The second week of February is when you should be turning...especially when you have a show in March. But Dad is a really great procrastinator...(as several of you who have ordered custom items can attest) but he procrastinates in such a way that you don't always notice he's not doing what he's supposed to be...because he's usually busy doing something else! Hence the storyline of this blog entry...
The Hilton Homeplace has been not only home to 4 Generations of Hilton potters, but it was also declared a century farm by the state of North Carolina in 2013. There have been Hiltons living, farming, and "potting" there since the civil war.
Do you know how much "stuff" accumulates in 100+ years? A LOT! Dad's shop...back when it was HIS grandfather's was actually the chicken hatchery...(where the baby chicks live until they move into the chicken house with the adult chickens...which is now the Gallery).
My grandfather (Poppie), Boyd S. Hilton, turned it into his pottery studio many many years ago and after dad, Boyd R. Hilton, graduated high school he and Poppie added on to the original shop creating the space we now use for slab work, glazing, and firing. (Some 50 years ago)
Now, those of you who know dad, know that "spring cleaning" is more likely to mean "getting rust off of springs" than what you and I consider "spring cleaning" and yet the glaze area had taken on a life of its own...and kiln stilts? Forget EVER finding 2 the same height! Things just kinda end up where they were last used...
..."Dad, have you seen"...(insert item you are looking for here) "sure Heather, it's right there!" (Dad points to the below pile)
So Saturday dad and his long time "right hand" Dan decided to build new shelves...that apparently needed to be able to support the weight of my car...to hold glaze & kiln stilts. (Hmmmm, could this be a productive form of procrastination?)
I have to say, these 60+ year old men worked me to the point of exhaustion, but we can actually get to the things we need now.
Although I am still convinced it is more of an excuse not to start turning, the shop is ready for glazing...(just nothing made to glaze yet!). So lesson learned...in 2064, I guess we will "spring clean" again?
Pretty accurate version of the events. I might add that Heather is great help, willing to tackle whtever needs to be done and MUCH more organized and detail oriented than I am, Not sure where she developed (perhaps inherited from her mom ) those tendencies but yes to say organized (shelf supports by each size and length, glaze graduated by firing temperature, etc.) is an understatement. But I love her and always welcome the help. Secret...........Dan and I learned a long time ago to "pace" ourselves, ha (well sometimes).
ReplyDeleteToo many dang engineers in this family!
ReplyDeleteYes, Heather's mom is definitely guilty of "organizing", so she gets it naturally!
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