2014-01-01 - Thursday - Happy New Year!

As 2014 comes to a close it's time to reflect on the many things that have happened this year.

Our children are excelling in school. They both made the dean's list in the same semester. We're very proud.

We had lots of snow (for here) last winter.
The neighbor's tree landed on our fence narrowly missing my van.
We built a screened porch.
Our nephew Ryan graduated from high school.
I landscaped around our new porch with native ferns.
We went to Rehoboth Beach, DE for the second summer.
We went to Asheville twice for Karen's work.
Went back to Asheville to celebrate Stephanie's birthday.

I made empty bowls.
I attended the Akira Satake workshop at Clayworks.
I made empty bowls.
Attended the Carolina Clay Matters Josh DeWeese workshop at CPCC.
Made empty bowls.
Made hand print pots.
Made empty bowls.
Participated in a wood firing.
Attended the Empty Bowls event.
Attended the Matt Jones lecture at the Mint Museum on the state of the craft movement.
Attended a meet the artist lunch at Elder Gallery with Peter Callas and Warner Hyde.
Attended the Hickory show with Ju-Ian.
We fired the brand new salt kiln at Clayworks.
Attended the Carolina Clay Matters Jim Connell workshop at CPCC.
Sold pots (and got very wet) at two Carolina Clay Matters Pottery Festivals.
Sold pots at the second annual Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center sale.
Attended the Clayworks annual fundraiser (the best yet!).
Set up a shop at Ballantyne Village to sell pots.
Went to the NC Pottery Center in Seagrove.
Attended a lunch with the artists at Elder Gallery with Larry Horowitz.
Participated in Flood the Streets with Art by leaving some of my tea bowls around town for people to find.
Attended the Val Cushing video and discussion with Herb Cohen at the Mint Museum.
Demoed at the Clayworks holiday sale.
Had my holiday sale.

Oh, and I wrote a bunch of code and made a lot of pots in between all of those things.

People and things are propelled forever forward. Whether we're ready for it or not, we are consistently pushed into the future.

Stephanie only has one more semester before she graduates from college(!). Meredith has one more semester left in her sophomore year. Were does the time go?

2015 is shaping up to be an outstanding year full of exciting changes and lots of growth in many different areas.

I hope yours is the same.

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2014-06-12 - Thursday - Graduation

On Thursday evening we attended Ryan's graduation ceremony.  He was one of over five hundred graduates so it took quite a while to get through the line and that was after all the speeches were made.

It's a joy to celebrate milestones with the people you care about.

Ryan is on the left center aisle, sixth row from the front.

There he is.

And while people are still filing in
we see his commentary on the proceedings.

Each photo was shown on the screens above the stage...

...while the graduate made their walk.

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Goodbye 2013

A lot has happened since my last post on November 25, so here is the nutshell version of a farewell to the end of 2013.  It was a pretty good year with lots of new things happening.

We became empty-nesters when Meredith went to college in the Fall.  Stephanie is currently a Junior.  A really nice part of becoming empty-nesters is how special the times are when your children are home.

The kids keep impressing us with their grades and accomplishments.  They're turning into pretty amazing adults and it's quite a privilege to see the process from birth to adulthood.

Karen celebrated her 30th anniversary at her job with the credit union.  I'm very proud of her!

Work is good with new challenges daily.  2013 was my 24th year in business for myself.

I'm branching out with my face pots and putting more expressions on them.

So here are some photos from the end of 2013 and here's wishing everyone a bright, joyous, and prosperous 2014.

Please keep arms and legs inside the car and hang on tightly.

Karen and Stephanie at the Thanksgiving Day
parade in 21 degree weather.

A slightly stoned-looking cookie jar.

Newest face pot --with ears.

Ju-Ian, Becky, Elaine, and me at the Goneaway Pottery Holiday Sale.

Our Christmas tree.

Stephanie made Christmas cookies.

Binkley had a peaceful Christmas Eve in his bed.

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