Random Scenes From Today

One of my favorite subjects to photograph during our walks. It has been vacant for as long as we have lived here, yet in the summer someone leaves a box of flowers near the entrance.

Our favorite time to walk is right before sunset along Ocean Avenue.

These are the remaining boats left in Sorrento Harbor this time of year.

Sorrento's Village Green near sunset today.

Sorrento's public boat launch near sunset. Left foreground is a lobsterman's skiff tied off on the shore.

A gorgeous horse I stopped to photograph while driving in Sorrento today.

It was like he knew to pose for me by standing very still and then turning slightly for me to get a side view. Does anyone recognize the breed? I'm not that familiar with horses, but this one stole my heart.

Sunset out our window after we returned from our walk.

We are so very blessed to live here.

Outside Influences

Melting icicles and fresh boughs of pine outside our window today.

Melting ice in a glass of ice tea with a fresh sprig of mint.

Melting icicles with a dusting of fresh white snow.

Melting ice in a glass of ice tea and brownies with a fresh dusting of powdered sugar.

Close up of the snow covered terrain right outside our window.

Close up of the snow covered, I mean the powdered sugar covered, brownies right within our reach.

And the kiwi slice was a little like a slice of today's sunshine!

Three's A Crowd

Simon spent some time in the studio with me today,

where I found a spot for this pair that used to live outside.

This is the first time Simon has seen them.

He seems intrigued by what they are doing,

and moves in for a closer look.

Clearly unable to get their attention,



I think he's decided to give them their space.

Throwing Pots

Here's a few shots of Henri throwing some pots today. This is a lump of clay he started out with and already has it centered.

This is what it looks like after he hollows out the center. He wears latex gloves when he throws because there are groggy bits in the clay that are very abrasive on the skin.

Here he is drawing up the sides.

He has finished shaping the pot and is finishing up the rim.



Here are some of the pots he threw today. Tomorrow he will turn the pots over and finish up the bottoms.

These are some pots that have been bisque fired, glazed and are ready for the final raku fire.

It was nice to have him keep me company today while I was continuing to work on our studio redo.

Name That Snack

It snowed all day long today.

I had a craving for something sweet, and had remembered a no bake snack that had butterscotch morsels that you melt down with peanut butter. But what were they called?

So I searched everywhere for a recipe for a no bake snack that you added chinese noodles to. Were they called bird nests?






Then, when they were finished, I remembered what they were called.






Haystacks!




Bird nests are made with chocolate and have a nest shape to hold jelly beans that look like eggs.

Why of course. Haystacks. It seems so obvious to me now.

Floored

During last evening's walk I was excitedly talking about how when we got back home, I would be ready to apply the crowning touch to some paint that was finally dry, down in our basement studio.

The night before, I had taped off this section of the basement floor.

And using this color . . .




I had painted it to resemble an area rug.





And when it dried, I would give my area rug, a painted on pattern, using a stencil and some of this.



So anyway, almost back from our walk, I mentioned to Henri that the floor paint should be plenty dry for me to finally begin painting on my fleur-de-lis pattern.



So when we arrived home, I headed down to the basement to begin painting.

And a little while later when I had finished and gone back upstairs, Henri took a break from watching football and decided to check out my work down in the basement.

It was then, that I realized Henri had no idea what a fleur-de-lis was.

Because when he came back up from the basement he looked at me in true amazement, and said, "You know that symbol that you painted all over the floor down there . . . did you know it's the same symbol the Saints have on their helmets??!!"

Hi My Name Is Lili, And I'm A Cake-oholic

How else would you explain why I couldn't resist another cake pedestal? Actually, I found it at GW for only $3.00, it's heavy, and there was a label that read "Schott - Germany". It looks hand made and has a wavy gold rim.

And at the same time, I found this tiny pedestal topper that I paired with a dessert plate I already had. How could I pass it up for 99 cents?

And this? Yep, new too. But it was a Christmas gift. Someone is aware of my problem.

Oh, and what goes great with cake (besides champagne)? Black coffee. And for $1.50, you know I had to bring this silver plated carafe home with me.




But this, really, I had not planned on quite so soon this year.

Cake. Taken out of the oven at 9:00 this evening and eaten way before it was cooled off.