blogger's latest quirk

 My following list hasn't been working for two days....

I'll catch up with you soon enough!!

sunny day

 A most pleasant day today ..washing done and dried, ironing not done yet...

Study floor has been cleared...then my brother can decide if he wants to sleep there when he comes or on the sofabed. I need to get new curtain rings for the study....ones that the screw in eyes ( that you clip the curtain hooks into) don't pull out of the ring.

Later on I went for a walk through the nature reserve. Where the top exit to fields is there is an apple tree...not ripe yet! Although there were a few handy windfalls.

Across to the next apple trees...past some inquisitive young cows....

I was lucky to see our farmer friend on whose land I forage. I hadn't seen him since Pirate died. He said I was looking well anyway...and so is he at 85, checking round the sheep that are on his fields for grazing, on his quad bike with sheepdog!

I picked another bag of plums and found a different apple tree with plenty brought down by the winds that we've haf the past few days....then home before the bag got too full!

Then the first five foot long row of tatties was dug...and berries  picked from the elder tree that I grew from a cutting.

Making food

 Days at the gallery leave me feeling washed out the following day.possibly because it is a day without much moving around, let alone exercise. Because of that, I don't sleep well..which compounds the problem.

So today was, shall we say...low key. I wasn't a day for much walking either, with sudden showers!

I did a little tidying in the greenhouse. Taking out the tomato plants that are going nowhere, taking off leaves that are past their best.  Hoping that the blight stays out of the greenhouse!

The squash are making the greenhouse all jungly!! the squashes are only large marble size...but it shows what is possible, if I get them going early enough.

The plums that I'd foraged were crying out for attention....Three and a half pounds are now being pickled..a sweet pickle..this takes over a week after the first cooking in the oven, each day boiling up the vinegar syrup then pouring it back over the plums.

I had bought some limes, reduced  to pence..they are now being pickled on the windowsill in a large glass jar.

As the oven was warm...a batch of granola went in. 

None of these were a lot of work...and plenty of breaks were had!

The last job, start a batch of yoghurt..that looks after itself overnight.

Then to Duolingo. The course finished at level 129, I've gone back to the beginning...

We'll see if I remember enough!!

stocking up

 I remembered to take my cards to the gallery today...stocked up, then stocked up a little more after today's sales!!

one side each ...there are two spinners for cards. The red Two Trees is going well, that was the one I made for our wedding invites!

Heron has never sold much..Howlet did but now has stopped..so they came out.

I need to find a way of "de-briefing" /chilling out after going out that doesn't take an hour or so....  you do it then stress that there are other things not yet done....

I've just realised that it is after 9pm and the bed isn't made...not a big job even after hauling back on the mattress topper that  came off to air everything ....but not the time of day I need to be actively doing it!!

cards

 Today has been mainly cards...even when it was sunny outside it was still a strong gusty wind.

This is the latest batch..that and some other designs will come with me to the gallery tomorrow.

colour!

 A mostly sunny day for a change..taking a breather before tomorrow I think!

Today's achievements have been mainly

A jungly greenhouse...

(note to self...sow seeds earlier next year AND look after them properly!)

foraging...apples plums and brambles...and watching swallows...

a much nicer sight than the metal birds that have been roaring overhead for the Ayr International Air show...

I gave my over the road neighbour a couple of pounds each of apples and plums, and received three ripe tomatoes from her greenhouse!

Then after a cuppa, painting time....

Using watercolour washes on a print.

It will be interesting to see how these sell.

I must look through my drawing books and photos to find the next images to make.

successes..and a blogger blip

 First thing, phone the dental surgery...and they could fit me in..so off on the bus on a blustery day.

Teeth sorted in five minutes...it is a matter of getting the technique right! Which is a relief.

Shoes...tough..they ARE leather..but Nubuck is a sort of suède. Nice to see the wee cobbler anyway...and yes, he is a little short of stature! One can of water repellant bought .

It had started that fine very wet rain as I took this photo...the newer building on the left with token references to the one next to it....

With rain and wind...no point in having a day in Ayr. There is also good coffee at home....

I spent the afternoon being productive...

The one on the bottom right is new as a print or card. I made the block a while ago but never took it further. However it has a strength and vitality that will lead somewhere...

Blogger is having a blip again...sometimes I can't reply to a comment...sometimes I can't make a comment....things like this differ between mobile and web versions..

So I'm not ignoring you all..and I'm not the only one this is happening to...Tiggers Mum at least and probably others too.

They'll sort it out soon enough..just carry on regardless!!

new things

 New shoes! 

After getting new top teeth (a new plate) I hopped on the express bus to Glasgow.

Walked down the long hill to Argyll Street and found Clark's shoe shop.

I said "I'd just like another pair like the ones I'm wearing" !!  The lad serving was very doubtful....but eventually I spotted two. One was leather, which I wanted...but the back was far too high and the sole not quite right.

Then I noticed these....Nubuck not leather, so I'll need to treat them somehow..I'll ask the "Little Cobbler" in Ayr.  That is the nearest I'll get to the shoes that I bought ten years ago in the Clark's outlet shop in Gretna Green!!  The old ones will carry on of course, they aren't falling apart quite yet!!

It is another story about the teeth however.

After a sandwich lunch on the bus back...I had an hour in Glasgow and that was enough!!! (far too peoply even on a Thursday lunchtime!!) The rain as we left the city developed into a downpour!!

In Ayr I just went straight for the bus for home....I didn't fancy walking around in that!! The bus took three times as long as usual as the traffic was jammed up for the first two miles. The Ayr Air Show starts tomorrow...

Making supper I thought to take my new teeth out, just to practice....one side won't budge...so I'll be back to Ayr tomorrow!!

What a day!!

being constructive

 

There are now six panels with all the offending nails except one large one that I couldn't shift, removed, loose upright slats nailed tight and missing slats nailed on..

The next step with this job is to get a quote from the fencing company. I have the gates and hinges and possibly enough posts...but they can tell me what else I need.

Today has been a bit frustrating..trying to work out the vest way forward with the kiln and how to phrase what I need to say.

The Oily One has a gauge that might be the right one, so he will post that...when he can find it (!). Meanwhile things must be cleaned and glazing done.  Not a job for a rainy day. I was lucky to have enough dry for doing the fence panels. 

Other than that I've done a little mending before clothes were kept in the drawers. Mended my favourite bag.

Moved the trays of bisqued pots and stacked them on the sideboard, clearing the table for a much needed card printing session. It was easier and less work to do that than to organise the study upstairs!!

So now everything is ready for that, the kitchen is tidyish and the dishes washed.

French practice ...then bedtime and hopefully enough sleep before a fresh start!!

 

Quiet gallery day

 

I added two nightlight/candle pots to my gallery display.

Showers until 11 this morning...when the gallery opens..probably meant that some people didn't come to Culzean...most of it is outdoors...and possibly others were heading home to work, and school. Children here have been back for a  couple of weeks already. 

So apart from two small coach groups, most were walking dogs or perambulating grandkids....Sales were eventually ok...just..and then you have those that roll up with two minutes to closing (4.30) time, mooch around...but at least have the grace to buy a couple of cards before leaving!!

It drains you....either being ignored or responding to people who aren't really interested in your reply.

One decent conversation...a woman had been at the boarding school in Denbigh, Wales and had visited Theatr Clwyd in Mold 

I had then started work as one if the first three staff at Oriel Theatr Clwyd, a long gallery between the smaller theatre space (where snooker tournaments and conferences were held.) and the larger main theatre. This was 1978.

hunting and Values

 Fence painting finished, and with any luck it dried enough before the rain arrived.

(right as forecast on the radar forecast) 

Now I need my claw hammer to remove some nails and to add others as I replace slats...

I have searched everywhere..Twice...I am getting fed up if this game!!

No, it isn't where I last used it...

The last time I saw it, it was during the post Xmas assisted clearout...when I was asked Which of these three are worth keeping?

It will turn up..as soon as I've bought a new one!!

British Values?....should be Human Values..I found this elsewhere....

Positives

 Jobs done today....painted 4½ fence panels of 6 before rain stopped play.

Acquired a balance for weighing small amounts of glaze materials....£40!! It had only arrived at the second hand emporium yesterday!! Plus he gave me a can with some brake cleaner in it to clean the kiln's burners

And thirdly, I've just started a batch of yoghurt to "do" overnight.

Plenty of other things crying out to be done...but these are a good start!

renovated!!

 

Returned this morning....and it is beautiful!!

He did a proper job on refurbishing it..and it is like new!! 

Not a cheap job...but before he packed it to come back here, he was offered £800 for it.....

He guessed correctly..I'm not selling !

I'm looking forward to a warm workshop in winter...and if we get power cuts, somewhere to cook on.....

just another day

 Doing this and that...tidying corners...

Took the burners off the kiln....

That is the end that the flames come out of..

definitely in need of a de-crud!!

For which purpose I went to look for the equivalent of a small bottle brush...but in wire....nothing small enough. It may be done with an electric toothbrush...I'm wondering what might help attack that carbon build up....

I did get some "Red Cedar" fence paint for the fence....of course it rained!! 

Frustrating....so I did the ironing and moved things around in the kitchen!!

recovery!

 Today was mostly a rest day!! Plus last night's...or should we say this morning's..sleep was good, right until 7.30 with only a brief awakening at 5.30!!

I don't think that it was two long drives to Leith and back, 150 mile round trip...it was a relaxing day, observing a kiln being fired, talking life, ceramics and everything!!

I need one of these to help firing my kiln...it shows the pressure in the bottle I think...and us a guide to how much is in there...

So today started late and carried on slowly!!

Still, washing was done....by the machine...and now I've just realised that my bed is still not made..ah well..nicely aired anyway! Not a big job to make it.

Today's sad news is that I think the rest of the potatoes have caught blight....I had wondered....hopefully it hasn't spread right to the tubers...I've cut off the tops and made sure nothing is above ground, then covered with cardboard. One reason is not to have any bare earth , the other so that spores don't get washed down into the soil if it rains.

We'll see...

just for a change..

 Something different

scrubbing six fence panels ready for painting.

And when I find the Safe Place that tbe hinges are hiding in...I can ask someone to install it all!!

The blogosphere...and her other friends and family...lost Joanne the weaver yesterday .

A feisty woman with skills and strong beliefs in justice.

Over the years it felt as if we had met. But we never did.

Good in Parts

 Anyone remember the story about the Curate's egg? He was invited to tea with the Bishop....boiled eggs, bread and butter, tea....and at the end the Bishop asked him how his eggs had been. Well...they had been a little...."off"...but he couldn't say that...so he replied.."Good, in parts"....

As was the firing ...took far too long, one burner didn't work properly, I need to remember how to do all this, how to adjust secondary air and fire efficiently...

plus the roof of the kiln is sagging a little more....

I doesn't help that it has just been sitting for 14 years...and that I've been doing other things..

I probably need advice on this!! 

First , though...check the burners tomorrow.

Elephant!!

 Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar.

How it arrived on the back door mat I don't know!!

Now moved to the wildlife corner with the clump of nettles....which I think have been home to the peacock and tortoiseshell butterflies that have been in my garden this past week 

first firing

 Tbe first firing didn't go completely to plan...it took a while to get it lit...and I'm remembering slowly (with the help of the firing log book) how to fire it.

A slight problem at the end was that the second burner refused to stay lit. This meant that it took longer to fire...and will probably be uneven. But we will see when it comes to opening time, hopefully tomorrow afternoon.

Good news..the first feed of beans!

This looks well'pollenated

I have the first three ripe blueberries too, but it looks like the collar doves have found them as well as there are broken twigs and missing fruit...

and the day finished in technicolour!!