Someone asked me the other day if my time in Iceland has gone by quickly. My housemate Biddy said it best in that time has seemed to stand still for the last 25 days. It's like the rest of the world went on without me while I was in a cozy little cocoon of creativity at the Fish Factory - Creative Centre since the beginning of November.

This morning we had our goodbye chat with the residency coordinator, getting the rundown of things we need to address before we leave, details on catching the 6:40 a.m. bus Thursday to Egilsstaðir, and sharing what our separate journeys home entailed. After leaving here, I have 4 days in Reykjavik to explore and prep my brain for returning to the real world.

I'm looking forward to coming home to hug family and friends, snuggle with my cats, and sleep in my own bed. And my cooking knives and a gas stove. But I'm going to terribly miss this place and the people it was an honor to share it with. Words can't quite describe what this experience has meant for my soul and for my artwork.

Yesterday was my last day of working on black porcelain pots. These will go in the kiln tomorrow, come out on Wednesday, and get shipped home for glaze firing at my home studio. Then they'll be set aside for my solo exhibit about the residency experience opening late February 2025 at the Dubuque Museum of Art.