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Daniel Hutchinson
Just to my left is a brass 'Samovar' which came from a northern village in Afghanistan. The top tea pot holds concentrated tea, sitting on top of a chimney, round closed tube, with charcoal to heat the water in the large brass chamber. The old villagers gather for their daily gossip session, to solve the worlds problems. They pour a little of the concentrated tea into a small glass, then fill it with hot water from the Samovar; then sit around (similar to old general stores). This Samovar originated in Russia, where the local Russian government would levy a tax on the Samovars. When the tax was paid, the official would hammer a stamp into the front of the Samovar. As a collectors item, the more stamps, the more valuable they are. Mine has about six stamps, a pretty good piece.
The painting over/behind the samovar was painted by my wife's Father John Evan Llewellyn. He used to teach art and painted many beautiful pieces (signing them with John Evans), which we are fortunate to have many. John earned enough to pay his way through engineering school. He was reputed to be one of the best mining engineers in Bolivia.
Just over my left shoulder is a detailed, intricate tapistry, made by the impoverished women in Bangladesh. The tapestries all have a story to them, coming with the written story. There are usually five or six women who sit around on the floor, each embroider a section. Even the background is hand embroidered.
On the floor beneath the table is a three legged copper/brass milking stool from Turkey, with a tooled 'Hoja' (wise man) sitting upon his ass (donkey) backwards. He wants to see where he has been, rather than where he is going. I guess we can use this to ponder our legacy. Are people going to smile when they think of us, or are they going to celebrate our passing, saying 'thank goodness he's/she's gone'?
Now any of you who travel to Texas, we have an open door, and plenty of room to put you up for a couple of days. Since I've cooked for many year, I make some great pancakes, omlettes, etcetera. I'll take you upstairs where we have plenty of room, and where I have my African collection.
I've told you before: "I take short stories and make them long"!
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