‘Mike’s Baby’ – This Muscle Car is the ‘Classic 1969 Plymouth Road Runner’.

Boys and their toys – Just a couple of the many old tractors Mike babies.

Old Korean War Truck – Mike loves this truck. Mike gave me the history of this truck 2 years ago and I forget all the details, but he knows so much of the history behind this and its very special to him.

Mike – All Aboard

One of the three hay rides pulled by the tractor that could. Our friend Sara, James & Sean. Her hubby (Peter) stayed back with Bobby to chat.

I like to play dirty when I have a great clay body to work with. Having said that, remember that little happy mistake from the other day? Well it seems that new dark clay body gave me fits so trying to force that clay to make something turned out to be a daunting task. I spent all day in the studio Tuesday trying to throw with that clay to no avail. By the time I would get my large pot to size and everything just right, it would naturally on its own begin to sag and fall. Sitting there watching it happen was a little unnerving and right back to it I would go with greater determination. Determination is something I was born with so I continued to work my magic with the clay. I would get my pot all the way up to a very large size and then the clay would give me a piece of its mind. So round and round we went till I finally gave in, did I just admit I gave in? The problem I had with the clay is that it has no grog in it – grog is like sand/grit -. It’s almost like throwing with butter but that’s exaggerating just a wee bit but you get the point.

Laying my frustrations aside, I decided a run to Dallas was critical in order to sling mud around over here. Now I have approx 400 pounds of that butter like clay body and another 300 pounds of dark clay with grog. I’m sure I have enough mud in this house to come up with something this week. I’m going to put those 400 pounds of clay to good use by making slabs and then into purses, so it’s not going to waste. Now I can’t wait to get my hands into that other clay. I hope it’s just what the Dr. ordered.

Last night we had one of the biggest if not the biggest storm we’ve experienced in the last 4 or more years. The rain started around 8:00 and did not end till sometime around 5:00 this morning. Bobby was up all night as he was not able to sleep through the downpour and huge booms of thunder. The thunder set off the car alarm 6 times over the course of several hours, which has never happened before. We could feel the house pulsate from the extreme thunder as the storm commanded every living creature’s attention for sure. Bobby was telling me how he saw some awesome streaks of lighting spanning the entire sky and witnessed most of the storm. He was up pretty much all night and not getting to bed till after 4:00 this morning. He had a hard time getting up for work and I wish he could have stayed here with me for just another day.

I’m a huge storm fan and love the excitement from the thunder and lightning and wish I would have gotten up with Bobby to witness the magical displays of lightning. Every time the car alarm went off Bobby was the man to take care of that noise and I would just fall right back to sleep. The loud claps of thunder made me rouse but not enough to completely wake me; I’d say I can sleep through anything.

P.S. – That is not our pic, I just used it for the story.

So it’s not the Christmas season quite yet with no sign of decorations in the house but I just had to get in here and change that old fall background/wallpaper with a hint of red and green, ok a splash of red and green. For all of those who wait a little longer to get into the spirit of things, at least Christmas trees are not in the background, but I’m sure they will be coming soon from a blogger near you.

Lunch with Bobby is always a favorite lunch date. It’s great meeting him in the middle of the day to chat and spend a little time before the end of the day. Yesterday was one of those occasions where he once again invited me to our favorite B-B-Q place over by where he works.

The B-B-Q is a cozy family owned place to gather for some great brisket, ribs or whatever it is your heart desires. They have 3 dining rooms all set up with antiques, mounts and a host of old time collectibles. There’s a nice great big fireplace in the main dining room which provides warmth on those cold winter days. It’s one of those places where you don’t want to get up to leave. The atmosphere beckons one and all to pull up a chair, have a seat and sit a spell.

Halloween 2006 is history and with that comes Sounds Of The Season somewhere around the 900 + channel. I’m not a TV person during the day, nor am I one to have music on in the house, I like to think and do my pottery without any distractions. But look out, when Christmas music is available 24 – 7, commercial free, I’m all over it.

Bobby seemed confused last evening when he came in as it’s unusual for me to have the TV on. Looking further he noticed wifey’s favorite music of all time quietly filling the air so he kindly asked if he could turn the channel. He never needs to ask if he can turn the channel especially after coming home from work, but I found that so interesting because he didn’t want to spoil my Christmas music. The first Christmas carol I heard was Kenny G playing We Wish You A Merry Christmas, it was beautiful.

Just think, two weekends from now our home will be all decorated for the upcoming Christmas Season. I used to put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving but the last few years I’ve bumped it up to the weekend before Thanksgiving. I no longer use the real trees, by the way I LOVE real trees but I can’t get them soon enough and they won’t last as long as I would like so I stopped using them years ago. I look forward to getting those boxes down to discover all the goodies we purchased after Christmas last year. We always wait till after the New Year to get our goodies 75% off as we love to get great bargains. We purchased our first pre lit tree last year after New Years getting that 75% off and I’m so stoked that I don’t have to run the lights in and out of branches. I used to run the lights up the full branch and then run the lights back down the other side and continue around the tree in that manner lining each and every branch of the whole tree with lights. I’ll have no more of that thank you very much and look forward to that hard part being over with. Excitement is definitely in the air around here.

Bobby loves Halloween and greeting all the kids from our community. There are a couple events that stand out in my mind from last night.

Ding Dong, a little pause before Bobby gets to the door when I hear Bobby say “Here Kitty Kitty Kitty Kitty” The next thing I hear is a very loud GRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Bobby started laughing and came in to tell me what all the commotion was about. You see, the young lad was dressed as a tiger and after his growl made it very clear telling Bobby “I’m a fierce tiger.”

Another young lad rings the bell and Bobby wastes no time answering the call of duty. The little boy explains to Bobby that he’s been trick-or-treating all night and did not get any candy. His sack was completely empty as he gave Bobby the proof. The smart Bobby looks at the young lad and then to the car out in the street and says to the young boy. That’s because “ALL” your candy is in the car. The boy replied “Smart Guy” then Bobby burst into laughter. Bobby gave him his candy and off he went.