by the end of the month 😳... Continue Reading →
Snowed in. Under the weather. I picked up my camera and started shooting pictures of our resident squirrel and neighborhood song birds. These were taken through the sliding door with me sitting on the dinning room floor. LOL Kindness is like snow. It beautifies everything it covers. ~Kahlil Gibran
As I was attempting to summarize my thoughts on this past year and the new year, the following words from my morning readings came into focus: Teachable spirit Listening heart Speak less Fear is bigger than the fail Stories have power to teach and inspire HE is active in our story A shared story God... 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 →
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 →
Last day of July?!? 😱 Summer seems to be zooming along! Foxes have moved on. Rabbits have moved back. So, I resorted to growing lettuce in a bucket near the house away from little bunnies. I think my bucket of home grown lettuce is coming along nicely. The squirrels finished off my sunflowers and have... Continue Reading →
All creatures great and small. From my back porch, I see them all! Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. ~ John Muir
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 →
Tying up loose ends before leaping into spring's busy season. It has been a seemingly long two weeks behind my new computer. I never realized how slow and clunky my old computer was until I was forced to buy a new one. Everything so new, pristine and fast! Books I've read over the winter include... Continue Reading →
365 days behind me. Joys. Sorrows. Accepting all. Gratitude. Boldly and bravely stepping into a New Year. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
Back Porch Studio 