Happy Autumn Day!

In honor of the first day of fall I drank my first pumpkin spice latte and wore tights for the first time this season! And then spent a lot of my day at the studio trying to work on some projects.

I kind of have to laugh a bit at my dusty shoes and tights. Oh ceramics. You're never fully dressed without some clay dust.

Rituals vs. Ceremonies

This year I don't have class on Fridays! Yay! And for three weeks in a row I have not had to work on Friday either! Yay!

So I've been trying to make it a point to savor Friday mornings. It's my one day to sleep in. Or to get up early and go off doing whatever I need to do. It is also a major catch-up day for housework, homework, etc, but I have been trying to treat myself nicely on Fridays. I think that it is okay to do something nice for myself once a week. Last week I went to a bookstore and got a coffee.

In light of this new practice of taking time off and doing something by myself just for me, I have been thinking about the difference in daily ritual and in ceremony. Most people start their day off with a cup of coffee or tea...it is a ritual. However, slowing down and going out for a coffee is more of a ceremony. It's special. Just a little bit more than what you would usually do. How many more rituals do we have every day? Waking, eating, working, playing, preparing for sleep, etc. How do we change up the mundane tasks of our life into more of a celebration or a special occasion. Do these rituals become more ceremonious when we experience them with others? For example, family dinner rather than a grab-and-go mean. Or is it more special when you have that moment to sit by yourself for once and enjoy quiet without being pulled in all different directions? I'm sure at different times either one will be more preferable.

I'm trying to work more of these little ceremonies into my life. Whether it is by making it a point to sit down for a meal rather than try to eat and do housework at the same time, or take a few minutes in the afternoons to sit outside and enjoy the *perfect* weather we have been having lately, my goal is to acknowledge some part of my day as being special enough to celebrate and give thanks for.

If possible, I would like for my work to make parts of our lives more of a ceremony than ritual. 

The prettiest cookie...

I found this lady's videos through Kristin Kieffer's facebook page. Oh the slip trailing possibilities for ceramics!

Motivation! Wherefore art thou?!

Trying so hard to be excited about this stuff. Senioritus is a real disease, folks. Plus my clay is being finicky and tearing very easily which is making me really sad. Here's to hoping that tomorrow I'll be able to get a lot more done.

Adam gets baptized.

My little brother got baptized this Sunday. I tried to send this video to my parents, but it's too big to send through email...or facebook. So since they were unable to be here to witness it themselves I am posting it here for them to see.

In progress photo

Some stenciling and screen printing attempts. Geez I love Martha Stewart products.

Failure to Thrive

I feel like a dead flower.

Shriveled up.

Dark and ugly.

So fragile I just might break if I'm not careful.

Will there ever be someone who can revive me?

Will someone remind me that life is bright and colorful and beautiful?

I feel that the soil I have currently been planted in is dry. Empty.

Someone, please plant me in healthy soil where I can blossom and grow.

The cares of this world are choking me.

I feel starved of light and warmth and love.

I wish so much for care and compassion and to know someone loves me.

Because then I will blossom and grow and bring something to the world around me.

I won't feel that I'm living in vain.