The Lion King?

I make a lot of piggy banks. Most are special orders and I have to make what is requested. Don't get me wrong, I love making piggy banks with kids names. It keeps me in touch with what all the cool parents are naming their kids these days. Once in awhile I can break away from the orders and make something different.

This time it was a Lion Bank.

He is my take on a Chinese guardian lion, with a friendlier face.

I am really happy with how the shino glaze and wood ash worked for this form.

I have been hanging on to him for a bit. Eventually I will list him for sale on Etsy. In the mean time I will study him.

When it rains, it pours

When we moved to 505 E. Main we bought a used refrigerator on Craigslist. We needed something to get us by until we could afford a new one. Lowe's had a decent sale this month so we bit the bullet and bought this beauty...

It never arrived the day of the scheduled delivery. No one at Lowe's knew why it never got on the truck that morning. They would reschedule for six days later. On a good note they gave us an even better price for the inconvenience.

The new refrigerator was delivered a week ago Monday and we love it. Tuesday we woke up in the wee hours of the morning to a light flashing and a humming noise. Jeff jumped out of bed, thinking the house was on fire. It thankfully wasn't, but it was probably close. The plug on the condenser of our heat pump fried, which in turn caused, what I guess, was a power surge in the house that made our touch lamp flicker as well as burning out the power strip it was plugged into. When we called an HVAC company I was shocked that a tech arrived within an hour of the phone call. I was even more shocked when he said it was close to $3000 to repair or $8000 to replace it.
It's a 15 year old heat pump. Which is a heat pump's average life span.

UGH.

We decided to get a second opinion. The second company came out right away too. The repair estimate was about the same. The first replacement quote was for a fancy Bosch unit, super efficient, ultra-violet air cleaner, all for the fancy price of $12,000. I wanted to say, "Look around this house dude, does it look like we can afford that?"
After some discussion we settled on a Rheem unit for the low, low price of $6,100. I still wanted to throw up. The unit was installed on Thursday, just before the humidity returned.
Thank goodness for interest free payment plans.

It's already looking dirty. Maybe when I clean the stainless on the fridge I should go outside and polish this baby too.

Before the heat pump expired we had also called our electrician to assess our old well pump so that we can use the well to water the garden, instead of town water... and to install an outlet for our window AC unit in the studio. This was the smallest cha-ching of the week, and the good news is our well pump seems to work fine and hopefully we will be able to start using it soon.

If we could have foreseen the future we never would have bought a new refrigerator. I just have to have faith that everything will work out in the end. Perhaps our electric bill will be a little lighter with the new appliances.
In the mean time I have to remind myself that we are more fortunate than many others. Money can be tight but we have roof over our head, food on the table, and generally good health.

Jeff and I like to take the time each day to enjoy the beauty of nature that surrounds us. We really appreciate the land that we live on and call home.

If you look closely you will see my baby anole garden buddy. I have been watching him grow for the last couple of weeks. Yesterday I noticed he is getting a dark stripe on his back.

... and it really did rain here. The gardens are very happy.

Realizations

Over the weekend I was searching online for a list of Salmon Falls Stoneware makers marks. A friend had a bean pot that I wanted to identify for her, and Jeff wasn't home to take a look at it. During my search I came across a Salmon Falls Stoneware piggy bank with John's mark. John was one of the piggy bank makers at the factory in Dover, NH. As searches go, I then stumbled upon a short essay that John had published in The Sun magazine in 1983. I knew he had subscribed to The Sun, there were lots of old issues in the house. What I didn't know was that he had submitted, and had this piece published.

I AM COMING TO REALIZE I am an artist as opposed to a craftsman. I enjoy making pots that do no more than sit there and speak directly to the spirit. God, I am a lucky one, for I work with spirit every day. Some days more than others. Today, I had to work eight hours before it started, but then it was like working with clay for the first time again, finding new forms and delighting in their appearance. One day of making a group of successful “one-of-a-kinds,” or even getting just one right, will carry me through weeks of repetitious throwing. And the plates and bowls take on a newer, subtle glow.

I have found a voice. I try to let myself be open to it everywhere. When I used to play music, some of the nights, really special nights, it was beyond words. It’s a matter of putting yourself in a place where the spark can come through. You offer yourself up and sometimes it happens, and sometimes it doesn’t. It is in control, not you.

I’ve tried to do the same in my relationships. If I feel that spark, I follow it. And I don’t settle for anything less than the best any more, in anything. I’m talking about quality. In music, in pots, in love. It’s all the same — I wash dishes the same way I play guitar.

The striving to reach new heights is what I love and work so hard for. Maybe I take myself too seriously, but I want to make a statement that will last longer than my life here on earth. Ego? Not entirely. Through art, man has an ability to communicate; it is an emotional language understood at the gut level if the artist has depth and command of his materials. It takes a lifetime to learn those skills — how to weld the technical to the passions of being alive. There are higher forces at work on us. I want to create the feeling that one gets from looking at the pyramids, or the stone sculptures of Easter Island — reaching higher. I have felt much pain in my life, but that has carved out a place in me that is full of love now. I have to hide it even from myself. It’s overwhelming sometimes. And I want to pass it along — it’s not worth a damn if I don’t.

John Zentner

Knoxville, Maryland

My favorite sentence is, "I wash dishes the same way I play guitar." 

And that he did.

Reprinted with permission

Read more of The Sun here: Things I Make - The Sun

Stepping Into The Craft...

Each Saturday in Seagrove many of the potters are offering mini workshops, classes, and demonstrations. Last Saturday, Jeff and I offered three, one hour group pottery lessons. They filled up so quickly that we had to add another class at 6 pm.

We had a mix of kids, families, and groups of friends. There were lots of laughs and lots of clay everywhere. I think everyone had a great time.  Jeff and I were up early the next day to wipe down shelving and mop the floor.
Next weekend is our anniversary event. Can you believe that we have been in Seagrove for eight years? We will be doing demonstrations as well as serving some Asian teas, including matcha, midday. Jeff will talk about the Korean tea ceremony and all the parts and pieces that go along with it. You can see more details in the right sidebar of the blog.

We are enjoying a reprieve from the heat and humidity that we have been experiencing since what seems like mid-May. It's been wonderful to have windows open and feel the fresh air. 

The blackberries are prolific this year, along with the Japanese beetles that love them.

Thankfully, it seems we have enough for us and them.

Stepping into the Craft - Saturdays in Seagrove

When: Every Saturday in July

Where: Participating pottery shops in Seagrove, NC

Click Here for Details: DiscoverSeagrove

Off To A Good Start

Hello July! My blogging is off to a good start. Lets see if I can beat last month and write more than two posts. That should be an attainable goal.

 Blogging may be off to a good start, but we are nearly a week behind in getting this kiln fired. Between the heat and humidity, and Jeff nursing an extremely sore foot, it's been tough to stay on top of things. Yesterday I glazed all of the student pots (these are students that come for a one time throwing experience) and under glazed all of the piggy banks that needed it. Today will be glazing day. Last week the heat made it brutal to prep the pots and load the kiln for a bisque firing. We had to come in every hour or so to cool off and hydrate. Once all the textured pots were sanded down, Jeff did most of the loading in the evening. The temperatures today aren't any better, but the work needs to get done.

And now on to FOOD!

Last night I made green lentil curry for the first time. It was really easy to put together and was delicious. I think we will be adding this one to our dinner rotation. We are trying to incorporate more meatless meals into our diet.

Green lentil curry - bowl by Tom White

I chose this recipe because it also included fresh green beans, kale, and carrots. We served it over jasmine rice that was cooked with cumin seeds and kaffir lime leaves. A dollop of yogurt topped it off. This is the recipe I used - Green Lentil Curry Recipe. The only tweaks I made to it was the addition of a teaspoon of garam masala and six crushed cardamom pods. 
If it is hot where you are, try to stay cool and hydrated. If you don't hear from me before, have a happy Independence Day.