Today we need a bowl...we drive to Walmart and without thinking...try to decide whether we want plastic, china, stainless steel, wood, paper or glass.Our forefathers spent days making their bowls out of the only resources they had...gourds or trees. It was often a chore shared by the entire family...cutting the tree, cleaning the log, hollowing out the shape and drying before it could be used. So many of the everyday needs of a family were made from the land they cherished. We see these artifacts in a museum and seldom pause to think about the human effort that went into creating them.
The next time you visit a museum...try to put yourself in the place of the pioneer family members as they set up their housekeeping in the new world. It will allow us to be much more appreciative of what we enjoy today as we go about our busy days.
Dan
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23 comments:
My mother had and it is still in her home, a wooden bowl that was hand made. She told me that it was my Father's Mother's bowl and was most likely handed down by his Grandmother...who lived in a tiny one room house in the center of a beautiful Goergia plain with a pond, outhouse and serenity. The bowl was used to make dough for bread. My mother would watch her mother in law, when my dad & mom were first married, making bread dough in it.
She took great care and pride in having that bowl. My Grandmother (dad's mom) was a very strong, Southern Lady with great faith.
I love these posts of "once upon a time" and to remember that we all should be thankful and thoughtful :)
That top one is a very powerful image, Dan. I'm liking it a lot!
The ol' hdr is really appropriate sometimes, hey!
Dan, these are absolutely beautiful pictures! When your post first opened, it almost caught my breath. Wow.
Beautiful photos. Our forefather's bowls lasted forever, too.
It is too bad that we have lost the art of "creating" in this country.
Beautiful, Dan! The first photo looks almost as if it is painted!
Very thought-provoking subject.
wow..i am stunned :-)
I once made a wooden bowl myself, a long long time ago (back at school when I was about 14), hollowing it out with a chisel. Right now that bowl happens to stand on a shelf beside me. In it lies the cord I use to connect my the camera to the computer. How's that for wood and pixels... ;)
Both shots are beautiful, but the first one is above and beyond.
Haven't been here in a while, took some time to catch up. A lovely way to spend my time, for sure.
The color intensity and light balance in your photos just knock me off my chair! But... what I really love is the texture. Whether it be faces, clothes, trees and grass, brick walls and wicker chairs... the texture makes me want to reach out and touch! It truly puts me into the photo. Superb, sir.
Heather...I know of the dough bowls...we have one as well and they are a great reminder of how in older days...the whole family in one way or another revolved around the kitchen. I am sure you treasure the dough bowl with all the memories it holds. Neat comment...Thanks.
Dan
Mark,
Thanks for your comment...I appreciate it. I have been reviewing the comments on the board and it seems that the first image is most popular. I actually liked the 2nd better but that is what makes the world go round!
Dan
Thanks Shabbygirl...I saw a lot of the old wooden bowls made by the Indians when I used to travel to Phoenix.
Dan
Patty,
I agree..with technology...the path of least resistance (myself included) is often to stray away from handmade items for the Walmart version...just easier...but not nearly as meaningful!
Dan
Thanks Cynthia...how is the weather out in Oklahoma...(Sunday)...it is suppose to reach a 110 heat index today and I think you all are getting the same heatwave...It's August!
Dan
True Religion Jeans...thank you for visiting the blog and for the comment. Stop by anytime!
Dan
Dawn Treader....GREAT USE FOR THE BOWL! And you are right...it truly is Wood and Pixels! LOL. I can't imagine how hard it must be to hollow out a bowl by hand. I am sure you treasure it!
Dan
Thanks Tricia....we are getting your weather here today...heat index of 110...I will be staying in!
Dan
Jean...thank you so much for your comment and welcome back! I appreciate it.
Dan
Dan, I forgot to ask, where (in what context) did you take the pictures? The clothes look Amish to me, but then what do I know, from a few movies ;) ...
In Sweden, sometimes at folk museums, they have special days when they show all kinds of old crafts - I mean with people who still know how to do those things, carving wood, spinning wool etc.
Dawn Treader...here is the link to the the festival: http://www.deutschcountrydays.org/index.html
They are taken at a German Heritage Festival in Southern Missouri. This is also the Festival that Mr. Gregory...an earlier post was at as well. The old Germans were close to Amish...actually many Amish and Mennonites are of German Heritage.
Dan
Amazing photos. I love the uplighting in the second one.
I've been thinking about the pioneers a lot lately, probably due to my trek from Texas to CA and back by car. How did they do it by foot/horse/wagon? What did they eat/drink/wear? It's so hard for us to even fathom.
I recommend the book Bold Spirit, about a woman and her daughter who walked from Spokane to NYC in 1896. Yes, eighteen, not nineteen. http://www.boldspiritacrossamerica.com/
Jennifer...I hope you made it back to Texas without any problems. I appreciate the book suggestion. I am going to get the book. One of my very faovrite books is "Walk Across America" by Peter Jenkins written several years ago. I like these types of true life adventures.
Dan
good to see again here.
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