Orange is perky!

Hello! I have made a good progress on glazing today. I must do, as deadlines are coming. The first one is 8-9th November at Windsor Contemporary Art Fair. Bisque firing went well, and that was relief! I don't want any nasty surprise at this stage.

Tuesday, after I came back from London, I made several hounds in various poses.

I had to wake up at dawn to load the kiln yesterday morning! Beautiful! 

Lower shelf

Top shelf

I have posted a beautiful crackle glazed whippet to a lovely lady yesterday, but then, I felt so tired that I was not able to concentrate on glazing. Going to London four times in a week was a bit too much! Lots of coffee and the best quality truffles were required! 

I treated myself with Godiva truffles.

Then, look! I received a beautiful thank you card from Rebecca at Etsy! How nice! 

Being perked up, I made an anteater! Two hounds are fresh from the kiln!

 Tomorrow will be another glazing day! More coffee! :D

Merry Christmas, everybody!

Hello everyone. Mike finally finished Christmas shopping this morning. We have stocked up with our sweeties again. We had already finished two boxes of chocolates and one box of Turkish delight earlier as well as my special New Year rice cakes. I intended to keep it until New Year's day, but while we were ill, we ran out food, so I ate them!

New stock of sweeties

Last night we had a storm. I felt the house shaking. I am from Japan where typhoons are an annual thing, even so I was worried if our roof would take off! There were a couple of fences blown down in our neighbourhood, but we were safe.

'Dad has bigger cushions on the tummy! '

In the afternoon, we shampooed Topaz, While she was drying herself in a warm bed upstairs, Mike, I and Pearl watched Narnia and Life of Pi with chocolates. Mike gets jealous if I am putting Pearl on my lap. As I am so kind, I let him hold her. :D It's Christmas!

Next box, please!

We finally put the tree up last night, and started watching Downton Abbey. Last 12 months I had been too busy to watch anything on TV or in cinema. I hope I would be able to relax a bit this year.

Topaz and the tree. 

So finally we are ready for Christmas. I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

What a lovely day!

It has been a lovely warm day here in Canterbury. I also had a good day. Mike woke me up with a good news that my dear Chameleon was sold. He checked his emails and found paypal notice there; I use his paypal account.

Her is now travelling over the ocean.

When I made several chameleons, I was almost possessed by them. I kept making more and more. I only made them because I wanted to make them. It was pure joy. So, when time came to sell them, I didn't know the market for them. Reptile keepers? Men? Art people? People with a quirky taste?


The largest chameleon went to an elderly artist couple's house. They named him Jub Jub, and I was informed that he has been well looked after!

I tried on Etsy and he was favoured by several people. Today he was sent to US. A long travel for him. I packed him well, and hope he will travel well.

This jug went to the North

While I was checking emails before I started my work, that's my day work, an Etsy purchase notification came. ??? I checked it. A milk jug was sold to an English lady who does print making. Actually I had just checked her works about 10 minutes ago, after her nice work was retweeted. I found her works attractive, so added her shop to my favourites to check them out after work. What a lovely day! I hope she will be able to use the milk jug at the weekend.


Strangely enough, I just wrote yesterday that we sell more on eBay than Etsy. How odd! I obviously thank Etsy for making such a great site!   


I went to a post office with my pal, Topaz, at lunch time. Mike bans me to take beautiful Pearl to a post office because she would be likely to be kidnapped, while she is tied to a post. How about Topaz? He said cruelly, yes I could take her. 

Champagne truffles from Mike

It was really warm. Students walked in T-shirts, and Topaz was panting a bit. When I came home, Mike gave me a box of Champagne truffles, my favourite! Our wedding anniversary is coming. I worked through until five, and it was the Budget day, so I will crunch up the details later on. Pearl was happily sleeping next to my feet, chasing sunshine a whole afternoon.


I feel so happy and contended. I hope your day was a lovely one, too!

Me, too!

  

Happy Valentine's Day

After three nights' inadequate sleep, I really wanted to have a good night sleep last night. I did some ceramics, a sure way to get a good night sleep for me. It always works. I fell into sleep quite easily. Three in the morning, Pearl the whippet started 'crying' like a baby. 'fee feee heen heen'. I check on her, and Mike checked on her, but we couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. He thought she could get up because I put her a nightie on. Anyway, Mike took her out in the garden, just in case.

Then Topaz started barking. In response to that, Fifi, the Patagonian conure screamed from a next bedroom. We were wide awake. Mike went down to make a tea at half past three, but luckily I was able to go back to sleep.

My favourite, Champagne Truffles

So, this morning, I was a bit sleepy. When Mike brought a cafe au lait to the bed, I really didn't register (imagine BGM is parrot's wild calls!) Just before he set off to a office, he came in and said 'Happy Valentine's Day' and placed a paper bag on a duvet.

I suddenly widely awake! Just like a magic. He is so nice! Every girl needs some really nice chocolates! Mine are champagne truffles. My favourite!

They are delicious, very boozy (an important point to me!). Thanks, Mike! I love you, too! (Ok, when I saw this picture, I like to eat one fo them again!)   

Autumn soup and dog walk in the campus

Today's lunch was my healthy pork escalope soup, Serrano ham and wholemeal sesame bread with seeds from Waitrose. Ah and a glass of Green Goblin cider. Mike had same bread but grilled with cheddar cheese and Serrano ham.

My lunch

I cooked this soup yesterday with solar power. This is very healthy soup. I used pork escalope instead of other fatty parts. Carrot and Charlotte potatoes were initially cooked together, and then tofu and Chinese cabbage were added. That was my lunch. For dinner, I added several shiitake and a leek. When we eat, we added microwaved broccoli on top for colour. Flavouring is a bit of sugar and a bit of soy source. And also a bit of white whine makes nice flavour. Simple but versatile, as it goes well with either bread or rice. Perfect for autumn days.

I finished all.

Desert was simple. A piece of Lindt 85% chocolate and black coffee. The box of champagne truffles were already finished this morning. Mike refused to try even one, even though he loves chocolate so much. This must be love!

I finished my work early today. Sun was shining, so I decided to have a longish walk to the University with Pearl.

A bench at the labyrinth

Pearl found two squirrels! Her ears are sensors!

Sycamores

Silver birches

 After tucking the parrots in for a good night sleep, we watched third and fourth parts of Downton Abbey recorded. Glad to know that Mathew and William were safe!

My love for champagne truffles

From Brussels

Mike went to Brussels on a business trip yesterday. He was picked up at six in the morning, and came home about half past seven in the evening. He opened the door and said 'Bon jour!', I questioned, 'Isn't it "bon soir"? hahaha, He told me before that his French teacher was so pretty and sexy at school, he couldn't focus on his learning. lol  What an excuse!

Champagne Truffles

He got me a box of champagne truffles. I am very fond of truffles, especially with some alcoholic ones. After eating my tongue feels typical tinge with champagne taste! Ahhhhh, heaven. I can eat lots at one go, but Mike kindly? suggested that I should eat moderately.