February 16, 2015 by Heather Goff

Daily Sketch, February 16, 2015

I visited my daughter in Quincy, MA this weekend, and they had almost two more feet of snow fall Saturday night. Walking Sunday late afternoon, I was struck by the beauty of the light hitting the houses contrasting against the shadows on the snow drifts.

heathergoffart

873 1,100

living creatively in a creative community

Aug 1

I just stocked the shelves with new bowls and cups. 😊💕🌸

I just stocked the shelves with new bowls and cups. 😊💕🌸 ...

48 1

Jul 19

An assortment of the pieces unloaded today. 🌸🌸🌸 I was trying out various techniques and these vessels all went through three firings as different glazes fire to different temperatures. I had fun with these!

An assortment of the pieces unloaded today. 🌸🌸🌸 I was trying out various techniques and these vessels all went through three firings as different glazes fire to different temperatures. I had fun with these! ...

61 6

Jul 17

I unloaded a glaze kiln yesterday. It feels great to be making progress on all the various projects happening in my studio these days. Our shop is open 11-5 Monday-Saturday and 2-5 on Sunday. 😊

I unloaded a glaze kiln yesterday. It feels great to be making progress on all the various projects happening in my studio these days. Our shop is open 11-5 Monday-Saturday and 2-5 on Sunday. 😊 ...

52 3

Jun 25

I’m so excited about my new spice bowl designs and the decorated cups/vases that are waiting for the next firing. 😊

I’m so excited about my new spice bowl designs and the decorated cups/vases that are waiting for the next firing. 😊 ...

84 2

Jun 25

The joy of summer flowers!! ❤️

The joy of summer flowers!! ❤️ ...

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Jun 16

Decorating pots today… blissful 💕

Decorating pots today… blissful 💕 ...

48 3

Jun 2

One of my finished masks and a work in progress. 😊

One of my finished masks and a work in progress. 😊 ...

75 2

May 25

I am thrilled and honored to be included with my husband madpottermv and our sculpture trail islandfolkpottery in this beautiful compilation showcasing various creative folk on Martha’s Vineyard. Thank you twislandgirl amandabenchley elizabeth.cecil The book is breathtaking #vineyardfolk

I am thrilled and honored to be included with my husband madpottermv and our sculpture trail islandfolkpottery in this beautiful compilation showcasing various creative folk on Martha’s Vineyard. Thank you twislandgirl amandabenchley elizabeth.cecil The book is breathtaking #vineyardfolk ...

69 5

Apr 21

Spring in my neighborhood. 💕

Spring in my neighborhood. 💕 ...

54 1

Apr 11

Spring window. This is a photo but doesn’t it look painterly? Chilmark, MA

Spring window. This is a photo but doesn’t it look painterly? Chilmark, MA ...

112 12

Mar 23

We said goodbye to Frankie today. 💔 I wrote this poem about him several weeks ago.
The Old Dog
by Heather Goff
03/01/23

The old dog trusts blindly
bumping into walls
stuck in corners
until I gently set him right.

18 months gone
his family moving overseas
he joined us
the forgotten puzzle piece
shaped by years to fill their needs
dropped off at a strange house
now the odd one out
welcomed with my sigh of resignation.

Fed and walked with my dogs
he felt for a fit
sunning on the summer deck
by the winter wood stove,
out of the way at first
then gradually underfoot
tripped over more often than not.

The months ground his age up a year
and again
clouding his eyes dark
distilling him to knobby bone
bowed like the uncomfortable arch of the grave,
his gait marionette stiff.

His dependency looped strings to me
tugging my attention:
first the steps to outside,
then the cycle of diapers washed and dried,
stretching soft fleece over his cold frame,
each new task another hook in my chest.

Now the dark hour before dawn,
I lift him cradled to my breast
safe from the resentful nips
of the sleeping host.

And carry him outside
standing vigil
as he presses his back legs down
a stream of liquid staining the ground
then curls further to eliminate
before wide turning
a boat adrift from its mooring
to face the steps.

Entering the house
I gather him close
whispering in his deafness
that I recognize his goodness
and refastening his diaper
I take a moment to rub spine and ears
Then turn to climb back to my slumber
as he circles once and collapses onto his bed.

For how can I not love
the one who needs so much
yet asks for nothing.

We said goodbye to Frankie today. 💔 I wrote this poem about him several weeks ago.
The Old Dog
by Heather Goff
03/01/23

The old dog trusts blindly
bumping into walls
stuck in corners
until I gently set him right.

18 months gone
his family moving overseas
he joined us
the forgotten puzzle piece
shaped by years to fill their needs
dropped off at a strange house
now the odd one out
welcomed with my sigh of resignation.

Fed and walked with my dogs
he felt for a fit
sunning on the summer deck
by the winter wood stove,
out of the way at first
then gradually underfoot
tripped over more often than not.

The months ground his age up a year
and again
clouding his eyes dark
distilling him to knobby bone
bowed like the uncomfortable arch of the grave,
his gait marionette stiff.

His dependency looped strings to me
tugging my attention:
first the steps to outside,
then the cycle of diapers washed and dried,
stretching soft fleece over his cold frame,
each new task another hook in my chest.

Now the dark hour before dawn,
I lift him cradled to my breast
safe from the resentful nips
of the sleeping host.

And carry him outside
standing vigil
as he presses his back legs down
a stream of liquid staining the ground
then curls further to eliminate
before wide turning
a boat adrift from its mooring
to face the steps.

Entering the house
I gather him close
whispering in his deafness
that I recognize his goodness
and refastening his diaper
I take a moment to rub spine and ears
Then turn to climb back to my slumber
as he circles once and collapses onto his bed.

For how can I not love
the one who needs so much
yet asks for nothing. ...

78 24

Mar 21

I don’t know if any of you are like me but when I am confronted with a blank store-bought pad of expensive paper, I freeze up and that’s why I’ve always been so much more comfortable experimenting and working on craft paper or cut-up paper bags even because it just allows me to release.

I revisited a daily practice over a month ago of drawing and experimenting everyday in a journal and I made myself a junk Journal out of cardboard and craft paper, just to give myself freedom to do whatever I want and not worry about wasting expensive precious supplies.

It’s been so fantastic and liberating, I’m really grateful and I’m hoping to continue every day just doing something in the journal because I think it’s helping massage those creative muscles and helping me improve my drawing as well. I’m amazed how often I need reminding about the importance of a daily practice.

I don’t know if any of you are like me but when I am confronted with a blank store-bought pad of expensive paper, I freeze up and that’s why I’ve always been so much more comfortable experimenting and working on craft paper or cut-up paper bags even because it just allows me to release.

I revisited a daily practice over a month ago of drawing and experimenting everyday in a journal and I made myself a junk Journal out of cardboard and craft paper, just to give myself freedom to do whatever I want and not worry about wasting expensive precious supplies.

It’s been so fantastic and liberating, I’m really grateful and I’m hoping to continue every day just doing something in the journal because I think it’s helping massage those creative muscles and helping me improve my drawing as well. I’m amazed how often I need reminding about the importance of a daily practice. ...

46 4

Mar 18

February and March on the island are very introspective times. Donald Nitche runs a bimonthly poetry drop-in via zoom in the winter with the help of a grant from the Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council and our local libraries and I had the good fortune to join the mid February session. It opened a flood gate of poems in me, and here is one of them.

THE REAR VIEW MIRROR 
I look up from the road’s curve,
rimmed with stone walls, leaning trees,
and history

to see your bumper in my rear-view mirror,
muscled as a bully,
the proud logo centered.

And I wish you wouldn’t.
crowd and push me faster
with your impatience.

Don’t you realize how hard I’ve worked at slowing down? on these country lanes in this small community,

the struggle to unclench lists of expectations propelling me always past the now,
to fight free of the hurry-up current
and find the quiet, unique, drift
of a hometown,

to look up, allowing my gaze to be an invitation,
and listen for the layered notes of the story outside my head -
a shared harmony.

to notice that connection is as necessary and profound as breath.

I am opening a space inside myself, expansive enough to hold us all,
with room for conversation and kindness,
for messiness and reverence,
a cathedral of stillness and wonder.

Please do not hurry me.
I am going the speed limit.

Heather Goff ...

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Mar 4

Yesterday, I did a quick watercolor study of what I saw when this young girl held her kitten - today, I attempted to draw what I felt when I saw her holding her kitten.

Yesterday, I did a quick watercolor study of what I saw when this young girl held her kitten - today, I attempted to draw what I felt when I saw her holding her kitten. ...

77 7

Mar 2

A quick watercolor and ink sketch of Bill and the dogs. My pack. 💕💕

A quick watercolor and ink sketch of Bill and the dogs. My pack. 💕💕 ...

56 4

Feb 28

I set up one of our outdoor folding tables next to the wood stove and when I sit at it, I feel like I’m sitting in a cafe somewhere. It’s been a great spot to write and sketch. 😊

I set up one of our outdoor folding tables next to the wood stove and when I sit at it, I feel like I’m sitting in a cafe somewhere. It’s been a great spot to write and sketch. 😊 ...

102 8

Feb 27

My eldest granddaughter stayed with us for her school break and her sisters and mom joined her for the weekend. I had a lovely week of baking, UNO, and sketching young models.

My eldest granddaughter stayed with us for her school break and her sisters and mom joined her for the weekend. I had a lovely week of baking, UNO, and sketching young models. ...

31 0

Feb 6

Bill and Ossian - inspired by a lovely walk we had with the dogs this afternoon. 💕

Bill and Ossian - inspired by a lovely walk we had with the dogs this afternoon. 💕 ...

46 2

Feb 2

Linoleum cut. My Covid/winter hair style.

Linoleum cut. My Covid/winter hair style. ...

46 1

Jan 15

Some incredibly talented customers of mine built a cocktail table and inset some of my painterly tile series in it!! 😊

Some incredibly talented customers of mine built a cocktail table and inset some of my painterly tile series in it!! 😊 ...

26 0

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