Pottery

Ever since I was a youngster I have had a fascination with clay and with the creation of something functional from something seemingly nonfunctional. Yesterday I ventured into the artistic world of pottery. I started a class at the North Mount Pleasant Arts Center. This center is located mere blocks away from my house, and as such I had seen the old converted school on my way to work every day for many months as I traversed the landscape on my way downtown. I had always wanted to take a class and I finally signed up and paid my dues. Yesterday was the first class and I went expecting nothing and hoping for everything. I was happy that we got to touch clay the first class, and then to my surprise I was allowed on a pottery wheel to try my hand at throwing a pot. It was the most organic experience of the last few weeks. I have never created something so useful out of something so earthly looking. The brick of clay looked lifeless, and still to some degree does, but it now has taken the shape of a bowl that I plan to use for my breakfast. As the clay whirled around I was struck by how solid it felt, and yet at the same time I was taken by the malleability of said clay when the right pressure is placed upon it. After a time I found myself covered in slip, the clay water that is the product of much spinning of the wheel. The messy nature of the wheel is something that makes it so enticing as it is for once mildly glamorous to be messy and dirty. As the night neared an end I wanted to continue, but it was late and I needed to clean myself up. So, why do I like pottery so much. It's organic, not in the sense of no pesticides or antibiotics, but in the sense of the simplicity of creation of something from nothing. I like pottery because it is functional. The pieces that I make can be used to hold things, and to present food items during festivities and other such events. I also like the way my hands feel as they shape what was once earth into a vessel that will become earthenware. Holding an item that I created is something I treasure above all. Originality with a purpose is so refreshing and enlightening.

Applesauce

I sit here, jar of homemade applesauce close by and think of how much I do love applesauce. It is one of those comfort foods that you respond to even after being an adult and eating real apples for the better part of your known life. It is one of those sensations that might linger since learning how to eat solid food. I can taste the apple skin that I missed while peeling the apples. I can taste the cinnamon my mom and I so carefully measured by adding until it tasted right. I can taste the brown sugar we used instead of the age old white sugar. But most of all I can taste the glorious time that I had making it with my mom on the day before Christmas Eve last year. Apples by nature want to be crispy and firm, so it seems odd that I still get such great sensations out of eating mushed up, spiced up, and canned up apples. It's not so much that they taste like apples, but it tastes like applesauce. Its like when you taste fried onions for the first time, the subtle sweet and the tinge of acid. I often wondered what the fresh real onion tasted like, and last week I had the nerve to attempt to eat half of a fresh farmers market onion. I beheld a wonderful experience of my mouth and throat refusing to stop burning, and tears running fresh to my eyes when ever I breathed in. Not to say that apples and onions are the same thing, lets be honest they are far from similar. I do notice that when one does get reacquainted with applesauce it might take a few spoon fulls before you once again remember the glory of previous experiences. I also like to make it known that apples still remain one of my all time favorite fruits. They crunch like a champion and aid me in fulfilling that sweetness craving I have after many meals, but applesauce garners much different delight. I love the soothing softness of cooked apples bathed in glorious spices and naturalish sugar. I also love the simple fact that the applesauce mom and I made last year has lasted me until now sitting calmly in my pantry awaiting its turn to assist me in my quest for delicious. So these points are why applesauce is one of my favorite things: Long lasting, mildly sweet, delicious, and memorable and fun to make and to eat.