Reflections from the first half of 2021

Like all ill-conceived writings spaces, this blog hasn’t had the level of intention I hoped for so far. Turns out someone who previously wrote extensively and edited content all day hasn’t had much desire to write. Who would’ve thought?

But here we are. 2021 has been one hell of a ride so far. There has been so much to be thankful for. Of course, you can hear about my career changes in this previous post from earlier in the year. Fast-forward to the end of June and half the year is almost gone. The pandemic has waned in some ways but continues to show itself in unexpected corners periodically. I’m thankful for vaccines and the hope it has provided. There’s been a bit of normalcy. I’m still reading too much news and trying to find that special balance between being informed and mentally healthy. All in all, life is good.

My new daily routine has been anything but that. I’m finding joy in the unexpected. Less time in front of the screen. Spending more time in the studio. Meaningful space to be a better husband and father. And of course, time in the studio and working on our publication, Edible Michiana.

Much of my efforts this spring were centered around building a new soda kiln on our property. This massive undertaking took nearly a year of planning and was rather labor-intensive. Thankfully, under the guidance of kiln extraordinaire Ted Neal, we got it done and have now completed two firings.

The soda kiln was a very symbolic addition to our studio. It’s a costly endeavor. Something that I have worked hard to finance for some time. It’s also the next step in the journey of building a recognizable brand for the ceramics portion of Bre and I’s studio. If you’ve not been following along on Instagram, you should. I’m trying to share this new work regularly and gain feedback.

I have a shop update scheduled for tonight, June 30th, at 6 PM, which will be my first real offering of this new batch of work. I’m excited to share these new pieces with a broader audience. Admittedly, this round feels like our first foray into sharing the work we’ve put so much time into. Previous store restocks felt much more experimental. This time around represents a more accurate picture of where I hope we’re going.

If you’re still reading, thanks for checking in. Reach out, I’d love to hear from you. The past year and a half has brought so many changes in our life. There are people I miss. But life is good. I got up this morning and enjoyed a coffee at my favorite local shop. A simpler and different life being well-lived.

Thanks.

-Trev