Winona was great! I was at my alma mater this weekend, visiting friends and attending the opening of the Alumni Art Show at Winona State. They used one of my pieces. It was a strange scene, but it was fun participating. My friend and I visited a pottery sale on Saturday, and we heard a rockin' band that night. Saw several of my old buds from 28 years ago. Had a great time. That was my summer vacation! I worked all summer and didn't really do anything, so this was a fun time!

I love the bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley. The fall colors weren't peaking  there yet. The weather was beautiful for my trip and only rained once on my way home.

About the art sale we went to. It wasn't the friendly bunch of potters. Although they had signs out and had advertised, they treated us like we were at a party we weren't invited to. A gal did offer refreshments, but by then it was too late. They were of the snobby school of pottery. One guy was so intently reading something he couldn't stop to talk to us while we stood in front of his pottery talking about it. As far as I was concerned, his shop was closed. When we first got there a guy was standing right in front of the kiln itself and when we looked at it he said nothing, They pointed at a door and a woman said "it's in there." They really needed a greeter. These are tough times for selling pottery. I can't figure out why they didn't put out more of an effort to make us feel welcome. We had taken half a day and driven over thirty miles to find their sale. Maybe when you win McKnight grants, you don't have to be nice to your buying public, or remember somebody you've talked to on at least three different occasions at art fairs.  Well this has been the exception as far as potters go, because the majority of the craftsmen I have met are more like a family and if you tell them you're a potter too they usually have something to say. When I told one guy we had just built a wood kiln, it killed the conversation. well I'm glad most potters aren't like that, and I'm glad I saved some money that I didn't spend at their snobby little affair.

Now I'm back home and back to the restaurant and fiddle lessons. As much as I loved the break, It's good to be home too! Later then! D