Cressida had an incident!
Fortunately the blackbirds are profiting.
I finally remembered to record the audio again this week! As ever, I do it in one go, so please forgive any stumbling.
Hello, how was your week?
As I sit down to write I remember for about the 37th time this week that my desk chair’s up/down function has stopped working, and I feel slightly discombobulated by it. I could try a YouTube search to find a solution, but it’s so highly likely to result in a wasted hour or more of my life and a chair in pieces that I’ll just carry on!
I’ve had a good week enjoying all the things that I have welcomed into my life; I’ve gardened (gently), built things in the studio, been to a Country Brocante with a friend, had tea in the garden with another and even met up with a old friend from college. Mike has been home more than away and we have absolutely nothing in the diary for the weekend ahead. It’s not earth shattering stuff is it, but it’s made me happy. My hip pain is really hindering me and walking Gertie is a problem, but I’ve recruited help and am ensuring Gertie knows that I still love her the most.
While tinkering with clay I was listening to
read her latest book, Kokoro: Japanese Wisdom for a Life Well Lived. Silent, salty tears rolled down my cheeks as I was making a pot while she shared her mother’s death and ensuing grief. I know just how lucky I am to still have my mother around, but am equally aware that, if the natural order of things is respected, I too will experience this loss. Beth is a beautiful, soulful writer who has reinforced my belief in embracing life’s simple pleasures, both this book and her previous, Wabi Sabi, give great depth to the Japanese philosophies and customs that advocate this way of living and I recommend a read or listen.In The Garden
The edges of the garden are looking increasingly woolly and Mike is itching to get the hedge cutters out, but I plead with him to leave them just a few more weeks until the fledglings, safe in their nests within them, have flown. The borders are beginning to show some colour, some as expected and the odd surprise here and there. The hydrangeas are hinting at the sea of white froth that I imagined during the winter, and in fact were in need of watering this week; they looked rather droopy as a result of the dry weather and, I suspect, a good deal of growth. They’ve perked up nicely and we’re planning to plant some really bright alliums amongst them in the autumn to feast our eyes upon next spring.
When we moved to the house I managed to persuade Mike that a robot mower would be a huge asset (and not just because I’d hoped to train the cat to ride it!). Cressida, as we (I) named her, has most definitely proved her worth and while she isn’t infallible she has most definitely saved us hours and hours each week. She did however have some sort of incident over the weekend, the only visible evidence was a munched up plastic plant pot which I can’t honestly believe would damage her blades, but damaged they were and consequently the grass hasn’t been mown for a week. We don’t cut it terribly short in any case, but a few extra days has seen the lawn become a field of daisies which I am absolutely loving. And so are the birds whom I’ve seen many more of hopping about the grass.
Our blackbird family seem to be doing well, I don’t disturb them but have seen little mouths peeping out of the nest and mother and father out food gathering together. Did you know Blackbirds are largely monogamous? Or that the male blackbird stays around to feed his young? You probably did, but I only figured that out this week and it really made me smile.
Wednesday was so utterly glorious here that I put the hammock up and enjoyed half an hour gently swinging with my book, although I can’t say I actually managed to read much as my eyes were closing…
Mud, Smoke and Fire
On Monday I had a go at throwing porcelain for the very first time. Having been rather fearful of it given it’s reputation for being ‘difficult’ I threw caution to the wind (okay that’s a bit extreme perhaps!) and gave it a whirl - literally! I’m actually rather pleased with how it went, while I will now have more ‘charmingly wonky’ pots to add to the mounting collection I was pretty happy to get anything off the wheel at all.
Since we cleared the garden room out last weekend I’ve had plants on my mind for it, and of course plants out of a border means pots. So I began making some plant pots out of the reclaimed clay I’ve been meaning to use up, some smaller, some a little bigger, some on the wheel and some by hand. I also made some saucers and this morning decided to make another little collection of bud vases which are perfect for sweet peas. I’m actually itching to get to the garden centre and discover what will survive the extreme heat and then cold of this room, but meanwhile I must actually get on and plant the vine I bought last week!
A Ceramic Alphabet
C is for….. clay, what else? The only absolute necessity for a potter beyond our hands I guess. Many, many varieties are available from suppliers; earthenware, stoneware, terracotta, porcelain; or you can dig your own if the soil around you is suitable (sounds wonderfully earthy, but I have enough garden to contend with without digging for clay too!). One of the things I love best about clay is its almost endless recyclability until it is fired, it simply doesn’t matter how many mistakes I make when throwing, I haven’t wasted it.
Friday night is designated pizza night here, while our rather transitory life has perhaps meant that some family traditions have escaped us, this is one we all enjoy. I’m trying to establish a routine of making the dough first thing in the morning as a homemade pizza is just immeasurably better than anything we can buy locally. I have a head of fennel in the fridge and am thinking perhaps roasted fennel and chorizo would be a good combination? What’s your favourite?
Right, with that, I’ll leave you and wish you a lovely weekend.
With love, Vanessa x
Lovely as always Vanessa
I think you deserved a good week after recent problems Vanessa… this was a gorgeous read and I’m not ashamed to say, I am wholly envious of the half hour swinging in summer warmth and light with your book - bliss! X