Poco Mountain Girl

Hello, February–just a couple of days late.  After wading through January, it feels like February has come in like a breath of fresh air.  My shoulder is better, the sun is out, life just feels better.  And–yippee! we’re halfway through winter!

Making valentines. (Who is that svelte man in the doorway?) By the way, Sunday was our one hundred-and-twenty-second wedding month-iversary.  We still haven’t stopped counting.

Stuffed shells–a warm memory from my childhood.  I made it for my own kids for the first time. And for David, of course.

Reading through Exodus with colored pencils. I’m going slow this time, and not trying to read the Bible through in a year. I soak in so much more this way.

Always, every day, there are goats.

Happy February!

I have to confess, I have suffered quite a long absence from the clay studio.  Since I hurt my shoulder, wedging, rolling, and wheel throwing have been out of the question.  I’m almost ready to start again now (yippee!)  But for now, I thought I would post my first wheel-thrown pieces, fired early this year.

I found wheel-throwing challenging but addictive.  I kept making pieces that were just about perfect, then they would collapse on the wheel and go flopping everywhere.

I finally remedied that by making really small dishes.  I made this set of three shallow dishes to hold things we serve in small amounts, like taco accompaniments such as salsa, onions, and guacamole.

The smallest one is as nearly perfect as I could get it, which isn’t very.  Still, I love its small, smooth glossiness.  I glazed it in tangerine first, then dipped half in jewel blue.

This is the second dish, a little larger.  I dipped it in jewel blue, left a bit unglazed and dipped it first in tangerine, then opaque turquoise.

It came out with an interesting matte finish in the tangerine/turqoise area.

This is the third and largest.  When it was in the leather-hard stage, I had just trimmed it and loosened it from the wheel.  Cash sauntered over and pressed down hard on the pedal.  Needless to say, it went flying and a piece broke off it.

I tried to repair it, and was able to adhere the piece back to the bowl, but that was about all.  I have to admit–I love it more because it’s partially Cash’s work of art.  He sure thought it was great when the wheel went spinning!

I glazed it in jewel blue on one half, tangerine and opaque turquoise on the other.  The lighter side has the same matte finish as the other dish.

This is a little I’m-not-sure-what, glazed in tangerine.  When David saw it he liked it, so I gladly gave it to him.

Remember the little cup I made for Cash, which he threw and broke?  Here is the replacement.  I’m not sure how long it will last, but at least I tried to fill the little void left by those last shards.

Cash’s cup is a coil piece.  There is a small crack inside where I must have not joined the coils well enough, but it seems to hold liquid fine.  Truthfully, I have a feeling this tiny cup is short-lived anyway.  I glazed it in stellar blue.

That’s it for now.  Thanks for viewing my latest clay creations!

Linking up with SouleMama…a moment from our week.

Here’s a creamy vegan carrot soup I threw together for lunch.  I used what I had on hand, and it turned out really yummy.  It would be great topped with a squeeze of lime, but I had a lemon and it worked out fine.  I also happen to like mine topped with chopped tomatoes.  🙂

Carrot Ginger Curry Soup

7 carrots

4 celery stalks

1/4 cup onion

2 garlic cloves

1-2″ ginger root

about 2 quarts water

1 can coconut milk (full fat)

1 salt-free natural bouillon cube

1 tsp cumin

1T curry powder

dash cayenne pepper

salt and pepper to taste

splash of apple cider vinegar

Roughly chop carrots, celery, and onion; place in water and bring to a full boil.   Reduce heat to a low boil; add garlic, ginger, bouillon cube, curry and cayenne.  Cook till veggies are softened.  Process in blender; return to pan. Simmer, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste; add vinegar.  Serve with a wedge of lime or lemon.