Just More Of The Usual Stuff

And here we have the mean, mean, biting machine, Maurice Moon, this morning after I got out of bed. She wasn't too interested in getting up as it was quite early, being a pottery day. I finally had to gently lift her off the bed so I could make it. She told me in no uncertain terms that she was not ready to face the day by saying, "Mrrpt!" which is her all-purpose word for displeasure. 
She uses it many times a day. And often in the night if I move my legs when she's lying on them or (GOD FORBID!) I try to turn over. Sometimes it pisses her off so much she just jumps off the bed and stalks away. 

So pottery was lovely and it was sweet, as always, to be with Jessie whose project for the day was to try and make end-of-the-year teacher appreciation gifts of extremely cool trinket dishes. You know- like you can put your rings and earrings and things in? 
I got my hibiscus off the shelf and worked at trying to smooth it some and reinforce some places that were obviously too thin and then to make the lady part in the center. It looks a great deal like the other one I made but I don't think it's as good. 
Anyway, it's on the shelf to be fired. So that is that. I forgot to take a picture. That's how thrilled I was. 
That took me almost the entire 2 1/2 hours of class but not quite so I got out my leaf platter that I was supposedly painting at home and did a little more glaze painting on it. I am becoming a tiny bit excited about this project. It, too, started as an end of class effort but I think I may end up liking it. 

Now I am going to show you something that our Lizzie from class is making. She just got inspired one day, as one does, and made a ceramic whippet. Her dogs are wippets and she loves them to pieces. So this is what they are looking like. 

I mean- WHOA! Aren't they beautiful? Can't you just feel their sleeping dog energy? 
She seemingly magically began to pinch them from clay the day she thought of them and we are all blown away. 
It's so lovely when inspiration hits and fingers know exactly what to do to make the inspiration a reality. 

Of course I won't be at pottery next week because I'll be down south, basking in the beauty of that area of the state, watching sunsets over the river, swimming in the lion pool, going to the beach, checking out the thrift stores in the land of the Rich People, eating delicious foods, cooking delicious foods, listening to the bamboo clanking in the breeze, seeing the birds come to roost every night, being with my sweetie, laughing with my sweetie, being sweet with my sweetie. 
So yeah, although I'll miss not seeing everyone at pottery, I'll be okay. I'll survive. 

Speaking of my sweetie, he got dental work done today. Fairly serious dental work. He says he's not in pain but he really does have a high pain threshold. He's doing all the things you're supposed to do and not doing the things you're not supposed to do. I stopped by Publix on my way home to get his antibiotic prescription and while there I bought yogurt drinks, yogurt, watermelon chunks, and ice cream. One needs a reward for the pain and agony of dental procedures. 
This is well known, as Mma Makutsi from "The No. One Ladies' Detective Agency" series by Alexander McCall Smith always says with such complete and utter authority that no one would dare challenge her. 

Here's a magnolia blossom opening up on the tree beside my back porch. 

It's way too high for me to stick my nose in it but here are two buds which are a bit lower.

The blooming of the Magnolia Grandifloras has well and truly begun. 
Must be almost Jessie's birthday. 

And okay, okay. Here's a zinnia from Jessie's zinnia bed.

I am not sure I've ever seen one that exact color. 
Lemon chiffon? 

Another day, another flower. 

Love...Ms. Moon