New pots!!

I've been spending a lot of time on the wheel since I started this pottery class at McMurry. The more I throw, the better I get. I'm still experimenting with glazes until I find my favorite combo. I'm getting close though...

My goal is to make my own dinnerware set: bowls, plates, cups, etc. It takes a lot of practice to make a set look like a set, i.e. throwing the same size and shape. I'm excited about how far I've come, and I am definitely looking forward to my trip to Gruene this weekend for the Texas Clay Festival. Learning from amazing potters, getting to watch them do what they do...excitement!!

Indiana, part deux

We had a fantastic time in Indiana, though it was certainly a bit too short. We got to see family, spend time with Grandma & Grandpa, go into Cincinnati, and we drove around the Liberty area and took hundreds of photos.

We also found a potter in Centerville that was amazing (Scott Shafer), he showed us his wood kiln and his studio. I bought an awesome pot from him, I'll upload a photo of it later.

Here are a few of my favorites:

We love to fly! (clearly this was taken on the way to Indiana)

Leaves!!

Sunrays! (one of my favorites)

Becky said the colors weren't as vivid as they usually are. Right. In Texas we have green and dead. The colors were awesome!

Fencepost! Another favorite.

Corn! It was everywhere!!

Indiana

This has been the year of traveling for me. First was a rather impromptu trip to New York City in April, then came a road trip to Florida in July, and now, in October, I'm heading to Indiana. That's craziness!! Mom and Dad headed out today, they're driving and will pick us up from the airport in Indianapolis tomorrow afternoon. Leslie is flying from Lawton and I'm flying from Abilene. We'll meet up in DFW and fly to Indy from there. We're going up to spend time with my grandparents on my Dad's side. It's been quite a while since I've been up there. My grandpa isn't doing too well, and we decided a family vacation would be a great idea.

I'm looking forward to spending time with family that I rarely see, experiencing a real 'fall' season in the northeast, wearing hats and scarves and other fun cold weather clothes, and getting away from Texas for a few days. So expect a LOT of photos of fall foliage when I get back. You've been warned.

On another note, big game in store for Texas tomorrow as they take on a scorned Mizzou. Granted, they are playing in Austin, but hell hath no fury than a team beaten by Oklahoma State. Believe me. My boys are playing Kansas up in Norman, and I'm afraid for Kansas. We too have something to prove this week. GO MIZZOU! (sorry Mom) and BOOMER SOONER!

Stand Up!!

Even in tough economic times, we want to make sure the next president, no matter who that is, keeps his commitment to fighting global poverty.

The total spent on all poverty-fighting programs make up less than one percent of the entire U.S. budget, yet we are saving millions of lives and helping the world's poorest people break free from crippling poverty. These efforts will be even more critical as the effects of any global economic slowdown are magnified in already struggling countries.

I just took action with ONE to tell my leaders to keep their promises to the world's poor, and you can too, here:

http://www.one.org/keepourcommitments/?rc=koctaf

New Music Wednesday

A new segment to the HT blog!

Every Wednesday I will review an album that has recently been released. Today's selection:

Ray LaMontagne
Gossip in the Grain

The first track, 'You Are the Best Thing,' is very bluesy and rough and is probably my favorite so far. 'Let it Be Me' tugs on the heartstrings with its dramatic piano overtures emphasized by soft string sections. It segues nicely into 'Sarah,' and then Ray hits us with 'I Still Care for You' (which is a bit haunting) and 'Winter Birds' (which I enjoy the verses, but the chorus just doesn't fit for me). 'Meg White,' a tribute to the drummer of the White Stripes, is exactly what you think it would be. A banjo intro into 'Hey Me, Hey Mama,' immediately sucks me in and for some reason makes me hungry for biscuits (and mustard—hehe). 'Henry Nearly Killed Me (It's a Shame)' is my 2^nd favorite (and may overtake the first) with its bluesy riffs and foot tapping score that leaves you wondering where the song will take you next. 'A Falling Through' and the title track close the album with slow and emotion-driven ballads.

I must admit that I have a bit of trouble deciphering the lyrics on some of his tunes, though it could be the number of distractions here at work…probably should be working instead of playing, eh? Nah…

3.5 out of 5 stars.

Fine holiday fun!