aesop

Handcrafting in a World of Mass Production

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 18:35:58 GMT

Someone, somewhere, can make everything cheaper and faster.

This is the brutal reality that those of us who have attempted to make a living manufacturing high quality crafts face every day. Factories will always be quick to spew widgets onto the market place. Let them. I choose to fill my soul with the joy of making something that is truly beautiful one piece at a time.

The market for my crafts might be tiny, I’m ok with that. In fact, I prefer it that way. The sales I make are to thoughtful clients who wish to give a meaningful gift to someone they care for deeply. It is a delight to be entrusted as part of a conspiracy of love when a family decides to honor a family member with a special gift.

Those in the mass production world will never know that joy.

The Hare & the Tortoise

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 19:02:54 GMT

The Aesop Story of The Hare & the Tortoise

A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being so slow.

"Do you ever get anywhere?" he asked with a mocking laugh.

"Yes," replied the Tortoise, "and I get there sooner than you think. I'll run you a race and prove it."

The Hare was much amused at the idea of running a race with the Tortoise, but for the fun of the thing he agreed. So the Fox, who had consented to act as judge, marked the distance and started the runners off.

The Hare was soon far out of sight, and to make the Tortoise feel very deeply how ridiculous it was for him to try a race with a Hare, he lay down beside the course to take a nap until the Tortoise should catch up.

The Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and, after a time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping. But the Hare slept on very peacefully; and when at last he did wake up, the Tortoise was near the goal. The Hare now ran his swiftest, but he could not overtake the Tortoise in time.

The race is not always to the swift.

The Crow and the Pitcher

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 18:35:56 GMT

The Aesop Fable, The Crow and the Pitcher

In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he must die of thirst.

Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble the water rose a little higher until at last it was near enough so he could drink.

In a pinch a good use of our wits may help us out.

The Lion and The Mouse

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 18:35:57 GMT

The Aesop Story of the Lion and the Mouse

A Lion lay asleep in the forest, his great head resting on his paws. A timid little Mouse came upon him unexpectedly, and in her fright and haste to get away, ran across the Lion's nose. Roused from his nap, the Lion laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny creature to kill her.

"Spare me!" begged the poor Mouse. "Please let me go and some day I will surely repay you."

The Lion was much amused to think that a Mouse could ever help him. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.

Some days later, while stalking his prey in the forest, the Lion was caught in the toils of a hunter's net. Unable to free himself, he filled the forest with his angry roaring. The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net. Running to one of the great ropes that bound him, she gnawed it until it parted, and soon the Lion was free.

"You laughed when I said I would repay you," said the Mouse. "Now you see that even a Mouse can help a Lion."

A kindness is never wasted.