~Pamela Susan~

Luscious Garden

That's right.  My parents backyard is one luscious garden, and oh, how I love it!

I feel like my Mom is everywhere back there, after all, she is the one that designed the layout of it, and Dad helped make it happen.  She was definitely a woman who overflowed with creativity.

The building shown below is her pottery studio.

I fear that climbing hydrangea is going to take over the entire structure if we don't trim it back soon.

To the left of the studio hangs the most relaxing hammock in the world.  Napping in it is a true treat.

This little area is the home to not only different varieties of succulents, but also to many of the defected little items that we've made over the years; sunfaces with broken rays, frogs with dribbled glaze, broken dishes, etc. (A great way to recycle art!)

 It's one of my favorite locations in the backyard.

It's also the home to many little sunfaces made by a local Portland artist.  

Moving on...

Meet St. Isidore, the Patron Saint of Gardeners.  Mom sculpted him years ago.

Here's a chubby little cherub basking in the sun.  Dad welded the wings onto her back.

This little sunface is puckering up for a kiss (a Valentine's Day gift for my Daddy-O from Mom).  

Too cute.

One of her many garden totems.  

A cool little lady chillin' among some mint.

Here's the right-hand side of their backyard, where Aaron and I had our wedding reception almost 6 years ago!  It's also where Aaron proposed to me, and where we first kissed!  (That sounds a little funny--don't worry, we kissed long before he proposed to me. he he)  How scandalous...

I'll show pictures of this portion of the yard sometime in the future.

My little girls just woke up and it's time for us to go outside in our own backyard for reading time.

I hope you all are doing well!  

Here's to a happy Monday!!  

xo,

Pamela

Our Week with Clay

What a fun week this has been!  My sister Ellen flew in from New York over the weekend to spend a couple weeks at my parents' home.  I met up with her there and we got our little fingers busy working in the clay.  You see, our mother was quite an amazing potter, and we loved helping her with her various shows.  Actually, selling my work at Mom's shows payed for my dental hygiene schooling!  

It is our hope to keep her business, Pollywog Pottery, alive.  This was Mom's hope, too, before she passed away.  We will be hosting a pottery show sometime in the future, which we are very excited about!  Here are pictures of some of the work we've accomplished over the last few days...Keep in mind these pieces have not yet been fired or glazed.

~My lil' piggy banks~

~Ellen's birds~

These little guys are our "Acrobatic Frogs".  Once they are fired they will each sit on a stick that is placed in the ground to make them look like they are flying/jumping through the air.  I love making these!

 

~A flower planter~

~Salt n' Pepper shakers~

Ellen's rockin' owl...Mom would've loved this guy!

I'll be returning to my parent's home this weekend to continue working in the clay with Ellen.  We have a lot of work to do!  I'm so happy she is here, and that we are able to do this together.

Before I let you go I need your help!!  I'm trying to decide which piggy banks I like better--with or without legs.  I like the traditional pig with legs, and they've sold great at previous shows, but the legless ones are just as much fun in my opinion--they are a bit more whimsical.  

Which do you like better??