bits and bobs: A random assortment of things; small remaining pieces and things
If you ever find yourself traveling down the New Mexico 14 highway through the small town of Cedar Crest, be sure and stop by Hey Mavis! Word on the street is it’s great thrift store. Thanks for the picture Rosaleen! 🙂
Colonial portraits. I think I need to have a set commissioned of the HH and I to hang on the wall. Anyone out there know of a company or someone that does this?
Our local roadside fruit and vegetable stand is open for the season and I’m so excited! The strawberries were $7 a quart and the HH nearly passed out when he saw the price. I happily handed over my pesos though because you just can’t beat the taste of a locally grown berry.
As were were walking to the car he mumbled something about how he used to be able to buy a flat for $10 back when he was a kid. I just rolled my eyes at him.
Because seriously. That was like a million years ago.
And the berries from our local stand come with free kisses.
Stranger danger!
I went out to water Miss Lemon yesterday and this little {big?} guy was waiting for me at the back door. Anyone know what kind of snake this is? Is it poisonous? Do I need to buy a snake bit kit? What’s in a snake bit kit anyway?
Mystery bags. Have you ever bought one before? When we were at Harrisville Designs last month the HH spied the sign and made me buy one. I’ve never been one to gamble, and really never saw the appeal in the whole grab bag thing, but he kept on about it and so I finally gave in.
Lucy and I finally got around to opening the bag yesterday.
I am now the proud owner of a giant ball of black fleece. Any ideas?
And last but not least… I pulled my first real attempt at a plate out the kiln this morning and it was a total fail. The color was okay, but the glaze was cloudy {it was supposed to be clear} and so now I’ve decided it would probably be a good idea to make up a bunch of test tiles first before wasting my time making plates that I’m just going to break into a million pieces because they didn’t turn out right.
Also, I think maybe it’s time to sign up for a pottery class.
Look at this chicken plate I found on Etsy!!! It was made by AdriftPottery in Wales and this was the look I was going for. Can you imagine having an entire set of handmade dishes like this? OH MY WORD. They are gorgeous. This is my new goal. To have a set of dinnerware like this would be awesome. Just awesome.
Learning something new is always hard…. But you know what? You’ve got to start somewhere. And I think if you can keep your eye on the end goal…. you’re halfway there.
Hey! The weekend, it’s here. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Have an awesome one,
~Mavis
Lisa R says
The snake looks like a milk snake. It is not poisonous only the timber rattlesnakes in NH are poisonous. That would still scare the heck out of me though!
Shari Wilcox says
I think it’s a milk snake.
https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/wildlife/wildlife-human-issues/living-with-wildlife/snakes.html
Mavis Butterfield says
“and can grow to more than three feet in length” GAG!
Deborah says
It looks kind of like a Fox Snake, non-poisonous. But treat it like it is poisonous. The only good snake, in my mind, is a dead one. LOL Just please be very careful.
Deborah says
This looks more like it.
https://wildlife.state.nh.us/nongame/images/snakes-milk-snake2-mmarchand.jpg
Tina P says
Looks like a young rat snake. Friendly and helpful. I’d recommend keeping it around for it’s usefulness in other avenues; as in rats, mice, moles, rodents! Some like eggs as well but wouldn’t bother the ladies.
Have you thought about getting some guineas? They love ticks!
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s a no go on the guineas. I like my neighbors too much to subject them to that kind of noise. 🙂
Sue Renich says
The Pacific Northwest strawberries are in season…we just picked LOTS for $1 a pound. Delicious! (The picked flats were much more than what HH’s remembers!)
Laurie Lasala-Tuttle says
Mavis, I love the plate you made, both the color & design! Thank you for continuing to entertain us with your photos and stories!
Lisa says
Hey Mavis,
Can you make felted slippers with your black fleece? It’s on my “will learn someday” list and I’m pretty sure you would be great at it!
https://www.frombritainwithlove.com/how-to-make-felted-slippers/
Mavis Butterfield says
WOW! If I could get those to look like a pair of Haflinger slippers that would be so cool.
Robin says
http://www.bybeepottery.com/
You might find this link an interesting read as all this pottery is still handmade. The family began making pottery in 1809. I have a bit of a collection made by Bybee from the year I lived in Ohio, it is so special.
MEM says
I agree with encouraging the snake to stick around. My Dad raised all four of us to appreciate snakes and not fear them. And BTW – I think you all mean “non-venomous”. “Poisonous” means you could get sick if you try to eat it! That’s not the case here either.
Carrie the Naturalist says
Such a beautiful snake! I agree it is a Milk Snake. Nonvenomous. Remember if you kill a snake, another will take its place. Milk Snakes actually eat other snakes so if you aren’t a fan of snakes on your property leave the Milk Snake! I followed the link Deborah posted and if you are in NH there are only 11 snakes, 1 being the endangered venomous Timber Rattlesnake! I’m in NC and we have 40, including 6 venomous ones. You have nothing to worry about up there. Take care!
Laurie says
The strawberries the cows and the portraits are great, the grab bag contents really good, felting would be a great hobby to get into! You could felt black sheep, or black bears, but to be honest I had one heck of a time getting that snake out of my mind lol, We have just small harmless garter snakes here in northern Ontario Canada, it’s just too cold with 8 months of cold tempts for snakes to prosper and grow very big, that snake you showed us would probably shorten my life, by the heart attack it would have caused me, of this I am sure.
marie says
YES to a pottery class in a studio setting! Some good studios mix their own glazes (takes the work out of mixing yourself). They have finished test strips available so you can skip the testing phase for yourself. Also, pottery wheels are available too during the “off hours” when classes are not in session. It’s going to be a wonderful experience!!
PS-red is probably the most difficult glaze to continually reproduce with the same ingredients. Suggest you make your pieces, glaze all at once with one coat and fire. You will still have variations in the color but very similar to each other for display. Studios generally have a professional grade of kiln which is fired everyday and those small design discrepancies will still break through but few broken pieces.
Mavis Butterfield says
Thank you Marie.
amy says
that snake is totally a “nope rope” and i would never venture outside again.
LaToya says
LOL – same!
Venomous or not, I’d be calling the realtor and moving elsewhere.
Snakes. No way, no how.
Nancy W says
Make your own dryer balls with the fleece!
Ellen C. says
Your snake is a good guy – it is an Eastern Milk Snake. It will eat those small little garden mammals you don’t like such as voles, mice and gophers. Let it live.
As far as the beautiful fleece, you could make dryer balls. You could make these and sell them at your garden stand. This would more than pay for the surprise bag. I love that your husband insisted on buying this. You made out pretty good.
Mary Pearce says
Oh please, not drier balls! That is roving, not just random wool, and it would cost maybe $50 if you bought it at HD. Don’t make all the hand spinners cry!
Mimi says
I just paid $10.00 for an overflowing 1/2 flat of strawberries from my local farm stand. The jam is made, now I need to make a batch of clotted cream and scones.
The chicken plate! Love! Everyone seems to have an “alternative” spelling for Wales lately. 😉
Lynda Kling says
Don’t smash that plate! Love it!!
And it’s WALES…my family comes from there!!!
Mary Pearce says
What you have there is a giant roll of roving (fiber that is ready to spin) and it looks like it might be a natural color (wool from black sheep). Any hand spinner would give several toes to own that!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Mary! I had no idea.
Teckla says
You can tell venomous snakes from non venomous by looking at the eyes. Venomous snakes have vertical “cat eye” pupils. Non venomous have round pupils. And snakes are some of your best garden friends. As several have stated, they eat rodents and insects. Be good to them and they’ll be good to you!
Ellen in Clackamas says
Just passed a fruit stand and “Hood” (the very best!) were $40.00 a flat. I know they are a little cheaper at other stands. You’d probably have to give HH CPR if he saw that!
Mavis Butterfield says
FORTY DOLLARS!!!!! WOW.
Michelle says
Amen to the dead snakes!!! 😉
Susan says
Chuck’s Produce has full flats of local strawberries for $16.99 starting Sunday.
I buy them there every year. They usually only have them the one week for that price.
Kim says
I wouldn’t personally like to encounter that snake, but I wouldn’t harm it. I have an agreement with the bugs and critters that the outdoors is theirs, and the inside of my house is a kill zone.
Nick Duffy says
Looks to be a non-venomous snake. Do not buy a snake bite kit. They are a complete waste of money. If ever bit by a venomous snake call 911 or seek medical help. Keep the person calm and wait for first responders. If you live in snake country learn and keep updated on first aid for snake bites.
Terri says
I think it looks like a milk snake, too. You may lose a few eggs, but I’d just ignore it 🙂
Linda says
Hey Mavis!
My mom has a beautiful George & Martha needlepoint that my grandma did the background on in the 50’s… she bought the kit, and G&M were already done! I’d like to see you and the H H in one! Let me know if I can send you an Instagram picture of it! Since I’m enjoying living in California near Oxnard (strawberries growing everywhere) I’m spoiled! But the other day we drove by a field of strawberries and the smell was amazing! Like a strawberry perfume! Save the black fleece….Halloween is coming! Also thank you for bringing a smile to my inbox so often!!! I love your plate…you got this!