Warmer Day

Melting Snow and Cold Hands

   It's been a lot warmer today, even the car started this morning, not like yesterday when it was around    -12 and poor black Emma just wasn't starting, still the garden is covered in snow yet at last it's melting away leaving the winter shrubs green once more.

  Along with my little helper Ziggy I made time to play around in the kitchen garden site to start laying out some of the timbers for the beds, talk about cold hands I think I could place them in the stove and it wouldn't burn. This was followed by a visit into the greenhouse where those tiny seedlings are still keeping warm and looking stronger every day, some of the early tomatoes are through now, far too many of each sort as every year which makes the idea of selling off excess plants at the gate a promising one. I think like most people I must sow far too many seeds and end up with what can only be called hundreds of spare tomato, cucumber and pepper plants, not to mention all the cabbage and lettuce plants. I try dumping some onto family and friends but they never all get used, so this year they will indeed go on sale at the gate.
   After a morning at my torch I've spent a few hours making ceramic beads and pendants in the kitchen, I know Yvonne will kill me if I make a mess but sod it, a pan around the head is better than freezing my nuts off in the clay room, plus I've managed to find time to cook a nice pan of chili so I'm sure she won't mind. I'm happy with the ceramic beads, every set being different and all new to me, I'll make sure I get more done every evening this coming week then I'll have enough to fill the kiln for a bisque firing. Ive been making some two hole pendants too so I hope they turn out ok.
   This evening I'll be parked in my chair by the fire with my notebook and pencil drawing more ceramic bead ideas, it's strange how a week off ceramics can give you new life, fresh ideas just the same as a day or two from my torch.
   With a fresh week ahead and some milder weather on it's way I'm really looking forward to a very productive seven days which I hope means lots of listings in both ebay and etsy shops.
   Ok I'm off for a coffee and yet another new notebook, I hope you all enjoy your evening and have a great start to the new week tomorrow, at least there shouldn't be too much ice to remove from your cars in the morning.