It was a cloudy day yesterday and very cool for this time of year. Both of us miss the adventure of our road trip, so I suggested a drive to Connecticut and Guy Wolff’s Pottery Studio. If you remember, when I visited there a few months ago and talked to Guy for a couple of hours, in addition to hearing him play his banjo, I was sure he and Don would hit it off. I vowed to come back with Don in tow.
So, off we went. This time, the GPS took us on another route to Bantam, CT, and thank goodness it did! It was so lovely and avoided the interstate (I’ll have to travel that all too soon when I head to Hartford).
Quintessential New England country towns and historic homes, white steeples and green everywhere. And this:
A covered bridge in Kent, CT. It’s very narrow and allows only one car through at a time. We stopped on the other side to walk back and look at the river.
There were windows cut into the bridge walls. But here’s the view without the window:
So beautiful!
After the inevitable bathroom stop, we drove up the driveway to Guy’s studio. The door was locked and I thought “Oh no! He’s not here!” but just as that thought entered my brain, I heard his voice calling out to us as he came out of his house, where, as it happens, he was playing his banjo.
This time, we entered through his workroom, where the clay is shaped and made into the pots and the kilns fire the clay . He gave us a brief tour. Then, into the shop, where I showed Don Guy’s banjo and Guy immediately started playing it for Don. Then they started talking and got on like a house afire.
While they were doing this, I was looking at the pots. They talked music and musicians and theater and life. I sat down and joined them. It was just as fun and stimulating as the last time I visited. For an hour and a half or so, we had him all to ourselves, but eventually other customers came knocking at the door.
I bought these smaller versions of my favorite design, based on pots found in Cornwall. I love the pie crust edge.
But I also wanted to get some of his terra cotta pots.
On the left, an English hothouse pot, with his name and Bantam, CT marking the design. On the right a pot in his President series, this one based on pots found near Camp David, Maryland.
All of the pots are inside the cottage. Now I have to buy some more houseplants, don’t you think?
I also got this book. I regretted not buying it last time I visited.
Don bought a CD featuring Guy playing the banjo.
Such a lovely day!
Today: a visit to my car dealership for a recall replacement of my airbag. And mowing.
Happy Wednesday.
How lucky you are to be so close! I bought the book as well on our visit, and a few terracotta “thumb” pots. They are so tiny and cute! Love your new pots!
They are adorable – I saw them when I was there yesterday. You had to fly back, right? There’s only so much you can carry on the plane!
What a lovely day, the picture of the river through the bridge ‘window’ is perfect, and I have always loved Guy Wolff’s pots!
It was a very nice day and we had a great time, Gayle.
what a lovely day!
kathy in iowa
Indeed it was!
Beautiful view from the bridge!…From what I learned the last time you were at Guy’s and looking on his website I also figured that he and Don would be very likely to hit it off…I’m really loving those terra cotta pots
Claudia…did you pick a winner for the book yet?
No. I keep forgetting!
They got on extremely well! The terra cotta pots were a little picked over as a couple of months have gone by since my last visit, but I didn’t want to just get white this time.
Hey Claudia,
Wow! I am in love with this pottery. It is so pretty and I agree; the pie crust edge is so wonderful.
I can tell a musician when I see one. Look at your husband..lovin’ listening and talking to a fellow
musician. When I talk to my guy..and if he is playing…sometimes he has a far away look. But who do you think they named our famous “Chatty Cathy” dolls after? mmmm? Chatty Katheryns from the 1950s. A far away stare does not stop me from doing my daily amount of talking. (then I am quiet again and in my own little world ,well, to a degree.) And of course, I got back later and say everything over again because no one was listening.
love,
Katheryn
PS- the therapist in me has been unearthed from semi retirement given the effing #45 sitting in the white house. He is sick and they better hurry up and put our nation first. This is how Democracy falls; limit free press, have a huge sucessful propaganda machine: ie- FOX and other far right idiots, and for some reason he has the ability to scare these Repubs. If we were on the phone my language would be much more colorful, Claudia.
I do the same thing. I talk to Don quite a bit, with the occasional “Did you hear me?” or “Are you listening?”
I’m with you. 45 has to go as soon as possible. Our country is in grave danger, as are our citizens. You should hear Don and I – very colorful language, Katheryn!
Absolutely love the river view from the bridge! I know I rarely comment, but I look forward to your posts every day. Thank you!!
You are very welcome, Sylvia!
I love that covered bridge and the view! I need a little road trip I think. I love the new pots and the book. I’m on a budget right now since I need to visit my girl in Calif and it costs $$. I miss her and will probably go in Sept to see her. Hugs!
You must see your girl in CA! That’s a priority, my friend!
What a perfect little road trip! That’s quite the view from the bridge. Guess you will have to buy more house plants now…what’s a gal to do? It’s only logical! ;)
I’ll have to sacrifice. There are too many empty Guy Wolff pots around here!
You’ve made me homesick with your pictures of Bull’s Bridge and the Housatonic. Next time, walk up to the observation platform and drive through the Schaghticoke reservation. My father used to take us to their graveyard when we were small. There’s another good covered bridge at West Cornwall, not too much farther along Route 7
I will make a note of your suggestions, Margaret. Thank you. I saw a sign mentioning the bridge at West Cornwall. Next time!
I love road trips, short and long, with the right companion. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome!
What a very fun adventurous yesterday! I love those pots.
It was a great day and a beautiful new way to get there.
What a lovely little trip! The New England states must be beautiful! I’m a big fan of Guy Wolff pots; can’t wait to see yours when you have them filled with your plants! Glad you all had a good time!
They are beautiful, Dottie.
Guy Wolff is such an artist. I really love his work.
I love those pots! I think the terra cotta are my favorites.
They are really lovely – terra cotta or white. Beautiful work.
What a wonderful day trip, Claudia. Such a lovely area. And to have Guy Wolff to yourself for awhile, what a treat for the two of you. I have several of Guy’s pots and love them. Beautiful, durable, made by a master American craftsman…. What’s not to love? : )
I agree – they are works of art!
Love seeing your photos of the shorter trip; very scenic. Glad you had a nice mini getaway.
I have relatives coming out here to SoCalif next week from Pittsburgh, so I’ve been mapping out a day-long itinerary. We traced it this morning, walked the walk, checked out [in person] the dining places, shops, tickets (I want it to go well, and my husband’s home on vacation from work; yay; fun!) . We’re very humid and in the 80s out there at the water but it was the clearest I’ve seen it in a couple of months, so the horizon seemed to stretch ‘forever’ and I felt blessed to be able to experience such a beautiful seaside morning. Windy/blustery, which is why it’s clear; palm trees swaying/bending. I talked to a nice couple watching the sailboats go out; they had on leash a pair of adorable, aging beagles, litter mates (sisters/twins!); I love old white-faced, roly-poly (and baying) beagles! OMgosh did it make me miss ones I’ve had in my past; if you ever want a good grin, watch beagles (especially beagle puppies) play and howl on youtube; I can count on it to get me out of a bad mood, every time. People here really enjoy taking their dogs to the beach and the marina/harbor/lifeguards are forgiving (and they provide poop bags [my experience is that folks of all ages are quite respectful about their dogs’ behavior and bathroom habits!] ). We’ve often taken our dogs to the beach…but none of them liked it! The dogs I see happiest, rushing the waves (and frolicking), are the full-bred retrievers and labs.
But, yes, it’s all about the ocean for my summer visitors who, despite their rivers back East, know little about a coastal environment…so, we’ll have lunch at an old inn which overlooks the sea, we’ll hit some ‘vista points’ with a good view of the coastline, we’re taking a harbor cruise and then having Happy Hour (non-alcoholic) on the pier.
School in these parts starts around Aug 17-23, much earlier than when I was a kid, so summer’s about over for a lot of people; just a couple of weeks. One last blast!
It sounds like you have a great itinerary planned for your guest, Vicki!
School in Florida starts early, too. I guess it’s because of the heat that can ramp up in FL by June. Nevertheless, it’s weird!
I forgot to tell you; the photo of you with the sunglasses is classic and so pretty.
Very artsy!
Thank you, Katheryn!
You bought some great products. Enjoy reading your book. Those scenes are breath taking.
Marilyn
So lovely and unexpected – which makes it even better!
The dish pattern is a wonder to me as I just watch a lovely story about Belzoni and his beautiful wife. They were originally a part of the circus as he was 6’7″. He then went on to Egypt with his wife and uncovered many finds in difficult to get to places on the Nile for the British Museum. His story is worth a look.
Thanks for the pics of your travels. Those pots are stunning!
How neat that you saw that story, Verna! Where did you see it?
Love those pots. They are incredible. If only I was closer!
Thanks, Julie.