what a wonderful Christmas I had. I am still thinking about it. this is a picture of me with my Jack and Annie and the baby boxer Zia. she is a spitfire! she seems to like her little clothes.

as 2008 winds down to a few hours, I am so thankful for my wonderful year. as I think back on it, I really had a great year! my trip to japan, my fantastic business experiences and opportunities, and the wonderful gift of being able to share it with my kids, Ben and Allyson. our "family empire" is so much fun!!!

I am looking forward to 2009. I can't wait to get back to work. nice...

happy new year! stay safe and count your blessings,

all my best,

rita

winter's day

today was beautiful. the sun was out and it got pretty warm I walked the pups at the park yesterday and they loved it. this afternoon we worked in the yard, draining hoses, putting up tools. I am already planning next year's projects. Jack and I miss all the puppies being around. he is sticking to me like glue, even wanting me to go outside with him to potty like I did when he was wee little. funny.

I worked on more invoices today and mailed my gifts to my Japanese friends. chocolates of course and little scrap books Allyson made them. speaking of Allyson, she is taking orders for me up in her neck of the woods! we are planning a chocolate and valentine show next month! the ladies will love it. I am going to have one in Louisville also. it will be so much fun! I am excited to get back to work.

back to work. we had the most wonderful Christmas. Allyson was here all week with her two puppies. the baby boxer is a delight though I see why they have named her "demon dog" she is totally fearless. Jack loves her and they play pretty rough. Ben came back down Wednesday morning and Brandt made it in that evening. I made my last Louisville delivery Wednesday at 6 PM. did some more Christmas shopping and left for home and dinner with Brandt and I made 3 more Santas to be delivered Saturday. finally finished with sculpting for the year!

We relaxed and slept. Christmas morning and I had a houseful of laughing happy kids and running, wrestling puppies! we wrapped presents, and then gathered round the tree and enjoyed the happy business of unwrapping them, showing off each treasure. Ben made us eggnog lattes and fixed us breakfast. it was a wonderful day!

Friday I painted that last order and relaxed in a quiet house. the kids went to their dad's and took Zia the boxer. Saturday I got up and packed the order and headed for Shelbyville...on the road again! finally I was finished with the season...and ready to shop! okay so I was a little behind my time but I had fun.

I am so blessed and so happy. life is good on Rabbitville Road!

okay I wrote this right before Christmas and somehow didn't publish it. so here it is:


all is quiet..my kids are here and both still asleep. it takes me back to the years when they were little and I would be working as they slept in their beds. Being an elf was not easy but they accepted their family business responsibility well! They took it seriously and helped however they could, keeping house, painting ornaments, giving neck rubs. I have two wonderful children! Now that they are adults and their lives are filled with their own responsibilities, they don't get down here as much as we all would like. But when they do come, rowdy happy puppies in tow, we all laugh and hug and remember those days in Rays Crossing, living and working in Santa's workshop.

It's 7 AM. I have caught up on the dishes, fed the puppies their morning treats, and baked a sweet smelling ham for Sunday breakfast. I still have several orders to make and today must count. after waking Allyson up VERY early, the pups are all back asleep. 5! and each one more excited than the next to get to play with puppy cousins. Life is so good. More puppy pictures soon!

it's almost Christmas

Christams tree with birdhouses
oh no! it hasn't even been over a month since I've posted! well I have just been working. and working and getting very little sleep.. better talk to Santa about that. orders are coming along well and my kids are coming today so life is good. I will have 5 dogs in the house for the next week! love it.

if you are on facebook, please check out my ritabunnies application! it is so much fun, you can send all your facebook friends a virtual rita!!!

okay back to work, lots of clay work to do and the kids will be here soon. grandpuppies!

this is Ben's extra large tree with birdhouses.

sunday in the studio

uh oh! I'm falling behind in my blog. of course I am sort of busy...and I have helped my friend Krystal get ready for her wedding. she is a shorty like me so I had to hem her wedding dress. it was beautiful...three layers, three hems, 6 hours! and I made her veil and headpiece also. last night she married her Amish man and she looked so happy.

I had company yesterday in the studio. first of all, I have a friend helping me some when she has a chance. she cuts my hair and we got to talking and she wanted a bit of work to help with Christmas. her name is Leah and she was born to paint! single mother of two...we certainly come from the same place. she is good company and a very good painter. A good friend from Broad Ripple in Indy came and spent the afternoon yesterday also! Becky had her lists, her ideas and notes and spent the afternoon plotting out her holiday gift giving. it was so much fun to watch her discover this or that perfect peice that was tucked away here or there, "I didn't see this, this would be perfect for so and so" I love it. Becky is urging me to have a show in Indianapolis for all my customers up there and if the time permits I may do it yet this year. hmmn. Leah glazed turkeys and I made elves and we all enjoyed being safe and warm inside as the temperature dropped and the wind blew. It was a great day!

everything is turning out so well. as always I am working way too much but it is so much fun I can't stop. the dogs are in and out, play with their toys, and finally drop off to sleep on their beds at my feet. and I keep sculpting. with the show at the Clifton center coming up next weekend, this is going to be a tough week. still, I will have the temptations boutique the next week, so if I sell out next Saturday, my clients can always come to that show. okay, I have to go paint!

flowers!!!!

oh my gosh! I was interrupted writing that last entry by the doorbell. I got flowers for my birthday!!!! A beautiful fall bouquet. here they are...Dorine, my "other mother" sent them to me. I lived next door to her in Shelbyville and she is my role model. she has taught me so much, cared about me, listened to me and been honest with me. I want to be like her when I grow up! she is an outdoors woman, a retired trust officer (man does she ever help me with business decisions!) a gardener and an over achiever volunteer for lucky Shelby county. she has four grown children of her own, I have lost track of how many grandchildren and her first great-grand child. and me. I am so blessed to have her in my life! AND she sends ME flowers on my birthday. wow. my Japanese friends are right, I am lucky!

I had better get back to work. cake is baked and iced. the clay is calling!

busy!

busy. it is raining out so it is a little easier to stay inside and sculpt. I came up with this wonderful idea for anew harp seal. I haven't made them for a while so it's fun to try them again.

Ben, my son took me out to dinner for my birthday last night. he had made the most adorable things, glazed several pieces and so we switched boxes after dinner! he will have some really good stock for the season. his houses are just amazing and the little sleighs filled with packs and presents and tiny little dogs are so cute.

I had better go get busy, more polar bears, Santas and small rabbits today.

Good weekend

The weather here is unbelievable. I can see beautiful fall leaves in any direction. the color promises to be very good this year. the dogs keep waiting for and chasing deer. those poor deer, they have to decide if eating those delicious persimmons at the edge of the driveway is worth risking the wrath of the Jackson dogs. Must be! I took this picture at a place where we fish.

I made the cutest harp seals last night. I wanted to spend some time outside yesterday so I mowed and cleaned out the gutters. good!

okay, back to work!

I had a wonderful surprise last night! My good friend and hostess for the Yokohama leg of my trip to Japan called me last night! I had not spoken with Kazumi san Farry for a few months. She asked me when I was coming back to japan!!! Oh how I wish. Still, I plan on visiting again soon. this reminded me that I had made her special ritabunnies this summer to be sent when she returned from their summer n Vancouver, so I will ship them to her in japan today. it is high time I sent all those ladies I visited a newsletter and the little photo books Allyson made for them. Nice fall treat! I had better include some chocolate.

I really have to make reindeer today. they are laying their all legged out and ready to go. I be they think I don't love them anymore. so! back to work and I must get after it, as they say in Lawrence county...

Rainy Day

It's raining on Rabbitville Road today. I am not complaining as we so need the rain. My poor flowers are so tired. This should perk them up. the puppies are a bit bored with this second day of rain but they are outside anyway, trying to make the best of it.

Now this is an older picture of jack but it is just so darn cute I wanted to use it. We were at Morgan's house and her lovely Lab Milan kept bringing toys to jack so he could play with them. What a good friend that Milan!

okay, I have go make more Nativity...and bunnies and reindeer and everything else! I am so lucky.

Fall on Rabbitville Road

Saturday morning..market day! I love to go to the Orange County Farmer's Market, held in congress Square in Orleans, IN. I always start the shopping trip off with a free cup of coffee courtesy of the Lost River Co-op. The vendors are friendly, the produce fresh and fine and the crafts are so much fun. Today I bought a great big pumpkin of course, some odd gourds, but also another watermelon! My greatest prize was the only bunch of bittersweet I saw. I got that from my watermelon guy.
The absolutely wonderful lidded bowl at right came from Jackie Brock, a very talented man who brings his work to the market.

The air is crisp this morning. The leaves are starting to turn. The dogs are outside playing and I am making vegetable soup. Kelly took me to see the haunted campground last night at Spring Mill State Park. People go all out gooping up their campsites in a yearly competion to scare the wits out of the lucky people who stroll through to admire their work. It was very festive last night with people just pulling in, cooking their dinners and putting up their decorations. Spring Mill offers so many fall events to enjoy! I truly love that park.

I am so blessed to have these sweet events to visit and enjoy!

jack!

I do love this dog. he is getting so big...almost 5 months old! he is such good company in the studio and I get my exercise letting him in and out when he MUST see what is going on outside. he is sure giving Annie and I a run for our money!

October arrives

October at last!!! this is my favorite month. I love the fall leaves, the color, the crispness in the air...and my birthday of course! I have been so busy. I have had lots of visitors to the Rabbitville Studio and just participated in funk in the city, a wonderful art fair in Evansville, IN. it is always fun to go see my friends.

I am crazy on Christmas now! I can hardly decide what to make next. it is so much fun. I ma adding more shows so I had better get busy.

Jack my puppy is getting so big. I can hardly believe it. he still thinks he is a lap puppy and wants to cuddle. for a minute anyway, and then he is off to the races after something that just moved! Life is so good....

Storm damage

Today is my baby girl's birthday. Her last she says as it is #29. Happy Birthday Allyson!!!!!! She and I were awful busy 29 years ago!

Thank heavens this tree did not hit my house. I think every foot of my yard has leaves or branches on it! The whole county is covered with broken trees leaves and branches. I am thankful there was not more damage. We are going to get out the chain saw tonight and cut this bad boy up and clean up the mess. the only casualty was my little yellow wagon; it looks like a fortune cookie!

Work is coming along well! I almost have the shop back together. Friends are coming Sunday to shop so it must be finished! I have pieces to make today too...

I just sent my son-in-law off with a good breakfast of blueberry muffins. I love it when he comes down to visit. He helps care for his Grandmother Hazel and when he comes from the Dunes to see her, I get the benefit of his stay. And speaking of damage, the Dunes sustained quite a bit of flood damage from Lake Michigan. The high waters undermined a 15 foot stretch of the lower parking lot. What a mess!

The Jackson Bed and Breakfast is going to be busy the next few weeks! Brandt here last night, Ben is coming this weekend to work int he studio and watch the puppies while I go see my sister Rosey and meet her new husband! Then next week my good friend Phyllis from new Mexico is coming to visit for a week! And Brandt and Ben!!!! I do love company.

A great weekend!

My first fall show was great. it is so much fun to catch up with everyone and hear the latest and show off what I have made. I got to see new babies! I am blessed with such good friends. The puppies missed me....The weekend was good altogether. Today we had that hard wind and it blew the top out of a tree in my back yard. It landed 3 feet from my new deck and about the same from my shed. Another huge tree fell over in my woods but thankfully did not land on the neighbor's property.

My friend Krystal came over tonight and I started the alterations on her wedding dress. She is so excited. She is marrying a very nice young Amish man named Henry. He is good to her and her children. I am so happy for her!

Late night with the kiln

I just put the kiln to bed. Hopefully everything will turn out! The puppies have been asleep for hours. I did glaze a lot of stuff tonight, but I so wanted to glaze the headless horseman. Oh well, next time!

All the world is quiet and it is time for me to catch some rest. tomorrow will be a busy day!

Autumn slips in...

Fall is here in Indiana. It got pretty chilly last night and I loved it. We walked the dogs and tromped through more dropped leaves on the path. It smelled like fall, too! The dogs are playing on the front deck right now, wrestling, jumping, enjoying the coolness. Jack is so good for Annie!

The birds and animals are starting to move. Huge flocks of starlings are gathering south of town, swooping, separating, coming back together in a ballet of preparation for their southward journey. The turkeys are milling about here on my farm, too...and it drives Annie crazy. She stands on the deck and barks at them furiously. Funny. She is really bothered by birds somehow, I think it is because they can fly away from her. Soon the cranes will be stopping over on their way south and she will really be beside herself. Jack gets really serious when he sees the geese at the Park, he stiffens and begins that point behavior. I think if I shot one he would happily retrieve it. The deer are moving too. All creatures are preparing for the coming winter.

And so am I!! Work is coming along so well. I have had several visitors at my studio lately and I enjoy it. Working by myself is good, peaceful. These visits from my friends, my neighbors stopping by and my evening walks even out my day. And of course, I am kept excellent company by my creations! More and more like Beatrix Potter? I hope so...I am well suited to this quiet life!

it's September after all!

Okay so this is how I feel right at this moment! I am sculpting, finishing the newsletter, printing the newsletter, house breaking a puppy, loving a puppy, trying to keep the puppy from eating my shoes, leg, hands and everything in the house, trying to go fishing, glazing, loading the kiln, planning on learning how to make chili rellenos from my neighbor, do the dishes, oh did I mention answer the phone and eat lunch? and sculpting? ha ha ha. busy Friday. And pretty normal for this time of year. It is hard to have a life and run a business and work and..enough of that.

I did teach myself how to print labels on envelopes so that saves a step. I do love my work so that is a good thing. Now if I could just type properly I would be all set!

The pieces that I am making are turning out so well and being well received. That makes me happy. Okay. back to work...

Labor Day weekend

I am so pleased with my corn shocks! Everything in the kiln turned out well last night. It has been a good week of results. I have felt pumped and have gotten a lot accomplished. Last night I worked on the website, catching up some of the pages that needed uploaded. The fall page looks great. Still need to do the Christmas one but that will require quiet a block of concentration. Ben spent the holiday weekend with me and our dogs played and wrestled like crazy. His haunted house turned out so well!

My new neighbor brought me a home made chili relleno. I was so thrilled to get it, eat it and by the crazy fact that she just brought it to me. I gave her two pieces of peach pie that I had made. She and her husband are going to show me how to make tamales. Life is amazing here on Rabbitville Road!

early fall day

I am making something new! I have been trying to figure out how to construct a corn shock for years. I think this will work. Am also making Halloween bunnies and other animals. Can't wait for my first show! Brandt brought Indigo down for a visit last night and all three puppies are wrestling, rolling, jumping and enjoying their visit. I baked fresh peach muffins for breakfast and took them warm to some of my special friends here in Mitchell and the Park. Life is good...I am so blessed.

Invitations!

Today I am working on the invitation to the fall show in Louisville. It will be held September 13th at the Clifton Center, 9 am till noon. It's fun to play with Publisher, my pictures and all the info to come up with this mailing. I am eager to get back to the clay. I'll take the dogs for their walk at Spring Mill and then fold these invitations. Maybe I'll have a bit of time later to create...

Visit to the Dunes

I spent the weekend with my daughter Allyson and her husband Brandt up at Indiana Dunes State Park. It is so beautiful there. The dogs all played together and ran on the beach. It was so relaxing and fun. My friend Judy went with me. She has known Brandt since he was a little boy. Fun! One last summer trip before I get really serious about Christmas.

Welcome!

Welcome to my online diary! I am so happy to share the stories of life on Rabbitville Road. I work in my studio by day, creating wonderful clay sculptures. This is a beautiful place, a retreat from the big world outside. It is peaceful and quiet and I am visited by all kinds of animals and interesting people. I have daily visits from mama deer and their fawns, rabbits, (of course!) possums, raccoons, mice, chipmunks, squirrels, turkeys, coyotes, and the neighborhood dogs and cats. I have flyovers by all kinds of birds, including sandhill cranes, herons, geese, eagles, hawks, owls and every other kind of bird imaginable. I have 17 fish living in my fish pond as well as some interesting frogs. I have two dogs, one 9 year old named Annie who followed me home one day when I was running. The other is an adorable pup named Jack who has cornered the market on cute. They are my constant companions. I love to garden, and live to be outside. But my deliberate passion is to create and clay is my medium. I plan to share my creative adventures with you and keep you updated on what is happening in my little part of the world. Life is indeed wonderful on Rabbitville Road!