Christmas Tree

I never seem to remember to take pictures.   Here, for posterity, is my beautiful tree.

It is full of the ornaments I have collected over the years, mostly gifts from friends who are fondly remembered as I hang each little treasure.


There are the many eggs mom decorated so meticulously, with tiny scenes inside and glittering rhinestone outside.


And there are the family ornaments that go back to my childhood.  

Not a lot of presents under the tree.  The cats were not willing to wait for theirs, once they got a whiff of the nip inside.  And I haven't got others wrapped yet.  Or finished.  


So I need to get back to my knitting.

There are Pots at Last!

I have finally managed to complete and
photograph some pots. I have resolved my glaze problems and things are coming out nicely.

My photography needs work, but the colors are pretty accurate, and they are reasonably sharp.

Taking some days off work to spend in the studio made all the difference.  

I sold a couple of the best things before getting pictures.  But selling is good.  Very good.  


Many more photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mudlarque/PotsDecember2009# 

The Crows

Every year right around Halloween the crows arrive and roost in the cottonwood trees along the creek.  Thousands of them appear from nowhere at dusk, raising a ruckus and filling the topmost branches of the trees.  They do this every night for a month or so, then disappear.  

They are here now, freaking out the cats.

Herding Cats

Some of my cats have always walked with me around the immediate neighborhood. When I walk over to visit neighbors on Dorman Street Guapo and Smudgie will usually follow. When I walk to Oriental Street to pick up my csa share and eggs or to drop off Julie's share of the veggies they sometimes come only as far as the alley and wait there for me to return. Sometimes Guapo will climb the steps to the door like he expects to go in and visit, though at the first dog bark he will dash off into the cover of the shrubs. Last week Guapo and Tipitina followed me all the way to Karen's house and hung out in the garden chasing rabbits for over an hour, then came bounding over as I exited and joined me for the walk home. A couple of dog walkers had a chuckle at the sight of us strolling down North Street together.

On Tuesday, Guapo and Little Egypt walked with me to Julie's. Coming back, Smudgie and McGee joined us. I really did look like a catherd with all four of them surrounding me. And when I arrived home Fatface and the two feral boys, Tuffy Biggs and LC, came trotting up to see if I might put some food out for them.

Here is a picture of Tuffy, the white and orange one, and LC, his longtime companion, who always looks rather concerned.

It is good to live in a place with so many good friends, bipedal and quad.

California Vacation

I spent a week in California. A couple of days in San Francisco, then a drive down the coast to Morro Bay for a surprise summer camp birthday party. It was all wonderful. Except that my knees would not let me walk for any distance at all. Which is not good in SF.

This the the courtyard at Katy's house where I stayed. Dylan lives in the downstairs appartment and had a cookout the first night I was there. He has some delightful friends, and sitting around the fire in the jasmine scented garden was lovely.








I spent a day at the DeYoung museum in Golden Gate Park, which was also beautiful. The sculpture garden and tower view of the city , and an exhobit of clay and glass works were most memorable.



Friday I picked up a rental car and drove down Route 1, stopping frequently to enjoy the views and buy fresh fruit at farm stands - apricots, cherries, strawberries.

Finally reached Morro Bay and the campground where Noelle and Eleanor and a jolly group of freinds were setting up. I pitched my tiny little cocoon of a tent, which turned out to be perfect and comfy, and we all enjoyed ourselves waiting for the birthday boy.




There was an elaborate throne and crown, beer, glitter,harp music, and more.


I do believe the other campers thought we were a cult.

More pictures at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mudlarque/CaliforniaJune2009#

Seriously Spring

Oh yeah, baby! This is what all the digging and planting was about! My beautiful "Sultans of Spring" tulips next to my crazy new rainbarrel.



But wait...there's more! The backyard was an explosion of color. The bigger tulips and daffodils are done now, but more little ones keep opening. You can see that even the beasties are impressed.

Sign of Spring

Yesterday when I came home from work the cats ran to greet me as usual.

(They generally want to come inside for a bite to eat and a hug after a day outside in the sun.)

I noticed something stuck to Guapo's whiskers. Yep. Bird feathers.

The hunting season is officially open.

Snow at Last

We finally had some shovelable snow here. Just enough to make me stiff and sore from clearing my sidewalks. But it is so beautiful.