More spring cleaning

Sorting stuff is painful work. At least I have managed to reduce things considerably, and what I need will show as I start making again.
The wheel and shelves are ready for the off!

It has been a beautiful bright sunny day with intensively blue sky. A breath of Spring to keep us going until it really gets into the swing of it! More cold and possibly wet weather is forecast, we just have to hang on in there and think of sun!!

At least all the washing is done, dried ironed and mostly put away- I draw the line at putting other peoples' stuff away!! The house is getting cleaner and tidier.
Today I painted an alcove in the Living Room ready for shelves to be put there. It will have a curved arch at the top to match its mate on the other side of the fireplace-which is at present in jigsaw form.....we'll get there one day soon!!

Springcleaning

I've been sorting and tidying- honest!! Now I can get to my wheel again thanks to extra shelving from Daughter and her Husband. The gas kiln flue is at last connected, the rafters above need clearing and wrapping in ceramic fibre blanket and foil.
It is surprising how many mark making tools I have squirreled away over the last forty odd years. Time to get them all out and have a cull-not an easy job! When your workshop is compact, and not everything is in it yet....needs must!!
The Pot Rack Deluxe has started work with the sorting!!
At least this is better than spreading boxes all over the floor.

It is turning cold now and the Valley chills sooner than the Mountain, being in the shade from mid-afternoon.

mountain walk

After collecting and stacking a carfull of horse manure for the allotment, we set out on a pony hunt once again!

From certain places in the valley bottom you can see the upper slopes of Twmbarlwm but no ponies could be seen from there so we had to go up ourselves.

We parked by the gate to the Common, sadly vandalized, and set off. I headed to the summit of Twmbarlwm, Mountain Man went off towards Mynydd Lwyd.
From my vantage point I could see two ponies!
I had phone signal but he did not, so he bore right at the path crossroads-less than fifty feet from them!!
The wind was bitter on the top and was breathtaking, as was the view. Many puddles were iced over and the mud was crunchy.

It is heartbreaking to see the damage caused by off-roading- scramble motorbikes, quad bikes, '4x4' s all come up here and do not seem to care about the irreparable destruction of the groundcover and subsequent erosion of the ground itself.

We did a full circle of the forest edge,walking through a light snow shower, in case the ponies had found a broken fence and made their way to shelter and lower ground that way, but no fresh signs atall. We have an idea where they could be but having walked at least five miles already we weren't going to do another eight!
At least we saw two of the newer stock brought from Merthyr Common and also a new sign for the Raven Walk at Pegwn y Bwlch.

Spring?

Today I ventured to the Allotments. The ground is still frozen in places. Luckily the top of the garden gets the most sun so that I was able to lift some leeks, but as soon as the sun reaches the bottom of the garden it disappears behind a mountain.

The wind was chill so I cleaned the inside of the greenhouse and put the staging ready.

Leeks and swedes plus the last of the stored white cabbage and kohl rabi. Not bad atall!

Pottery in Aberystwyth

I revisited the Arts Centre in Aberystwyth to refresh my inspiration! With jugs!
Pots by Michael Cardew

Pots by Kenzo Kawai
Buckley Slipware Dishes
Buckley Bird (for Hannah) and another one too from Lombok pottery-
There was also an exhibition of Lombok Pottery

unexpected trip

Daughter and husband visited last weekend as The Oily One was helping with Daughter's VW Transporter van- conversion in progress!

Then after my Sunday egg delivery they returned with the van on a breakdown transporter.
The van needs more TLC in the engine department, so was left at my home and Mam's Taxi came to the rescue, all the way to Aberystwyth!

Or perhaps I was the one being rescued?

Two days break, helping Daughter to photograph pots for my new website. A leisurely journey home and finding a pair of new (to me ) Red Shoes!!

My cold has nearly gone, and my inspiration is gathering strength despite dealing with housework for most of today!

Market Day

Usk Market went well, we are back in the larger hall. This looks better with more stalls indoors, and it is nearer the road too.

What Usk needs is a Market Hall visible from the main road that skirts the Square.
The Memorial Hall is near the edge of the town, on the old Usk Valley Road, so little passing trade.

The weather stayed dry, even though the wind turned chill.

Now to do some more workshop sorting!