MY TRIP to WHICHFORD POTTERY in Nr SHIPSTON-ON-STOUR, WARWICKSHIRE, ENGLAND

Determined driving barely got us to Whichford Pottery before dark last month. England is dark at 5pm in winter. Found on a flier, who knew what it would be like? Arriving to this, we knew the rest would be fantasy. Below, pots in pots. How long before I do this?

The artists shop, below. Several artists work at this pottery, founded 1976 by Jim Keeling.

A mix of buildings, centuries old, comprise the pottery, below. I couldn't investigate fast enough.

Seeing the vista of pots, below, made me ache. A heart & lust ache. How to get them home?

AN ENGLISH WOMAN MADE LOVE WITH AN ITALIAN URN.

She gave birth to this man, below. He gave freely, willing us to know clay.

A front-end loader brings in clay, below. I wanted to strip & swim in it.

Three types of clay, from different areas of England, make the frost proof pots.

Wet clay goes thru this machine,below, moisture dripping. Oh, the smell of God's good earth.

After the machine, above, clay goes into the machine, below. Extruded from the front it's cut off with a large improvised cheese cutter. Then covered with plastic & cured for a couple of weeks.

FILLING BROKEN POTS WITH BROKEN POTS AND THEY'RE PRETTY. And the garden creates another metaphor.

A talker & lover this cat had me. This pottery had me. It still does.

Garden & Be Well, XO Tara