Another one in the books : CHICAGO TRIATHLON 2026!!!

It was a beautiful day for a triathlon along the lakefront. A bit on the cooler side… better than the sweltering heat we’re accustomed to for the run. However, there was a bit of a wind crossing Lake Shore Drive for the bike… nothing but fun though for the underground portion pedaling on Lower Wacker Drive. And an added bonus… the harbor was basically quiet & still for the swim! All in all… a great morning “playing” & sweating along the Chicago Lakefront!!!

Just one last table for the kids to clean…
and with that another Summer of kid’s Summer Camps has come to an end!!!

I know I had a GREAT time teaching kids all summer… making pottery, playing games, getting to know them & creating special memories along the way! Hopefully I’ve inspired a few & exposed some of them to the joy of making art & working with your hands… and not focusing a tablet, a phone or their video games!!!

I can’t believe Summer is already coming to an end so quickly.
I’m already looking forward to NEXT Summer!!!

Another 10×10 Challenge… but does it count when they’re just mini’s???

We started with a large low-lying cloud… but then it opened up & we got another wave of spotted clouds to finish out the morning sunrise. Unfortunately, I got “trapped” on the wrong side of the golf course while the “first sunrise” made it over the low-lying clouds. Luckily, it looked pretty cool going behind the spotty clouds too!!! So… still a beautiful sunrise today!!!

Rusty metal, blue skies & beautiful lake views… all part of my “after-camp-escape” bike ride before heading back to the studio for the night!!!

Look at me gloating just a little… perhaps “the curse” has been broken?
Too soon to tell… but enjoying them in my garden now!!!

The first half of my ride was glorious… pedaling fast & strong. But when I turned around, it all turned out to be a ruse!!! Strong headwinds & crashing waves coming in off the lake made the ride home a lot more challenging. Beautiful… but challenging!!!

While my potluck contribution was a homemade Chocolate Chip Tollhouse Pie!
A longtime family favorite recipe… and now my students favorite too!
Homemade pie on a handmade plate!!! Yummy!!!

This week was our final week of pottery classes… and we always like to have a potluck to celebrate. So excited to get this “teaser photo” from Sara before class on Monday! Her famously fudgey “cake balls” made with dark chocolate OREOs!!! Yep… don’t threaten me with a good time!!!

Monday night this week in class, we did our “White Elephant trading-stealing-exchanging game” for two dinner plates. We had some beautiful plates by some very talented students. I was lucky enough to score the two plates by Jackie with the white flowers on a brown background. Very sweet… and they kinda give me some groovy batik vibes!!!

Jackie’s Dinner Plates…

Maryann’s Dinner Plates…

Andrew’s Dinner Plates…

Darcy’s Dinner Plates…

And last, but not least… MY Dinner Plates again!