Dh's birthday, finished sculptures, & figs!

We're having a fairly quiet Sunday... tomorrow is DH's birthday and he went to Central Market yesterday while I was at the Pottery Studio and got an Italian Creme cake. Since I have my Medicare Wellness Check scheduled for this Tuesday, I'm trying to cut back on the sweets. But I do plan on  having a small piece of birthday cake.

My playful seal sculpture and tiny fat cat sculpture both came out of the kiln this week. So my sea creatures finished pieces look like this:

and my tiny fat cat sculpture now joins my black & white collection:

Now sitting on the oxidation cart in the studio are my last 2 sea creatures pieces...

and...

hard to see as they are wrapped in plastic while drying

First attempt this semester to throw on the wheel. I did a cup and a small bowl. Clay is wet and I don't want it to dry out too fast as I probably won't get back to the studio until next Saturday to finish them off.

Tropical Storm/Hurricane Barry is the slowest moving weather phenomenon... seems like it's been around forever. I just wish it would get a move on. Keeping touch with family in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houston, and San Antonio.... 

Had us in a panic when they were predicting about 26 inches of rain in either Baton Rouge or New Orleans... bad for Baton Rouge, but would be devastating for New Orleans. Hopefully it won't be that bad from what we can tell, but just wish it would get a move on and continue to downgrade.

Last pic:  figs gotten off our Celeste fig tree yesterday:

 first harvest of figs...

So, yes, the squirrels and birds are helping themselves... also the box turtles when they find them on the ground. But we were able to salvage these... and hopefully more in the days to come.

Have a wonderful Sunday! And thanks so much for dropping by. I would serve you some of this Italian Creme cake if I could... (much too much for just us). But I plan to send some home to kids tomorrow.

Hugs,
- Rian

new things to think about...

After reading blogs yesterday, I got to thinking about all the things we need to think about today that never entered our minds in years past. 

Things like:

1. Passwords... such a pain. They recommend you have a different one for each account and even that should change ever so often. This is almost an impossibility. When someone asks me my pin or password, my mind does a blank.  I would think someone could come up with a better way.


2. Scams... usually by phone. With Caller ID, most of us don't even answer calls by unknown people or numbers (if it's important, they should be smart enough to leave a message, right?) Our cell phone service actually says "Scam Likely" for some numbers (like whose going to answer those??). 

3. Security questions... I have to laugh at these - because some of us (at least those who have been married for 50+ years) could answer these questions for our spouses... (favorite places, first car, etc.) But it's possible that this wouldn't always be the case.


4. Terror attacks -  something that never entered our minds in years past. And although we mustn't let our lives change due to this new (relatively) threat, now we are even given instructions as to what to do when such should occur. 

I could go on (as I'm sure you could too)... 

5. iPhones, laptops, and computer games.... a wonderful convenience or a mass addiction? 

But I won't. 

It's just a lot to think about... besides aging, health, finances, children, etc. No wonder we get those occasional 3 am dark nights of the soul...

Now I'm thinking that I need to end this on a better note... something uplifting, something fun... 

Hmm...mmm  I had a birthday Saturday! We ordered pizza and I drank part of a Guinness. Slept like a baby. That was fun...

Hope you have a wonderful week!  And as always... thanks for visiting and letting me vent my thoughts. Wish I could serve you some coffee (or tea) and some of our left-over fresh peach custard pie...

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit! July 1, 2019

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

The 1st of July! I can't believe it! My birthday is next week (can't believe that either... I think it comes around much too fast these days). But I guess when you're in your 70's,  I should be glad that I made it to another birthday (and I am!!).

This summer will go by in a flash.  And before we know it, we'll be thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas again (scary). How is it that it seems forever to Christmas as a child and always just around the corner when we're grown?

Anyway, I have no plan today as to what I'm posting.  Just wanted to say "Rabbit!Rabbit! White Rabbit!" since it was the first day of the month. 

DH and I had a really nice weekend. A friend happened to go to the Ceramics Supply Shop (which is way across town) and was nice enough to pick up some grey underglaze for me.  Having renewed my supply of underglazes recently, I had forgotten to get the light grey... which is what I need most when working on my seal sculptures. So I've been able to continue working with them this weekend (hurray!). 

Also DH and I met some friends for dinner Sunday night at Whiskey Cake. We really like Whiskey Cake as their food is great (all fresh and local), their service is great (extremely nice people), and their Whiskey Cake dessert is fabulous (served in a large enough piece for all to share - and with a bowl of fresh whipping cream!) And the coup de' resistance for me is that their coffee (served in individual French Press) is delicious! 

And to make things even better... we really love the couple we were meeting. They are old friends from home (New Orleans/LSU Baton Rouge) who now live here, but we just don't get to see often enough. But time flies when you're having fun and we talk, talk, talk... and the hours flew by.  Now with them going to Ireland and us going to Hawaii in the next few months, and Thanksgiving and Christmas coming before we know it, I doubt that we will see them again until  2020.  But that's OK... because when we do, it'll be worth the wait.

As always, thanks for visiting! And I truly hope you have a wonderful week...

Hugs,
Rian

redundancy and women...

Here I am again... at 4 am.  Something I read recently is bubbling through my mind. I can't even recall exactly what or where it was... but it had to do with being 'redundant'. 

Redundant - to me such a strange word.  When you look up the meaning or definition it says, "no longer needed, superfluous, unnecessary, not required, dispensable, expendable, useless, etc." 

I've heard it used more in England (in movies and books) referring to retirement... and it makes me sad. I never thought of retirement in that light. In fact, I always looked forward to the freedom retirement would afford... and does. 

But lately its come more to my attention that as time goes on, we are redundant in the sense that women as they age after having spent so many years caring for their children and spouses - can suddenly have that role disappear.  Children grow up and away, husbands may no longer be in the picture (due to death or divorce) and then, who are they?  With any careers they may have had gone with time and age, with children off living their own lives, and husbands no longer by their side - they have to refind their focus. 

It is a matter that needs addressing.  How does one do this?  

My children are all married with families of their own - living their own lives as they should. Luckily for me, my spouse is still by my side. But so many of my friends or acquaintances have lost theirs... and are continuing on their own. Those that have children may have grandchildren - and that involves one change of focus. 

Being a grandparent is a new role... a wonderful heart filled complicated role that I'm more than happy to take on. Not having known my own grandparents, I find this a fascinating journey where there's more pure enjoyment and less responsibility than parenthood held. But at the same time, it does expand your 'worry quota'. Yes, parents still worry about their kids, whether they're 5 or 50... and now you worry about grandchildren too.

But there has to be more, right?  You could argue that your grown children still 'need' you. Yes, to some extent... but it's more as emotional support... perhaps more for stability and unconditional love than anything else. This is good of course, but physically one has to accept the fact that they are grown, independent people that can do just fine without you.  And that is how it should be. It's something to be proud of. 

Yet...

it leaves an aching hole somewhere inside. A hole that must be filled with perhaps - a new focus?  We need to look inside ourselves and try to remember who and what we were before we took on the role of wife and mother. Or perhaps we are no longer that person at all, perhaps we need to find out exactly who we are now. 

Think about it. Now we have the time to think about it. Health and finances may be an issue, but refocusing our lives and figuring out what brings us joy at this stage is important. 

Do you think about these things?  I would imagine that anyone who has reached a certain age has. If so, how do you deal with it? Sharing your ideas may help someone - and helping others (IMO) is an important part of this stage of life. 

Thanks for listening... or reading... or just being there

Hugs,
Rian

one was a keeper...

chicken chili prep

This was a new recipe I tried last weekend. It was a 'chicken' chili. Since I don't do regular chili (for many reasons), I thought this might be a good alternative. It wasn't. 

Might have been partially my own fault in that I shredded the chicken rather than leaving it in chunks.  Next, possibly I 'stirred' too much as the black beans made the chili a mud colored mixture that just wasn't appetizing.

But I will say that it tasted fine. We ate it with some chopped tomato, cheddar cheese, and a dollop of sour cream on top... and I froze the rest. However, I don't consider it a keeper (not one I would make again).  

However....

lemon frozen ice-box pie

This lemon frozen ice-box pie was definitely a keeper! I had my doubts when making it as the ingredients were many and I thought a bit overkill.... but was very happy with the result. It was delicious and may end up being my summer time special dessert.  I was asked to post the recipe, so here it is:

Ingredients:

Crust:
12 graham crackers (doubles - not one square)
1/3 cup butter melted
1/3 cup granulated sugar

Filling:
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla (might use 1.5 tsp)
1 cup lemon curd
8 oz cream cheese room temp
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

1. For Crust:  Preheat oven to 350 for crust
Break the graham crackers and add to a food processor. Process to fine crumbs.  Add the melted butter and granulated sugar and process until well combined. 

Once mixed, press crumbs into pie shell (using the back of a measuring cup).  Put pie dish on baking sheet and bake until slightly golden - about 5 + minutes. Set aside to cool.

2. For Filling:  Whip the heavy cream in a mixer with a whisk attachment. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and whip until stiff. Set aside.

Get a clean mixing bowl and add lemon curd, cream cheese, and sweetened condensed milk. Beat until smooth.  Gently fold in about 3/4 cup whipped cream into lemon mixture. Don't mix too well, just fold in a bit. 

3. Pour filling into cooled pie shell. Top with remaining whipped cream.  Freeze at least 2 hours. If longer, cover and return to freezer. Take out 10 - 15 minutes before slicing.

Delicious!

Closing with a pic of our spoiled Tux... who must have a glass of his own water if he sees us drinking:  (well, it's better than having him drink out of our glass...)

spoiled?   ... maybe a little

Hugs,
Rian

just wondering...

this is where I am this morning in my mind..

I slept pretty well last night with not too many necessary side-trips. But for some reason, many times (not all) my dreams are filled with confrontations... usually with strangers. This seems so strange as my life doesn't involve many confrontations.

Maybe to get balance, I dream of these???  I certainly don't like them and they make my heart beat fast. And they're never about any one thing... just stupid stuff. This last one (last night) was about people coming onto our property to watch something (and what they were watching was ridiculous too).  I was angry not so much because they were on our property, but because they blocked our view of what was going on. 

When I awoke, I was thinking about this. First of all, why would I be angry with people on my property??  Why would it make me so mad?  Do I have some hidden anger issues that I'm not aware of? Are dreams random? Are they trying to tell me something? 

I have had dreams that clarify things for me.  I've also had recurrent dreams about a strange, but mysteriously fascinating house with an enormous amounts of rooms and odd architecture. And I have noticed that on occasion my dreams have been influenced by something I either read or saw on TV. 

This might be the case here. I have been reading a mystery (in bed) involving a detective who "travels" through lucid dreams. He is constantly frustrated. (That might be the reason for last night's episode...)

Years ago I used to be able to continue a dream from one night to another... not anymore. I also have had 'dreams' in the past where I thought I was actually traveling 'out of body'.... to different places that I'd always wanted to visit. These experiences were few, but they were accompanied by an unforgettable feeling of freedom... a feeling so exhilarating that it will remain in my head forever.

And yes, I've also had the 'flying' dreams. Those are/were wonderful too.  These I can rationalize by the fascination I have with watching birds (mainly seagulls and hawks) fly. They seem to float on the air with such ease.

beautiful....

Anyway, I digress...  I didn't mean for this to be so long. But my mind slips through my fingers to the page on occasion.  I really appreciate you reading my rambles. 

Have a wonderful Sunday! 

Hugs,
Rian

dreaming? or possibly melting in the heat ? (95 F today)

Thursday in Texas...

This is our Celeste Fig tree (on left). It is actually behind the gate, but falls over into the front drive.

The picture on the right show how many figs it seems to be making. We're not sure if they will all ripen as there are way too many.

We enjoy eating these figs fresh...
if the birds (mostly bluejays) and squirrels leave us some.  We do have a Turkey fig tree in the backyard - these we leave for the birds and squirrels.





We also have a ton of mint growing out front. It is taking over our front yard. But we love it and it smells wonderful.  Also tastes great in DH's sweet tea!

even growing out of cracks in walkway!

Weather has gotten warm... supposed to be up to 98 this afternoon. We're also in for more severe weather this evening if the weathermen can be believed. This spring has been a bit much with the tornado watches and severe thunderstorms. Our sirens went off yesterday afternoon and we were like... "WTF?" (sorry) The sun was out in our area and it looked fine - but sure enough, it got black and started pouring in about 30 mins and they kept the tornado watch on until about 8 pm. But luckily our area was fine. Some were not so lucky. But unless I'm mistaken, no one was hurt.

This next pic is oldest grand daughter at a horse event last Saturday. She has been working a lot lately and this is the first event in a while that she could attend. Both she and her horse did well. My daughter sent us the pic.

June 2019

I'm still working on my seals. This last one, "seal and pup" I just finished.  Well, not finished,  as it will have to dry and then be underglazed and fired. But it's a little larger than I usually do... maybe 6 inches. Most of my sculptures are between 2 and 4.

seal and pup

tiny fat cat

OK... that's all I've got.  Going to go read for a while and maybe take a short nap. Thanks for visiting! Wish I could serve you some tea or coffee.  We have a really good Lemon Ice-box pie in the freezer. It was a new recipe that is definitely a keeper. 

Hugs,
Rian