'Tis the Week Before Christmas

Coffee in the Alaska skyline mug (in recognition of the newly arrived cold weather), "The First Noel/ Mary, Mary" by Sarah McLachlan on the shuffle (coming through the stereo receiver). It's 27 degrees out there! Last week 72, this week 27... that's a pretty major flip.

Tis the week before Christmas and all through the studio,
Not a project is firing, though many are due.
The kilns are all waiting, patient and true,
They know that the artist soon will be through...

And it's true, this afternoon I'll be grinding and fitting two lattice panels to prepare them to ship tomorrow from Greenville. Before I tackle the lattices, there are two orders to ship out along with all the last-minute gifts for our family in far-flung parts of the world (destinations today:Polson Montana, Montgomery Illinois and Chatou France). But first, ikebana (mizuhiki today!) and wrangling finances for both home and business. Ugh.