Stewart Creations

Peanut and Cookie

The arizona poodle rescue guys think they can place her, so we’ll try that.
I might even get approved to foster some of their pups once Cookie is gone. I don’t think I need anything special. If I do I am sure they have an equipment leasing arrangement.
Cookie always looks a little worried. She’s relaxing a little bit, but it’s slow work. She spends a lot of time in the closet, she has a nest arranged back there and her favorite pillow and woolie blanket. This morning on the walk she was feeling her oats! What a cutie! And I’ve discovered that she likes a sweater when it’s cold. I think her name might have been Cucaracha, Cuci for short. Or maybe I’m imagining things.

No Comments | In: animal abuse, dog food, dog recipes, dog school, dog teaining, dog treats, puppies | | #

I mixed the raspberry glaze chemicals today. Tomorrow it will be nicely floculated, if I have that term right. I believe that floculation is the process of the powdered chemicals actually soaking up water. Although, it might be the opposite, the definition wasn’t clear and even when I talk to potters who know, it doesn’t seem clear, but it’s a great word.

No Comments | In: Ajo, ceramics, crafts, design | | #

We now have 2 functioning dirt bikes for exploration without dogs. If we could figure out a way to let all the dogs ride some of the time, we’d probably take the dogs. We need hjc helmets or some kind of helmet anyway, and my sweetie says I need boots. He’s usually right about motorcycle things, so I guess I’ll be shopping for boots, too.
I’d post pics but can’t find the cord. Will we ever get totally unpacked?

No Comments | In: Ajo | | #

The guy who is buying the motorcycle from my Darling is a nurse and even showed up in scrubs. He shops online for them at places like Marcus nurses uniforms.
I verbally gave his wife the blender pie recipe and told her I would post it and if she googled blender lemon pie she’d find it. I played around with the blender lemon pie recipe last night and poured the lemon mix from the blender onto a yellow cake mix that was poured into a bundt pan.
The results were mixed. While being delicious, it was an ugly thing when I inverted it out of the pan. The lemon pie did not stay on the top of the mix, but, rather predictably, lay in the bottom. That left pie on the top when I inverted it, which was not as pretty as it should have been. Don’t know what I’ll try next, it’s going to take a while to eat this one and work off the calories, so experimenting will have to wait.

No Comments | In: eggs, sourdough, sourdough bread | | #

1 9″ pie crust
1 whole lemon, quartered and seeded
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 stick of butter or margarine (cut into chunks)
pinch of salt
blend all ingredients for a couple of minutes, pour into pie shell and bake 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can pour the filling over granola and bake for lemon bars.

No Comments | In: Uncategorized | | #

So far I have 9 boxes that I am happy with. Happy enough to bisque fire, anyway. These are going into the Red Show in February, so they all will have some variation of red as the main color.

Today I worked on the berry bowls after doing the finish work on the three boxes I built yesterday. I think I will have five berry bowls for Morgana to choose from. It won’t be long before I can do a bisque firing, I’ve almost got a kiln-ful already.

Comments Off | In: Ajo, art gallery | | #

now that we are here full time (I still feel the acute relief of not running back and forth), our dog walks are so leisurely. Today the dogs dug the whole top off of a sandy hill. Must have been some worried critters down in there.

Comments Off | In: Ajo, aussies | | #

All of a sudden the holiday season seems extra long. Just a couple of days ago it was Christmas Eve and I went in to the studio as usual for at least an hour before I remembered that tomorrow was Xmas and it was a holiday. That’s probably why there wasn’t anybody else around, huh? I hadn’t realized it was that late in the season or something, I don’t know, I was confused there for a minute when it sank in that tomorrow was Christmas Day and I’d have a house full of people.
Today I am expecting my niece for a visit. She landed in Phx last night with a friend and they will drive here any time now, it seems like a lot of long minutes around here, waiting. She will probably be shopping for hiking backpacks and other gear in the big city, although I think Logan, UT has just about every store. Maybe they hit some bars, they’re young cops and Jo is a pretty frisky kid, and I think she has a friend in Phoenix, too, so…. What would you do if you were 35 and healthy and got away without the kids? I’m sure they found an adventure, she really likes the trails around Phoenix, maybe they just hiked somewhere.
My darling went to PHX today with the green truck and the trailer. He is going to finish up the house while I visit with Jo, isn’t that sweet? I was going with him to help and to drive the other truck back here, because tomorrow we get the 5th wheel over here in Ajo … who knows how now? .. we are up in the air about how to get all the cars here at once along with the 5th wheel. It reminds me of the fox, chicken, boat, riddle.

Comments Off | In: Ajo, animal abuse, aussies, australian cattle dogs | | #

Paris and Heather came for Xmas and stayed the night. We had a great time.
The chili rellano casserole was a hit and very easy to make.

Comments Off | In: Ajo | | #

So far, the AZ Poodle Rescue people have the best and fastest info. They answered my email within minutes with a mobile spay/neuter clinic in Apache Junction next week. That might be a little too soon for us, since we don’t know how long Cookie was in heat before we found her, so we can’t predict when she will be done.
On another subject, my darling is making the chicken shed even more deluxe! He hasn’t got out the welding equipment yet, but he’s attaching hinges to their already great nest so we can open it and clean it. Those are some pretty lucky chickens! He made them a new ladder so far today already and he’s going to insulate their night box up at the roof so their heat will build up in case it gets really cold.

Comments Off | In: Ajo, animal abuse | | #

I think I already said that I found a poodle. She’s in heat and I just found out that it is not a good idea to spay a female dog in heat as they can bleed excessively. I did not know that.

I went through the alphabet with her and decided she likes the k sound, so her name is now Cookie.
She looks just like Pnut and when my long-suffering sweetie saw her he said “Oh no, they’re multiplying, they should be dividing!” Yeah, he’s funny.

Comments Off | In: animal abuse | | #

My bisque firing went well. On Saturday I will load the glaze kiln, Yippee!!
I have great gifts for my aunt and cousin in Joshua Tree/L.A.
It’s not as fancy as Black diamond earrings … no, wait: it is! The gift is: original arrangements set in hand-crafted pottery vases. Holiday-themed colors and silk flowers. My friend, Sue, of Sue’s Trading Post, is planning the arrangements and I’ll easily have them in time to mail. She makes the most original and beautiful arrangements I’ve ever seen. I’ll get pic.
Those vases are done and Sue has them right now. I have some other things, like Justice’s acorn box that came through the bisque and are ready for clear. I can’t wait to do that.

Comments Off | In: Ajo, art gallery | | #

How is it possible to have too many poodles?
I found another one today. This little girl has been spotted out my window a couple of times lately, and it really made me think that Pnut was out once. I ran out the door and had to laugh when Pnut was right on my heels.
Well today I found her in the street and in heat. I think her people moved and left her or something, the way her hair is matted and how hungry she was makes me think she is on her own.

Comments Off | In: Ajo, animal abuse | | #

I swear I am going to get one of those flat book-like computers. I heard they will do everything a lap-top will do.
So far, I have been shopping on line and trying to get familiar with what I can expect the contraption to do. I have been to sites for refurbished netbooks and am leaning in that direction. It seems like a big bang for my buck. I can’t wait to read novels on my snazzy new toy!

Comments Off | In: advertising | | #

I had a very nice time with my brother this time. He and his lady friend were able to stay a couple of weeks, and they had a good enough time that I expect them back again next winter.. if not sooner.
His main income in Oregon is with heavy equipment, like a skid steer, or other loader and digger equipment. There’s only so much of that you can do in the winter when the ground is frozen and there’s several feet of snow. So I might even see him back here before the winter ends. I think he knows enough about Arizona to not schedule a trip down here after May.

Comments Off | In: Ajo | | #

Rodent Time!

Comments Off | In: Uncategorized | | #

It was raining hard and steady in Ajo when I left, and I guess it followed me. Here I’ve been in Phoenix for three hours and it’s now raining here.
It was nice when I first got to town. How come I miss the city when I get here? I don’t miss it when I am in Ajo, but I get all happy to be back when I get to Phoenix. The shopping!! The lights!! The movies!! The traffic!! yes, even the traffic seems great when I’ve been away for awhile, maybe it’s the anonymity.

Comments Off | In: back to school at my age | | #

La Fea means the ugly one (feminine) in Spanish. I named Fay that when she was just a pocket-sized baby. I wasn’t meant to stick, that was just what we called that dog while I tried to find her a home, five or six years ago.
But look at her now! She’s so cute when she’s chasing varmints.
I think the lizards are asleep, so she must be after a rodent.

Comments Off | In: animal abuse, dog food, dog recipes, dog treats, dog vision | | #

It is time to start thinking more specifically about Christmas gifts. I want Sammie to have a knife block this year. She has some really nice, sharp knives but they’re in a drawer, and I want them up on her counter-top.
So you know me, I have been shopping on-line. There’s all kind of options, from Martor USA utility knives to Ikea, and pre-shopping can narrow it down some. I actually am looking for something plastic and bright colored, but I might end up with a light-weight traditional wood block.
At any rate, shopping is fun!

Comments Off | In: Ajo, art gallery, design | | #

I feel that winter is finally here! It got down to 58 degrees inside last night. I stayed under the covers for as long as I could, grateful for the warm dogs on my feet. My sweetie-pie was in Phoenix, probably happy for his foot-covering dogs.
As soon as I load the kiln for a bisque firing I will follow him and get that house closed up. We still have several loads for donate/dump to sort out and deliver and the masking off of the inside for spray painting.

Comments Off | In: Ajo, ceramics | | #

Did I say that we bought our get-away vehicle? We got the same fifth-wheel that we looked at 2 years ago. This one has the exact floor plan we want, and when we saw it at the dealer’s we thought we’d find one just like it, but used (much more affordable).
Turns out that one was custom ordered and they don’t just make them like that. Well, we couldn’t afford that, so we just kept looking for 2 years. Then, low and behold, the same one comes up on Craig’s list, a couple of years older and ten or fifteen thousand cheaper.
The guy who bought it evidently has some experience with rv repair because he completely tricked it out. It has a new floor, bigger cabinets, bigger tanks, bigger generator, and I don’t what all else. We are so tickled!
We take delivery in a couple of weeks, I’ll get pics.

Comments Off | In: Ajo | | #

We had T-day right here in my house in Ajo. We were planning to go to the big pot luck out in the desert like we have for several years now, but it is so cold today that Mom didn’t want to go out and we all decided that was a good idea, too. So we decided to stay and just eat the things we had made for the pot luck. And we decided to eat on the disposable plates and spoons, using paper towels for napkins, so I have zero clean-up. Whoopee!
I made a huge roaster pan of stuffing and a big cauldron of gravy and Joe Ann made a big batch of traditional green beans casserole. She put onion rings on top and everything and it was so pretty. Turned out delicious, too. Mom provided the lemon pies. It would have made a nice contribution to the whole pot luck, but we stayed in and enjoyed our narrow selection of holiday foods.
It really is cold out, and looks dark like rain. We’re all snug inside. Happy Thanksgiving.

Comments Off | In: Ajo | | #

a friend of ours is in either Iraq or Afghanistan and has been for some time. She might come home in January. She sent an email that I want to share with you.

This is Carol, Tony’s wife. How the heck are you? I’m sure that you have not received my “thank you” card. It doesn’t take long on our end to receive mail but sending mail to the US takes some time. I want to tell you “thank you” for the great care package. I ate up what I could and shared with the team. Seems I have been very blessed with the most generous friends. Our team has been snacking like queens and kings, LOL.
So how is life in Ajo? I checked out your blog. It’s way nicer than mine. I will have to add some photographs to my blog to spruce it up. Well, currently all blogs are blocked and I am surprised that I could actually open up your blog. Nice.
Still have all your doggies?
Well, my deployment is coming to an end, I have less than 90 days left on my contract. I am so ready to go home. I miss Tony, my daughters and all my friends. My first meal upon arrival will be pizza from Spinatos or Mellow Mushroom. I miss real pizza, mexican food, hamburgers, oh real food!
Just a short note to say Hi and Thank you!
Sincerely,
Carol

My advice to you, the reader, is to keep sending packages over and to count your blessing for living in this free country.

Comments Off | In: free money for school, kids, Peace, reunions | | #

Can you believe I forgot my camera at Morgana’s Halloween party? This year there were a lot more people and everyone was in costume. I am so sorry I didn’t bring my camera. Morgana said she’d email me some pics. I got one pic at home of my fortune teller machine, but without the necklaces and make-up.

This year there were no facial masks (remember last year, Sue’s costume of cleaning lady in full face make-up removal gear?)
Well, I had a lot of fun anyway, got to talk to a lot of the Curley School artists and some of the locals, like me, who were lucky enough to get invited.
I think for tonight I will get candy for the neighbor kids and just turn off all my lights and skip the rest of the goblins.
I’m getting old, dammit, and I’m going to go with it.

Comments Off | In: Ajo | | #

My chicks are growing up and are nesting in the highest spot in the hen house already.
Their pen is built out of leftover wood from tearing down the car port. I thought about getting a metal building because it would be an almost instant solution, but then my baby built me a nice shed. it even has a concrete floor.
I am sure going to miss these chicks when I go back to Phoenix. We return to Ajo around Thanksgiving.

Comments Off | In: Ajo | | #