Denver Performing Arts Complex - Sculpture Park

Hello everyone -

This is a short note to say that I am alive and well but am busier than expected after returning to school in August to finish a masters in landscape architecture.  Needless to say, all clay activities are but a memory while I tend to school, being a mom and supportive partner to my husband.    Something had to give, and it looks like it is clay.  With that in mind, I have to decide what it is that this blog will become – if anything at all.  I don’t have anything to say about clay right now and my blog has lost steam….

But, at this point, I have resigned  myself to the possibility of returning to the clay studio during winter and summer breaks while I am in school.  I am definitely look forward to the stress relief that I find when working with clay.  I did participate in the Colorado Potters Guild Fall Sale last weekend and we had a terrific turn out which was hopeful.  But, school is intense, and the good news is that I’m learning tons and know this is where I belong.

Dancers by Jonathan Borofsky installed at the Denver Performing Arts Complex

Meanwhile, these two pages out of my sketchbook illustrate part of my site analysis for a “Plants in Design” class I’m taking.  Our final project is using this space to inspire a new concept planting plan – it’s an interesting space that is dominated by this 60′ tall pair of dancing alien like figures.

Our remodel progress on the home is nearly complete – we’re still waiting on new storm doors and windows to be installed just in time for winter.  Cosmetic redecorating is also on hold till I begin winter break – Dec. 11 – woohoo!  Heck, right now, I don’t even have time to get a haircut which I so desperately need – so I can’t even entertain the idea of painting a room or sewing some slip covers for the furniture.

Hope everyone is happy and healthy,

~Cynthia

Funny watch…

Wow – my every other day posting has turned into every 10 days! I actually have some more journal pages to share – just need to grab my flash drive and I’m way too lazy to do that right now.

Night, from snowy chilly Denver,

Cynthia

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

I’m very jealous – Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea visited my daughter’s school today.  Parents received a special email saying – “Don’t bother showing up, this is for students only.”  Arghhhh.  This is definitely one school assembly I would have loved attending.  Oh well…I did have the pleasure of helping my daughter craft questions for the author because her class was going to get a special audience with him.  I’m not sure she chose any of my questions or not which were all about the schools that his work has funded – hers were more along the lines of, “What does yak milk taste like?”

Greg Mortenson sounds like an inspiring person who turned a negative into an opportunity.  His mission: to “promote peace one school at a time.”  Even my shopping loving 11 year old daughter is moved and that says a lot – she has started reading Three Cups of Tea and has announced that she’s saving all her Pennies for Peace.  Who can argue with that?

No clay this week, maybe next.  We have done a decent job of clearing the garagio of all but my studio stuff which is still in boxes – but that’s a start.  A start that is sadly taking a back seat to being a mom, writing papers, reading (not for pleasure) and a sundry of other school activities.

Have a great week,

Cynthia

Garagio is now wired for my kiln, but there's only one problem...

A whole lotta stuff has to be moved inside the house before I can even plug it in!

But it’s one step closer to making pottery.  In my last post, or even one before that, I mentioned that I wanted to get my hands muddy again.  Needless to say, clay is the last thing on my mind right now because I’m feeling a bit swamped with school obligations, being a mom and also remodel/cleaning/painting activities around the new house. I keep telling myself that there’s no rush but I seriously think that it could be Christmas before the house and I start looking and feeling normal!

The kitchen is getting there

As you can see from the photos, however, there is still a little bit of work to be accomplished such as finishing vent hood above the range and painting (lots of painting).  It is functional though which makes me so happy because  it’s tiring to eat restaurant meals and/or like we’re camping every single day of the week – not to mention being hell on one’s waistline.

The backyard is another story...

The electrical lines were buried and in the progress of excavation and filling, the backyard has gone to pot.  The good news is that I’ll have till next spring to really worry about doing anything out here since fall & winter are approaching.  Hopefully by then, I’ll have added to my landscape knowledge base and can design a welcoming space with a small veggie garden.  By now, the people who moved into our old home are enjoying vine ripened tomatoes and all the fresh basil they can possibly consume.  It’s all good though, right?

School is going well and I am sufficiently challenged – unfortunately, my new issues of Pottery Making Illustrated & Ceramics Monthly are taking a back seat while I wade through Site Engineering for Landscape Architects.  I know I’m in the right place right now, but man oh man, my brain cells are aching from exercising them again.  Thank goodness it’s a holiday weekend and I get an extra day to rest my brain.  No physical respite for me though – we picked up a 5 gallon bucket of paint.  

Have a good week everyone – I’m getting better at managing my time and will try to make the blog rounds in the next few days to see all the fabulous things everyone has been doing while I’ve been in the weeds.

~Cynthia