That's what the sky looked like on my way home from pottery this afternoon. It was as dramatic as a community theater doing Macbeth.
This morning before it was entirely light, I frantically searched online for a pottery project that I thought I could do but that wasn't completely useless. We were doing hand-building, not working on the wheel because basically, I suck at that. I'm going to try it again one of these days but today was not the day. I found projects for making spoon rests and pinch pots and coil pots and all sorts of things, none of which looked very interesting to me. Then I found one that I felt I could do. It was a CRACKER DISH and it was filled with Cheez-Its in the final photo and I said, "Yep, I'll do that one."
You can find the very short video here if you have any interest, which you probably do not. Well, the whole video isn't that short, but the cracker dish project comes first and it isn't long.
Pottery class is making me feel ways I haven't felt in a long time. First of all, I have no idea when I last tried to really learn something new. I am not proud of this. Secondly- add in a teacher. And then third, there's the fact that my child is helping me every step of the way.
It all sort of adds up to me feeling frustrated and fumble-fingered, like a small child who tries something new and ends up crying out, "I can't do this! I hate it!" and bursting into tears.
But I realize this is something new for me and I can't be expected to know what I do not know. I have to learn. I have to figure out how clay works. And today I felt all of that a little more. I started my cracker dish project and having just rewatched the video again, I realize I made quite a few mistakes but who cares? It's not going to look like the lovely one the teacher on the video made. In fact, it's going to be rough and heavy and I doubt a cracker will ever nestle into its form. But I enjoyed the process. And I am so grateful to Jessie for dragging me out of the house, even though I have to get up way too early, and helping me along with it.
We did not go get lunch today after class. There was a reason for that. Levon and August are out of school this week so she left them at home with Vergil working in his home office, right there in case they needed anything. They had a list of things they were supposed to do and could do. However, when we got back to the house to pick them up to go to lunch with us, it was discovered that they had made some less than excellent choices while left to their own devices.
Sigh.
Well, what do you expect? But, no blood, no foul. Also no fire so in retrospect, it wasn't that bad. But. No fun lunch, either.
So I came home, intending to get some of my baking done. I'm making one more chocolate pecan pie as it has been specially requested, and the angel biscuits. PLUS, I need to get those fruitcakes made.
Well, I made up the angel biscuit dough and it's securely wrapped in the refrigerator now. But I just did NOT feel like tackling the pie or fruit cakes. So I didn't.
Mr. Moon spent most of the way out on a boat in the river and he came home blissed out. "I didn't hit every rock in the Wacissa!" he said. Nothing makes that man happier than being on the water or in the woods. And I love that about him.
Tomorrow we're going over to look at a place on a lake west of town. Not the place he looked at before, but a different one. The pictures on the realty site look...interesting. Lots and lots of wood and some really funky areas in the house. It's described like this: "This was a showpiece back in the 80s! Vision and passion needed for the new buyer to restore it to it's former glory!"
Now that's putting a positive spin on what's probably a big ol' mess. I'm pretty sure we don't have the vision and passion needed to restore it to it's former 80's glory (and what in the world is considered 80's glory?) but it'll be fun to drive out there and look at it.
Meanwhile, the camellias are busting out.
Oh my Lord, y'all. I just checked the weather for the next week. Look at next Tuesday's low.
We are going to die. And if not us, then some of my plants.
Damn. This will require some intervention. I will NOT be losing my mango trees, my sea grapes, my porch jungle. That will not do.
I have to ponder this.
Love...Ms. Moon
Another very fine day for you, not so fine for the little boys. I do hope you'll show us your cracker bowl when you get it finished.
ReplyDeleteOh dear. If the cracker dish turns out as poorly as I think it will, there's a good chance I will not.
DeleteAny spare sheets, tarps, to cover the shivering plants? I'm glad you're learning something new. The downside is always that you feel like a fool! Picture me learning violin at 47..but there's such pride in all the discoveries you make, too. I've done slab building in clay and liked it. My hands aren't strong enough for the wheel, so I have no input there.
ReplyDeleteOh yes. I do have my porch plant sheets and old towels and old tablecloths and I can use those.
DeleteOh, woman. I do feel like a fool. A dooty old fool. But so what? I have a good sense of humor about it.
OMG your a cook. Approach clay the same way you would making dinner.
ReplyDeleteWell, I tried handling the clay as if it were dough. in fact, i even called it dough once yesterday. However, it is NOT dough and as such, requires a completely different touch and approach.
DeleteYou are not going to die, and your plants will survive if you bring them in a day or two before the drop in temperature. Or cover them if they are too big to bring in. The cracker tray looks interesting, I think yours will be fine. I don't think I've ever owned something like that. We just put our crackers in a bowl.
ReplyDeleteTrust me- I've never owned a cracker tray either. Never, ever. You could put anything in it though.
DeleteWe probably won't die. 27 is just a very cold temperature for us.
I like learning new things. You and Jessie should just have fun together. I can't wait to see your cracker tray.
ReplyDeleteJessie and I do have fun together although she may be getting frustrated with me. I would not blame her.
DeleteYour reaction to pottery is like my reaction to sewing - my brain just doesn't seem to go that way!!!! And ya gotta give that realtor his dues. That's one helluva spin, isn't it!
ReplyDeleteYou know, after seeing the house today, I get what they were trying to say there. It really must have been a beautiful house in its day.
DeleteI woke up to 14c in our bedroom and -5 outside but then it's winter in Scotland lol . I don't know how you manage in the summer I would melt into a greasy puddle.
ReplyDelete-5 C. is fold as hell!
DeleteAnd well, as to managing summer- we DO melt into greasy puddles.
56F is considered positively warm here! I don't consider moving plants until it is getting to freezing!
ReplyDeleteNo, the low on that day will be 27 F. 56 is quite chilly here but 27 is bitter to us tropics-living southerners.
Delete27?!? Holy crap! SG wears long underwear when it’s below 60. The camellias are breathtaking. We tried them in San Diego and had a problem with bugs loving them as much as we did. I admire you for tackling pottery. I’d have a go at it if I could share it with Jessie. And, oh that cracker dish in the video. The Cheez-Its look so real! ;-) I’m curious what the boys got up to. I hope you’ll be able to share pictures of the ’80s showpiece.
ReplyDeleteThe Cheez-Its DO look real, don't they? Heh-heh.
DeleteJessie is fun to do anything with. We giggle and cackle like hens.
The boys got up to things that involved marshmallows, hunting for hidden Christmas presents (IN THE ATTIC) and other capers. Nothing really horrible. Boys being boys. Although in my experience, girls can be just as bad.
Mr Moon reminds me of the saying 'you can take the man out of Tennessee but you can't take the Tennessee out of the man'. I tried my hand at pottery I made a few things. Ended up throwing them away and I wish I hadn't done that.
ReplyDeleteYep. Glen is a Tennesse boy. I think one of the main reasons he wanted to move to Florida is that there are so many places to fish, both salt and freshwater.
DeleteI will remember what you said, Tressa, and try to keep at least ONE of things I make in pottery.
Please show us your cracker bowl!! I tried one of those paint parties several times and have my pictures to prove it. But when my artistic daughter saw my pumpkin amongst the forest, she said let's just put this **here**. And **here** was in a closet. hashtag with the door closed.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a joyous Thanksgiving breakfast and wonderful day. You have much to be thankful for as do we all. For real.
Sending lots of love,
Patricia
Haha! Your daughter sounds like Jessie! We call her mean Aunt Jessie because she can be brutally honest but it's funny because generally she is so sweet.
DeleteThanks for the Thanksgiving wishes, Patricia. I hope your day is joyful too.
Well, that's a cute little cracker dish. Can't wait to see yours!
ReplyDeleteWith Thanksgiving tomorrow, I am focusing on things I am thankful for and, of course, that includes your blog, Mary! I look forward each morning to reading your posts. Thanks so much! xo
Mine is going to look nothing like that. Oh well.
DeleteWhat a sweet thing to say, Ellen. Thank you so much.
Your forecast made me check ours, because Dave and I were just talking about how there's no freeze expected, but now it says 31º! Argh! So I'll be doing some plant-covering too.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I'd associate the '80s with any kind of glory.
I think it's great that you're modifying your pottery techniques to suit your skills and confidence, and you SHOULD put your personal spin on your pieces! (As opposed to following directions explicitly.) I look forward to seeing how your cracker dish turns out.
Turns out the house was really built in the '70's. It was quite an experience, looking at it.
DeleteI really want to start a completely new cracker dish because I could correct some of the things I know I've done wrong.
So it's going to get colder here than in London. Ooh-boy.
you made me check the weather for here next week. 40s here for the weekend and then 50s next week. whew! the weather liars have predicted a mild winter for us this year and I hope that's true. I'm tired of these dips into the 20s. and having to drag everything into the garage and cover shit, like the enormous ponytail palm.
ReplyDeleteI think I would enjoy the hand building better than throwing on the wheel. I don't need anymore cups or mugs or bowls. or anything utilitarian.
I tell you something, Ellen- I am now looking at all of the things my kids have made me in their pottery classes at school and I have much more appreciation for them than I ever did before.
DeleteI am very curious to see what a showpiece from the '80s looks like. Floral couches and wallpaper? Floral drapes with swags? Stencil painting? My old house may have looked a lot like that, back in the day:)
ReplyDeleteGood for you for understanding that getting good at pottery will take time and practice and I liked that video link you put in. Thanks.
This probably sounds petty, but I'm glad to know that August and Levon weren't angels, because I often wish Jack was more like them:) They seem like great kids, but even great kids are still kids.
I'm about to post about that house. It was...something. No wallpaper or swag curtains.
DeleteBut also...no way.
Levon and August are not angels. They are great kids, yes, but they are still curious little boys who believe they can get away with things.
Look after your plants!!! I want to see these mango trees grow.
ReplyDeleteThere was this shift from seeing my daughter as a 16 yr old to the 41 yr old she is now. It happened around the time she took the wooden spoon out of my to demonstrate how to properly make butter miso pasta.
I know exactly what you mean! There is something very comforting to me knowing that my children are so adept at things. Better than I am at many things! And yet, there are other things that I can do and that they want me to do and that still brings me pleasure.
DeleteDon't worry. I am keeping my mangoes safe above all others! The babies will be coming in the house.