Family

Back in October I found a very inexpensive flight to Connecticut so that I could visit with family, in January. Danielle and I had a plan... drive from Connecticut to New Hampshire on MLK weekend, stay in B&B with my sister, and visit with my Dad at the nursing home. We knew travel in New England, during winter, can be iffy. The weather was cold but clear when I arrived on Wednesday. On Saturday they were predicting that New Hampshire would get 18 to 24" of the white stuff.

Sadly we had to cancel our plans.

New Haven, CT was expecting more ice than snow. Never the less, we went out Saturday morning and bought all the provisions we would need for a weekend inside.

Danielle and I thoroughly enjoyed our time together, despite the change in plans. We curled up on the sofa and watched movies, played board games, drank wine, baked brownies, and made lasagna together.

It was low-key and relaxing.

In other words... it was perfect.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig...

Our travels back to North Carolina took a jag in the "jiggity jig". We hadn't traveled more than an hour outside of New Haven CT, where Danielle lives, when the car started vibrating. We pulled off at the next rest area and realized that one of the front brake calipers had seized. There was a Midas at the next exit, in Stamford, that would be able to fix the brakes right away. At first they wanted to replace the brakes pads, rotors and brake lines on the entire front end. All of this for the low price of $1200 and some change. Seriously? Two years ago I had a complete brake job done on all four wheels for a little more than $700. Connecticut is not the place to break down. We finally settled on repairing the one side for $620. We just wanted to get home. My car goes in for an inspection next month and if it needs any thing more, my mechanic in Asheboro will be much more affordable.
Despite the break down we really had a great time visiting with Danielle and Jay. They recently purchased a 1926 craftsmen style home that was completely rehabbed. The contractor did a great job, leaving a lot of the original details of the home intact.

Many of the windows have the original stained and leaded glass.

The tile in the entryway is also original to the home.

We had our usual lobster feast as well as dining out a few times at some of the really great restaurants that New Haven has to offer. Aside from eating, we did squeeze in a little culture by visiting the Yale University Art Gallery. I will save that for another post.

It feels good to be home and sleeping in our own bed. The trailer is unpacked. The laundry is done. Now to tackle the weeds that overtook our gardens, and get our hands back into clay.

A Short (but needed) Get Away

Danielle and I had a fabulous weekend in Asheville! The Biltmore was amazing. It was difficult to get good night time photos with the camera on my phone. I had a lot to delete when I got home.

Quite the fancy library ladder!

We spent the entire day on the estate. Lunch at the Bistro at Antler Village and Winery was delicious. There were lots of little shops, as well as stables to visit. The wine tasting included with admission was sort of a joke. They gave you samples in tiny plastic cups... like the pill cups in hospitals. The line for the "tasting" was very long and we didn't bother. We had a nice glass of their viognier with our lunch, no need to wait a half an hour for a few sips!

We spent Sunday in downtown Asheville. Of course I had to take a photo of Danielle sitting on the ginkgo leaf bench...

Our choice for brunch was Rhubarb's. We both had the duck confit hash and bloody Mary's too.

The weekend flew by way too fast. We timed our work schedule so that the kiln would be cooling while I was away. Monday afternoon we unloaded it before taking Danielle back to the airport. We packed Etsy orders until quite late on Monday night. The postal carrier picked up our first batch of boxes in the morning. By 3:00 pm we had the rest packed and delivered to the post office. It was a huge relief to get all orders shipped in time for the Priority Mail deadline. Everything is now in the hands of USPS and out of our control. Knock on Wood for smooth deliveries!

Hello December...

Here it is the 10th of December and this is my first post of the month. Life and work have been crazy. Isn't that always the way? The crazies just can't come one at a time.

Let me start with life.

My 90 year old Dad put his name in at a Catholic nursing home last year. He had visited a few places and said if he had to go to a home, this was the only one he would want to be in. The week before Thanksgiving he got the call that they had a room for him. It was such a big decision for him to give up his apartment, and in the end he decided he was ready. He had been relying on meals on wheels and frozen dinners because he didn't want to clean up. My sister was going every Saturday and cooked a big meal with leftovers for the next day. She also brought him grocery shopping, to the library, and the bank. Dad was dependent on the "Hand-in-Hand Van" to pick him up every other week to have his blood work done. The van lost it's funding in October (Make a America Great Again - yeah right!) and he was going to have to ask my uncle to drive him or take a cab back and forth.

The call came at the right time.

My sister Anita and I have spent countless hours on the phone or texting back and forth about making this transition as smooth as possible for both Dad and her. Most of the labor fell on her. There was no way that I could get away during this time of year.

A photo from my visit last February when Dad turned 90. We spent some time going through old immigration documents from grandparents when they moved back and forth from Canada to here.

Last Thursday was his move in day. He seemed to settle in quite well and was exhausted when I spoke to him at the end of the day. He slept well that first night... that is until he got up at 5:30 am and on his way to the bathroom fell and hit his head on the dresser! The nurses came right way and he was off to the hospital in no time. He was fine. No concussion and no stitches needed. He told his nurse that he wanted to make a big impression on his first day at the home. At least he hasn't lost his sense of humor!

As for work... this is definitely our busiest time of the year. My goal this year was to hit 1000 total sales on Etsy and I met that goal and then some! I should be dreaming of piggy banks every night but I think I have been too tired to even do that!

Here is a sampling of piggy banks from last week's firing. I am really happy with how the "bull" piggy bank came out! This week we will fire again. I have about 26 more piggy banks and salt pigs to ship by the December 20th deadline. I will get a little break next weekend when my girl Danielle arrives. While the kiln is cooling we are headed to Asheville and a candlelight tour of the Biltmore Estate. I am so looking forward to it!

Home again...

I have arrived back in North Carolina, from my New Hampshire trip. It feels great to be back home and to sleep in my own bed. I had a great time, the highlight being our family party for Dad's 90th.

Arianna was very excited about her Great Pepere's birthday.

There was a point where we thought the cake might melt if he didn't blow out those candles quickly.

Arianna gave her Pepere a great big hug for blowing out all his candles in one breath. Not bad for 90.

All but two of my nieces, along with their significant others, came for the celebration. One niece was a day overdue to deliver a new baby, the other lives in Philadelphia and couldn't get away from work. We "older folks" enjoyed seeing the cousins catch up with each other. Most don't see each other on a regular basis. When the weekend was over, Dad and I headed back to his apartment in Dover to spend a few quiet days together. 

A Day of Hearts

 I love Valentine's Day. Not because I am expecting flowers, candy, or dinner out. I enjoy it for completely unromantic reasons. Valentine's day give me the opportunity make and deliver simple surprises for people that I love. This year I decided to make a string of hearts for my special great niece, Arianna.

It ended up being a little more involved than originally intended, but it was a nice break from clay. I worked on it in the evenings, when my work was done for the day.

"Happy Valentine's Day" is a lot of letters when they are all strung together!

 Tonight I boxed the hearts up along with a siamese cat figurine that was a gift to me from my Memere when I was just about Arianna's age. My Memere would have been her great-great Memere.

We have been enjoying some warm days here in Seagrove, NC. I took advantage of the weather and did a good mopping and cleaning of the studio, while the bisque kiln is firing. Jeff is busy making glazes. We will fire a glaze load in the next few days.

Moving Forward... Sometimes at a Snails Pace

I think this is the longest I  have been away from the blog since my mother died two years ago. No one died this time, but it's been a rough few weeks. Our Sophie cat has been sick again, Jeff cracked a tooth and is in the process of getting a crown ($$$$$!), and my Dad was hospitalized for a couple of days because he has been having mini-strokes. 

And did I mention there was an election squeezed in between all this? But I don't even want to get into that debacle.

The cat seems to be recovering, she ate a piece of a dieffenbachia plant which is poisonous and now out of the house (more vet bills $$$), Jeff's tooth is feeling better, and as for Dad... we are starting to look at assisted living options. 

On a brighter note, it's Celebration of Seagrove Potters weekend! We have a nice big directional sign in our yard and we managed to make new pots for the show. There is a kiln cooling that will be unloaded on Friday afternoon, just in time for the gala reception in the evening. The show runs from November 18-20, 2016. I will be at the show, Jeff will keep our gallery open on the home front. 

I have my "positive attitude" hat on and it's looking to be a great weekend.

Family Break

I am back after a brief hiatus from blogging. I had a really good excuse to take a break.

My girl flew in from Connecticut for a few days! This year she got her turn on the tire swing, since the area is now "poison ivy free". We were pretty chill this visit. No huge plans. Just hanging out together.

We took a drive out to the Town Creek Indian Mound in Mt. Gilead, NC and learned a little history about native american life in North Carolina. 

The historical site depends mostly on state funding for operations and maintenance. Sadly, the information building and some of the exhibits are looking tired and worn. 

Danielle and I still enjoyed our visit. We had a picnic lunch on the grounds before heading out to Pinehurst to do a little shopping.

Jeff wheeled out the smoker on Sunday and barbecued some tasty ribs. We had a great feast which included sweet potato salad, caprese salad, and grilled figs with goat cheese.

and did I mention wine?

Sadly, on Monday, I had to drive Danielle back to the airport. Saying good bye is so very hard. The only thing that takes the sting off of it, is that we head north in August and we will have a few days together again.

Prior to the girl's arrival, I worked furiously to finish a whole mess of pigs. In between the piggy banks, there were couple of carved vases... because I can't live on pigs alone. 

Yesterday was spent sanding pots and loading the kiln for a bisque firing. Once that's done, we will glaze and load her up again. Vacation is officially over.

Family

I did the bare minimum of work for six days, but I had a really great excuse...

I had family visiting from New Hampshire! It was Spring break in the north country. My sister flew south with Dad and her grand daughter Arianna. I don't think they were at our home for more than 5 minutes when we found Arianna on top of the giant tire swing in the backyard.

 There was a couple of evenings of pottery lessons...

and a day trip to the North Carolina Zoo.

My sister and I convinced Dad that a renting a wheelchair was the way to go. The zoo is very hilly and she and I got a great workout pushing him around. A motorized scooter would have been a better option, but then again his driving skills aren't the best, and we may have had pedestrian casualties.

 Snoozing polar bear

 Carousel ride

The harbor seal and sea lions are always fun. I think it was the most I had seen my Dad smile and laugh in the two years since my mother died.

On the last day, Jeff made a small bottle that Arianna turned into her own little pig. She did a great job and is very excited about getting it back, glazed in purple, when we return to New Hampshire in the summer.

My favorite photo, Dad and Arianna. Taken just before the trip back to the airport. I never thought that my father would be able to make the trip to visit us in Seagrove. We created some wonderful memories that we will always treasure.

Back to Work...

 We are back in North Carolina, have been for nearly a week. There has been no time for blogging as we had to jump right back into work. Our studio and gallery move is in full swing. In between the packing, there are orders to fulfill, and a few lessons to teach. Jeff and I are so grateful to have had a few days of down time with Danielle and Jason in Connecticut.

They are such gracious hosts, cooking for us, and taking us, to some very fun dining establishments around the city of New Haven.

We bought lobster and clams, fresh from the boat, a walking distance from their home. Walk in the opposite direction, and in six blocks you will reach Rocco's Italian bakery where you will find giant walnut rings, cheese danish, and stuffed breads that are to die for. A evening in town began at Cask Republic for drinks, and ended at Barcelona Wine Bar for an amazing Spanish tapas meal.

A wine and cheese, picnic lunch, was enjoyed at beautiful Gouveia Vineyard in Wallingford, CT.

Our time in New Haven was spent at a leisurely pace. We slept as late as we wanted and some of us napped in the late afternoon, while others enjoyed a cocktail on the deck.

Our three and a half days in New Haven took the sting off of a less than stellar show in New Hampshire. We are glad to be back home in Seagrove, and sleeping in our own bed. We may not have tapas restaurants, bars, or pizza delivery... but Seagrove is home. We enjoy our life here.