Ow. I felt that.
I'd picked up a piece of hand-thrown pottery yesterday. It's something I do, rescuing pieces that were made with love and skill, and putting them to use. In this case, it was a nice fat little round jug in a pretty cobalt blue with traces of purple glaze. Just what I wanted for serving out gravy!
I'd brought it home, and was showing it to my son.
"It's signed and dated." I flipped it upside down and showed him. "See, Judy Smith in 1988."
"Wow!" and I have to tell you, dear reader, there was no sarcasm in his tone. He really was impressed. "That's really old!"
There are days I'm reminded forcefully I'm no longer young. I just wasn't expecting that to be over the gravy jug!
Although, it wasn't made as a gravy jug. No, I'm pretty sure it was supposed to be something else when Judy made it.
I'd been having a lovely chat with the ladies running the antique shop where I bought it. Now, they were what I'd think of as little old ladies, with silver hair and sweet southern accents. I commented 'I don't think these two things go together' but they pointed out the two were taped up nice and tight. So I bought it, and came home. I wanted the pitcher part.
When I was home and in good light, I realized that yes, they probably were intended to go together. I'd initially thought the glaze was different, but it's just fired off into more of a lavendar than the blue of the pitcher. Chemistry in the kiln is a strange and wonderful thing. I suspect this was intended to make fresh-squeezed orange juice right into the pitcher for serving.
It can't have worked terribly well. Which is why it's 'so old' and yet in perfect condition. I'd guess it's been on a shelf since it was given to someone, or bought. Which is not what I will do with it. I'm smoking a brisket next weekend and will be serving it with a jus gravy. Which is why I needed a gravy boat!
Now, I'm going to wobble off to rest my old bones somewhere and tease my child. If I'm so old, maybe I can't take him shopping today... muahahaha!