flashback

I was looking through an old portfolio today and this storage jar caught my attention.

I realized I made it almost 3 years ago and I can't remember what I drew on the other side, all I got to remember it by is the upright gorilla, which for one reason or another I deemed the front. I sold it not long after this photo was taken, so I didn't get very long to live with it.

I like the proportions of this pot: the skinny foot, the inflated belly, the quiet lid and knob. The black engobe stripes and the flashing from the soda vapors came out pretty muted, but to me somehow everything works.

I think it is good to revisit work you have done to reflect. It helps as you go forward.

Baby Love

Babies getting some milk-love

Where is your food protein grown?

I should make a disclaimer that this photograph has not been manipulated in any way. Above are two 1 1/4" thick cut T-bones and below are the complimentary 3/4" center cut pork chops. Lightly seasoned with salt and pepper. The quality and texture of this meat is the best I have ever eaten.

Do you know where your food protein comes from? Did you know that 54% of the worlds pork is grown in China? and 20% of the worlds beef is grown in Brazil?

How many miles does your food have on it from field to fork? Have you ever imagined dipping your food in a 5 gallon bucket of diesel before you eat it?

I challenge you to try and figure out where your food was grown... you may be surprised to find it was grown where a thick jungle once was deep in South America, or maybe Korea, Mexico, or Argentina. Or maybe a combination of several countries! Then try and figure out if it has traveled more than you have this year.

If you go to the Dallas Farmer's Market this saturday and come to Shed #1 you can buy some food protein that was grown in Sulphur Bluff, Texas, USA.

Unrolling

Round hay bales are rolled up in late springtime like dry grass cinnamon rolls. That is, 1200# grass flavored cinnamon rolls.

To feed out I unroll the hay for the cattle during the winter season.

There are several advantages to unrolling hay vs. putting it in a hay ring or barn feeding, etc.

It is good because you can run any class or size of animal all together. This way the bigger bully animals won't hog all the feedstuff.

One hay bale stretches out to about the length of a football field.

There is very little waste.

I can monitor exactly how much hay I am feeding.

I unroll in different sections of the paddock every day and it acts as a secondary fertility program for the soil.

It reduces pugging (see summertime pug wash).

The animals line up and I can do a thorough daily inspection of body condition/health/pregnancy development.

Digging Deep

Can you dig deep? How often do you find yourself digging deep?

Is it a nervous feeling? numbness? bleary eyes? rock-n-roll? fight or flight? Never give up?

Does it kinda hurt? Do you like it anyways?

Is it psychological or physical? or both? usually both.

Now here is a lip-smackin', reflective thinkin', near-do-weller, close to honest as I can get observation.

Trying to farm and trying to make art creates opportunities where you gotta dig deep.

It's not saying, "well, that's good enough".

When you feel like quitting, just crank down and max it out.

I get excited when I see someone maxing it out.