Some say diversion, some say productive…
either way, tonight found myself adding some inlaid tenmoku glaze
to my latest batch of wheelthrown & stamped ornaments for no apparent reason.

Did I need to do them tonight?… NO.
Did I enjoy the random tangent… of course!
It’s never too early to make Christmas ornaments, right?

Blending up a batch of garlic scape pesto for lunch… which smells AMAZING!!! I didn’t know this was a thing. But thanks to Matt who suggested I try making some. And for those who still don’t know… a garlic scape is the squiggle-curly-stemmy portion of the garlic plant that usually gets thrown away. Who knew?!... just blend it with some olive oil & parmesan cheese… I got a bit crazy and added a little bit of spinach to make it even greener! Can’t wait to dig in… and then to smell like garlic for the rest of the day!

My morning ride was hot & sweaty along the lakefront headed north. Still a beautiful ride… made even more beautiful by this collection of painted rocks along the Northwestern University campus. Most are just painted… some are just cute… but someone has some real talent out there!

On a hot & steamy day like today, wouldn’t it be nice to be swimming in a pool?!
Well, since none of them are open…

Here’s this week’s installment from Cirque du Soleil – this time featuring the show “O”. It’s the fantastic aquatic show in Las Vegas where the stage is actually a HUGE swimming pool!!! This video shows you some behind-the-scenes footage… including “under-the-water” footage!!! The part you never get to see when you see the show in person… but have always wondered how they do it!!! I’ve seen the this show twice – and still don’t quite know how they do all of the magic. The traditional Cirque acrobatics are still there… just now they’re in the water, on top of the water & flying above the water!!!

Click here to watch the video on Facebook!

So that’s the part you see when you’re there… but the video shows you some of the cool parts UNDER the water that you don’t get to see during the show. It’s got to be a controlled chaos of scuba gear, air tanks & tubes and hydraulic gears moving the stage parts! And this is your first glimpse of that…

Spent the evening in the studio doing some more trimming with my new DiamondCore Tools! Their new trimming tools are pretty sweet… nice & sharp as you would expect, a comfortable wooden handle, and a bonus “carved shape” on the end of each one! Looks like they’ve just found their “new home” in my studio. Gotta LOVE some good pegboard!!!

Finally a few morning clouds for the sun to play with!
It was another beautiful morning… very quiet, very still.
So nice to start the day calmly with such a serene sunrise.

Looks like Kelly is enjoying her birthday with a yummy piece of pecan pie… in one of my sgraffito-carved bowls that she bought as a birthday present to herself.

Remember when people would actually write cards, letters & postcards… well, we’re bringing it back!!! My friends Emma & Clayton have started a new program to get people writing again… THE POSTCARD CLUB. I just got my first packet of postcards with some of Emma’s cool photographs on them! Can’t wait to mail them out… but to who?… that’s the question!

For more info… https://thepostcardclub.com/

By now you’ve probably figured out that I’m a huge Cirque du Soleil fan… err, groupie!
My first show was ALEGRIA on Chicago’s North Pier and was completely mesmerized by the magic, music & magnificence! I was hooked instantly… as soon as the singer hit the first few notes of the theme song!!! I bought the CD right there & then… and have listened to it like six million times!

I’ve since seen practically every show… and even worked for them when VAREKAI and DRALION came to Chicago! Yes, I’m a dork. And yet somehow it’s hard to believe that they’ve been around for thirty-six years already! So much fun to see their more meager beginnings here in this video… and how much they have changed & grown over the years!

From the Cirque du Soleil Facebook page…
The Cirque du Soleil story began 36 years ago today. We want to mark the occasion with you, our fans, who have supported us all these years with a special re-watch of our classics: Nouvelle Expérience, Saltimbanco and Cirque Réinventé.

Click here to watch the video on Facebook!

Another beautiful morning… no clouds, no wind, no worries. Just a very quiet sunrise along the lakefront. Simple reflections. Simple pleasures.