A card

I got this card from my favorite gentleman at work that read:

"A birthday is like a vacuum cleaner. It's just there and then it sucks. And when it's not sucking, it's there waiting to suck."

Thanks Howard!

Birthday

Technically my birthday isn't until Sunday but I've been celebrating it since last Friday. I came home from work to find a brand new shiny bike waiting for me. Adrian decided it was finally time to replace the really awesome mountain bike (really it has been!) that my dad bought me somewhere around 17 years ago. Though honestly I hadn't busted it out in nearly 2 years. So Friday night we went on a bike ride and stopped at his dad's place where I was given more gifts (apparently no one told them that if you give up your surprises before the actual birthday you are still expected to give gifts on THE day... not my fault.) So I got the entire set of Harry Potter books, in hard-back and a genuine (non-cultured) pearl necklace. Hey what can I say? I'm the best daughter-in-law he could ever ask for, right? We spent the rest of the weekend doing all kinds of fun things, Saturday Market, Parma Motor-Vu drive-in, lots of bike riding, including the Greenbelt on Monday. I got a couple of great gifts from students this week (though not specifically for my birthday, they just wanted to show their appreciation... always a blessing) and today when I came home I had still more birthday surprises. Adrian teamed up with his sister, Monica, to pick out a great weeping birch tree for a corner of the yard I had yet to do anything with. She, along with my mother-in-law, bought me a couple of beautiful rose bushes to add to my collection. Adrian spent the day digging and planting so that it would all be ready when I came home. Now, I love plants as gifts, but I love them EVEN MORE when I don't have to do any of the work! And we still have 3 days before my actual birthday. I've got to say, it sure takes the sting off of turning... 24....... again. Shut up. :)

latest

This pot and another just like it were commissioned by a gentleman that I work with. He was looking for a personalized pot for his wife for Mother's Day. She really likes angels and he was hoping I could come up with something and add her name. Then when he told his friend in Nevada about it I had a second order for his wife (her's is the one below). I've never really drawn an angel before but I had an idea for something like this and messed around with it until I came up with something decent.



This flower pot was for my own mother for Mother's Day. I was really pretty pleased with how it came out.

new

I've said this before and it remains true. The night before opening the kiln is just like Christmas Eve. I have a few things I'm excited to see come out of this latest firing (pictures forthcoming) so although I can hardly stand to be at work these days I'm anxious to go in tomorrow morning and crack that baby open.

Also, things to come... I'll be living the wild life of an almost serious artist with my own website hopefully soon. Apparently it pays to have connections and I have a graduating senior who has his own web development business. I know, ambitious huh? Turns out he's really talented and approached me about designing my website. (Don't feel slighted Jas, I should have hit you up when you had all that free time at your old job! I don't want to bog you down with extra projects.) Anyway, I'm not sure when it will be done and online but I'll let you know when I know. And make your travel plans now! We're on again for the Raspberry Festival the first Sunday in August in glorious Cottonwood, Idaho. I'm hoping to expand my offerings this year and look forward to my second annual attempt at acting like a real artist.

More to come.