Playing with Clay

My interest in pottery started over 30 years ago, during my first pregnancy.  I took a series of classes in wheel throwing.  What was I thinking?  9 months pregnant, straddling a pottery wheel!!!  When I came back to the class after delivery, the instructor had mercy on my and introduced me to hand building.  I fell in love with creating with clay.  I had no illusion of being master potter.  Or even making usable pieces.  I was happy "playing" with clay.  After a couple years, this is the only piece I had to show.  It is my first piece and I still use it.  

I call it WWI HELMET.  Art is in the eye of the creator!

The next time I got back into pottery was through the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation department.  I took the class to make tiles for my mosaic pots.  Plus it gave me access to a kiln to fire the glaze on the terra cotta rim.

The instructor, Amy, showed me how to add glass shards to the glaze to make GEODE BEADS.  I used the beads in my Capri Shell Wall Hanging.

During these classes, I learned to make LARGE LEAVES.   Because of my love of trees and leaves, I was immediately interested.  I made a lot of leaves!

I have so many, I use some outdoors.  

When I moved to Florida, I found the Kimberly Miller Pottery Studio.  I was immediately attracted to her totems.  And I bought a small one.  I love having art in the kitchen.

Not only is Kim a talented artist, but she is a great teacher.  I have taken a few classes from her.  Here are a couple items I made...

I was very excited to get into Kim's Totem class.  It involved a very intense Saturday and Sunday and then three more Saturdays.  The first weekend was like a two-day pottery retreat.  On the first day Kim led us through the steps to make several large hollow pieces.  We came back on Sunday and made more pieces...some large, some small.   The bonus was that Kim provided a home-cooked lunch on both these days.  

On the following Saturdays, we made our finial, stained and glazed our pieces.  In addition to Kim's instruction and help, there was Robin, her studio assistant to help us.  Kim's husband Mark, helped with the food and made the totem bases.  

We used many techniques...forms, texturing, connecting to make hollow pieces, coils, pinch pots, extruder pieces, staining, glazing.   This class had it all.  Not only did Kim, Mark and Robin make it easy and enjoyable...but the other participants were supportive and fun.

The last Saturday we got together to assemble the completed pieces and admire each others work.  What a beautiful collection.

This class was a once in a lifetime experience.  

I have my totem proudly displayed in my living room.  

On The Prairie Seeing Buffalo...In Florida!

Yes, prairie and bison in Florida.  It took three attempts to finally make it to Paynes Prairie near Gainesville to camp (once a change in plans, once a hurricane).  It was worth the wait!  Lots of birds, animals, history, hiking, biking and campfires.  My idea of GOOD TIMES.  Paynes Prairie is 21,000 diverse acres.  There are lakes, forest, marsh and prairie.  The park has the biggest variety of animals of any park I have been to in Florida.  

The park has a history of being a cattle farm from the Seminole Indians, to the Spaniards in 1637, to European settlers in the late 1700's.  In 1970 the State of Florida acquired the land and has worked to restore the prairie marsh and preserve the history.  There are small herds of American bison, Florida cracker horses and cattle.  The bison represent the pre-European conditions, the horses and cows represent the cattle ranching history.  I saw the horses and cows from the overlook at the Visitor's Center.  They were pretty far off and were best viewed using binoculars.

I saw the bison a lot closer on the Cone Dike trail.  My excitement on seeing the bison started when I saw horse manure and bison patties along the trail.

As excited as I was about seeing the bison, I soon realized they were like their bovine cousins (cows) and just stood around munching on grass.  They just look awesome doing it.  It was fun to see them from 100 feet away.  And the 2.5 mile hike was enjoyable.

At the north end of the park, I walked along the La Chua trail to the Alachua Sink.  The highlight of this hike was all the animals at the sinkhole.  There is a long boardwalk which provides a sense of security from the alligators.  At the end of the boardwalk the trail continues where you can get up close and personal with the wildlife.   I would add to the Safety Guidelines...if you must pass a wild alligator, horse or bison, it is best not to be the slowest person in your group.

The ranger at the park said that this was an ideal time at the Sink because the water was high with nutrient rich runoff from the Sweetwater Wetlands.  There were lots of fish which attracted the large birds and alligators.  Lots of big birds...heron, wood storks, limpkins, egrets, buzzards and bald eagles.  Plus they were catching fish.  I often see heron while kayaking, but I don't see them catching many fish.  The alligators were HUGE.  I didn't see them catching anything...just laying in the sun.  

Once I saw the Sink, I wanted to see where the water came from...the Sweetwater Wetlands.  Brian and I stopped there on our way to Gainesville.  It is a wetland maintained to improve the water quality that travels to the Alachua Sink and into the Florida aquifer.  Not only is it a great environmental resource, it is a peaceful park for hiking or sitting and enjoying the view.

In Gainesville, we stopped for lunch at Satchel's Pizza.  It's a funky little place with kitschy décor and food made from scratch...even the soda.  I had the lunch special of a salad and slice of pizza with a Stevia cola.  I left with a bottle of their home-made dressing.  The first and last ingredient is LOVE.  I couldn't resist. 

I enjoyed all the art and particularly the outdoor mosaics.  I felt a connection with my mosaic planters.  I definitely recommend it...delicious and interesting.

On our way to Satchel's a semi connected with the van's rearview mirror.  It was a gently touch, but I felt it and immediately noticed the missing top of the mirror.  We continued on to lunch after a few adult comments from both of us.  This isn't the first time the extra wide mirror has had an accident.  On our way back, we were stopped at a red light at the same intersection and WHAT DID WE SEE???  The mirror laying face down in the middle of the intersection.  Brian pulled into a gas station on the corner and I jumped out, dodged traffic and rescued the mirror.  Okay, I politely crossed the road on the light and picked it up.  We were both astounded that there was little damage to the mirror, even after sitting an hour in traffic...probably being run over by cars and semis.  WOW!

The park has miles of trails that are good for off-road bicycling.  Brian has an e-bike and I have a traditional bike.  He has an advantage over me, but I do my best to keep up.  Sand, hard-pack and water.  I am usually working so hard that I don't have an opportunity to take many pictures.  I like the adventure of the off-road trails.

We both enjoy campfires.  It is never too early to start a campfire (or have a beer.  I learned the beer part from my Mom).  We are a couple of Campfire Connoisseurs.  We have a collection of firestarters (briquettes, packets, fatwood and good old kerosene).  We have scrap wood to get the flames going.  Once the preparations are done, we add the wood.  Our collection of tools include favorite fire sticks, pokers, bellows and tongs.  It is a beautiful way to end our adventurous days.

Life's Too Short to Say NO to Cake

 

My grandchildren LOVE cake.  I started thinking about my FAVORITE CAKE.  It is a recipe passed down to me from my Grandmother.  A sweet, white sheet cake, no frosting.  It was the first cake I baked with my Mom (probably 50 years ago...or more!).  I look forward to making this with my grandchildren and creating more memories.

This is a cross between a Butter Cake and a Pound Cake.  My Grandmother called it "As You Like It Cake".  I believe she got the recipe from a magazine in the 1950s.  Yes, the era of molded Jell-O salads and tuna casseroles.

It isn't special to look at...it's charm is the taste!  It is close to a Butter Cake, with one BIG difference...my recipe calls for shortening, not butter.  It isn't a pound cake cake either.  It has less eggs than a pound cake and has a lighter, more tender consistency.  This cake is baked in a 9 x 13 glass pan.  Unlike a traditional sheet cake, it is served UNFROSTED.  It has enough sugar that frosting would be TOO MUCH.  My favorite way to eat is plain, sometimes with a smear of butter...with a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee.

This picture shows three generations.  The cake is my Grandma, the china and sterling is my Mom and I made the leaf platter.

I learned a lot about cake baking from this recipe.  Most cakes have the same list of ingredients...flour, butter/shortening, sugar, eggs, baking powder, salt, milk and vanilla.  The ingredients are basic, the difference is the amounts and how they are put together.

One lesson I learned...weigh the flour.  While watching The Great British Baking Show, I noticed that the bakers weighed the ingredients, rather than using measuring cups.  It is more accurate to weigh flour and therefore produces consistent results.  A cup of flour should weigh 120 grams.  I did a test to see if it really made a difference.

I did my usual method by dipping the measuring cup into the flour.  That amount of flour weighed 154 grams!  Almost 1/3 cup more.  Another recommended method is to spoon the flour into the measuring cup to prevent compressing.  That measurement was 130 (still more).  I am a BELIEVER!

I knew baking powder and baking soda were two different ingredients, but I didn't know the difference.  Both are leavening agents.  Baking Soda is sodium bicarbonate.  It needs an acid and a liquid to create a chemical reaction to make the batter rise.  Baking Powder is baking soda combined with an acid and a buffer, like corn starch.

You don't have to rely on the expiration dates on these.  I don't bake much and they are often outdated.  If they are close to their expiration dates, I use these simple tricks to check their freshness.  Check to see if your baking powder is still active by stirring 1 teaspoon into 1/3 cup of warm water.  If it still fizzes, it is OK.  You can test to see of your baking soad is still active by mixing some with vinegar.  If it bubbles, you are good to go. 

 

2 cups Sugar

2/3 cup Shortening

2 2/3 cups Flour

4 teaspoons Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Salt

1 1/3 cup Milk

2 teaspoon Vanilla

2 Eggs

Setup.  Preheat the oven to 350 degree F.  Grease and flour the glass pan.  Get out all your ingredients.  This is when I check to make sure the Baking Powder is good.  It is very disappointing to start making a recipe and realize you don't have everything you need! 

Cream the shortening and sugar.  This gives the CAKE structure by beating air into the shortening, while the sugar helps to hold the air.  This makes the CAKE light and fluffy...and produces a good rise.   I beat the shortening to get it creamy.  Then I add the sugar, a little at a time, making sure the sugar is fully incorporated.  Frequently, scrape the sides and bottom.

Mix the dry and wet ingredients.  I mix the remaining dry ingredients (flour, salt and baking powder) in a separate bowl.  I also mix the wet ingredients (milk, eggs and vanilla) together.  This helps to evenly disperse them.

Add the dry and wet ingredients.   Just make sure the ingredients are blended.  

Put in the pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes.  Level out the batter, it is thick.  Bake until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.  It should be golden brown and the edges are starting to release from the sides.  

ENJOY

#StayAtHome - Real Retired Housewife of Florida Style

The #StayAtHome lifestyle isn't all that different from my REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA lifestyle.   I am missing my spa visits...hair, mani/pedi, massage.  I miss travelling in our camper.  Otherwise, I have adapted.  My biggest accomplishment have been in the craft area.

My first project was Wall Hangings for the guest room.  I love the idea of homemade art and this project appealed to me because

• I liked the look
• It was easy
• I had all the supplies at home

 

I already had the frames hanging on the wall with artwork that needed updated.  I have a hoard of glue guns and sticks.  My hoard is a combination of my own and what I inherited from my Mom.  I painted muslin fabric for the background.  I originally thought I wanted the circles to be black, but gold worked better. 

I am happy with the end results.  If you want detailed instructions on this project check out Tresha's YouTube video, How to Make Beautiful Abstract Wall Art Using This Common Tool.

My next project was Personalized Doormats for my family. 

I had bought the doormats a while ago, but just set them aside.  Now I had plenty of time and no excuses.  I designed and cut the stencils using my Silhouette cutter.  

The first doormat took me 3 days to finish.  Looking, back I don't know what my problems were.  I got the second mat completed in one day.  I was able to design, cut and paint the last two in ONE DAY!  I had a little bit of a learning curve.

I was happy to get done with them!  I painted them at my kitchen bar...what a mess.  It was the same time Brian was working on perfecting his pizza skills.  That added to the mess, but boy was the pizza good.

For the next project I moved out of the kitchen and into my small workspace in the garage.  It was time to make some Mosaic Pots.  I have been doing shard art mosaic projects for a long time.  The pots are my signature piece.

Before I started this project I cleaned out my 4' x 8' workspace in the garage.  I couldn't believe how much I had stored (shoved) into that space.  This is my space AFTER I took out all my supplies.

  

This is what it normally looks like...

Here are the mosaic supplies I had stored (shoved) into that small space.

I like making the pots because there are many different steps to them...glazing the rims and trays, buying the dishes and tiles, picking the colors, breaking the pieces, creating the design, gluing and grouting.  Breaking the dishes is very physical.  The gluing and grouting is very messy.  I love it.  I am taking the finished pieces to Ohio to share with family and friends.

My latest project was Wood Cornice Boxes for my bedroom windows.

I want cornice boxes over most of the windows in my home to compliment the ceiling crown molding.  I have spent lots of time researching and watching YouTube videos.  I started with the bedroom windows because they are the smallest.  My son-in-law, Mike, helped me with the design and recommended a good deal on a nailer set from Home Depot.  The idea of using power tools was exciting...and scary.

I set up a work area in the garage.  Let me tell you, if there was a mistake, I made it.  Wrong design, wrong cut, wrong size, wrong direction.  The first cornice box took three whole days...one day to build and two days to caulk!  At the end of the first day and I didn't think it was salvageable.  I went to sleep resigned that I would probably have to have someone else make them.  After a beer (or two) and a good nights sleep, I was hopeful.  Half a tube of calk and the piece was okay.  It won't win a prize.

I figured I had made ALL the possible mistakes on the first box...what could go wrong with the second?  Another batch of problems and mistakes.  But at least this one didn't take as long or need as much caulk.  It was another example of my learning curve.  I plan to make more.  I like this project because of all the power tools...chop saw, air nailer, cordless drill...a big Tim Taylor HAR HAR HAR.

Projects are done, the mess is cleaned up and the pizza has been eaten.  Now back to the regular @StayAtHome life...jigsaw puzzles and kayaking.