I mentioned the wild animals on the move this time of year. Unfortunately they are moving around the farm. This morning Dick saw a pile of black feathers near the barn which means one of my favorite chickens became a meal for either a fox, coyote or even bear last night. I sooner say one of the smaller predators since it would be easier for them to get into the barn. Tonight the trail camera will be set up, turned on and hopefully see what is hanging around waiting for an easy meal. Then the traps will be set and then.......................gone. My girls deserve all the protection we can give.
Quite by luck we stopped at a barn sale near Belmont, NY a few weeks ago. Across from it was a small lawn sale so we went to take a look....ya never know what ya might find. What I found was Pottery Heaven. The gal, Kay Brooks, has a studio filled with beautiful pottery ware made on site by her. Call it accident or meant to be that I happened to find my favorite pottery. It is my style, rustic but beautiful. If I was a rich person a twelve piece setting with all the extras would be in my cabinet. Since I'm not I will be content to buy a piece every few months. It all started with one beautiful bowl. Looking at it daily makes for a mission to own more, even if I have to settle for a four place setting I will be one happy gal. Kay Brooks is a sweetheart and easy to talk to and very informative on her history and techniques. Time flew talking to her. I called her last week to see if she would be open one day. She was and off I headed to buy a birthday gift. It was funny when I walked in she smiled and said I know that face and gave me a hug apologizing for not remembering my name but saying she never forgets a face. We got the grand tour of the building that houses her kiln. She told us she fired it up the day before and was waiting for it to cool down to check out the end results. I'm sure they were all beautiful. Dick told her he fired up our oven and she had a look of.....pottery? We laughed and told her it is our pizza oven Dick built. Of course like a proud mommy I had pictures to show her of our oven. As we left I told her, we will be back and in my mind said, that's a promise. The end of the month back over I go to pick up 3 plates she set aside for me............and so it begins, my quest for the best dishes I can buy.
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| My favorite, gotta have pottery from the Kay Brooks studio in Belmont, NY. Check out Kay's face book page to view more of her beautiful pottery. |
We bought big round hay bales from my nephew as we always do and also some square bales from a farmer over the hill in Canada Hollow. Some of you might know Dan Austin, he just turned 79 and does more physical work than many 60 years younger. What a guy, still looks like a hard working, muscle toned young man. He even amazes my 20 year old grandson on his strength and stamina for all the work he does. Dan always has a friendly smile on his face when we see him. Well, we stopped up to pay him for the hay a couple weeks ago. Dick of course had to stand around and talk for a while, I sat in the car which normally makes me very impatient knowing he is having a nice conversation and there I set waiting! The time went by quickly because of my view. It was Dan's field behind his house. There that wind was twirling the branches and leaves on the trees and the tall hay in the upper field blowing in the breeze like waves on the water. It just mesmerized me into a peaceful but wow sorta time. There the Austin farm is with splendid views no matter what way I looked. I'm sure they enjoy their little piece of heaven on earth just as we do in Clara. Ah, the country life if that is what you love can't get any better.
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| View from the Austin farm on Canada Hollow. |
