Monday 8 February 2021

On the edge

 At the moment The Beast from the East is just further South than us:  all we are getting is snow flurries and then lovely blue skies and sunshine (the latter at the moment).   Long may it continue that way - it looks as though it will be another week when I can't walk outside.  So wear the carpet out again.

I am glad to see that many of you are watching The Great Pottery Throwdown.   If you are not then it was twelve good potters competing and one each week is eliminated.   The potters are obviously the very best because the weekly tasks are so very difficult.   Last evening they each had to choose a 'favourite' singer and from a portrait photograph they then had to fashion a bust.  Choices included Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Ozzy Ozbourne, and they all had a good shot at the project,  some failed miserably during firing.   Their other task - and for this they had less than an hour was to choose and make a pottery copy of a musical instrument- instruments included a harp, a violin, a trombone - every one for me would have been an impossible task but they all had a good stab at it and the violin was superb.   I have never tried working with clay - I know I would be useless but even the least good was 'not bad'.

I do so envy people with a real skill.   My first husband painted - oils, water colours, pastels - anything.   After his retirement from teaching he painted for sheer pleasure and people queued up to buy his work.   It always pleased me that he was so appreciated.

As I have been writing this the wind has risen and what snow there is lying is blowing into drifts.   Negligible at the moment but should more snow fall it will be a different story.   Listening to the radio earlier this morning I hear that the A66 - the Bete Noir round here although much higher than we are - is blocked at Bowes.

20 comments:

Maudie said...

I, too, wish I had some creative ability. In fact, I've decided to find some creative endeavor to add balance even if I'm not very good at it. My work and to do list crowd everything out so this must be placed on the priority list!

Rachel Phillips said...

Have you remembered The White Crow Weave?

Minigranny said...

I like The Pottery Throwdown apart from the tears - still it is amazing to see what they can achieve with a lump of clay especially when they are throwing it on a wheel, I once tried to throw a pot and was hopeless at it.

Debby said...

LOL. Oh, Weave! You do have a skill! Your practical words are a gift. The voices of sanity in these strange days are to be treasured.

Derek Faulkner said...

I agree with Debby, your skill is the ability to inspire us all to keep on keeping on, when things get tough.

Granny Sue said...

I agree with the other commenters, your skill is writing. I look forward to your posts every day. They seem to be a dose of sanity in a sometimes mad world.

A snowy-looking week here in West Virginia too, and quite cold, with temps ranging in the 20's and 30's, which would be below zero to maybe 10 above in Celsius?

JayCee said...

Many years ago I used to enjoy drawing and playing around with watercolours but sadly I had no artistic skill. I do enjoy reading your posts so your writing skills are giving pleasure to quite a few of us.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

If it's The Beast that's out there today then it's a pale imitation of what we had last year; so far just a sprinkling of snow and a chilly wind but it's not even freezing - I hope I haven't spoken too soon! It's a real pleasure to watch people with a skill, whether artistic or practical.

RunNRose said...

We are all queued up to say how much we appreciate Weave. She is Inspiration personified.

angryparsnip said...

I think people who say they do not have any artistic talent can do something with pen paint watercolor anything and enjoy the process as much as what they made. That is why we love our children's art because we see joy.
As many have said before me you weave words !
cheers

Heather said...

You are a wordsmith Pat - that is your skill. Very cold here today and snowing a few miles north of when I live, according to my daughter. She'll be very happy if it settles. Keep warm and bring on the comfort food: porridge, soup, toast and hot chocolate!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Rachel I forgot I had Zoom with friends this afternoon so The White Crow is scheduled for tomorrow - looking out of the window just now on my way to bed it is clear I shall not be stepping out of the door tomorrow.

Red said...

I enjoy my daily visit to the Weaver to see how she's doing.

Susan said...

I, too, admire people with artistic talent. Such a gift. We got 4 more inches of snow last night. Today was a fair amount of cleaning snow from the walkways, patios, and garage entrances. The sky was perfectly blue with no clouds. The sun was shining bright. A lovely day.

Joanne Noragon said...

I watched the glass blowing throw down. It was so good. I must look around for pottery.

Cro Magnon said...

I like the sound of the Pottery show, I shall have to make enquiries!

Carruthers said...

Pottery copies of instruments got me thinking of ocarinas. I guess a pottery copy of an ocarina would be an ocarina, since they're often made of pot. It would actually work!

The Weaver of Grass said...

I had completely forgotten about ocarinas - I used tohave one Carruthers but it must have gone the way of all flesh. I haven't thought about it for years. Thanks for the reminder.

Librarian said...

It is Tuesday now, and another solidly grey day. But apparently we may expect sunshine later this week - I can't wait! It is cold now, below freezing, and has been snowing much of yesterday. But it is February, after all, and that is perfectly OK; working from home really is a great plus now, not having to wait for late trains on icy cold platforms!

Sue in Suffolk said...

In a normal year of the past I never watched cookery competition programmes and similar so never saw earlier series of the Great Pottery Throwdown but this year I seem to be watching everything and the pottery one is fascinating