Went to the metal working studio. Huge disappointment. They only had 2 of their completed works on display and a couple that were "in progress." No explanations. No one even said "howdy" and the artists were all hanging out around the refreshments table talking to their friends.

As for the glassworker, he had some nice pieces but $50 for a tiny very plain Christmas ornament?!?!? I could see that for something ornate but these were more like something a beginner would make. (In fact, for $50 you can go to his studio - wherever if is - and he'll let you make your own Christmas ornament.)

So.... off from there. Headed down the road to the pottery studio. Very badly marked. I guess I parked in the right spot??? Wasn't a problem for my Crosstreck but I could see someone in a non-AWD vehicle having problems. Hiked back up to the house & followed signs around back and.... there were like 5 outbuildings back there, no signs indicating which was the studio, and all the doors locked. I could hear people talking in one so I knocked on the door but no on answered. Fine. I left.

Figured I'd make one last attempt and headed waaaaay out in the country to what's known as the "Art Alley" gallery. Until 2 weeks ago, it was downtown. Easily accessible & well marked. I drove & drove & drove and followed the signs up a gravel road so far I swear I heard banjos.... And ended up at an unbelievably nasty house/yard and garage that looked more like a junkyard. Thank Fred Sanford-level. There were piles of broken and rusty artsy looking pieces piled around so I guess that was the right place? It's where the signs posted on the road sent me. I drove up close to the junky looking garage & there was a big sign that said "SALE" but it too was broken and nasty looking. No lights on. No signs indicating hours (although their website said they should have been open). And honestly, I was afraid to get out of the car. Did I mention there's no parking back there either? I had to back into the yard to turn around. And then I got the heck out of there!!!!!

And to top it all off, I got run off the road about half a mile from the house. Big white pickup pulling a trailer, flying like a bat out of hell right down the center of the road. Thank God we were in one of the few places where I could ditch it & not flip. After I stopped cussing, I pulled back onto the road & made it home.

Y'all, I sure hope the rest of the day gets better!!!!!! Especially since I'm gonna be handling guns!!!!!