Pottery Making Season

I saw Jenna Vanden Brink's shout out to makers on Instagram this week and I laughed, appreciating that I may be alone in the studio, but I'm in good company working through the fall. As a potter, I've spent many years of my favorite season looking out windows and wishing I could be outside. I've retained the habit, from living in Tennessee, of determining what exact day is PEAK autumn. I have to imagine that New Englanders do the same. It is THE day when the trees are at maximum color variety fullness. You don't know until the next few days, when it has tipped over into enough bare branches and brown leaves that you can't ignore that it's just a beautiful and brief process of death and decay. This year in Pittsburgh, we didn't have long to wonder since a rain and wind storm pulled down so many leaves at once, peak was definitely behind us. It all brings me back to the days in Gatlinburg and the incredible beauty on display there this time of year. Even living there, I don't think I ever made it out to the park in October. Too busy making, trimming, handling, firing, cleaning, glazing, pricing, dusting and selling pots. Is it possible to make pots all year and take time off in the fall? ima find out.