So I decided to go for a bike ride today… seemingly through the hottest & most humid part of the day! Why?… who knows?!

I was a big sweaty mess… but so happy to find this secluded “rock beach” down on the far South Side… as I had the entire place to myself?!!! No one else to be seen!!! It was such a welcome respite as I took some time to play on the beach & take a dip in the lake to cool off before pedaling home!

Hard to believe that it has already been two years today since my Mom passed away. And you know I don’t believe in all that “mumbo-jumbo hoodoo-voodoo” stuff. But… when a “sign” shows up and slaps you in the face… sometimes you take notice!

I was on my back porch this afternoon talking to my neighbors and Melanie asked how my Dad was doing these days. At that very moment, a hummingbird appeared flitting around my geraniums. It was the first hummingbird we’ve seen… and at the VERY moment Mel asked about my Dad?! Really???… c’mon Like my Mom was there telling us that everything was good… and that my Dad is doing great.

If that was a “sign”… I’ll take it!

At first glace this looks like an AMAZING chocolate cake with a ton of yummy frosting! Look a little closer and you’ll see that it’s sitting on a stamped & glazed platter by yours truly. Looks like Rosene might need a bigger platter? Thanks for sharing the photo of your cake… now if only she could share some of that cake too!!!

Looks like Rhonda has brought in some fresh basil from the garden… washed it off in a handmade berry bowl and getting ready to make something YUMMY!!!

Thanks for sharing your “freshly-cleaned produce” Rhonda!

Yesterday my afternoon Summer Campers did some handbuilding… and I challenged them to make slab mugs! Cullen made this adorable set of mugs for his family… Mom, Dad & Grandma!

But the cutest part?… he also made one for his twin brother Caden. And kept it “secret” the whole time so Caden has no idea that this is being made… pretty much right under his nose!

A dark & cloudy start. Big clouds moving through… some with lightning way off in the distance.

As the morning moved on, so did the clouds as the sky began to clear and the sun finally made its way out… even if just for a brief moment or two.

Just did a bit of stamping on another plate before heading downstairs to teach class again tonight! One single stamp used over & over again to get the repetitive pattern all the way around the rim.

Pretty little berries changing colors on the vine.
Dangling gracefully on the trellis.

A hazy start for another quiet morning ride. Biking along the lake with a foggy haze off in the distance… I’m sure there’s a sun in there somewhere?!

Hey… there it is… finally!!!

Well, we’re one arch closer to getting the Lillstreet soda kiln back up & running. Still need a few more bricks to fill in some of those holes!!! Doug Jeppesen & Neil Estrick have been working hard to get it done for us! Can’t wait to get it firing again! It’s getting there… brick by brick!!!