A Cottage for Sale

I bought my first real estate parcel for ninety cents. Wandering over the wooden floors of Rasmussen's Emporium in Solvang, I let go of my grandma's hand and picked up the little green house with red roof above, which was bundled up in a net bag with a little carved dog, cow, and lady. I was seven, and since then, no house purchase has given me more pleasure. Over the years I've added to my township, inhabited mostly by animals. There's herds of cows, half a dozen sheep, a stork, an owl or two, and a spitting goose which is fiercely protective and snaps at intruders. The pottery house piece behind the goose is two pieces, and would be handy for butter, or a scoop of goat cheese. This piece and other cottagey themed dishes, soon to be up for sale in my Etsy store.

My kitchen cupboard in summer. I do adore dishes of all sorts and maybe its why I never tire of making them. Really. Never.

Here's a farmhouse on Santa Rosa Creek Road. Cows graze right in the front yard and sometimes we have to roll to a stop so the goats can scoot out of the road. I like this house because its not fancy, even the lawn furniture is practical aluminum and plastic netting. All it really needs is a clothesline. I hear two brothers live here, and have since boyhood. I'd love to see the kitchen, but I'll settle for being able to drive by and get close enough to a goat to pet it.

Yesterday, after I returned from our drive in the country, I painted this cup with house handle, thinking of that farmhouse and the clothesline I'd put in the grassy yard. I made this for cereal, or soup, but think it might work as a scoop for laundry soap. I see my friend Jenny is selling it in her Etsy shop. The jelly was so wonderful, I think I might like to try some of her soap, too.

www.auntjenny.etsy.com

Oh, and Rasmussen's is still there, on the corner of the main street in Solvang. The stock has changed, but there's the same old worn doug fir floors, the smell of carnation soap and coming through the open doors, you can get a whiff of the fudge being made across the street in the candy store. And if you can resist going there to buy a piece after all that shopping, you are a stronger person than I am.

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com