A few more pictures

This is a flower ring - I should have put some flowers in it to show how it looks in use, for people who aren't familiar with them. I'll do that and take a picture. But for now I wanted to show off this glaze, reminds me of a "hare's fur" glaze at higher temperatures and in reduction atmosphere.

Below is a 5 to 6 cup casserole dish. That bigger green one behind, to the left, looked great except for all the running blobs at the bottom !

This is another casserole, much bigger and harder to show how the brush worked turned out . Looks better in person as it has a nice flowing design, makes a person want to keep turning it to see where the design goes. Makes me want to take better pictures !

Small vase or pencil holder with funky flowers. The flowers just have a barnard stain brushed on them, I didn't want to obscure the texture with glaze. And no, the table isn't crooked, my eyes are !

Bigger vase, more funky flowers.

Small plate. Deep texture with copper wash brushed onto the bisque and then a satin matt over all.

Really large squared handbuilt bowl with handles. Love this glaze and the way it pools into texture.

Close-up of the handle on the above bowl.

most recent firing

These are some mugs from my most recent firing. I'm really not too happy with how these pictures have come up but thought I'd post them anyways.

I like layering different glazes to see what happens.

This mug above and the two bowls below have a semi matt on them that reminds me of the ^ 10 Mamo glaze that I loved when I had access to a gas reduction kiln. I do prefer the matt glazes over the shiny because I can see the form so much better. Too bad the buying public wasn't on that train !

Plum Blossoms

The weather here has finally become more springlike.
The blossoms on our plum trees in the yard are in full bloom.
 Field work has been progressing quite well - long hours and not much time for the pottery.

Yesterday I had just gotten well into a project that I had been planning for for quite awhile when the phone rings and it is a neighbor putting the word out that another neighbor had a bad fire raging in their field. So, I made the call to the men in our field and while they took the necessary steps to leave their equipment, I readied the water truck and lined up rakes, shovels and personal water bottles. Once the men raced into the yard there were running instructions and everyone jumped in trucks and raced down to the site of the fire. ( sorry, no pictures ! ) There was a huge amount of smoke and fire flaming into the sky visible for miles. Once we got there it was about a 2 hour battle to get things under control. Many acres had been burnt and alot of brush will no loner protect the fields from wind damage. But it could have been worse. After our own fire last fall we are starting to get a better "to do" list when the call goes out. Not the kind of wood firing I like to be invited too but we know how important it is that everyone pitch in when there is an emergency.

Oh, and I made cookies yesterday morning. They turned out great; crunchy on the outside, soft, chewy and delicious on the inside.

The plate is made by Julia Rand of Edmonton, AB.

 Here's the recipe:

Nutella Cookies

 2 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup butter, at room temp.

1 1/3 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup light brown sugar

400 g. jar of  Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread)

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup toasted & skinned hazelnuts, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350F.

Sift together flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside dry ingredients.

Cream together butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in Nutella and vanilla extract. Mix in egg.

Add flour mixture and mix until just incorporated. Add chocolate chips and hazelnuts.

Drop tablespoons of dough 2 inches apart onto parchment lined baking sheets. Bake for about 11 minutes until the edges look set. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then carefully remove to cooling racks.

Mother's Day

Early May on our farm has always been about getting the crop in the ground.  My own family always finds a way to pause and show their appreciation. This year was marked with beautiful flowers, sentimental cards and loving phone calls.

So, during my married life,  I have rarely been able to spend Mother's Day with my Mother. 1990 was the exception when my mother made it a point to travel hundreds of miles to be with me on my first Mother's Day. 

That's a great Mother !