Ode to the Hurricane

Love is all around you like the air and is the very breath of being.  But you cannot know it, feel its unfeeling touch, until you pause in your busyness, are still and poised and empty of your wanting and desiring.  When at rest the air is easily offended and will flee even from the fanning of a leaf, as love flees from the first thought.   But when the air or love moves of its own accord it is a hurricane that drives all before it. - Barry Long, (1926-2003),  Australian spiritual teacher and writer

Riders on the Storm pay strict attention to this date in August as the beginning of the High Season for hurricanes when air and ocean are in sync for storming.  Technically speaking, vertical shear (which is the change in wind direction and height) is low enough in the atmosphere and temperatures are warm

enough in the sea to create the chaos of the storm.

This is the time of year to pause in your busyness and free your mind and body of those thoughts and emotions that are toxic to your well being, as philosopher Barry Long suggests.

Create that hurricane in your soul as a necessary step to living life to its fullest! 

Z is for Zanesville Ohio Potteries

Zanesville, Ohio, located in southeastern Muskingum County, was named after Ebenezer Zane, the engineer who built the road traversing through Ohio from Wheeling, WV to Maysville, KY during the late 1700's.  Although it was the state capital from 1810-1812, Zanesville's real claim to fame for us vintage lovers is its role in the history of Art Pottery during the early years of the 20th Century.  Due to its plentiful reserves of iron ore and clay as well as water from the Muskingum River,  Zanesville was dubbed the Clay City for its contribution of gorgeous pieces of pottery from 1900 through the 1940's.  Potteries included Nelson McCoy,  Owens,  Robinson/Ransbottom, Roseville, Weller, and Zanesville Pottery to name a few. They are truly special;  uniquely formed and beautifully glazed.  Research and explore your favorites to adorn your home with precious art pottery from a time long gone by.   Happy Hunting!

 McCoy planter

Nelson McCoy bowls

 Roseville Clematis Pattern

Zanesville Pottery

Zip in Your Do Dah

Think left and think right

and think low and think high.

Oh the thinks you can think up

if only you try. - Dr. Seuss

Ah the merits of creativity........  Design at its best! 

Y is for Yellow

Yellow ware is made from a variety of buff-colored clay that fire dark to light yellow and are finished with a clear glaze. It was prized for its utilitarian purpose and cheery color in the kitchen.  All yellow ware is considered earthenware and as such is more porous than stoneware.  In the US, these clays were primarily based in New Jersey and parts of the Midwest.  Yellow ware was first produced in England during the 1600's and exported to America during the late 1820's.  Production in the United States began during the 1840's through the 1850's.  Yellow ware became more popular than red ware (which contains more iron) as a result of its durability due to a higher firing temperature in the kiln. By the 1850's demand was so high that large potteries in Ohio produced thousands of pieces yearly until the 1930's when tastes changed to white ironstone.  Yellow ware is considered a transitional pottery between red ware and white ware.  The items could be plain utilitarian pieces, or decorated with colored slip designs or embossing.  The most beautiful are known as mocha ware, a seaweed looking blue design on white slip.  

English Yellow ware will 'ring' when it is gently tapped; North American yellow ware will 'thud'. Old pieces have lead glazes and should not be used for food preparation or storage.  Happy Hunting!