Thursday, June 29, 2017

New Clay Pieces

That I worked on this week.

 
This is a wild flower plaque I just made.
The details will be cleaned up
when the clay air dries
 
 
I made another flower bird bath
 
 
I started glazing some of my fired pieces.
 
 
I'm using stroke & coat glaze on this bowl.
They are similar to acrylic paint in the
fact that they can be mixed together
to make new colors.  They require 3 coats
just like other glazes.
It should fire with the gloss appearance as
your dishes at home.
 
 
Something different an old
Santa.  This is still rough and I plan
to fine tune my details.
 
 
 
 

Friday, June 23, 2017

A Few Garden Shots



Just a few pics of my Garden growing.  It is filling out nicely

 
Zinnias are starting to bloom!


Some wild Bunny has been munching down
 flowers  so the cloche are over them to regrow.


I got a new Metal Heron to accent our pond via Amazon.

 
Have a Great Day!
 
Natascha



Feathered House Guest

 
This is Cartuu.  She is an African Grey
that my close friend has rescued from a situation
where she wasn't getting the proper care.
She will be staying with us for a month
while my friend is overseas.
 
 
Although quite cautious, she seems
to enjoy coming out of her cage
and siting on top

 
She will allow me to pet her at
night for cuddles and closes her eyes.
She will not get on my arm yet.
That's fine though.  She has company
and doesn't seem stressed
and that is the main goal. 
 
 
Since we don't have a lot of free
space, she is set up here for
the next month.  It seems to
work out fine with the other
birds.  I am making
sure they get the same attention.
Although they are in the same room they
are all kept separate so
there is no biting each other.
 
 
I'm very glad it's  Friday and
I am hoping for a relaxing weekend and some
time in my art studio!
 
Have a great weekend!
 
~Natascha~

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Hot Summer Evenings at the Barn


I thought I would share for non horse owners
what a typical evening after work is
at the barn.  I go out
at least 3 days a week.  I drive straight
from work.  It's a 30 min drive.
I board her at a private stable in the country.
My dream was always
to have horses at my home, but there are
also advantages to boarding. 
First off ~~ it is ALOT of
work caring for these big animals and
when you work full time so you can afford them its
nice to basically pay someone to
clean up, feed and care for where your
horse lives.  That way I can come out and
spend quality time with my horse.   I can also go on vacation
and not have to find someone I trust
to do that for me.


As I drive out I notice
the neighbor has baled his
alfalfa for his cows.


This is the beautiful driveway
to the barn.


This is the owner's pretty historical home.
They had it moved here from another location.


I change out of work shoes to my barn boots.
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Before I get her, I go refill her supplements.


I measure out her supplements into plastic containers
with a tiny bit of oats to keep them from clumping.
The barn care taker then can just take
one of my containers and add it to her morning
grain. It's easy and there are no mix ups on what
she gets everyday.
Horses basically eat Hay or fresh
grass and Grain- Horse food
resembles Rabbit pellets.
~~~~~~~~~~~
  Then I go get her outside.


Oh and in case you don't know that thing on
her face is...it's a fly mask.  She can see through
it like sun glasses but it keeps the flies
and mosquitoes off her eyes and ears.
She is hot, grimy and sweaty.


I always put her in her stall and give her a treat,
but here she is being a bad girl trying to
help herself.   She always has to pee when she comes in.
Don't ask me why but she doesn't
like to pee outside.


She looks a mess so I take her braids out.
It is too hot to ride. Her coat is
sweaty and crusty from sweat and dirt
mixing.


  I lead  her out to hose
all the grime away and
cool her off.






I have to spray constantly to keep the
flies off.   The bugs are terrible.  Hottie
has super sensitive skin.  I feed her garlic
supplements to help keep the biting bugs
away and she gets doused in 
a good fly spray.
I do have a fly sheet I put on
as a last resort if its really bad.
It's just when it's hot as heck
would you want to wear
a giant sheet over your back??


I then squeegee off the water
and take her back in.
  

I put her in cross ties so she will stand still
while I braid up her mane to keep
her cool tomorrow.  I spray her down good with
fly spray from neck to hooves.


All done!  She is totally antsy
and wants to get in her stall
to eat her dinner like all
 the other horses are doing.


When I put her in her stall I notice her buckets
aren't as clean as I liked so I scrub
and dump and refill them.


All Clean!


We have a small indoor riding arena at this barn
which comes in handy when it's raining or
with Michigan winters.


Hottie's stall is the front left stall
on this isle.


She is happily munching dinner all
clean and cool in her stall.


As her fan  blows on high, I
am happy she is comfortable.
She does live a pampered
horse life but she has given me
so much more.  I can't even
remember my life before I owned her
or what I did with all the extra
time I must have had.
I am so grateful for my Blessings.
I head home at 6:30
relaxed and thankful knowing
that my husband, 
Matt has taken care of all
animals at home while I was
here with Miss Hottie.

~~~Natascha~~
          

Friday, June 9, 2017

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy


Boo turns 6 today!!!!


I am thrilled he is still with me.  He's the oldest giant I've had
so far.  He is considered to be a very old man.  Giant rabbits
have s shorter life span than the smaller guys.
 This old guy is living the good life.


He lives inside and is cage free 24 hrs a day.  He has a big cage that
I remade from an old kitchen cabinet someone got rid of.
The doors are open for Hazel and
him to go in and out all the time.




They are litter box trained.


His days are spent cuddling with his love Hazel.


Always together these two are.


Even with air conditioning they enjoy the fan.  Big buns get hot.


I grow them lettuce & herbs which
they eat everyday.



With him being so elderly my heart stops
at times when I find him sleeping like this!


Everynight we cuddle





A gentle giant he surely is!








Such a sweet boy, I love you dearly
and hope to have you around
as long as I possibly can!