Got my new American Woodturner today...
Brad Vietje
...and it feature two good friends of mine!
Big congrats to Mike Foster and Janet Collins, who are both good friends of mine -- not the facebook kind, but actual people I know. They both do the tiny state of Vermont proud!
Mike lives in Springfield, VT in a house I fantasized about restoring, putting my turning shop in the barn, and even calling my retirement business "Breezy Hill Woodturning". Its a funny story, but in a weird way, Mike is living my alternative life, and I dare say, he's a lot better at it than I would have been! 
Mike is also the nicest and most humble person you'd ever hope to meet, and a fantastic bird photographer, too.
Janet lives about 8 miles from me in Ryegate, VT (we're about 90 minutes' drive north of Mike), and is not only a skilled turner and furniture master, but a great teacher/demonstrator, and very generous, super-nice person. She's also a very good gardener, and I hope she can teach me how she grows such wonderful onions!
Hat's off to two of the finest turners in the region who deserve national and international recognition, too; well done !
Safe spinning,
Brad Vietje
Newbury, VT