A couple more welcoming signs of Spring…
buds coming out on the trees and the winter snow-fence coming down along the lakefront. Surely that means that warmer weather can’t be far behind, right?!

I keep hoping that Spring may actually be here…
Still covered with last year’s leaves, I did a little uncovering this morning  and found a little sign of Spring popping up in my backyard flower pot garden! One step closer…

So here’s my morning routine…
My alarm goes off and I drag myself out onto my back porch. Checking to see
what the weather is like, and more importantly if the ground is wet or frozen.
If it is, I crawl back in bed for a little more sleep. It’s just not safe to ride in the dark
with poor road conditions, or at least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Imagine my surprise this morning when I stepped out and found out the deck
was covered with snow?! A little crunchy. A little frozen. A little cold on my feet.
I guess it was only appropriate for the official last day of Winter, huh?

At least there was one up-side to the morning… there’s a little hint of Spring
sprouting out on the fence. One more sign that Spring might actually be around
the corner?! C’mon Spring.. c’mon warm weather!!!

Spring has finally “sprung” in Chicago… even if it’s just inside the Chicago Flower
& Garden Show at Navy Pier. It was such a great “retreat” from the cold with beautiful
colors, smells, patterns & textures! A sign that Spring may actually be on it’s way!

Not only were there tons of beautiful flowers… but there were also piles of tulips!!!
A full color palette of petals. Who knew there were so many different kinds of tulips?!

But one of my favorite things were the vertical wall gardens. Especially because there was
a lot of colors & textures all in one place… each vying for a special place in the sun!

Well, Winter has returned to Chicago… and it’s beautiful.
We’ve had a pretty easy Winter so far. Very little snow. So it’s fun to get snow today!

Hard to believe that it was just yesterday when I was riding my bike along the lakefront.
The “huge” snowstorm they predicted seems to be a little bit lighter than expected, but
it’s still coming down! The snow is even covering the roof of my birdhouse on the back
porch. And there’s still more snow on the way!!!

After yesterday’s brief “warm-up”…
a lot of the snow & ice has melted off the bike trail making my morning ride
a lot more fun.. and a lot safer!

The ice mass in Lake Michigan has also begun to melt & break up.
We now have actual icebergs floating along the lakefront.

Yes… actual footprint textures made by the flocks of Canadian Geese that  stroll
along the lakefront crossing the packed pebble paths. You know I love a good texture…
the fact that it was made in such a cool & unusual manner makes it even cooler!!!

After icebergs & geese… it was finally time for a beautiful sunrise!

And sure, my feet were a little cold while riding… but not nearly THIS frozen cold!!!

During this past holiday season, my metalsmith friend Sarah Chapman and I were already
planning the “next” holiday season. You know how we’re never satisfied… that’s us, always
moving forward… always working on the next project. So there we were working in Sarah’s
booth at the “One Of A Kind Show.” We both decided that she needs to try making Christmas
ornaments. And you know I’m always up for a challenge… always willing to “gently push”
my friends to play along with me. Thus the “2013 Ornament Challenge” was born.

So here’s the deal…
We’ve both committed to making a new & different holiday ornament every month in 2013.
I will post all of our ornaments here on my blog and we’ll both link to it on Facebook so
everyone can keep up with us. As we get closer to Christmas, there’s a really good chance
we may be asking for your input as to which of the monthly designs were your favorites
to help us decide which ones to make more of to sell for the holidays. Some ornaments may
be one-of-a-kind… some may be production… some may be a disappointment…
some may even be a Gary & Sarah collaboration of clay & metal.
Who knows where the ornament challenge may take us?… dare to dream, huh?!

Here’s Sarah’s entry for January. With a wonderful message to kick-off the New Year.
And according to Sarah… “It’s what everyone could use more of !”

And here’s my entry for January. Mine’s not quite a “done” as Sarah’s is. That’s me… slacker.
But working in clay is a little different than metal. It’s really tough to fire just one piece.
Or even five pieces. The problem is, you need to fill an entire kiln before you can fire them.
So I hate to say that the majority of mine will be somewhere in the leatherhard or greenware
state. I’ll try to re-post them again whenever they’re glazed and finished. So my ornament
this month is a wreath… trying to stay in my own style, use my own stamps, but still making
something new! I made five wreath ornaments so that I have a couple to play with when I get
to glazing & finishing. Hoping at least one of them turns out great…

Well, there it is… the kick-off of our “2013 Ornament Challenge.”
Our plan is to keep this up every month. To push each of us out of our comfort zone…
and force each of us to work on something new & different throughout the year.
And a great chance for Sarah & I to play with each other even though she’s
up & moved to Minneapolis. With this, we get to play long-distance every month!!!

For more about my metalsmith friend Sarah Chapman…
WEBSITE: Click here to see more incredible work by Sarah Chapman.
FACEBOOK: You can also follow Sarah on Facebook by clicking here!

Click here to follow me and Fire When Ready Pottery on Facebook.
Just be sure to click the “LIKE” button… and to “SHARE” with your friends!

Sure, they can say that the bike trail is closed.
Sure, they can tell you stay off.
But some of us just see that as a challenge.

So, yes… I was out there this morning riding my bike along the lakefront.
With such an unusual weather event in Chicago, I felt somehow oddly “obligated”
to go outside to play in it. And yes Mom, I made sure I was always a safe distance
away from the waves!… kinda…

And to think I was swimming in this exact location just a few months ago getting ready
for the Triathlon. Glad these waves waited until now with my wetsuit packed away!

A little further south, and the waves were crashing in around the harbor. With a great view
of the city as the crashing waves look as though they might wash away the skyline?!

Whoops… and there goes the bike trail… glad I was on the “safe” side of the harbor!

All in all, the morning ride was quite spectacular. You can’t tell me “not” to do something
and really have me not do it. Especially when they have been hyping this weather event so
much. Okay, so the ride home wasn’t too fun with gale force winds blowing into my face!