Saturday, November 12, 2011

Who's gonna keep your feet warm?

The bed was empty and cold this morning as I rolled over and with one eyed looked at the clock it read 3:30.
I figured Mark must have gotten out of bed quite early to light the kiln.
The past week had been full of glorious fall days as you can read from my post below.
There was not even a stir of wind in the air on many of those days until a cold front moved in.
Yesterday as we loaded the kiln we bulked up for a cold day with layers.
With afternoon wind force between 1 and 2 there were times it felt like winter, but it was nowhere near some other November firings that I can remember when we were loading in 20 degrees or rain or sleet or dark...
It made me think of a job poster for potters:
Wanted people who will give up the following.
4 day work weeks, or even 5
Warmth and comfort
Week ends
Families
and a social life.
If you are willing to give it all up for long hours and plenty of days of frustration please apply.
Now we all know that really we have had a good life making pots and that we all give up something for our jobs, but there are times when I could be lured away with the promise of a 5 days a week from 9-5. Throw in a few benefits and weeks ends with paid vacation and I could be yours.

The kiln is firing, we have draped the biggest tarp we have around the open side and that will keep the wind off the burners. All that we need to do is reach a good temperature with a good chimney draw before any winds show up this afternoon.
We once had wind so strong it was pulling down the chimney- I handed Mark bricks as he piled them high enough to get past the wind- that was fun.

One of the posters for the show.


Cool down Sunday and Monday and then the unloading begins Tuesday.
I have lots to take care of since this was our year of no shows, not no shows, but no shows in that we did no shows this year not that we did not show up.
Anyway- we need the list of all those things that must go with you to a show.
Time to put the rusty thinking cap on.
On another note if you have not been for awhile or have never been plan on tripping down to or up to Seagrove next weekend and spending the day.
Leslie and I will be at the cannery while Mark holds down the home front here.
Here is a link to the potters who will be there.
Cheers!
M


11 comments:

Tracey Broome said...

Girl, I think you need some sleep! you crack me up :)
I need to pack up and price work next weekend, but if I get ahead, not get a head, I will show up!

cookingwithgas said...

Tracey-:) you crack me up too!
If you can come find us- I would love to see you!

Linda Starr said...

We were down to 32 last night, to save money we got an electric blanket so we can keep the central heat lower at night. My circulation isn't what it used to be and my legs get cold very easily. Now if I can just find a leg warmer for under my desk and chair in the studio, those electric space heaters are so expensive to run I might have to find some wool leg warmers to wear and sweat pants.

Hope you have a good firing, wish I was closer, one of these days. I'd trade pottery in (partially anyway) if I could find a job, aren't any to be had in this rural bedroom county.

Michèle Hastings said...

i swear by smartwool socks for keeping my feet warm! expensive, but they wear well :o)
i think Linda should invest in some.

Hollis Engley said...

Good luck selling. Empty those shelves. Keep writing.

Quietly Otaku said...

yikes that sounds pretty dangerous! Good luck with the fair and stay safe! : o

Anonymous said...

hi meredith,
these last couple post make me wish i lived out in the woods. the bug keeps saying she wished we lived in the country. sometimes i wish that too since that's how i grew up. good luck with the firing

Peter said...

Love the poster for the exhibition. You'll be opening that kiln today, hope the firing went really well for your and the wind did stay away long enough to get things done properly. Mmmm, I was listening to the radio the other day, and a very irritating fellow (a university academic) was talking about the different stages we go through in our working lives, he had names for each decade that were so nauseatingly stupid, that I wish I had remembered them! Apparently people of our age are now working 3 days a week and elect to do some charity work (for fun, to keep our brains nimble, and for the good of society), we are financially secure, have more than one house, many weeks (nay 3 months) of holidays a year, and are respected, respectable members of society! Isn't that nice!

cookingwithgas said...

Peter- :0- I guess I got on the wrong train! 2 houses!? For me that is too many bathrooms to clean!
Work 3 days a week!? Hummm going to pack my bag and check on that train!

Mr. Young said...

Could I send you a couple of bucks to mail me one of those posters?

cookingwithgas said...

Humm I would need to ask- I will get back to you.