Today was the perfect day to get out on my bike (again) to enjoy the STUNNING weather today. Clear skies with not a cloud in the sky! I had already ridden the lakefront for my sunrise ride… but my afternoon ride took me further north. Always excited to stop by the BAHA’I HOUSE OF WORSHIP in Wilmette… towards the beginning to my ride. I always think that this is one of the most amazing architectural buildings… an innovation back in the 1920’s when it was built with pre-formed concrete panels. Considered by some to be the world’s most exquisite ornamental concrete structure. Agreed. No matter how many times I ride past… it AMAZES me every time!!!

Another wonderful “present” this morning… a “gift” of a sunrise. Layers of clouds & colors to “unwrap” as the sun worked its way through the clouds. What a wonderful way to start the day!

And best wishes to the 55,000 runners in the Chicago Marathon today… looks like you’ve got perfect weather for a great day running through the streets downtown! Good luck & have a great run!

It was another perfectly GORGEOUS day to be playing outside! I decided to hike the day away at MORAINE HILLS STATE PARK. Beautiful scenery & bold Fall colors around every corner of the park. And surprisingly… very few people?! It felt like I had the park to myself… as I only saw a handful of people out on the trails while I was hiking for hours. Another wonderful adventure playing out in Nature. So much to see. So much fresh air. So wonderful. The weather was FANTASTIC… and I just had to get outside to play all day!!!

But then again… I must admit that I don’t really know what’s going on with this dahlia plant?! The first two flowers looked the same & I assumed it was a “fluke”… but this third one?! Maybe this is how it’s supposed to be?! Not a fan. Not the dahlia flower I expected!!!

One of the best parts of “dahlia season” is that when they finally start blooming… every flower is different. And they continue to change & evolve daily as they open up. These blooms are all on one plant in my garden this morning. I’m still surprised by the white dahlias… as I know I would never have chosen “white” tubers to plant?!!!

One big cloud… one distant skyline!

Yesterday was stunning with so many clouds & so many colors! Today we had ONE!!!
Sure, it was large & floating low on the horizon. Delaying the sunrise as it was shrouded by the cloud & struggling to make it through! Still pretty… still the best way to start the day!

This weekend is the CHICAGO CERAMICS CRAWL. A self-guided tour through the majority of the clay studios in the Chicagoland area. Lillstreet Art Center is participating… and so my studio will be open too. I’ve restocked my shelves with plenty of pumpkins & mugs! C’mon by…

LILLSTREET ART CENTER
4401 North Ravenswood, Chicago – Studio 205 West on the second floor!

Just turned our another huge pile of reclaimed clay tonight. All of my scraps & trimmings have been slaking down in a big bin… dissolving & soaking in water. Finally enough to put out onto a large plaster block so I can pull some moisture out to make it back into useable clay. Sure, it’s an arduous process… but that’s a LOT of “free clay” when you’re done! And “free clay” is always my favorite clay!!!

Bigger skyshows need bigger photos!!!
Kinda looks like a painting, right!?