Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Hope


Did I ever tell you I like reading mysteries or watching crime programs? It must be trying to figure out the answer which holds my attention. Like working in clay really. Since I studied psychology in college, unraveling the workings of the mind also keeps my interest. Last night I was watching Criminal Minds and they used a quote of Emily Dickinson about hope and it stuck with me, so I thought I'd reprint the poem here for you to read. It was the first four lines which were quoted.

Hope 
  
Hope is the thing with feathers 
That perches in the soul, 
And sings the tune--without the words, 
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard; 
And sore must be the storm 
That could abash the little bird 
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land, 
And on the strangest sea; 
Yet, never, in extremity, 
It asked a crumb of me.

I made a few leaf plates the other day which are drying in the cabinet. I see one cabinet dries things quicker than the others, those are the whiter appearing leaf plates. This white stoneware is kind of cool because when it dries it turns whiter and I can tell if pieces are dry. The other test I use is to place a piece against my cheek, if it's cold it's still wet. That works with smaller items, some sculptures are harder to use that test.


Here's some larger and deeper vine bowls drying, cereal or salad size. Sorry the lighting isn't the greatest this early in the morning, but these will look much better glazed anyway. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

12 comments:

  1. Love Emily Dickinson, thank you for the poem.

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  2. Me too, what Lori said. I also can imagine your trying to put one of your wagons against your cheek, more the image of you leaning down to try to snuggle against it...right! Tee hee.

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  3. Hi Lori, thanks, I love the first four lines, the feather in the soul, I was reading about her life when I made the link and what an amazing woman for her time.

    Hi Barbara, thanks, yes I was thinking about the carts when I typed this, but those are really thin enough to tell they are dry, the plates and bowls are the thing I try the cheek trick with, sometimes the bottoms can be tricky to tell if they are really dry. Ha.

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  4. Hi Linda,
    I love a mystery "who done it" too. I can't get into the newer crime shows like csi and such. The detailed subject matter is too disturbing for me. I'm more milk-toast. I love the old Matlock series and old Hitchcock films. Your wavy rim bowls are very nice. :)

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  5. Hi Cindy, thanks, the new crime shows don't bother me, I have never been squeamish about blood or anything like that, in fact I was almost going to be vet but the cost and length of schooling deterred me. I do like Hitchcock though he was a master at suspense. I used to like Matlock but not it seems too elementary to me.

    I can't seem to get the waves the same on the bowls so they can stack, I'll have to work on that, I am trying to have more pieces that stack so they are easier to take to shows and stack in cabinets.

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  6. I like those first 4 lines also.
    I do enjoy the crime shows, especially Criminal Minds.
    Think it is the cast as much as the stories.

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  7. Hi Patti, thanks, yes the cast I like too, that one has the best characters, the story line always has some down to earth real human feelings and I especially like Penelope Garcia. She is a hoot. And David Rossi - he is such a good actor - I saw him in a TV movie about a con man, but I can't remember the name of it, I'll have to try and remember.

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  8. Oh Patti, it was called "House of Games" - excellent with twist at the end, you'd love it.

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  9. I used to watch Criminal Minds but after a few especially disturbing episodes, I stopped. However, I still watch CSI, NCIS and Bones!

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  10. Hi Ms. Sparrow, thanks, I like those three too, some of the episodes makes you wonder if they aren't giving some of the criminals some ideas though, doesn't it.

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  11. lovely poem, thank you for sharing.
    the old cheek test works every time!

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  12. Hi Michele, thanks, I try to add a little tid bit in case newer potters are reading, I learned a lot on the blogs and hope they do too. I know they are reading, which they would comment too.

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment