Saturday, March 1, 2014

Roll'n with the pottery express.......

It's March 1st and we are bracing for yet another blast.  I have never been so happy to be home sipping coffee and watching chickens.  
The show at the DeCordova opens March 1st, that would be today!  The pots made it, all 25 of them! 
I watched the intrepid weather guy on the local news trying to figure out the window.  Deciding on Thursday, I packed, made a master sheet of inventory with all pertinent information, gassed up Itty Bitty (aka Nissan Versa with 200,000 miles logged), loaded a bisque kiln to fire while I drove and set the alarm clock for 3:30 a.m. 

The stars twinkled over the snow covered driveway, moonlight illuminating the road east to I 90, it was 4:15 a.m.  
The coffee was hot, the road was clear and the radio was cranked to smooth jazz.... let the pottery express roll.  Right about Erie, PA the snow started;  by the New York line the road was getting fuzzy, by Buffalo it was white out.  The coffee sat cold in the cup, as it was a two fisted, knuckle busting drive. 
 Hey weather guy, this is supposed to be the window!! 


Lurking under the snow I hit a mother of a pot hole.  Sure 'nuff the idiot light on the dash went off that I had a low tire.  Feeling like I won the lottery as I got through rush hour and dodged the New York Thruway Authority's decision to close down I 90 east and west and also I 290 by shear minutes.  I pulled to the side of the road to check which tire was low and indeed almost flat.  The 50 mph winds almost took the door off Itty Bitty.  A bit of delay, tire re-inflated and I was off, again.  Usually if you can get around Buffalo you're home free.  I got to Rochester, no break, by Syracuse it started to ease up and indeed the sun came out!  Ticked off Albany and onto the Mass Pike.  Hit the Berkshires and the sky opened up.  I swear the minute I take my car keys off the hook somebody in the weather ethers turns on the big snow machine.  Honestly, I'm getting a little shell shocked this winter!  
3:10 p.m.  Pulling into the driveway of the DeCordova, the sun was out, no wind and kind of warm.   I feel to my knees and kissed the asphalt parking lot!  Meeting me at the door was Jane Bramburg with a big smile and welcome.  The place is just stunning!  I had only seen images on line and thought I knew what to expect but this place far exceeded any expectation.  The staff is wonderful and the place is open, airy and light filled, perfect gallery shop space.  I spent maybe 40 minutes wandering the gallery and looking at the grounds.  This place must be postcard beautiful in Spring, not to mention Fall! 
How is it I have never heard of the DeCordova before they contacted me via email?  This place, tucked away on the outskirts of Boston is truly a jewel in the crown of Boston's art community.



Outdoor sculpture abounds; surprising the visitor around every turn there is something to greet you. 




I left the grounds smiling and excited.  The sun was out too! 


I made the decision to head for the barn.  Making it across the entire state of Mass. with the sun shining I pressed on to Albany...... and so it began.


Syracuse......


Rochester.....


Unbelievably I hit Buffalo around 1:30 a.m. and the roads were clear!  No snow, no traffic but still 50 - 60 mph winds.  I am not sure how people live in Buffalo, a stout and sturdy breed those Buffalo inhabitants.  Makes Cleveland look tropical!  

I pulled in the driveway around 3:30 a.m. home.... 
Friday morning I woke up and the sun was shinning brightly!  
Oh, is this the window?   The Itty Bitty sat in the driveway crusted in salt and tires encased in ice... 
We are road warriors on the pottery express! 

Leaving for Florida delivery next week ........ I can hardly wait! 



10 comments:

  1. I just about think you are insane! But I mean that in the nicest way :)
    I did a road trip very much like this one in my twenty's back in my furniture design days. Drove all over Ohio and Ky. and a storm like this one followed me all along the way. But I was young, it was an adventure, not now though, I'll take the Florida trip, thank you!

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  2. You are a Hero Potter!
    I haven't been to the DeCordova since I lived in Concord MA many years ago. It was smaller then but a beautiful museum. As I remember they had some interesting traveling shows back then. I think the property was donated and originally funded by the DeCordova family. What a wonderful way to be remembered!

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  3. Two road trips in a row! The weather gods must be high fivin' each other!
    Sounds like a stellar gallery and a great place for your lovely pots. I was reading back on your blog last night (reading back on great blogs is like reading a good book) ... this post is a nice counterpoint to your 2010 Clueless in Chicago post. Pat yourself on the back ... you done good, girl!

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  4. Sandy, after all you went through to get to us(you never mentioned the deflated tire in the 50 mi/hr gusts!) it was only proper that deCordova should greet you with sunshine. You are one amazing road warrior...not to mention the amazing work you do! Thank you so very much! Jane

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  5. I can't believe you drove there and back in a little less than 24 hours! Did you stop and sleep at all? I never could have done it alone.

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  6. Hi Jane! Hope the opening went well :)

    Gotta say it's been a week here in the Falls, the storm hit as predicted, we just got our power back up and running..... 18 hours is little long to be in the dark :)

    See you the end of the month!

    Thank you!!

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  7. Hi Miche'le! 20 minutes in a rest stop just east of Buffalo....... :) just enough to recharge and head for home. Once I make that turn at Buffalo, I'm home free!

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  8. Wouldn't it be nice if there was no reason to return in order to pick up!? Not to say we wouldn't love to see you!!! But let's sell it ALL!!!!
    Be well,
    Jane

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  9. Oh My Gosh - what a trip! Ya, love that window the weatherman mentioned? Crazy. Glad you made it !!

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