Showroom at Holmes County Pottery

Last week was kiln-opening time at Holmes County Pottery.   Ian and I just love pottery.   And at the workshop and store of local potter Cary Hulin we always find plenty of pieces we can’t live without.

Cary is a true artisan.   He built his large wood-fired kiln himself.   It took 10,000 bricks to complete that job.   He mixes his own clay and glazes, forms and decorates the pots, then supervises the firings.

The huge kiln needs 2 to 3 cords of hardwood slabs for one firing, and it takes Cary about 3 months to make enough pieces to fill it.      So the thrice-yearly kiln opening sales are much anticipated by his fans.

We had visited Cary a few weeks before the firing and he showed us a new design he was calling a Cobbler dish.    As soon as I saw them I knew I had to have at least one.    He took a round pot and pulled it to make a square-topped deep dish – perfect for a fruit cobbler or other baked dessert.    I was so glad we got up there early on the first day of the kiln-opening sale – Cary told us the cobbler dishes were selling like, well, to use another food analogy, hotcakes.     No wonder, they’re both beautiful to look at, and practical to use.

I brought home my new treasure and put it to almost immediate use, baking a berry crisp for dessert that weekend.      Sorry, the guests ate it all before I could get a photograph, but here’s a picture of the clean and empty dish.

Cobbler Dish from Holmes County Pottery

Holmes County Pottery is just one of artisans featured on the Pottery, Art and Artisans self-guided tour we give out to White Oak Inn guests.

Actually we’re not sure he ever got in to the building in the first place!    What a fun day we had at the inn yesterday.   Good friends Greg and Kim were going to go to Las Vegas for a wedding at the Elvis Chapel, but decided instead to hold their nuptials at the inn.    They wanted something unique, and it certainly was that.    The officiant arrived in style in a 1949 White Dodge Coronet, and when the chauffeur (in cowboy attire) opened the door, out popped….. ELVIS.    After a short and entertaining ceremony in the gazebo, the newlyweds were handcuffed together to seal the deal.     Then we all enjoyed a lovely reception outdoors, during which another Elvis lookalike served peanut butter and banana sandwiches.     Congratulations to Greg and Kim.    Thanks Elvis.  Both of you.

Elvis arrives at White Oak Inn

The happily handcuffed newlyweds with Elvis

Elvis serves peanut butter and banana sandwiches