Yesterday took my out to Elk Grove Village for a bike ride through Busse Woods. It was overcast, but clear, when I left the city. But by the time I drove out there it was already drizzling. I pondered it for awhile… but eventually decided to go for it. I mean, it’s just rain, right? And it turned out to be a beautiful ride through the woods. Fewer people & more wildlife…. elk, deer, great blue herons, egrets & more. So glad I decided to go for it. Pedal on…

Another beautiful sunrise… quiet waters, shimmering reflections & a moment with Keith Haring! Yes, there’s a beautiful huge Keith Haring sculpture along the lakefront at Belmont. A central focal point of the Chicago AIDS Garden to memorialize the HIV epidemic in Chicago and honor those who live with the disease today.

Another burst of rain passing through… hoping it might flush out some of the wildfire smoke from our Chicago skies. Fingers crossed.

And speaking of “smoke”… looks like the smoke bush in my front garden is getting ready to bloom. Tons of tiny little flowers that fill out the bush with a very cool “smoky” illusion… hence the name.

So Monday night we had a little “party” in our final pottery class of the session. Lots of food & fun… and these two HUGE OREOs that practically cover my blue dinner plate! Thanks to Maureen for finding these huge goodies!!! More is more… but in this case BIGGER IS BETTER too!!!

All signs point to YES.

Looks like another fortune cookie was found at Illinois Beach State Park today This time by my “new best friend” Heidi that I met out there so randomly while I was hiding them on New Years Day! Even more random… she found one two years ago too… well before she knew the story behind them!!!

The zinnias are in full bloom… thanks to the condo down the street! Yes, the same garden that had the amazing lilies earlier this summer. Beautiful colors, textures & patterns. Reminding me that I should try to add more flowers into my front yard garden next year!

Okay, so I knew it might be a “challenging” week of Summer Camp on Monday when I asked if they had tools pulled aside for my class to do their handbuilding projects. And all they brought me were coffee stirrers, toothpicks & plastic forks?! Really?… toothpicks??? It kinda felt like I was in an episode of “The Great Pottery Throw Down”… kid’s version!

I will admit, that out of frustration, I went down to my own studio and pulled plenty of REAL tools for my campers to use!