More Pottery Sheep

I have been working away at my pottery sheep this past week. As you can see - the flock is slowly growing. If you click on the image - it will enlarge it.



I now have 3 small sheep done - and 2 larger sheep. The larger sheep, will be available with - or without your flock name added. As you can see in the picture below, I can shear the wool on the side of the sheep - and add a name. This one is for my good friend Cate (but if you know her, don't tell her - it's a surprise).





The first 3 small sheep have now been bisque fired, and are ready to be glazed. I will have to make a trip to Waterloo, Ontario next weekend to pick up some glazes. I will probably paint them up next week, and then get everything ready for a glaze firing. This is a time consuming process, as we never fire the kiln until it is full - with the cost of energy these days - just can't afford it.

I have 2 more of the larger sheep to complete for pre-existing orders this next week. I also have 6 small sheep to complete for other local orders.

This next few weeks, I will work on making several more of the small sheep - and then I will start taking orders for specific colours. I will have to work out the details for these orders.
I may just make several sheep - and then post them and sell as is, or take specific orders, and
you have to wait while it's being completed. Many little details to work out.

Also - Nancy Krohn (Bluff Country Shetlands), has graciously offered to post a link on her page, to my sales page - thank you Nancy.

Well - I'd better get back to it.

An Update

Yes - I know I've been remiss, and haven't posted for three weeks. I've been busy - and tired.
I'm back to work full time, and finding that I have been tired in the evenings. Most evenings I come home and sleep for a few hours to regain my strength.

As well, most of you don't know that I am also a potter. I have 2 major sales coming up in the end of April, so, I have been spending a lot of time at the wheel, coupled with additional time in the carving stages.

I've been asked by several people, to do something along the sheep line in pottery.

Now - I'm not a hand builder (that is - I throw my pottery on the wheel, as apposed to rolling and molding it by hand). Last week - I decided to give this a try, and came up with this little fella here:
In perspective - he's about 3" high and 4" long. I was rather pleased with this effort.
Next week, he will be bisque fired, then glazed, and then fired again.
I will post pictures when he is complete in a few weeks.

The down side of pottery - you can't make just one. Word is out, and several of the local shepherds have asked for a sheep - so, I'd better get to work and make some more.

Before I go - a quick Johnny update.


Seems you have to watch where you lay your head around here. Johnny likes to hide under any pillow he can find (I was getting ready to change the bed here) - when you walk by - the one paw comes out to get you! When he's not eating or sleeping - he's tearing around the house like a banshee Oh wait - that's what cats are all about. John is growing - and he fits in quite well here with the other cats. Even though he only has 3 legs - he keeps up quite well.

Until next time.

Canadian Eh?

Well - the good old Canadian Winter is upon us. Here in Southern Ontario - there's no telling what you might get.. In my last post - the day after Christmas - we had no snow - just a lingering fog and frost. By January 2nd - we looked like this: We had 14 " of snow fall from January 1st - 2nd.


It was such a winter wonderland - very beautiful (except the driveway that I had to get my Dad
to come over and clean out with the snow blower).

And - in keeping with the wonderful Canadian Winters in Southern Ontario - by today - everything out there looks like this: Yep - all gone!



By next week - we'll probably be snowed in again. Thankfully - we aren't getting the snow that they are on the west coast - and the flooding. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.


On to other subjects. I've been a little bit remiss this past week or so - trying to keep up with all the work I have to catch up on.

Michelle made this lovely shawl for my Mother in Law in exchange for some yarn that I spun for her. Note the lovely clasp that she made from beads. She is very talented - and I think the shawl is just beautiful. I'm sure the MIL will love it - we'll be seeing her this weekend.


I'm also headed back to work this week - at least part-time. We'll see how that goes. I'd much
rather stay home - alas - I've yet to win the lottery.

Lingering Fog

Today, we have a fog lingering over the area. It's supposed to be clearing - but I don't see any signs of it. With the temperature hovering just under freezing, the fog is creating a beautiful frost on everything. If only the sun would come out - the effect would be so dazzling.
The picture above is of the trees around the pond, and all the frost clinging to the branches.

I so badly would like to take a walk in my woods with the camera, and take pictures of the fog and frost on the trees. However, I am not supposed to walk long distances yet, so , I have to be
content with a picture from the backyard.


The picture below is of the edge of the pond, looking out into the field. The fog is still fairly thick,
and it's now almost 4 pm. Most of our snow (we had almost 12" of the white stuff), was washed away in the rain on December 23rd. The winds were horrendous - I'll have to check for downed trees in the woods next time I'm out. Tomorrow, they are calling for freezing drizzle. Yippee. It's a good thing I don't have to go anywhere for the next little while.


I'm looking forward to going out to the barn again in the next few days. Right now, we've been rotating the sheep on who gets to go outside, and who doesn't. Rams one day - ewes the next.
Since the pond is frozen, I have to lock the back pasture to keep the young sheep off of it, so I no longer have a buffer area between the boys and girls - this way keeps my fences from being torn up by randy rams.

I also did a bit of spinning today - I've been wanting to spin since the day after my surgery. It
went quite well. Mostly, I reclined in my big chair - and did a really long draw on the yarn.
It was very relaxing, and as a matter of fact, I found that I was able to tension the wool, and make a very even single that way. I may just adopt this as my new way of spinning. Our new kitten, Johnnie was very interested. He stuck his paw (remember, he's missing a front leg) into the flyer, and actually stopped the wheel once when I wasn't paying total attention to him. After that, he decided he would watch the wheel from a distance, and actually layed down beside me to watch with one eye open. He's learning.

Merry Christmas to All

We do have a tree - for Now! I posted a picture earlier of our sad tree - but, well, I was feeling
well enough yesterday to get the decorations out - and put a few up. I did pay for my over exuberance later. We'll see how long this tree lasts. If you notice - it is all decorated with
feather birds (click on image to enlarge). I have 5 cats in the house. This morning, we came out to find the tree tipped over, and some of the birds missing. We've played this game now for about 4 years. Pippin loves to take the birdies off the tree and bat them around. Greyling, who is the biggest culprit - jumps into the tree, takes it down, and strips it. Long John hasn't noticed yet.

And so I say " Merry Christmas to all, may your Holidays be filled with Cheer" and "May you
have the blessings of family and friends to take you through 2008" - Tammy and Family.

Ow! Ow! Ow!

Oh well - not really - but seemed like a good start to the blog. Just a quick update to let everyone know that I am home. I have survived. And really - it isn't as bad as everyone seems to think it should be. I feel great - except for the hot flashes. Seems I lost everything in the operation - uterus and both ovaries and tubes - thus throwing me into instant menopause. The good news is that my Doctor doesn't think any of it was cancerous. The bad news - apparently they now have to look at my gallbladder (sigh - seems like I can never win).

So - with all of that said - I feel great!!!!!! Really. And that should give you an idea of exactly how sick I was before this operation. I was in a great deal of pain and felt terrible all the time. The ovarian cyst was uncomfortable (yes - I could feel it). My doctors have remarked on my incredible tolerance for pain (since 12 hours after the operation, I have only had extra-strength Tylenol every 12 hours) - and I didn't even feel the staples coming out. I tire easily - but today actually made a trip into town to get groceries (don't worry - my kids came with me and did all the lifting) - but I drove.

Oh- and today I made it out to the barn with my dad to see all my little critters. We were all very happy to see one another - actually they were happier to see me because it was 9 am - and they were hungry.

Now don't let me kid you - yes there is some discomfort - but really I feel great. Not quite up to dancing yet - but close. Well - maybe a slow dance.


So - tomorrow, I will do a minor tree trimming and put up a few decorations. I'll also finish wrapping gifts and get ready for Christmas. if I don't get back to post again before Christmas - I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas - surrounded by the love of your family and friends.

I'll Be Away For A While

Well, the new baby is all settled in. He's as wild as can be. Long John (Johnnie) is a total darling, very loving, and although he only has 3 legs - he's a going concern. Nothing seems to slow him down. And I have to say, I haven't laughed so much in the the last 3 months, as I have in the last
3 days.

I will be away from my computer for a week or so. I am going into the hospital on Thursday for
the dreaded operation - a hysterectomy. I am also having one ovary removed. Seems I have a rather large and very fast growing growth on my one ovary. I had a laproscopy done in August and tissue samples taken at the time. It wasn't cancerous. However - it has almost doubled in size since August, so the feeling is - take it out before it becomes cancerous. I also have a mass growing on the outside of the uterus which is creating pressure on the bladder. Might as well take it out at the same time. No sense doing another surgery later. So - with that being said - I go in on Thursday morning. They expect me to be in the hospital for 5 - 7 days - and then recouperating for another 4 - 5 weeks. We'll see - I am self employed - and have sheep to look after. This next few weeks will show me how well I've taught my DH and Kids to look after things.


As for Christmas - well - this surgery was planned this way. My husband and I are involved in a family business, and so, time off is hard to come by. The plan is to combine holiday time with sick time to minimize the actual time away from work. In all honesty - I'm sure that I will be working from home within 2 -3 weeks. At least part time anyway.

I'll leave you with these pictures: And have no doubts - I love my cats very much.

Nancy - don't feel bad - this is my tree. We'll see whether it gets decorated or not.


This is my version on a "Shadow Box" - I believe she would like it if I had bigger feet.

Long John says "I will NOT wear the Santa Suit!"

Pippin Says: "I will!"


Merry Christmas Everyone!