Giving Thanks.

Good morning, everyone. It's about 6:45 here in central Iowa.  I just finished my homemade chai tea latte with my cat, Asti, purring like a chainsaw next to me at the computer desk.  I'm still in my pajamas, but I was up early to unload the kiln that I fired Tuesday night.  Brian and the puppies are still asleep and the sky is just starting to brighten up to the east.  

It's on nice mornings like this that I am grateful for many things.  I am happy that I married Brian as I can't imagine any other man that not only loves me but allows me to do the crazy things I want to do without asking too many questions (uhm.. llamas! one week!).  I am happy to have the pets that I do.  My kitties have been with me since I was 15.  Magpie has been with us for 9 years and Shelby Lou nearly 6 years.  Our chickens and ducks, although new this year, seem to be pleased with their home as they've been laying eggs for over a month now and don't appear to be slowing down.  Soon we'll have llamas and two little sheepies and I'm sure I'll love them just as much as I do the others.  

I am thankful for my friends.... my extended family.. my 'tribe'.  It's not a huge group of people, and some of them I don't see as often as I'd like, but they are there.  If I needed something, I'm confident that they would be there for me as I would be for them. 

I am thankful for my family.  I'm lucky that most of my family lives within an hour or so drive.  It doesn't feel like I've been able to see them much recently, but now that harvest is over and the holiday season is upon us, we'll hang out more... and even more so after the holidays when I don't have shows to prepare for.  :)

Every day I get up, make my tea and come to the computer.  I'm so happy I live in a country where I can do this.  Not only because it's physically possible (hello, high speed internet!) but that I can make some sort of a living doing what I do.  Granted, it's not always easy (omg.. glazing pots for 10 hours on Tuesday!), and sometimes I get discouraged, but the awesome thing is that if I keep trying and keep coming up with new ideas, it will hopefully work out for the best.  With that, I ever-so grateful for my customers.  When someone decides to trade me their hard-earned cash for a piece of my pottery, they're supporting this crazy life that Brian and I have put together.  They're supporting me, the critters, and the farm.  They're supporting creativity and my dream.  They're supporting someone they know instead of complete strangers on the other side of the world, even if it might be a little more expensive.  We appreciate this more than you know.  Without customers, I would have to do something else... and if you're a long time reader of my blog, you know that the only other thing I'm really qualified for is truck driving and lemme tell ya, that isn't a fun life.  So thank you, dear customers.  I hope the pottery you get from me makes your day a little brighter every time you use it.  :)

So.. with that, I should probably get going.  I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year and there is bread to bake and potatoes to peel.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and again... thank you! :)