Polenta is not a winner, but...

I sure had fun trying!! I am going to keep trying to improve it and submit my polenta recipe or others for that matter in other contests. I have a secret, well not so secret anymore, desire to win a blue ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair. I haven't decided which area of cuisine to focus on for this or even how to do it, a bit of investigation will be needed I think. But how cool would that be? Hmm...do they have a pot roast catagory? :)

The good news is I completed my second first Pottery class. I say second "first" because I took one back in 2000 and it feels as though I started over again. I have some great beginner pieces and am proud of them! Alan bought me a pottery wheel for my birthday last year and I am glad to have a bit of tutoring under my belt. But can I tell you WHO is the best fledgling potter I know? You are looking at him in the picture above! My dear friend, Tom Koonce! The dude throws a MEAN pot! Who knew? After I got my wheel last year, Kooncie's face just lit up and he began recalling a pottery class he had taken and I said he should do it again and low and behold he did and he was so happy about it. In fact, one time last winter he came to watch football at our house and he was chomping at the bit to throw some clay. He was a great coach that day and the mug he made looked totally pro. Seriously. If you come to my house soon, ask to see it. I plan to have it bisque fired and glaze it and after it has been fired again, I will proudly display it in my glass cabinet. He is a true inspiration.

Happy August, People!