The Heritage is Rich in Rock Mills

Saturday was the Rock Mills Heritage Day....and it was really awesome.  There were people there with old pottery, there were people there telling the history of the Creek Indians in Clay and Randolph counties, there was a domino tournament going on, cheese tasting, bake sale, yard sales, it was so much fun....the only problem....was the heat.  This event should be held in late October....sitting outside in 95+ degree weather....not so much fun.  What I loved the most was the pottery.....and Frank Foster's shop.  It was fascinating....and Frank Foster is so very talented.  According to the historians I talked with at the Heritage Day event, "Rock Mills has a rich heritage as a center of commerce and community that started in the mid 1800s and continued through the turn of the century in Alabama. Not only was the mill thriving but jug shops and other occupations that accompanied a busy town flourished as well. In 1901, in a small rock building built across the creek from the mill, a doctor and his partner opened a drugstore with a classic soda fountain. In 1910, they expanded the business to include a bottling company called Rock Springs Bottling Works. When the mill became Wehadkee Mill the rock store was bought and converted into a dry goods and grocery store for the mill workers and their families.

Today, that little rock building is the home of Rock Mills Pottery, LLC. From the 1830s through 1930s, Rock Mills became known as a major industry center for the production of utilitarian pottery. Will Boggs and his family along with many other pottery families like the Usserys, Pounds (they are members of our church), Mapps and Pitmans made a living producing churns, jugs, crocks and planters which were peddled all over the south. This antique pottery has made a resurgence and is now sought after by collectors. Frank Foster, great grandson of Will Boggs, is proud to account for all the generations of his family that have taken to clay. He has made it his mission to revive the heritage of this area and his family and the other pottery families by opening Rock Mills Pottery, LLC in the historic rock building across the creek from the mill. Frank's previous occupation as Marketing Director and eventual Chief Operating Officer of a company sent him all over the world. On his travels through Europe, Asia, South America, and the South Pacific he found himself seeking out pottery production facilities as a side interest. The pursuit of clay and its function in different cultures was only a hobby at that time in his life. Frank Foster refocused his business experience and mixed it with his genetic talent for making and selling clay work.

 He put his mind to learning a new skill. He studied throwing clay on the wheel, he researched the technical side of firing the clay to different temperatures for different purposes and continually tests numerous glazes for their beauty and function.  In just over two years, Frank has developed a style that reflects the functionality of his great grandfather's in his modern oven and dishwasher safe mixing bowls, casserole dishes, vases, and platters. But it does not stop there. He also makes humorous faces jugs, coffee mugs and bird houses.

 He is always thinking of ways to remember the importance of his roots and that is best seen in his carvings of historic buildings onto his pottery.  Rock Mills Pottery, LLC has expanded into a country store gift shop. For sale, along with Frank's pottery, there is antique pottery, ceramic art from other local artists, paintings on slate, handmade wooden rockers, walking canes and flint knives.  The vision is to continue to expand and now another art form for sale in the store is the work of two local writers. Frank is now selling two books from authors that tell tales of Southern folklore. He is planning a book signing, featuring both authors, at the store.  If all goes according to plan, a museum will be developed within the old mill store to display photos of the mill, people that worked there, the items that authenticate the pharmacy, the bottling company and of course beautiful antique pottery.  It has not taken long for the word to get out. Many neighbors come by on a regular schedule to see what's new or to view the opening of the kiln. Others come by to buy handmade gifts for special occasions. But the range of visitors is growing to buyers from 30 states and 4 countries. Tourists read about the mill's history and naturally end up in Rock Mills Pottery looking to exchange stories and perhaps buy something to remember their trip or take as gifts for friends.  Let me tell you.. if you are in the market for a piece of functional or antique pottery or a decorative art piece, come by Rock Mill Pottery. Brother Frank opens the doors most Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. You can buy a cold glass bottled drink, enjoy a moment of days gone while rocking on the front porch or reminisce while looking at the antique bottles from the drinks that were bottled there about 100 years ago.".....did I mention that Brother Frank is the pastor at the Rock Mills Nazarene Church....you will love sitting down and listening to him talk about pottery and God.

If you ever have a Saturday and nothing to do....especially if it is the First/Third Saturday of the month...come to Wehadkee Trade Days....for such a little town....there is always something happening....humm....maybe when my book is published...he will let me sell it in his shop.  Ya think?  Have a blessed Sunday.

Poetic Justice is Divine....Don't You Think?

I got an email this morning and since I could not post last night as I planned too (cable was down)...I thought I would share this with you all....Anyone who has ver worked on the docks....been around fish....or been divorced will get a kick out of it....if you are a woman....you should get a kick out of it anyway....."She spent the first day packing her belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases.  On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things.. On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining room table by candle-light, put on some soft background music, and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar, and a bottle of spring-water. When she had finished, she went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimp shells dipped in caviar into the hollow of the curtain rods. She then cleaned up the kitchen and left. When the husband returned with his new girlfriend, all was bliss for the first few days. Then slowly, the house began to smell. They tried everything; cleaning, mopping and airing the place out. Vents were checked for dead rodents and carpets were steam cleaned. Air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which they had to move out for a few days and in the end they even paid to replace the expensive wool carpeting. Nothing worked!!!  People stopped coming over to visit.. Repairmen refused to work in the house.. The maid quit. Finally, they could not take the stench any longer and decided to move.  A month later, even though they had cut their price in half, they could not find a buyer for their stinky house. Word got out and eventually even the local realtors refused to return their calls. Finally, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a new place.
The ex-wife called the man and asked how things were going.  He told her the saga of the rotting house. She listened politely and said that she missed her old home terribly and would be willing to reduce her divorce settlement in exchange for getting the house. Knowing his ex-wife had no idea how bad the smell was, he agreed on a price that was about 1/10th of what the house had been worth, but only if she were to sign the papers that very day.  She agreed and within the hour his lawyers delivered the paperwork.  A week later the man and his girlfriend stood smiling as they watched the moving company pack everything to take to their new home..........And to spite the ex-wife, they even took the curtain rods.
I LOVE A HAPPY ENDING, DON'T YOU?  Hope you had a marvelous Saturday!

I Am So Excited!

I bowl on Thursday nights and don't hear my phone if it rings....have you ever been inside a bowling alley with all lanes fulls....it is deafening.  Anyways, Amanda called while we were bowling and by the time we headed home I did not even think to dig my phone out of my purse and see if I had missed anything....nope...I waited and did that this morning.  I had a missed call from Amanda and she said to call her as soon as I got the message.  I called her this morning at 5:50 my time/6:50 hers....and she sleepily answered the phone and told me she had sent me an email....so when I got to school I logged on and opened my email and was so excited.  Amanda (technically my cousin.....heart stringwise my sister)...has two children that I adore.  Ramona, mother of my sweet Drew baby, wife of Mr. Incredible - Dustin...and David, father of precious Hot Wheels, husband to the crafting/decorating Queen-Susanna.  I love them like my own....and was delighted when in February, 2009 both of them had  their babies....four days a part.  What an exciting time for our family.  My dad and aunt were both doing bad....with cancer....and this was a shot in the arm.  It is amazing what sweet little babies can do.  Well....this Spring - David and Susanna announced that they were expecting another little blessing....they were planning to name Baby Jane....who is now Baby Butterbean (its a boy)....and he is due in December.  We cannot wait...Susanna is such a cute little pregnant momma...it just makes me smile to see her glow so.  WELL....this mornings email from Amanda was a precious video of Drewster and his first year and a half......and the final picture.....is BIG BROTHER DREW.....Ramona and Dustin are having another baby....so we have Baby Butterbean Brown and Hughes....How exciting....and this baby is due in late April.  Life is good and what a way to start out the weekend....with this awesome news.  I love these sweet little families....and the joy they have brought to us!  Thanks guys!  Hugs and Kisses!  Love you guys!

The Story of Glen

“Glen! Step away from the tree! I see you standing there, Glen, and I’m not kidding, I will learn how to make antelope jerky, so help me!”

I was screaming outside my front door at an antelope, who I’ve named Glen. Glen, you see, keeps eating the tree that some commander on this base strangely decided to plant in my yard. (He didn’t do it personally, he just gave the order. I’d have been amused to see him do it personally though.) I mean, hello, commander? You do realize that this base is filled with wandering antelope who like to eat plants?

One of those antelope is Glen. Now, okay, I’m not entirely sure if it’s the same antelope that munches on the tree. They sort of all look the same. Brown fur, white asses. But I’m pretty certain it’s the same one. Why? Because unlike most antelope, when I approach, Glen slowly walks away like, “Ugh, this witch again.” Other antelope run off as though Kathy Griffin were dancing above your head or something. But Glen....well, Glen is an asshole, no question about it.

(I know any members of PETA reading this are probably horrified. I apologize. Animals are lovely creatures, really, but not when they eat stuff that I’m working hard to grow in my yard.)

Want to see my depressing tree?



And yes, I even surrounded it with fence to keep Glen out. But he pushes his ugly mouth through the holes in the fence and chows down.

That is what he was doing when I shouted at him.

“Glen! Go eat some grass. Do you hear me? EAT THE GRASS NOT THE TREE!” I was in my driveway now. One of my neighbor’s friends was getting out of her car and did a double take when she saw a barefoot woman clad in sweats and an oversized t-shirt threatening the local wildlife. Most of my neighbors get my quirkiness (they’ve witnessed me running into the side of my house in order to get my daughter to laugh many times and have heard me bellow, “Please put on your pants!” to my kids and sometimes even my husband too) but this woman clearly didn’t know what to think of me. She blinked in my direction and looked from Glen to me and back to Glen and then hurried into her friend’s house.

This is Glen by the way:





Doesn’t he just LOOK sneaky? And notice how he’s calmly wandering around. He’s probably telling his antelope friends, “There’s a great tree in this crazy woman’s yard. Let’s go eat it and piss her off!”

Glen finally walked away but not before shooting me an evil look and taking a crap in my yard.

Thanks a lot, Glen.

Tag You Are It!

I have a wonderful blogger friend Xazmin over at This Is the Year and she tagged me with 8 questions....Here's how the tag works: Answer the following 8 questions, tag 8 friends, and have them answer 8 new questions.


Here are Xazmin's questions for me....and my responses:

1.  Are you a night-owl or an early-bird? And would you change it if you could?  I am an early-bird. I love getting up in the morning and getting the day started.  I am in a good mood in the morning...and ready for whatever life gives me.  I was a night-owl in my college days....and would not want to go back.  I like being an early bird.
2.  If you could go back to any moment in your past and make a different choice, would you? If it's not too personal - what was that moment?  Once I would have said yes....and the moment would have been when I married my first husband....but I would have to say no now...because....if I had not married him....I would not have the exceptional daughter/friend that I have.  Nope...I don't want to go back....things happen the way they do for a reason.  The different choice might have been an even worse one.
3.  Do you believe in prayer?  I believe fervently in prayer and its power.  I have seen prayers answered and am still waiting on answers....I would hate to live life without prayer.
4.  If you won a $500 shopping spree, but had to spend it in ONE store - what store would it be?  Hobby Lobby without a doubt.
5.  What is your favorite food?  Grilled hamburgers and/or ribs cooked by my dad.
6. Who has been your biggest inspiration in life?  My father was the biggest inspiration in my life.  He was such a Christian man and taught me thoughout my life to put God first.
7.  Which room is your favorite room in your house?  The formal living room (which is my music room).  There is only music there as a source of entertainment....no television!
8.  Are you a country-girl, or a city-girl? And I'm not asking where you LIVE but who you are!  I am eclectic.  I am a country-girl in that I love the slower paced life and the neighborly feeling you get in the country.  I love the what is mine is yours and neighbors helping neighbors mentality.  I am a city-girl in that I love quick access to shopping, plays, theater, etc.  If I had to make a choice though....deep in my heart I would rather be a country girl with country girl attitudes. 
Now I have to tag 8 friends and give them 8 questions to answer...
Here are the friends I am tagging and their questions:
2nd cup of Coffee , A View from the Hill , Jeannie's Happy World , Jerralea's Journey , Screaming MiMi , Sweet Tea , Trina's Thoughts ,  Marty's Musings

1.  What is your favorite season and why?
2.  Do you have a Bucket List and what is one thing you have on it?
3.  Do you go to Starbucks(or another coffee chain) and what is your favorite drink there?
4.  What book are you currently reading(or just finished)?
5.  Do you take pictures?  What kind of camera do you have and share a current picture with us!
6.  What is your favorite genre of music and favorite group, band, individual from that genre.
7.  Where was your most favorite vacation and what made it your favorite?
8.  What is your favorite thing to cook/prepare and share the recipe.
For those of you I didn't take...pick at least one question and respond in a comment to me.....for those of you I did tag...well...guys....I am optimistic and I am hoping for 100% participation.  I can't wait to read all of the answers.  Happy Thursday.
 

Inside Natalie's Closet: Halloween Costume!

It’s no secret that I love buying my children clothes. So occasionally I’ll do an entry where I show pictures of their latest outfit.

Today I’m showing Natalie’s Halloween costume.



She’s a Peacock Princess!



The costume is from Gymboree.



Aren’t the wings fabulous?



I asked Natalie what she thought of Jennifer Lopez becoming a judge on American Idol. She’s all, “Huh?”



Then I asked what she thought of chicken nuggets and she got happy again. The girl lives off of chicken nuggets. I’m surprised she hasn’t turned into a giant piece of chicken.





She did some poses.



And then was all, “Can I turn on the hose?”

I was all, “Sure, if you want me to spin you around my head by your ankles shouting curse words.”



Natalie was like, “Um?”

Then she continued, “You can’t do dat to me.”

I said, “I actually can and will. So don’t get me wet. I’m wearing my good Mudd jeans.”

Thankfully she made the right choice and backed away from the hose.

She actually started to run around the yard going, “I’m a peacock princess.” Only she left out the “pea” part so you can imagine what the neighbors must have thought.

Anyway.



She sort of blends in with my car.

Sweet.

Looking At The World Differently

“What’s wrong with me?” Tommy asked from the backseat of the car.

I chewed my lower lip. We had just finished up Tommy’s IEP meeting at his school and it’s never easy to hear that your kid has trouble learning. That he will most likely struggle his entire life.

“Nothing is wrong with you,” I assured my eight-year-old son who I noticed had issues from a young age. For one, he wasn’t talking like all the other two-year-olds. Then I’d notice that he’d do this thing where he walked back and forth over and over again, watching something from the corner of his eye (I would later discover that this was known as stemming.) Loud noises would freak him out and I’d get constant phone calls from his preschool teacher (“Tommy melted down when we had a fire alarm drill. I couldn’t calm him down for an hour.”) When other children would cry, Tommy would run over and squeeze them, as if trying to stop them from making a loud noise.

Now that he’s in third grade, he’s improved on a lot of those things. He doesn’t really stem and he’s developed coping mechanisms to deal with sudden noises. But still. There are a lot of things that he still has issues with.

“You remember what you have,” I prodded Tommy.

He sighed. “Aspergers which is a form of Autism. And I hate it.”

I stuck the keys in the ignition. “What do you hate about it?”

From the rearview mirror I watched Tommy pick at his nail. “I don’t want to be different.”

He’s at the age where he’s noticing that people are different from he is. He asks why everyone doesn’t go to the Resource Room. He wonders why he gets pulled from class to go over Social Situations. He doesn’t comprehend why he can’t play sports as easily as the other boys in PE. (That part could be because his mother is a klutz.)

I turned around in my seat and faced Tommy. He didn’t meet my eye. He struggles with eye contact which is one reason why he does Social Situations with the school counselor.

“You do know it’s okay to be different, right? If you were like everyone else, the world would be a boring place, don’t you think?” I said. I squeezed his knee and he allowed this. I’m grateful for the fact that he allows me to touch him. Some Autistic children shy away from touch.

“I know,” Tommy grumbled. He’s heard the speech many times before. “But it’s just not….fun.” He blinked his eyes rapidly and took deep breaths. He does this in order to prevent himself from crying. Tommy has always been sensitive and he’s beginning to learn that eight-year-old boys don’t get mercy from other children when they shed tears.

“You see the world differently from everyone else. And some day, Tommy, you’ll see the good in that,” I promised.

Tommy finally met my eye. “I guess so.”

I started the car as a bunch of thoughts danced around in my head. Would kids accept him? What would he be like as an adult? Would he ever get married? What if….and oh God, this is the selfish thought that somehow finds its way in my mind and I hate myself for even thinking it….what if he has to live with me forever? Would my own marriage be able to survive that? Divorce rates are high when an Autistic kid is in the mix.

As I drove home, the envelope containing all of Tommy’s IEP paperwork was in the corner of my eye. When I got pregnant, I had no idea that the baby I carried inside of me would need so much paperwork. It’s almost a foreign concept for me to have my other kid start school without any paperwork. The other day I almost asked when her IEP meeting would be.

When we got home and headed for the house, Tommy said, “Mom? Maybe looking at the world differently isn’t so bad.”

I swallowed and felt a lump in my throat. “It’s really not, Tommy. I’m glad you get that.”

“Can we have ice cream for dessert?” Tommy continued and for a second he was just like any typical third grader.

I smiled. “Of course we can have ice cream for dessert.”