After a full day of Summer Camp… followed by an evening in my studio… I felt that I “deserved” to celebrate NATIONAL HOT FUDGE SUNDAE DAY when I got home!!! … burp.

After a long day jam-packed with Fourth of July fun, it was time to drive home along I-55. And you just can’t drive past WALLY’S in Pontiac without stopping for gas & a little roadtrip snack! The drive was fine, until I got to Chicago to find out that Lake Shore Drive has been totally shut-down from McCormick Place up to Navy Pier for this weekend’s NASCAR road race. So I had to back-track, re-navigate and take Lower Wacker Drive to get up through & under the City to get home! Good thing I had stopped for snacks, huh???

The highlight of the Fourth of July Celebration in Chenoa is always the fireworks on the football field. I would say “easily” the best fireworks show every year. Over a half-hour of fireworks jam-packed & set to a patriotic music soundtrack. You can get close to the action if you want to… so there are no obstructions & and you feel like you’re surrounded with the festive flashes of fun! Okay, so there may be a few ashes raining down if you’re close enough, but that’s part of the fun, right???

One of the highlights of the Fourth of July in Chenoa, Illinois is the parade through town. It’s such a retro-flashback parade with people tossing candy to the kids, one marching band, one kid on a decorated bike (Ryann), clowns with water hoses, the Shriners in their little cars… and seemingly every old tractor, vintage car, or semi-truck that wanted to be part of the festivities. It’s a loud parade… but so much fun to see the parade with the little kids having fun along the route. Excited about the candy & festivities… not so much about the LOUD noises!

The weather had cleared up & held it’s own until the very end when a small cloud of drizzle passed over. Luckily, Mimi was there to hold “down the fort” while they shuttled the kids back to the house! I was more about the AMAZING hand-dipped & freshly fried corn dog that followed downtown… a little sprinkle of rain didn’t deter me!

Yesterday took me down to Chenoa, Illinois to spend the holiday with my “adopted family” of friends from college with all of their kids & grandkids! The plan was to start the day with a great bike ride along Route 66. But as I got further into Central Illinois, the clouds covered the sky and the rain slowly began. Not a ton… but enough to cancel my bike ride. So it turned out to be a leisurely start to the day playing games inside while waiting for the Fourth Festivities to begin! Chenoa is known for its great celebration… very old-school nostalgic… with fireworks, a parade, street fair, corn dogs, house decorating contests, street dances, road rallies, flea market, lemon shake-ups & so much more! An annual tradition.

Huge THANKS to DiamondCore Tools for celebrating NATIONAL CLAY WEEK… and for spotlighting some of my work in their latest e-mail blast. You know I’ve loved my DiamondCore Tools from the very start… and it has been great to see their product lines continue to grow & change with us potters in mind! Whether you’re carving, trimming, grinding or smoothing… DiamondCore Tools will have what you need!!! And what better way to celebrate NATIONAL CLAY WEEK than with some new pottery tools?!

Not only is today JUNETEENTH… but it is also the last day of NATIONAL CLAY WEEK… who knew?! So I hope you’ve taken some time to play in the clay, admire some ceramics or enjoyed your meals off of some handmade pottery this week! You still have time today… and send me photos if you use any of my pottery today! Enjoy today’s holidays!

Looks like Kristy is celebrating NATIONAL FUDGE DAY today… and trying to stay just a little bit healthy?! A dollop of homemade yogurt & fresh strawberries… and just a squirt of hot fudge!!! Looks yummy Kristy!

A fun day to celebrate one of our potter friends at the Sandwich location of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. Sure, his birthday may have been yesterday… but feel free to stop by tomorrow & sing “Happy Birthday” to him!!!

Celebrating with some of my newest re-blooming orchids at home… as today is NATIONAL ORCHID DAY!!! And my orchids are very happy… and I think it’s all about the handmade ceramic flowerpots they’re growing in!!! Just sayin’…