It is impossible to believe that it is mid-July already. Sorry I have not been updating my blog. At least I now have our art/craft show schedule up on the sidebar. The last Saturday the 14th of July we set up at Torpy Park in Minocqua. After perhaps 23years (?) the Lakeland Art League group returned their Art show to Torpy Park. That was it's original location, I remember setting up there in the early 1980's during my early years as a stained glass artist. Later I switched to clay and followed the show to Arbor Vitae's Fireman's Park when the group moved it out there. The weather was perfect til after 4pm when a heavy storm blew thru. Due to the shortage of parking spots for loading and unloading we had to pack up completely then try to find a spot for our vans. So of course many of us got wet at the end of the day. Always the risk we take. Attendance was okay, hopefully after a year or so it will be better attended by buyers. Being close to the downtown has it's drawbacks since customers aren't at the show because they came to the park for that reason. My next show is up in Land o Lakes on July 28th for Art Impressions. A beautiful setting, sometimes plagued by wild weather. This summer has been a blessing for me since I was let go from a part time job at a retail shop, probably the best thing that happened to me since I would have been struggling with keeping everything going and working for someone else too. Now my weekend schedule isn't an issue! And I got to work thru the winter also. I can devote my many years of experience in retail to Tall Pines Studio without distraction. I just took out of the kiln some terra cotta Hornet/Wasp decoys. They aren't pretty, but are designed to imitate a wasp nest. Hornets/wasp's are territorial, so they tend to not build a nest close to another. You hang one or two in different parts of your yard or under an eave and not have the nasty things building there instead! So enjoy the day, don't pass out from the heat! It has been a challenge for me during the 90+ days. I am out at the wheel in the heat all day long. Thank goodness for gatorade.