Grasping for the Unreachable, Control!

I still at my advanced age struggle to realize that I am in charge of very little;  no matter how hard I try to get the rest of the world going at my pace??? 
Jumpin up all over the place are opportunities for shows, sales and wholesale, but the clay will not be rushed. When will I ever learn that trying to move the clay along before it is ready doesn't pay off??

  This handle on the teapot that I really liked, not too heavy, had a lid that fit, a spout that wasn't too gross, and the dang handle jumps off. Onto the scrap heap it goes to be repurposed later as a handbuilt button or spoon rest.  

January used to be a slow time where us handmade types could recuperate from the fall madness of sales and making. Not this year!  We took a one week break in the first week of January and I have been going flat out since then. 

Punta Mita , Nayarit, Mexico

This is a big week with two sales applications due for Spring, and the hope that I have new fresh stock to hopefully make the grade.  Being a potter is no longer enough to assure you will get into a sale.  Display seems to become more and more important and it is a very competitive business. 

Love this picture and this photo, but it is really out of date, so gotta make some new ones, in my Prairie Vista colours. 

 New clean modern display and two lines of pottery that are a drastic departure from what I have been doing.   Stepping up my game! Birdhouses and macramé plant hangers with handmade plant pots for succulents and air plants.

Good news! I received my cheque for December from Forks Trading Company! Broke a record for all time high sales at a store! so grateful.

In my efforts to increase production and raise up my gardening surfaces, Straw Bale Gardening left over from last falls display will come in handy. to season the bales need to be watered, or seasoned and ours were under a lot of snow all winter, and it has now been raining for four days, I think they are ready. Rabbit manure is in good supply here thanks to Peter Rabbit, as is wonderful compost. I am planning to put zucchini seeds in there as well as some herbs. Here are the initial photos and the weekly progress photos of the rest of the Micro Urban Farm. the hardest part at this time of year is purchasing and moving bales.

I am going to put in the zucchini seeds and some of the herbs, since this is one of the sunniest spots in the garden.  I have read that watering very frequently is a key to success, so we will see if I can be disciplined in that once the rain stops.

Lots of rasperries have been transplanted and now to tackle the weeds in among the strawberries.  I have planted beets, swiss chard and lots more this week when the rain stops.  the asparagus has jumped ahead and the rhubarb looks like I will be able to make a rhubarb crisp for the last weekend of May.