Low Energy

There were thundershowers last night with a tiny bit of rain (but not nearly enough). 81F today with the high supposed to be closer to 90F. It got cold last night, down into the 60s. It's time to start thinking about fall.

I have the front door open and a lizard just came under the screen. It scrambled out again when I moved toward it to shoo it out. They're pretty bold, our little lizard population, and curious. I like them because they keep down the pesky outdoor insects, which means that we get fewer pesky indoor insects. 

We do have a bit of wildlife around us, thankfully. From the hummingbirds who share their feeder with the bees to our little lizard friends to the mouse that is living in the garden (that Gray Kitty would murder if it ever got ideas to come live in the house). We get an occasional skunk wandering through. And the cicadas are still here, though they make their presence known mostly by singing. (Although I did see one a few weeks ago that had the bad fortune to get caught by a cicada-killer wasp.) In the past, we've had snakes around, but I haven't seen one in awhile. (The garden mouse better watch out if they are around.) And of course there are spiders. There are always spiders. I love spiders.

 Pollen is high again, especially ragweed pollen, so I am very low energy. I am not sleeping well at night, but what else is new? I was up last night doing stuff, writing and reading. I'm finishing up Dreams from My Father and will start another Bill Bryson next. (I ordered three new Bryson books, Notes from a Small Island, Made in America, and I'm A Stranger Here Myself. Everything shipped, only they sent me an Ogden Nash book called I'm A Stranger Here Myself instead of the Bryson. I have to particular quarrel with Nash, I'd just rather have the Bryson.)

Ah, the resident cicada just started singing. I love that sound.

I can also hear Dave on the phone chatting with a friend who lives in Connecticut. I can hear the AC unit and the air purifier, both of which are kind of whiny. 

Gray Kitty is napping on the end of the bed. I want to join him. 

Here are some pictures of my bisqued work from yesterday's kiln:

I like her, but she definitely needs arms and a taller base. I could possibly make another base for her to sit on, another flouncy layer to her skirt.

These are the underglazed plates. I'm trying to decide how to finish the rims. The options are to leave them plain, add some captions, or paint bold black and white stripes on them.

The calavera needs more work, more detail painted on the flowers and face.

This last one is clearly ripped off from Yoshitomo Nara. Just with my slightly crazier spin on it.

We're going back to the studio soon. The cups that Dave threw will need handles. The clay and the weather decide the schedule.