A Spin on Taking Photos
We found out what happens when you have the best of intentions to take at least a million photos in one day, okay not maybe a million but let’s just say a bunch! LeeAnn and I took off a few weeks ago, headed for the beautiful city of Berea, Kentucky. The home of Berea College. Steeped in Kentucky history we were looking forward to all of the opportunities that this city would provide for the trusty Nikon to capture. Funny how thing can change in just a few moments.
The rose bushes at L&N Train Station were spectacular!
Our first stop landed us at the restored L&N Train Station. The two kind ladies inside this fascinating building were all too happy to share their extensive knowledge of Berea and the gems that surrounded this small, quaint town. We spent some time admiring memorabilia from the stations past, tickets, flyers, luggage tags and so much more. Having been a model train lover in my youth, the electric train that circled the miniature city of Berea captured my attention for a good while as I admired the workmanship that went into building such a display. I did try to get a few pictures of it but the lighting just did not cooperate with the trusty Nikon. We were shocked at the prices of tickets in the heyday of the station, who could afford and entire nickel to ride from Berea to Louisville. Seriously, that is a little steep considering that today you can get an eyedropper full of gas for a nickel!
After spending a very enjoyable time with these two ladies we prepared to take off on our picture taking adventure! That is when one of those sweet ladies, unbeknownst to her, change our entire set of plans for the day. She handed us a flyer as we headed out the door and told us that we certainly did not want to miss this during our time in Berea. It only took me one glance at said flyer to dismiss this suggestion as one of the worst suggestions I had ever heard in my entire life! I wasn’t too sure about LeeAnn, but for me I was positive that I did not want to spend any of my time in Berea at the Tater Knob Pottery and Farm! Shortly after leave the train station I found that LeeAnn had the same thoughts of the Tater Knob Pottery and Farm as I did. The consensus, we were not going to Tater Knob Pottery and Farm, somehow, as we turned out of the parking lot, Joker the Jeep, decided we were going to Tater Knob Pottery and Farm, and we we be forever indebted to Joker for this turn of events.
Upon entering the building, that was located tucked away in the forest of trees, we were amazed, first of all by our guide that led us to the door. He or she, not sure which, met us at the car, tail wagging and one gruff deep bark the remarkable German Shephard showed us to the door. A showroom full of pottery, placed carefully on glass shelving, sparked my not pottery senses and I was hooked on it beauty and craftsmanship. Suddenly I had become a pottery lover, okay not really yet but the tides were turning.
She popped out of the back room with a smile and a hearty welcome to her shop and introduced herself to us as Sarah. Each of us received a firm, welcoming handshake and were asked our names, which she used the entire time we were there. Talk about making a person feel at home! She inquired as to if we had ever visited the Tater Knob Pottery and Farm before and when we answered no, we were immediately offered a cup of her organic coffee, which by the way was fantastic! She introduced us to her grandson, Jordon who proudly removed some of his pottery creations from the show room shelves and showed them to us, he was all of nine years old and was making fantastic pieces, one of which we proudly own!
Pottery wheel in action!
Sarah is just beginning the process of forming something beautiful, right after “throwing the clay"!”
We were invited back to the pottery room, where Sarah was getting ready to “throw some clay”, whatever that meant to the both of us. We soon learned about “throwing clay” and so much more as we spent at least one and a half hours, maybe more, listening and watching as she explained the entire process to us. We learned about red clay and white clay and earthenware and centering and so much more. We watched as her hands worked that clay on the spinning pottery wheel and marveled at how that lump of clay turned, with the touch of her hands, to a beautiful vase or pitcher or bowl or whatever her hand formed that clay into. I pulled out the camera and took shots of her hand at work. I was officially a pottery lover, the tides had turned!
So, if you ever find yourself in Berea, Kentucky do not hesitate to make the short drive to Tater Knob Pottery and Farm and enjoy the hospitality and the incredible knowledge of Sarah, her son, David, daughter-in-law Sally and of course Jordon, now he might not be there but he was on the day we were there! You will not be sorry! Be careful though you might just become a pottery lover!
Jim Stark