With an overwhelming amount of clouds overtaking the sky this morning, I had little hope of seeing ANY sunrise at all … I even contemplated going back to bed without a hope a good sunrise… HA!!! Instead I sucked it up… put on my helmet & headed out the door. Clouds, clouds & more clouds. It was a very welcome surprise towards the end of my ride when the clouds dissipated just enough for a brief, but beautiful skyshow. So glad I decided to go for that ride this morning!!!

Handles attached… they are now “officially“ mugs! Hybrid mugs both wheelthrown & handbuilt. Using both techniques throughout the process. Just need to add some colored flashing slip tomorrow & then they can start drying.

It’s been a productive afternoon… and now I’m adding pulled handles to the hybrid mugs. Score, slip, attach, repeat… repeat… repeat…

Trimming the bottoms on my newest batch of hybrid mugs. The bottoms are wheelthrown, the sides are handbuilt, and then shaped & finished in the wheel. Back & forth… and back & forth. You know I love trimming… AND a nice clean footring!

Crashing waves AND submerged rocks???…
yet ANOTHER reason for me not to be swimming!!!
Like I need another excuse.

With a nice collection of clouds, the morning sky was colorful & dramatic. With the wind blowing in off the lake & the waves back along the shoreline… portions of the ride were a bit tougher than normal. But the tailwind sections were great fun! Another great start to another great day!

So while I’m in the studio all day today… I needed something fun to binge on TV. So why not go back to one of the best SURVIVOR seasons ever – Season 16 Micronesia!

Oh, how I love “old school” Survivor… and this season is “Fans vs. Favorites.” So we have some great returning players including my all-time favorite Parvati… plus Cirie, Eliza, Ozzy, Ami, James, Amanda & Jonny Fairplay! Lest not forget “ice cream scooper” Eric… who comes in as a Fan, but leaves as possibly the stupidest player EVER!!! Thanks to the “Black Widow Brigade.” I’m only a couple episodes in… but it making me very happy to be stuck in the studio working!!! Bring on the challenges. Bring on the Tribal Councils. I’m here for all of it!!!

Just finished trimming this batch of mugs. Next up?… pulling & adding handles to make them truly mugs!!! Because I’m a firm believer that a mug must have a handle! Otherwise it’s just a cup!!!

Warm & humid… getting an early start before the oppressive heatwave kicks in today! Another sweaty morning along the lake… looking forward to an air-conditioned day in the studio. Got a lot to do today… getting ready to head up to Alaska next weekend!!! Can’t believe it’s almost here already!!!

Not much of a cloud show today… just a thick layer of clouds lying low on the horizon. With a delayed sunrise, it was more “about the bike” for today’s photo shoot. Had to do something to keep them interesting, right? Otherwise it would have been just a dark cloud band & some water?!