Plus another handful of beach glass found along the lake this morning. It started as my “quarantine collection” when the pandemic first started and we were all “searching” for new things to do. And if this thing carries on much longer… my collection will soon be overflowing!!!

We were all so excited to see the end of 2020…
not all that much better, huh?!

When Matthew got to the bottom of his cup…
it was an “out of this world” experience!

He saw a resemblance to the planet Neptune
in the bottom of his cup where the glaze pooled together!

Too funny – thanks for sharing Matthew!!!

Apparently Allison & Terry have become just a little “addicted” in their quest to find more of my ceramic fortune cookies at Illinois Beach State Park. Their first adventure was Saturday, and they went back again yesterday to continue their scavenger hunt!!! I love seeing their adventures… and hope that others are having fun finding more of them!!! There were 21 hidden to kick-off the New Year…

21 fortune cookies for Good Fortune in 2021 !!!

Out with the old. In with the new… I hope!!!

2020 has been so dismal for many of us!
So much has changed in the world, and very little of it for the better.
But I’m bound & determined to kick-off 2021 with high hopes,
great expectations and good fortune for all.

And I figured the best way to invite good fortune… is to share good fortune!
So I did.

Fortune “cookies” that is!
Oh wait, and do I even need to mention that they rattle too?!!!

While I hiked at Illinois Beach State Park last Monday, it was fun to put out some good vibes, share some positivity and spread good “fortune” for everyone! I kinda liked the idea of leaving them there as I “found” Illinois Beach State Park during one of my “quarantine” hiking adventures… which I might never have done if 2020 didn’t shut the world down!

You know how much fun it is to find things randomly out in nature. Or how much fun Geocaching is… if you haven’t tried, you should! So, while I was hiking last Monday, I “hid” twenty-one handmade fortune cookies out there somewhere so people can find them, get excited and bring a little more “fortune” into 2021. Get it?… 21 cookies for 2021.

I’m sure some of them will be found quickly. Some might take longer. While others might just be swept out into the lake and “reclaimed” into the wild. I love finding beach glass… imagine finding “beach fortune cookies”!!!

So here they are…
twenty-one fortune cookies and some “hints” as to where they are hidden along the lakefront at Illinois Beach State Park!

Fortune Cookie #1 ————–

Fortune Cookie #2 ————–

Fortune Cookie #3 ————–

Fortune Cookie #4 ————–

Fortune Cookie #5 ————–

Fortune Cookie #6 ————–

Fortune Cookie #7 ————–

Fortune Cookie #8 ————–

Fortune Cookie #9 ————–

Fortune Cookie #10 ————–

Fortune Cookie #11 ————–

Fortune Cookie #12 ————–

Fortune Cookie #13 ————–

Fortune Cookie #14 ————–

Fortune Cookie #15 ————–

Fortune Cookie #16 ————–

Fortune Cookie #17 ————–

Fortune Cookie #18 ————–

Fortune Cookie #19 ————–

Fortune Cookie #20 ————–

Fortune Cookie #21 ————–

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who follows me online, who appreciates my work, who “puts up with” my sunrise addiction, who needs a little visual distraction or just enjoys nature as much as I do. It’s amazing to me that there are so many people out there supporting us self-employed artists like me following our dreams & our passions. This has been a crazy year for all of us… and yet “somehow” we made it through the year together! Thanks again for all your support in 2020… and looking forward to even more fun in 2021… WITH all of you along for the ride of course!!!

We had a CRAZY total of 52,554 LIKES on my 2,079 Instagram posts during 2020!!!

That’s 17,526 MORE LIKES than last year!!!
Now I know we’ve all been cooped-up at home this year, playing on our phones trying to stay sane & stay connected. But let’s try to top that number this coming year with even more posts & more interactions!!!

Not to ruin the surprise… but Santa’s coming tonight. And I’m pretty sure I know what’s going to be in his big red bag for many of you!!!

Something caught my eye…
looks like a “spark” of Christmas Cheer glistening in the mid-day sun!
A festive flare of Christmas colors to brighten the day!

A touching epilogue from Melissa
who won the Silent Auction yesterday…

“I’m so glad you’re happy and that your auction was a success! My mom passed away three years ago and I’ve been looking for the perfect place to memorialize her for myself and for my two sisters. Your work showed up in my Instagram feed under the hashtag “cardinal” and here we are. Right place, right time.”

Amazing what a simple hashtag can do. Obviously things were meant to work out the way they did yesterday. Such a fitting tribute – a full circle moment for this entire “Cardinal Commission” project. It has been quite fulfilling & touching at so many moments along the way. Thank you to everyone who has been along on this journey with me.