The things you notice

On my very cold bike ride this morning I stopped by this ploughed Amish field. You can tell it was done slowly by horsepower. The deep texture is like rolling waves. Probably before planting they will need to go over it with a harrow. It occurred to me that horsepower ploughing versus industrial tractor ploughing offers the same results as treadle/momentim wheels do versus the electric wheels. Electric wheels produce electric pots. There is more gesture, more nuance, more weight, more undulation, more of you in slow wheels. My daughter Robin has probably the best overall collection of my work. Generally it is work that didn't sell so I give it to her. Usually they are my best pots. Most people don't give a damn about the things I give a damn about when considering pots. When I go to her house I ask to use this carbon trap shino cup I made probably 15 years ago. I almost never drink out of my own cups. Warren MacKenzie said it's like talking to yourself. I know I made it on my treadle wheel because it has that certain something I don't get no matter how slowly I turn my electric wheel. I have to build in the undulated rim that happens so naturely on the treadle wheel. Going slow helps me to see things I would normally whizz by. I do prefer my bike to walking but I am learning to stop and look. I was listening to astronaut Roberta Bondar the other day. She said" If you do something long enough it becomes part of you". I'm really only two years into this cycling habit of mine but it has become part of me. It was really cold this morning and I thought cuddle up with a book. I couldn't! I had to ride. Maybe it is discipline. Maybe it is being as hard headed as a wrecking ball. Maybe it's a cure for being alone but not lonely. Whatever it is I'm glad that it is now part of me.