Friday

Good morning, everyone.  No frost again and, in fact, yesterday evening it started drizzling; according to the Beeb, it still is drizzling but is expected to clear up before it is properly light.

Yesterday morning was lovely.  I had been going over to Val's for lunch but when I was given the dental appointment, we changed it to coffee.  I have known Val since before I moved into this house in 1985.  In fact, she and Mike lived just down the road from here and she was my first visitor, gifting a plant while Mum and I were still receiving boxes and trying to restore some order to the house.  When they moved and we were both working, I didn't see her for ages but now we're both retired it's a once a month thing.

We had a good old chat over a lovely cup of coffee, which was nice, and the journey there and back was very easy, very light traffic and only taking twenty minutes each way.

The biggie was the dentist, of course.  The dentist I have been assigned to is very young (to my ancient eyes), very kind and very gentle.  She expressed no surprise at the state of my teeth which was polite of her although I guess she's seen a lot worse.  I was most surprised that apart from the obvious things, there were no other issues, thank goodness.  The bad news is that the bridge can't be replaced (I knew that anyway) and the options are either a plate or implants. 
I now have an appointment to sort out the teeth on one side with fillings and an implant consultation so I will have an ugly. gappy smile for some time to come but eventually it should be better than before. 
I can relax for a few weeks now.

I could easily have skipped pottery as I was so tired afterwards but I am glad I didn't as it was good.  The Christmas candle dish that I glazed last week has been fired so I applied the transparent glaze and it should be finished once that's been through the kiln.  It looks a right mess as you can see, but once it's glossy and the colour comes through again, I think I will be very pleased.

Then I set to and started some Christmas tree decorations.  Don't laugh but I have decided to have a little tree in my bedroom.  I am using the tree I used to keep at school and put up in my classroom and I'm going white as my bedroom is mostly white.  I do need a few new decorations so what better than to make some.
I made these by rolling out clay, using my patterned rolling pins and then cutting out the shape.  I think that, once glazed white, they will be just what I want.

This is the one I'm not sure about but we will see.   It might look better once it's finished and anyway, on the tree, it will be OK, I am sure.

I have some air drying white clay at home so might get rolling and make a few more.  You can paint them with acrylic paint so no need to glaze, meaning that one can stick shiny things on.  I suppose it's a cross between clay and fimo and I'll give it a go.  I like the idea of making my own decorations and, if they work, maybe Kitty Stitches will have some to sell next Christmas.
You never know!!!








At the end, I looked through some 'Claycraft' magazines and I think I've found my next project.  Another candle holder but not for Christmas, and there are step by step instruction.  I scanned the photo of one of a set of three so you can see the idea.

I will need to get a few stamp blocks for this project.  There are loads on Amazon so I will need to choose carefully.
I think I will learn new things making this and so far most of what I have done hasn't involved construction and this will.
I don't have any circular candles - yet!
















On to today.  Normally, Dad would be here for the weekend but for various reasons (none bad) that's not happening so I have three totally empty days in the diary.  They won't be empty, of course, they will be full, but they can be more free flowing.

I need to tidy up the kitchen before the cleaners come and also my bedroom.  They do upstairs once a fortnight and a few little piles of 'stuff' have appeared in my haven and refuge so they need to go.

The other thing I have planned, definitely, is to make a comprehensive list of things I need to get for Christmas - things like marzipan and icing, ready made pastry (if it's good enough for Delia . . .), frozen cranberries, etc.  That means checking recipes, seeing what I already have in, etc, before shopping.  I intend to start with Aldi as I can get several things there and then going on to the nearby Tescos which I know has a few items I need to get.
(yes, I have checked the bank balance - next month's teachers pension is in, as is the winter fuel payment - lol)

I might then go on to Hobbycraft as there's a few things I want to get there - thin paint brushes, for a start, and to look at the acrylic paints.

Quite a nice day, really.