Last Saturday's pottery I brought home

 That's the trouble with bringing pots to market. You have to wrap and cart them home again when they don't sell.

Here are a few that were there and now packed in my trunk of my car all week.

A simplified monarch mug

Things still have the red tent reflection sometimes...there is no red on any of these pots!

A great pot pie or soup bowl

 

I brought the Monarch wall pillow home again. I didn't feel that anyone was going to like it as much as I do.  It is wired to hang on a nail or picture hook, and of course is safe outside as well as inside.

Doesn't everyone need a blue bird of happiness?

I was happy to see how many people picked up the calico kitty, but then they put it down. I bet they think small means it should be cheap. But just think, it's wheel thrown, adjusted, trimmed, added ears and eyes, then glazed in 4 different colors all applied by hand. Is $15 out of line?

but then again, it's at a Tailgate Market!

These are the cheapest things on the table...tiny vases for $10...again thrown, trimmed and glazed!

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And for those who are interested in stopping the Heritage Foundation's influence on Project 2025 and the GOP platform for this election, I found this:

 "Did you know that you can directly oppose the Heritage Foundation? As a 501c3 corporation, the Heritage Foundation is not allowed to participate in politics, let alone publish political manifestos. You can download Project 2025 pdf from the website and attach it to IRS Form 13909 and challenge their tax exempt status.

Here's their EIN # 23-7327730

Money is the only weapon. Here is your second American Revolution. Right here. It doesn't take that long to file.

Christopher DiverThe People's Project 

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Today's quote:

I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, "Mother, what was war?" -Eve Merriam, poet and writer (1916-1992)

Some of my pottery and health update

 These are the things I'm trying to sell. At reasonable market prices at the Tailgate Market, each Sat. just for 3 hours, 9-12. (I usually post pottery on my art blog, but feel this is easier for you all to see on this one.)

A pair of brown bowls with leaf designs.

This larger  bowl has chop-stick resting grooves along the top edge.

A fluted serving bowl, with just one color. The sun reflected off our red tent.

A slightly wonky bread bowl. It's large, not perfect, but ideal for rising a double loaf...and not pink.

A white classical shape vase with red trim (no pink, remember the sun on the red tent reflecting down)

The base of the white vase....remember no pink!

Downward Cat mug

El Gordo Gato...fat cat mug...the face

And each side has a leg, with the tail by the handle.

A little sugar bowl with faceted sides

Me holding the lid and showing the inside is green glaze.

Top on the sugar bowl. 

I must mention Cathy's remaining little dishes with flowers and leaves glazed designs, and her little black bears, which bring smiles often to those who have encountered our local wildlife around their trash bins.

These overviews give better color quality. Sold the two little soap dishes at top middle.

And I sold one of the blue and white mugs in center left.

Personal note:

Thanks for all the well-wishes that I received the day before. Yesterday was more of the same conditions of my coughing, until I got to the Dr. office.

Saw Nurse Practitioner yesterday. Had a breathing treatment after she listened to my lungs. She reviewed what my pulmonologist had said last Fri when he started me on Singular, and upped the dose on my Advair inhaler. She said to try going without the Singular. 

It seems to have been an acute episode of bronchiectasis...so she's increasing all the treatments I have (but haven't been doing lately.) So nebulize not only with saline solution twice a day, but Albuterol also. And get back to using the therea-vest, which shakes my lungs to get stuff loose. I'll have to set that up again somewhere where I can sit comfortably for 15 minutes at a time, with lots of rumbling noises. And she started me on an antibiotic for 2 weeks, at which time I am to go see her again. I sure had a good thorough visit, including a student, and a couple of nurse assistants. 

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Today's quote:

There are stars whose radiance is visible on Earth though they have long been extinct. There are people whose brilliance continues to light the world though they are no longer among the living. These lights are particularly bright when the night is dark. They light the way for humankind.

 -Hannah Senesh, poet, playwright, and paratrooper (1921-1944)

By the lake

 

Lake Tomahawk may make it a bit cooler, but it was still in the mid 80s at noon yesterday, and thankfully cloudy so we weren't blasted by the sun.

These Queen Ann's Lace now exist where a lovely lavender plant once lived. 

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My coughing continues to knock me out, so I've tried calling everyone today (frustrating phone machine that just circles back to the beginning message at the pulmonologists!) Nurse at my primary doctor said if I have trouble breathing, seriously, go to ER. So far sitting upright works so much better than lying down, but eventually I'm tired, and have to lie down. Anyway I will see a Nurse Practitioner tomorrow.

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Sharing with Garden Bloggers Bloom Day (yesterday)

Today's quote:

You are the sky. Everything else -- it's just the weather. 

-Pema Chodron, Buddhist nun and author (b. 14 Jul 1936)

A lunch to enjoy

 

The Swannanoa exit from I-40 leads to the local home of Harley Davidson. But if you continue and take a right onto US 70, you'll soon see Oakie Dokies.

Oakie Dokies is only open for lunch now. That's alright, I wasn't in the mood for their ribs! But the pulled pork sandwich was delicious.

I met friends there and we caught up...hadn't seen them for a week, I guess.

My Saturday experience was ok, at the Tailgate Market. I started coughing, and continued through Sunday! Made a few sales. But feel pretty discouraged.

Saw the pulmonologist on Friday and he started me on a new med, but it hasn't had much chance to take effect yet. So the rest of the weekend was a wipeout.

I listened to a good book, at least. I'll promote it later!

Today's quote:

Trust is the first step to love. 

-Premchand, novelist and poet (1880-1936)

Cherry red car

 I stopped in Swannanoa the other day at my favorite auto mechanics for a new head lamp to replace the burned out one on my car. The owner parked this lovely one out where the US 70 drive-bys could see it!

Today's quote:

Marvin Bell said, "Much of our lives involves the word 'no.' In school we are mostly told, 'Don't do it this way. Do it that way.' But art is the big yes. In art, you get a chance to make something where there was nothing."

Saturday in Black Mountain

Well, I'm over at the Tailgate Market of course, showing my pottery to the folks who just really have thought; "great aunt Gertie might like that and she's always got room for one more little piece of pottery"...or perhaps "that is just the thing I need for my ----!" Thinking positive this week!

I forgot to introduce you to our favorite critter visitor last week, this charming little grasshopper. She had really sticky feet, and when we tried to flick her off my finger, after she quite willingly walking on it from Amelia's arm, she held on for dear life. We finally gently put her in the bouquet of flowers that were displaying a beautiful vase.

Lake Tomahawk Canada Geese

The picnic shelter offered cool shade on Wednesday last week...and there was a great breeze off the water to increase the cooling of our 84 degrees of sunshine.

Better detail of the Canada Geese. They seem happy feeding in the grass, perhaps recently cut so there's lots of goodies. But they also are not-so-politely waiting for the folks picnicking in the shelter, as seen above in silhouette. The white ones often will waddle right into the picnic area looking for scraps.

Lake Tomahawk Dam

As of Wednesday last week, there were sprinklers working on the dam. Some of the grass looks a bit parched.

And for those thinking of fishing, it is allowed in the lake, with usual state licensing provisions, but I think kids can do so without a license.

10-30-1904 Hannah's Reef, Galveston Bay.

My grandfather, George Rogers was probably the smallest man there. And his sister Annie Lou might have been the person on the far left. I never saw my grandfather with hair, so he could perhaps have been the boatman on the far right. That gentleman isn't holding a fishing pole. But this is all conjecture, and I never bet on my own guesses. Don't they have a fine catch!

I prefer Norman Rockwell's version of fishing!

Today's quote:

When we offer nothing but excuses in our lives, we are not being honest with anybody, mostly ourselves.

Sharing with Sepia Saturday this week

and Eileen's Saturday Critters

North Carolina Town Named 'Most Charming Small Town' In The Entire State

 North Carolina is filled with stunning small towns across the state, destinations that offer a quiet beauty by letting the natural scenery, friendly atmosphere and unique attractions shine bright enough to draw you in and experience something you may not get in a bigger, bustling city.

Amateur Traveler Travel Podcast

According to a list compiled by AFAR, the "most charming small town" in all of North Carolina is Black Mountain, praised for its stunning mountain views, availability of live music and exciting and "whimsical" galleries.

Here's what the site had to say about the most charming small town in the state:

"Set in the painterly Blue Ridge Mountains, this folksy town of around 8,500 is only a 20-minute drive east of Asheville but feels a world apart. After ambling around Lake Tomahawk or hiking the 9.5-mile, out-and-back Graybeard Trail in nearby Montreat, enjoy a weaving or pottery exhibit at the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, shop for handcrafted jewelry and candles at Seven Sisters Craft Gallery, or go into carb-load overdrive at the Blue Ridge Biscuit Company."

FACT CHECK:

Sentence one  in last paragraph is ok. but sentence 2 falls off the track by confusing a museum in Asheville for the Black Mountain College of the 1930-1950 era with the 2 actual museums in  Black Mountain...one of history of the area, and one of Arts. It is correct that you can shop at Seven Sisters Gallery in Black Mountain, or enjoy good breakfast stuff at the Blue Ridge Biscuit Co.  I do lots of these things regularly myself in Black Mountain, except the old college museum down in Asheville, or the mountain hike in Montreat.

Incidentally, the photo included with the article isn't from Black Mountain either!

But hey, when you're named the "Most charming Small Town" in the Entire State, you shouldn't complain.

A real home in Black Mountain

Today's quote;

Each word we speak has a life of its own, a vibratory signature that creates waves into the expanse of the universe.

Potpourri

 

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, 2022 

Black Mountain loves its library and librarians!

Linville Gorge

Holman Apartments, Black Mountain 1930s (no longer here)

This building has 2 apartments, 1 bedroom each. Near Lake Tomahawk.

I still miss the old gazebo at Lake Tomahawk, waiting for a new one.

A CGI video about Black Mountain HERE

Today's quote:

Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not, knows no release from little things. -Amelia Earhart, aviator (1897-1937)

A day without complaints

 

Gustav Klimt maybe. I think it was "in his style" perhaps

"Zip" bronze sculpture by Jason Johnston

Great Smokey Mountains, US Dept. of the Interior

I learned (thanks to Jeopardy) that the Forest Service isn't under the Dept. of the Interior, or Parks, but Agriculture! After all, they are trees.

Today's Quote:

Ah! what a divine religion might be found out if charity were really made the principle of it instead of faith. 

-Percy Bysshe Shelley, poet (1792-1822)

Just some stuff

 

I love this photo, but of course didn't take it. Seattle with Mt. Rainier 50 miles to the south.

This photo is one from my memories folder on FaceBook. 2018 in New York, my son Russ with his daughters posed in front of this sign. I thought it was a strange thing for the Jewish Museum to post. A friend of mine told me that it's a New York restaurant by that name. Those people who keep secrets from the rest of us!  Grrr.

Monday was hot, but it's due to be hotter today. We had at one time a possibility of thunder storms around 2 on Monday, but that didn't happen. Then at 5:40 we got rain in Black Mountain. By then all these sun worshippers had gone home. Me too. The rain had a bit of thunder, but was only a summer shower of 15 minutes.

I went to the studio after lunch here at the Lakeview Center.

I worked on another dragon, this one related to unicorns. Tee hee, I do digress in my good-dragon creations. These dragons are dedicated to saving the earth.

 The clay I'm working with dries out very fast, so maybe it's the air-conditioning, or I'm slow. But I will try doing something else with it and see if it is better that way.

This is a small plate (with three glazes overlapping to give 6 colors) and I am asking $28 for it. People pick it up, then pass. It's a bit heavy. But hey, it's pretty folks! The butterfly mug behind it has gone home with it's maker, namely me. I figured I was tired of people looking at it and not buying it, and I liked it enough to have at home. The little plate on the left is simple and I have a visible tag of $10. Geese. Just nobody wants to serve cheese or mints on any of these! So no plates will be out next Saturday.

As you can see, I'm terrible at retail. And I hate it. 

OK enough of the "troubles of an elderly potter" who after all isn't among the best out there, if I'm being totally honest.

I was relieved yesterday, when I talked with my son in FL who has Covid, that he was feeling better. And I messaged my cousin who lives near Houston. She only had rain at first, then a bit of wind blew a tree down across her driveway. She's very thankful that she still has electric power. She says today her neighbors may be able to help cut the tree up.

My health is ok, with coughing occurring at unexpected moments, brought on by dust in the air, or my position leaning back in a chair or lying down. I'm best sitting straight up.

 (Bronchiectasis/COPD/Asthma) Or just stress.

 I use my rescue inhaler, but it seldom really helps diminish coughs once they've started. And after a few hours of coughing I feel pretty exhausted.  I nebulize (breathe through a tube) with a saline solution to break up the mucous, but I usually am able to cough it up already. I just get tired of coughing and do the nebulizer just because that's another thing I should try. I'm going to complain to my pulmonologist today. He never has said anything will cure the coughs. He also won't tell me what my prognosis is.

Today's quote:

Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed. 

-Herman Melville, novelist and poet (1819-1891)