The Bedlam Farm Men’s Group – me, Red, Rocky, Simon, Strut, George Forss – are tickled that Maria has finally broadened her sensitivities and made nine potholder with what she calls a “manly” feel – they look pretty nice and artistic  ($15 plus shipping) and normal to me, which is to say they are pretty and classy – for those of us men who are often in the kitchen, who love to be there, and who are finally getting some respect for their hard work and nurturing instincts. She has made a bunch of them with men in mind and has just put them up on her website. About time.

It’s interesting to see this evolution in her work and in my life, too. Maria can cook, but doesn’t much like it. She is a whiz-bang shopper but would rather be making art. She does more chores in a day than even I can photograph. An interesting twist in our relationship is that I love to shop and cook almost all of our meals, and I have found creativity is just as important in shopping and cooking as in writing. I want one of these potholders. I use them all of the time and I think it is sweet that she is thinking of us guys over there in the very female-centered Studio Barn. You see them on her red-hot website.