For the Love of Pottery

Few people choose their home on account of the basement. Basements are just the afterthought, they are what lies beneath. They are dark, musty, damp and scary.

However, post-college, I lusted after a charming little house, plus one basement. And I got it. I mean, what is to be scared of if it provides me a place to exercise and flourish in my love for my art? I can brave the dark and the damp, I'm a big girl. And, lets face it, I'm on a budget and we are in a recession. Give me basement!

Well, the first turn off was the lack of electricity. But, I found a guy and sooner or later, that issue was addressed. I have light!! Then, there was the issue of sub 30 temperatures. Hey, a warm bucket of water will take care of that. And summertime.

But then, there was always that little apprehension I had to push through to make the trek downstairs to the basement. Lets call it, "afraid of the dark." But, conning a friend or taking the phone or blasting the music were great distractors- as was the reality that I am 26 years old and its silly to be scared of the dark.

Well, this summer, I moved my wheel upstairs to my screened in porch. More light=more fun. And my plants are in full bloom right now. That has been a great move- one of my better ideas. And, it was a little bit of me admitting that yes, I, Lisa Brown, am a little scared of my own basement, the biggest selling point of my house. (Once upon a time that is).

So, I felt a little silly giving up on the spaciousness of what lies beneath my living space and allowing myself to avoid it... until recently. If you are easily grossed out or plan to judge me and the live-ability of my home based upon this entry, just stop reading now. But, if you want to sympathize with me and read about real life, living by (girly) yourself in your 20's on a budget trying to pursue your passion, please proceed.

In May, I found a dead bird in my studio. I walked in after a few weeks break from my pots and there was this tiny little bird in a ball on the floor. I about cried- that my place of love and creation was the place of death for another being. It really just tore me up. But, my dad was coming into town that day as well as my brother-in-law and boyfriend so I knew I should have some manly moral support in helping vacate the bird from the premises. (My sister Katie and I ended up being the ones to address this situation. The bird is buried in my front yard now).

Then, about a month later, I went downstairs and found two large piles of black stuff. This was nothing put there by me. I won't describe it but will just say, it looked like some sort of stuff from something alive. Well, I had vacation coming up and an exterminator visit scheduled upon my return so I jokingly referred to the strangeness in my basement as my little monster and didn't give it much more thought.

So, I arrived home from vacation, (which was an awesome two week excapade to Costa Rica and was sorely saddened to return home to my jury duty notice, 40+hour work weeks, a broken car and basement issues), and ventured downstairs. Want to guess my new discovery? In my pottery room was an upside-down bowl, broken on the floor next to the shelves I keep my pots on.

Now this 26 year old is feeling a little more justified in her newly founded fear of the dark.

So, I promptly left the basement to wait for my favorite people to make a house call- my exterminator.

TO BE CONTINUED!!!.....