THANKS
by W.S. Merwin
Listen
with the night falling we are saying thank you
we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings
we are running out of the glass rooms
with our mouths full of food to look at the sky
and say thank you
we are standing by the water thanking it
smiling by the windows looking out
in different directions
back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging
after funerals we are saying thank you
after the news of the dead
whether or not we knew them we are saying thank you
looking up from our tables we are saying thank you
in a country up to its chin in shame
living in the stench it has chosen we are saying thank you
over telephones we are saying thank you
in doorways and in the backs of cars and elevators
remembering wars and the police at the door
and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you
in the banks that use us we are saying thank you
with crooks in office with the rich and fashionable
we go on unchanged saying thank you thank you
with the animals dying around us
our lost feelings we are saying thank you
with the forests falling faster than the minutes
of our lives we are saying thank you
with the wires going out like cells of a brain
with the cities growing over us like the earth
we are saying thank you faster and faster
with nobody listening we are saying thank you
we are saying thank you and waving
dark though it is
.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
I am thankful for...
...
stuffing and cherry pie
Vicks vapor rub
long weekends
'kissing caves' under the blankets with my girls
Addi Turbo knitting needles
a minivan that turns its own lights off if you forget
talk radio
a king-size duvet on a queen-size bed
snail mail
friends and family who never let the distance show
'new' friends who become dearer to me every year
wide leg trousers
tea
my dishwasher (NEVER take a dishwasher for granted)
being in my thirties
eye cream
a husband who almost *always* chooses to laugh and shake his head instead of getting angry
good quality paper, and ...
a pen that writes real good
soft towels and good water pressure
chocolate
legs that run
arms that hold
hands that grasp
fingers that paint and colour
our love
and this home
waking every morning
to see
their smiles
...
my heart
is full
of gratitude
.
stuffing and cherry pie
Vicks vapor rub
long weekends
'kissing caves' under the blankets with my girls
Addi Turbo knitting needles
a minivan that turns its own lights off if you forget
talk radio
a king-size duvet on a queen-size bed
snail mail
friends and family who never let the distance show
'new' friends who become dearer to me every year
wide leg trousers
tea
my dishwasher (NEVER take a dishwasher for granted)
being in my thirties
eye cream
a husband who almost *always* chooses to laugh and shake his head instead of getting angry
good quality paper, and ...
a pen that writes real good
soft towels and good water pressure
chocolate
legs that run
arms that hold
hands that grasp
fingers that paint and colour
our love
and this home
waking every morning
to see
their smiles
...
my heart
is full
of gratitude
.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
The Last Lecture
Have you seen this yet?
Here's the blurb: Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch (Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008) gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium. In his moving presentation, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals.
There are so many nuggets of wisdom and inspiration in his story. It's long, so if you have been meaning to watch, put aside an hour or so...
.
Here's the blurb: Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch (Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008) gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium. In his moving presentation, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals.
There are so many nuggets of wisdom and inspiration in his story. It's long, so if you have been meaning to watch, put aside an hour or so...
.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sassafrass! (Also, Eureka: California)
a. 1 Magician (by day, a professor of education...)
b. 1 Magician's Sister (Colleague in my department)
c. 1 Fellow Junior Faculty (prize-winning scone baker)
d. 1 Fellow Junior Faculty (committed Wii player)
e. 1 Mom (married to d.), Friend to us.
f. 1 moderately new, and unbelievably cute, baby to (d. and e)
g. 1 older sister (to f.)
h. 1 pre-school Mom (writer, designer), Friend to us.
i. 1 network engineer Dad (married to h.), Friend to us.
j. 1 pre-school buddy to the Lamb (son of h. and i.)
k. 1 pre-school buddy to the Lion Cub (daughter of h. and i)
l. 1 pre-school Mom (knitter, computer engineer), Friend to Us.
m. 1 computer systems engineer Dad (married to l.), Friend to Us.
n. 1 (more) pre-school buddy to the Lamb (daughter of l. and m.)
o. 1 (more) pre-school buddy to the Lion Cub (daughter of l. and m.)
p. 1 theatre design technician (friend to b.), new friend.
q. The Lion Cub.
r. The Lamb
s. My Better Half
t. Me.
That's 20 people.
Add to the above:
18 freshly baked scones (recipe provide by h. above)
12 mini-muffins from Breadsmith
12 sourdough rolls also from Breadsmith. Equivalent to heroin for the Lion Cub and the Lamb.
40 beef sausages (with 'Red Sauce;' made by the Queen (my mother) and the Queen Mother (my Grandmother))
+/- 24 home-made chocolate chip cookies
1 gallon of orange juice
7 pots of drip coffee. We use this brand
1 loaf of banana bread (baked by h. above)
1 packet of Lego Gummies
untold packets of starburst candies
+
3 hours on a sunday morning...
+ a great magic show...
+ the magic show's magic word, "SASSAFRASS!"
+ a great magic show...
+ the magic show's magic word, "SASSAFRASS!"
=
Craziness.
Fun too, but craziness definitely. And the coffee is why I am up at 12:44 am, blogging.
Thank you, the Amazing Houdini of St. Louis Park (and Eureka, California)...
Fun too, but craziness definitely. And the coffee is why I am up at 12:44 am, blogging.
Thank you, the Amazing Houdini of St. Louis Park (and Eureka, California)...
.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Princess P
To have a piece of art dedicated to you is a real honour around here. There's nothing better than when a little hand reaches to you with a sopping wet painting or a coloured page, and your child says "momma I made this for youuuuuu..." accompanied by that coy smile that says "aren't I darling?"
We had a spontaneous colouring-fest after breakfast this morning, our dishes weren't even put away when the markers came out. The three of us in a line, colouring madly and dedicating our works of art to one another. I coloured in two SuperWhy characters, one for the Lamb and one for the LionCub as well. Apparently my efforts underwhelmed the Lion, and she decided to add some finishing touches of her own. Can you tell?
Never, NEVER leave the whites of their eyes WHITE. Your drawing will be considered incomplete.
:-)
We had a spontaneous colouring-fest after breakfast this morning, our dishes weren't even put away when the markers came out. The three of us in a line, colouring madly and dedicating our works of art to one another. I coloured in two SuperWhy characters, one for the Lamb and one for the LionCub as well. Apparently my efforts underwhelmed the Lion, and she decided to add some finishing touches of her own. Can you tell?
Never, NEVER leave the whites of their eyes WHITE. Your drawing will be considered incomplete.
:-)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
WTF?! Face...
Oh, I see, it's the "Too Much Coffee and It's 11:30pm and I'm still trying to Finish Writing Chapter 2-FACE"
.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Meme Redux
I felt compelled to respond to My Better Half's Meme, with a meme-response.
1. Political show - The Daily Show. I must concur. I would also add the Colbert Repor(t)
2. Picnic food - Biryani. Then Shawarma. Then more Biryani
3. Mixed drink - Here's a shout out to all the South Africans out there: KOLA-TONIC + SPRITE. Boo-yah!
4. U.S. President - Jed Barlett (Martin Sheen's character from The West Wing. At least the first few seasons of the show when Aaron Sorkin and Tommy Schlamme were still working on the show)
5. Kind of student to teach - Hmmm. Motivated.
6. Hobby you do or wish you still did -Lego. Although I am doing more of it now with the Lion and the Lamb. I almost bought a BatCave Lego set from a consignment store last week. Didn't though. Someone else bought it. I will find you, whoever you are.
7. Sports commentator - Howard Cosell. The guy (Chris something) who bellows on NFL coverage: " HE. COULD. GO. ALL. THE. WAY."
8. Sport to watch on TV - Soccer - sspecially when the losing team is Italy. Rugby - especially when the winning team is the Springboks.
9. Animal to have as a pet - Imaginary white-tiger.
10. Halloween costume you have worn -I could embarrass the wits out of both my brothers here, but will instead leave it to their wives to inquire as to their past costumed shenanigans. Three words: David Bowie, Pitchfork. As for me, my first halloween (there were, I think three candy-seeking forays in my past) I was a ninja. With a katana (paper tube wrapped in aluminum foil). Semper Fi!
11. Kind of dessert - Carrot Cake. Biryani. Then Shawarma (From the palace on Rideau). Then shawarma mixed with Biryani - also known as 'Shwiryani" Ixnay on the Iss-sway Alet-chay.
12. Comic strip - I concur with My Better Half. Calvin and Hobbes. Non-sequitur is prettty good, too. So was the Far Side. Long live Gary Larson.
13. Style or make of footwear - Merrell sandals I bought in Saudi Arabia 3 years ago. My absolute favourite, hands down. Recently also into skechers too. Very comfortable. Given the the unfortunate downtown in the US economy, I am also glad that they are cheap!
14. Ice cream flavor - Vanilla. Then Biryani-flavour. HMmmmmmm.
15. College or university president - His name, MY BETTER HALF, is Bob Bruininks.
16. Internet news source - Shameless Plugs: www.alertnet.org, and National Public Radio (www.npr.org)
17. Vacation spot - Yes. O-town.
18. Wine - Unable to comment.
19. Way to waste time instead of working - I watch videos on Surfthechannel and Hulu. I am now on Season 3 of Supernatural. ( Don't listen to Ruby, Sam, she's eeeeviillll.)
20. Student excuse for late work -I can't remember, although I do remember asking my uncle to write me a *doctor's* note.
21. Reality show - Not really into them except for the Amazing Race. I like trying to predict when the American teams will have a moment of "Privileged Guilt," usually when tromping through a poverty stricken part of India on their way to win a $1,000,000.00. Wait a minute...
22. Jewelry on a man - Nope.
23. Pizza topping - A recent favourite - pineapple, red-onions and banana peppers.
24. Children’s movie -Princess Bride. It's not really a children's movie, but I'm fairly sure I've memorized almost all the lines. I still like the R.O.U.S's (Rodents of Unusual Size).
25. Celebrity you wish would retire - Renee Zellwegger. Her squinty look drives me crazy. CRAZY. I am getting annoyed just thinking about it.
...until the next meme....
.
1. Political show - The Daily Show. I must concur. I would also add the Colbert Repor(t)
2. Picnic food - Biryani. Then Shawarma. Then more Biryani
3. Mixed drink - Here's a shout out to all the South Africans out there: KOLA-TONIC + SPRITE. Boo-yah!
4. U.S. President - Jed Barlett (Martin Sheen's character from The West Wing. At least the first few seasons of the show when Aaron Sorkin and Tommy Schlamme were still working on the show)
5. Kind of student to teach - Hmmm. Motivated.
6. Hobby you do or wish you still did -Lego. Although I am doing more of it now with the Lion and the Lamb. I almost bought a BatCave Lego set from a consignment store last week. Didn't though. Someone else bought it. I will find you, whoever you are.
7. Sports commentator - Howard Cosell. The guy (Chris something) who bellows on NFL coverage: " HE. COULD. GO. ALL. THE. WAY."
8. Sport to watch on TV - Soccer - sspecially when the losing team is Italy. Rugby - especially when the winning team is the Springboks.
9. Animal to have as a pet - Imaginary white-tiger.
10. Halloween costume you have worn -I could embarrass the wits out of both my brothers here, but will instead leave it to their wives to inquire as to their past costumed shenanigans. Three words: David Bowie, Pitchfork. As for me, my first halloween (there were, I think three candy-seeking forays in my past) I was a ninja. With a katana (paper tube wrapped in aluminum foil). Semper Fi!
11. Kind of dessert - Carrot Cake. Biryani. Then Shawarma (From the palace on Rideau). Then shawarma mixed with Biryani - also known as 'Shwiryani" Ixnay on the Iss-sway Alet-chay.
12. Comic strip - I concur with My Better Half. Calvin and Hobbes. Non-sequitur is prettty good, too. So was the Far Side. Long live Gary Larson.
13. Style or make of footwear - Merrell sandals I bought in Saudi Arabia 3 years ago. My absolute favourite, hands down. Recently also into skechers too. Very comfortable. Given the the unfortunate downtown in the US economy, I am also glad that they are cheap!
14. Ice cream flavor - Vanilla. Then Biryani-flavour. HMmmmmmm.
15. College or university president - His name, MY BETTER HALF, is Bob Bruininks.
16. Internet news source - Shameless Plugs: www.alertnet.org, and National Public Radio (www.npr.org)
17. Vacation spot - Yes. O-town.
18. Wine - Unable to comment.
19. Way to waste time instead of working - I watch videos on Surfthechannel and Hulu. I am now on Season 3 of Supernatural. ( Don't listen to Ruby, Sam, she's eeeeviillll.)
20. Student excuse for late work -I can't remember, although I do remember asking my uncle to write me a *doctor's* note.
21. Reality show - Not really into them except for the Amazing Race. I like trying to predict when the American teams will have a moment of "Privileged Guilt," usually when tromping through a poverty stricken part of India on their way to win a $1,000,000.00. Wait a minute...
22. Jewelry on a man - Nope.
23. Pizza topping - A recent favourite - pineapple, red-onions and banana peppers.
24. Children’s movie -Princess Bride. It's not really a children's movie, but I'm fairly sure I've memorized almost all the lines. I still like the R.O.U.S's (Rodents of Unusual Size).
25. Celebrity you wish would retire - Renee Zellwegger. Her squinty look drives me crazy. CRAZY. I am getting annoyed just thinking about it.
...until the next meme....
.
A Meme with lots of links
This one looked like fun, so I tagged myself, from blackbird's blog. She tagged herself too, so I believe it's fair game. :-)
That's all folks! Have a great weekend!!
xo
1. Political show - The Daily Show. I can't deal with Real News.
2. Picnic food - I want to say grapes for some reason. Probably because with young children I bring grapes with me just about everywhere I go. Or those little boxes of raisins.
3. Mixed drink - Does a root beer float count?
4. U.S. President - Obama, baby.
5. Kind of student to teach - I like showing my kids stuff, not sure about other kids. You've got exactly 45 seconds with the Lamb before she gets distracted and wanders off somewhere else. I am hoping she develops into a person with a decent attention span.
6. Hobby you do or wish you still did - I have taken up knitting again and I'm really enjoying it. But so far I just make hats. I don't know WHY that is, but they appeal to me somehow.
7. Sports commentator - Wasn't Keith Olberman a sports commentator once?
8. Sport to watch on TV - Please no.
9. Animal to have as a pet - Can't think of a pet I'd like to have. Honestly there's enough poop to clean up around here.
10. Halloween costume you have worn - I think I was a princess every year of my youth. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it, princess is the go-to costume for the Lion and the Lamb to wear around here, like EVERY DAY.
11. Kind of dessert - Chocolate cake, every time.
12. Comic strip - Calvin and Hobbes is genius as far as I'm concerned. For Better or for Worse is regaining significance with me these days.
13. Style or make of footwear - I'll go for any pretty shoe, but I don't wear fancy shoes every day. I've got to jump in and out of a minivan like 4 times a day. So Skechers and Merrells are great for that. This was my signature shoe for a long time, I just kept buying a new pair every year.
14. Ice cream flavor - Cherry Bordeaux or Breyer's mint chocolate chip.
15. College or university president - Um, what? I guess out of loyalty I'd have to say the President of the University of Minnesota. Yeah. Whoever that is.
16. Internet news source - That page that loads up right after you exit your Hotmail account? lol. I'm more of a radio person.
17. Vacation spot - It's been Ottawa for the last 3 years...
18. Wine - Don't drink. I'll give you my mom's favourite wine, Mateus. Portugese rose frizzante.
19. Way to waste time instead of working - Um, BLOGGING?
20. Student excuse for late work - I was not a student who really handed stuff in late. But as a teaching assistant for several years I saw many, many excuses.
21. Reality show - I love talent shows. American Idol is my guilty pleasure. I love watching people strive towards their personal best. I hate the bad auditions at the beginning, I generally skip those. I'm into the feel-good, personal validation storylines...
22. Jewelry on a man - Not into it, honestly. Except a wedding ring.
23. Pizza topping - The ultimate is finding a halal pizza place who will put beef pepperoni on your pizza. All time best topping.
24. Children’s movie - I guess I have weaknesses for all those Julie Andrews flicks. Sound of Music comes to mind as my all-time favourite children's movie. Plus I love Christopher Plummer. LOVE. Well, not this Christopher Plummer so much, more THIS one. Moody and VonTrapp-ish. And only paired directly with Julie Andrews. Anyhoo...
That's all folks! Have a great weekend!!
xo
Monday, November 10, 2008
Ten Signs of a Great Preschool
It's no secret how much I love our preschool. It's the Lamb's 3rd year in this class, and the Lion Cub's first. I have to say that we really lucked out finding it. I didn't run around interviewing different schools or making pro/con lists. I had a newborn baby and felt my older child needed some stimulation during the long winter months that were ahead. We signed up at the last minute (actually I think we even missed the first week of school) based essentially on 2 things: it was a gradually separating class (moms attend once a week, child attends alone once a week) and the class size is small (8-10 students, 2 teachers). I was relieved that I loved the teachers, the class room, and the approach from the get-go.
Recently our parent educator, who runs all the 'mommy-meetings' gave us a handout on how to choose a preschool for your child. I think a lot of the same standards would apply to daycare too. I thought I would put these out there for any of my friends with young kids who are venturing out there... (all you homeschoolers can probably ignore this post, lol!)
The original list comes from parenthood.com (I've never visited their site, so this isn't like, an official recommendation or anything, but they are the original authors of this article, so I must give credit where credit is due...) My comments appear throughout (in brackets).
***
If your child is between the ages of 3 and 6 and attends a child care center, preschool, or kindergarten program, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) suggests you look for these 10 signs to make sure your child is in a good classroom.
1. Children spend most of their playing and working with materials or other children. They do not wander aimlessly, and they are not expected to sit quietly for long periods of time. (I have a friend who has a friend who said that her child kept getting time-outs at preschool for not staying in her seat, only to later find out that she was expected to sit for 45 minutes to do colouring at a specified time! what preschooler can sit still for 45 minutes?!)
2. Children have access to various activities throughout the day. Look for assorted building blocks and other construction materials, props for pretend play, picture books, paints and other art materials, and table toys such as matching games, pegboards, and puzzles. Children should not all be doing the same thing at the same time.
3. Teachers work with individual children, small groups, and the whole group at different times during the day. They do not spend all their time with the whole group. (I think this is important, otherwise only misbehaving children get the reward of one-on-one attention)
4. The classroom is decorated with children's original artwork, their own writing with invented spelling, and stories dictated by children to teachers.
5. Children learn numbers and the alphabet in the context of their everyday experiences. The natural world of plants and animals and meaningful activities like cooking, taking attendance, or serving snack provide the basis for learning activities.
6. Children work on projects and have long periods of time (at least one hour) to play and explore. Worksheets are used little if at all.
7. Children have an opportunity to play outside every day. Outdoor play is never sacrificed for more instructional time. (I don't think they had Canadians or Minnesotans in mind when they wrote this one).
8. Teachers read books to children individually or in small groups thoughout the day, not just at group story time.
9. Curriculum is adapted for those who are ahead as well as those who need additional help. Teachers recognize that children's different background and experiences mean that they do not learn the same things at the same time in the same way.
10. Children and their parents look forward to school. Parents feel secure about sending their child to the program. Children are happy to attend; they do not cry regularly or complain of feeling sick. (DUH.)
Recently our parent educator, who runs all the 'mommy-meetings' gave us a handout on how to choose a preschool for your child. I think a lot of the same standards would apply to daycare too. I thought I would put these out there for any of my friends with young kids who are venturing out there... (all you homeschoolers can probably ignore this post, lol!)
The original list comes from parenthood.com (I've never visited their site, so this isn't like, an official recommendation or anything, but they are the original authors of this article, so I must give credit where credit is due...) My comments appear throughout (in brackets).
***
If your child is between the ages of 3 and 6 and attends a child care center, preschool, or kindergarten program, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) suggests you look for these 10 signs to make sure your child is in a good classroom.
1. Children spend most of their playing and working with materials or other children. They do not wander aimlessly, and they are not expected to sit quietly for long periods of time. (I have a friend who has a friend who said that her child kept getting time-outs at preschool for not staying in her seat, only to later find out that she was expected to sit for 45 minutes to do colouring at a specified time! what preschooler can sit still for 45 minutes?!)
2. Children have access to various activities throughout the day. Look for assorted building blocks and other construction materials, props for pretend play, picture books, paints and other art materials, and table toys such as matching games, pegboards, and puzzles. Children should not all be doing the same thing at the same time.
3. Teachers work with individual children, small groups, and the whole group at different times during the day. They do not spend all their time with the whole group. (I think this is important, otherwise only misbehaving children get the reward of one-on-one attention)
4. The classroom is decorated with children's original artwork, their own writing with invented spelling, and stories dictated by children to teachers.
5. Children learn numbers and the alphabet in the context of their everyday experiences. The natural world of plants and animals and meaningful activities like cooking, taking attendance, or serving snack provide the basis for learning activities.
6. Children work on projects and have long periods of time (at least one hour) to play and explore. Worksheets are used little if at all.
7. Children have an opportunity to play outside every day. Outdoor play is never sacrificed for more instructional time. (I don't think they had Canadians or Minnesotans in mind when they wrote this one).
8. Teachers read books to children individually or in small groups thoughout the day, not just at group story time.
9. Curriculum is adapted for those who are ahead as well as those who need additional help. Teachers recognize that children's different background and experiences mean that they do not learn the same things at the same time in the same way.
10. Children and their parents look forward to school. Parents feel secure about sending their child to the program. Children are happy to attend; they do not cry regularly or complain of feeling sick. (DUH.)
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Descriptive descriptions, although questionable perhaps...
9 am: (Making breakfast)
The Lamb: Baba?
Me: Yes, sweetpea?
The Lamb: You are... BARN SLIME!
(hysterical laughter)
.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Pots and Saints
We had a nice, easy day yesterday. On impulse, we decided to drive up to Collegeville, Minnesota to visit our friend, Richard Bresnahan. He's the Artist-in-Residence at St. John's University and has been leading their pottery and ceramics program for some time. He spent 4 years in Japan with the Nakazato Family, who have crafted pottery for thirteen generations and are considered a Japanese "National Living Treasure Family."
The studio spends the year generating hundreds of works which are 'fired' in the Joanna Kiln each October on the St. John's campus. The Joanna Kiln is the largest wood burning ceramics kiln in North America. Composed of three chambers, the kiln is 87 feet long, 6 feet 8 inches high, 6 feet wide and has a capacity of 1,600 cubic feet. A kiln of this size enables forklifts to enter the front and back and allows, for the first time in the U.S., the wood firing of large-scale sculptures. Richard uses only sustainable and natural materials in his work - no chemical dyes or glazes - and has stored a natural repository of clay to last the studio and university 300 years.
The Benedictine campus of St. John's also subscribes towards a strong environmental ethos. All furniture made for the campus is harvested and built by the monks themselves in forestry program that is maintained with the most stringent sustainable standards. It's a pretty wonderful program and the location is pretty beautiful. The campus is spectacular, with buildings by one of the greatest modern architectural masters - Marcel Breuer - who was contemporaries with Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, the Saarinen family, Mies Van Der Rohe and Walter Gropius.
Back to the pottery: the firing takes about three to five weeks. Unfired pottery needs to be stacked such that glazes and pieces don't stick; a process that can take a few weeks. The firing itself can take from a week to 10 days. It takes a about a week for pieces to cool sufficiently, and a few more days for all the pieces to be removed. Pottery then is cleaned with diamond tools and rubbed down with water and emory-cloth. It's a pretty exhaustive process, but the results can be spectacular. It's hard to photograph how beautiful some of the pieces are, but hopefully the images below can suggest some of the special quality of Richard's work.
The girls love going. The Lion and the Lamb enjoy being measured against a column in the studio -to see how much they've grown since our last visit. We have measurements of the Lion when she was seven months old. She's doubled in height since then, and the Lamb has grown about 7 inches since last year. Richard also gives them free pottery each year. Last year was a couple of kiddy sized cups; yesterday they got some plates from this year's firing... We're hoping to go back in a couple of weeks when all the pieces have been unloaded and cleaned up. Hopefully we can pick up one or two pieces...
Richard Bresnahan's Pottery Studio at St. John's University
Unloading the first part of the 'Joanna Kiln' at St. John's Pottery
Select pieces from the Tanagashima Chamber of the Joanna Kiln which will be sent as gifts to Japan
Some cups...
Apple sliced cups
Richard's office...
Richard's pottery studio tea-pit and tea-table...
Fall leaves and two (not-so) litte girls...
The Lamb sitting in a chair I covet at the Alcuin Library on the St. John's Campus. I love this chair. I. Love. This. Chair. Anybody listening? On the Knoll furniture website, the smaller version of the chair starts at $2518 (not inlcuding the Ottoman, which is ABSOLUTELY necessary). It is one of the most comfortable chairs I've ever sat in. Free shipping on orders over $100.00. It comes in black and white and beige too.
St. John's Abbey Church.
The Abbey Church, outside.
The Bell Tower of the Abbey Church
St. John's Abbey Church
The studio spends the year generating hundreds of works which are 'fired' in the Joanna Kiln each October on the St. John's campus. The Joanna Kiln is the largest wood burning ceramics kiln in North America. Composed of three chambers, the kiln is 87 feet long, 6 feet 8 inches high, 6 feet wide and has a capacity of 1,600 cubic feet. A kiln of this size enables forklifts to enter the front and back and allows, for the first time in the U.S., the wood firing of large-scale sculptures. Richard uses only sustainable and natural materials in his work - no chemical dyes or glazes - and has stored a natural repository of clay to last the studio and university 300 years.
The Benedictine campus of St. John's also subscribes towards a strong environmental ethos. All furniture made for the campus is harvested and built by the monks themselves in forestry program that is maintained with the most stringent sustainable standards. It's a pretty wonderful program and the location is pretty beautiful. The campus is spectacular, with buildings by one of the greatest modern architectural masters - Marcel Breuer - who was contemporaries with Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, the Saarinen family, Mies Van Der Rohe and Walter Gropius.
Back to the pottery: the firing takes about three to five weeks. Unfired pottery needs to be stacked such that glazes and pieces don't stick; a process that can take a few weeks. The firing itself can take from a week to 10 days. It takes a about a week for pieces to cool sufficiently, and a few more days for all the pieces to be removed. Pottery then is cleaned with diamond tools and rubbed down with water and emory-cloth. It's a pretty exhaustive process, but the results can be spectacular. It's hard to photograph how beautiful some of the pieces are, but hopefully the images below can suggest some of the special quality of Richard's work.
The girls love going. The Lion and the Lamb enjoy being measured against a column in the studio -to see how much they've grown since our last visit. We have measurements of the Lion when she was seven months old. She's doubled in height since then, and the Lamb has grown about 7 inches since last year. Richard also gives them free pottery each year. Last year was a couple of kiddy sized cups; yesterday they got some plates from this year's firing... We're hoping to go back in a couple of weeks when all the pieces have been unloaded and cleaned up. Hopefully we can pick up one or two pieces...
Richard Bresnahan's Pottery Studio at St. John's University
Unloading the first part of the 'Joanna Kiln' at St. John's Pottery
Select pieces from the Tanagashima Chamber of the Joanna Kiln which will be sent as gifts to Japan
Some cups...
Apple sliced cups
Richard's office...
Richard's pottery studio tea-pit and tea-table...
Fall leaves and two (not-so) litte girls...
The Lamb sitting in a chair I covet at the Alcuin Library on the St. John's Campus. I love this chair. I. Love. This. Chair. Anybody listening? On the Knoll furniture website, the smaller version of the chair starts at $2518 (not inlcuding the Ottoman, which is ABSOLUTELY necessary). It is one of the most comfortable chairs I've ever sat in. Free shipping on orders over $100.00. It comes in black and white and beige too. 
St. John's Abbey Church. 
The Abbey Church, outside.
The Bell Tower of the Abbey Church
St. John's Abbey Church
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