Thursday, October 08, 2009

Fall has fallen...

or has it? Since I'm in Southern California sometimes it's hard to know what time of year it actually is!
Yes, the air is a little cooler this week, the extra blanket has been needed on the bed and I've had to wear some "warmer" clothes (i.e. 3/4 length sleeves and socks) but given the profusion of blooms on my mandevilla, I'm hard pressed to find other signs of fall just yet!

Don't mistake any of this for a complaint, I don't care for cold weather (too many years in the frosty north growing up and the knowledge I'll be back there for -40 degree weather during the holidays) but occasionally I feel a little silly with my cold weather meals and beverages when I can enjoy them out on the patio furniture! Tonight was what I consider a perfect autumn meal... homemade sweet potato chicken noodle soup made in the slow cooker. I just didn't look outside and pretended that it was a nice fall evening! On the food topic... hello? How wonderful are slow cookers? I leave the house for 10 hours, come home exhausted and there's my meal and deliciously scented air! Now that I think of it, the slow cooker is a little like a kiln... let it go 10 hours (well, then cool overnight), open it up and cross your fingers it turned out!Perhaps this weather issue is part of the reason I'm still stuck on what I consider "warm weather" glazes... I feel like I'm still using a lot of waterey, cool and bright glazes in my last couple of kiln loads. However as I've been promising, I do have some new shades awaiting a firing- I think that I'll be more successful with an autumn feel on the next batch!

What does it take for you to feel that Fall has fallen, Autumn has arrived, Harvest season has happened?

12 comments:

  1. Oh, how to get my mind on fall? Just need to look out the window - its raining, the leaves are turning and falling, there are horse chestnuts on the ground and I have to heat the house...
    Looking forward to seeing your fall glazes!

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  2. Around here, it's hard to tell when it's fall, too...In Houston, we don't get much of a fall. I think of it more of as a yo-yo time of year - when we start getting cold fronts that break up the heat, but then, a couple of days later, we get back into the 90s (sounds a lot like this week...).

    But, I think it will be fall after today - we'll only be in the 70s for highs...So, for me, I think I know fall is here when it gets cool enough that our Alaskan Malamute likes to spend more time in the backyard :o)

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  3. a number of things happen, cooler air, leaves becoming edged in color, acorns on the ground... my brother was saying that some of the homes near you guys weren't even built with heat...
    i love the funky fern pattern! and am a big fan of the dots as well... interested to see the fall glazes... funny you should mention slow cookers - was just thinking the other day that i really need to get one... it was also funny to think about it in relation to the kiln...
    enjoy the friday - we have a 3 day weekend so am very happy!

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  4. The colors here are really entering their peak. I am always sad when I see that the gorgeous profusion of Crayola box colors has vanished overnight. But I like the crisp air and the smells of burning wood. I know that if I lived in a warmer clime I would dearly miss the changing of the seasons. Beautiful glazes all! Enjoy the day! Erin

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  5. Here in Tennessee it changes everyday...I had to turn the AC back on today as it got warmer and more humid.
    I love your glazes and designs..looking forward to seeing your new fall colors.

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  6. Hi, Michelle. Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you did because it gave me a chance to see your ceramic pendants and beads. They're beautiful. Keep up the great work!

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  7. Mellisa, whoops. Sorry I had my original post addressed to Michelle.
    This damp weather is affecting my mind!

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  8. WOW, I apologize for not getting over here sooner, looks like I missed a lot!! I adore the green square connector in your bee post, and the green square in your vertigo post....(so soory about that, my brother gets it all the time), and the first blue green pendant here. Your work is absolutely amazing!! Thank you for all your sweet comments Melissa!

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  9. I love hearing all your wonderful autumn observations! Chestnuts, acorns, and burning wood (oooh, burning wood is a baaaad smell here this time of year, it means wildfires!). I can't even imagine the lovely colors and smells for you this time of year...

    Katie and Julie, I know you can definitely relate! We'll commiserate :)

    Nice to see you here Sharon- Glad you made it by!

    Thanks Liz, glad I found your blog as well!

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  10. Wow - the top one is gorgeous, Melissa!

    And as for Autumn, I know it's arrived when the mornings are crisp and fresh and in the evenings I feel the need to put on a sweater and snuggle up on the sofa. I love Autumn!

    Laura :o)

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  11. very nice glazes. I made pottery for several years and it was always fun to see the variations in color when the pieces were removed from the kiln. Enjoy the fall weather :-)

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  12. Thanks Laura! Oooh, I'd love to be able to wear one of my sweaters now :)
    Carma, thanks for stopping by! Yep, no fall to enjoy yet, I think we're going back to shorts weather this weekend...

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