tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8511940056023688072024-03-12T18:40:15.861-07:00Rita Jackson SculptorThis blog depicts an artist's life. It shares the stories of sculptor Rita Jackson in her studio on Taft St.Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-73236025637497078732018-06-01T05:24:00.000-07:002018-06-02T11:20:59.019-07:00Camp Gaga!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Summer is here. School is out and the weather has finally warmed up. It's time for Camp Gaga!<br />
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My grandkids and I have lots of fun. We do a lot of crafts, we study the world around us and we revel in the beauty of nature. But when summer comes, we just can't wait for the official start of Camp Gaga!!!<br />
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Wednesdays are our fun days. We gather in the morning and head outdoors to monitor the growth of all of Gaga's flowers. As the summer progresses, we anticipate the ripening of service berries, raspberries, black berries, and cherries. We plant a garden and we keep it weeded. We eat the vegetables when they are ready! We study seeds, plant them and watch them turn into beautiful bouquets that we pick for mommy. We soak up the sun.<br />
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We feed the birds and talk about what each kind eats. We listen for their songs and we watch the nest boxes for mama bird's head and then the babies' to peek out. We run and play tag.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Then we head inside to cool off and do some crafts. And one of our favorite things to do is cardboard sculpting. Gaga learned to sculpt as a child by putting things together. Gaga had two large cardboard tubes from bubble wrap rolls that she thought would make wonderful castle towers. But these creative kids had ideas of their own. "I know" he said, "I want to make a control center, a headquarters out of this pressed paper!" And she wanted to make a telescope and goggles for Gaga! It pays to save toilet and paper towel tubes, ribbon rolls and the pressed paper that comes in boxes packing fragile thing or tools. It gives you material to cut, create and tape together. We love tape at Camp Gaga.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">We play a bit and then it is time for our science experiment. Gaga has books of fun science things to do, and watches Instagram for ideas. This time we learned that gel food coloring is NOT the same as the good old liquid kind. Our science experiment didn't work but we will try it again and report back on that. We love donning our lab </span>aprons and safety glasses. We love science. <br />
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We have just plain fun at Camp Gaga too. We play lots of board games. My grandson loves board games and usually wins. It is a miracle when Gaga wins one to be honest. We laugh a lot because Gaga often has to miss a turn or go back to the beginning. We laugh and learn to be good sports. My grand daughter is learning to play them too, but she drifts off and plays with our doll houses. We roll the dice and advance either forwards or backwards depending on where we land. Yep, we learn that life is like that; forwards or backwards...but always full and rich and blessed beyond measure. Summer is here, Camp Gaga is in session and we are really happy about that!</div>
<br />Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-79709857311113166792018-05-14T07:19:00.000-07:002018-05-14T07:19:12.333-07:00The Jelly Wars, or The Orioles are Back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I call it the Jelly Wars. They are waiting up in the maple tree above the feeding station every morning. Waiting, hopping from limb to limb till I go out the door. I put more jelly and orange halves in the feeding tray for them and add more worms for the bluebirds. They fuss and fight and argue over the best place in line. Some of them wait patiently and some butt in line, squawking all the while. Now that I have hung up the hummingbird feeder, some will go straight to that. I think some just like to dive bomb the others and cause a flurry of bright orange feathers. I love it. </div>
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This was during a particularly wild encounter. <br />
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Over the weekend I watched and studied them. The feeder is right outside my kitchen window, so I can see them clearly and if I don't make any sudden moves, they don't notice me much. It is my bird blind. The oriole on the left is a juvenile female. The one below is an older female.<br />
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Mostly I just watch them eat. I have noticed other birds sharing the jelly; catbirds and a Swainson's Thrush really like it too. <br />
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Since they are gobbling down at least a third cup of jelly a day, I was sure glad to see this on sale sign at the grocery store! Now that I have really looked them over and have good pix, I am ready to try to make a couple. Stay tuned for that!Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-68378091943531368902018-05-07T12:35:00.001-07:002018-05-07T12:35:25.834-07:00Spring Flowers and Warm Sunshine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a long cold winter. Just look at this little bluebird, all puffed out to keep warm earlier this spring. He can relax now, because the temps are warmer and the sun is out! I am so happy for the warm up, I can hardly stay in the studio to do my work. Spring has finally come!<br />
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The spring flowers are finally popping out. This Virginia BlueBell is stunning. It sits next to some tall phlox. The bit of pink on tiny buds contrasts nicely with the full blown blue of the older blossoms, and the green leaves are a perfect background. I love this wild flower.<br />
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The Jack in the Pulpit is unfurling and Celadine Poppy is just beautiful. Spring! Color! Warmth! It all makes me so happy. Time to be outside as much as possible and enjoy the gardens and the birds. <br />
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Ben and I set up the booth early, early Saturday morning. It was warm and sunny and people came in droves to enjoy the day. I got to see so many old friends and made lots of new ones too. People loved what we brought! And we loved standing in the sun drinking up the warm weather. I can't begin to tell you what that did for my attitude. It must have had the same effect on the other fair goers because I heard over and over again how happy they were to have a nice day with no snow or cold winds. Yay!</div>
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We took down the booth when the show was over, </div>
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and I drove up to see my dear gardening friend </div>
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Gail Woodruff in Mitchell, IN. Her yard was way ahead of mine and the flowers were just beautiful. Her serviceberry had really bloomed out. I helped her put support rings around the peony plants we mulched last summer. I had lunch with some of her good friends from church. It was a nice meal. We did a few other gardening tasks also. We talked about quilting, art, cooking, grandkids and just about everything else...as we always do. I love my visits with Gail.<br />
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I left Sunday afternoon after a wonderful visit and headed to up to see my son Ben in Fountain Square. He was relaxing after our show. We had a nice dinner at The Red Lion Pub and hung out in <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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his studio. Of course we had ice cream cones from the tiny Dairy Queen down the street. He had to get up early for work, so I got ready and headed down to Sanders Jewelry for a visit with Nancy and Doug Seeman, and Peggy Phares too! We had fun and we switched out some spring items and I left some fresh pieces for the store. They are truly fine people and I love being there! </div>
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What a treat. Seeing all of these good friends and soaking up all of that sunshine. Still, I was missing my grandkids and it was time to head back up to Chesterton and my little cottage. I was happy to get home and see my flowers blooming and feel the warm temps up in my neck of the woods. Farewell to Indiana's southern coast, and hello to Indiana's northern one! And finally, I welcome Spring and being able to comfortably be outdoors! </div>
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Thanks to everyone for my nice trip, good sales and sweet friendship. ❤️</div>
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Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-13919574942069615692018-03-26T13:05:00.000-07:002018-03-26T15:31:49.351-07:00Consider Boutique!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I held my first show at Consider Boutique on St Patrick's Day! Ben and I worked hard in preparation, sculpting all our best ideas. I drove down on Friday, and Louisville Team Rabbit Captain Clarice Denoux and shop owner Casey Emrich helped me set up. </div>
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Casey had a place all picked out for our tables. After all the boxes were in, Clarice and Casey started placing the pieces to their best advantage. It looked wonderful!<br />
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Clarice and I went back to her house and relaxed. While she cooked a yummy dinner, I priced some more pieces. It's always so nice to visit after setting up. <br />
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Clarice is a wonderful cook. We talked and caught up. <br />
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This is Toots the shop dog.</div>
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The show was great!!! We had a good crowd and great visits. I want to give a big shout out to Team Rabbit members Clarice Denoux, Debbie Uhl and Mary Jane Emrich. They make my shows fun and doable! I also want to thank Shopkeeper Casey Emrich for letting us have our show at Consider Boutique. I love this shop and having them represent us. I left a good selection of items for spring, so be sure to stop in and get that perfect hostess gift or addition to your own collection. I have already made some tiny "pocket ritas" to send as soon as they are ready. </div>
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So, if you need a rita or a ben, stop in at</div>
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107 S. Bayly</div>
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Louisville, KY</div>
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Consider Boutique is located one block south of Frankfort Ave, turn on Bayly between Porcini's and Carmichael's Bookstore. </div>
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<br />Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-54135230234567545872018-03-13T09:03:00.002-07:002018-03-14T06:53:00.643-07:00Spring Show in Shelbyville, Indiana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We just had a fantastic Spring Show in Shelbyville, Indiana. I lived there for over 22 years and it will always feel like home to me, so when I go back for shows I am always excited for the homecoming feel and the chance to see my lifelong friends! It takes a lot of work getting ready for one of our shows, getting the ideas, sculpting the pieces, firing them, glazing them, and then firing them a second time. After all of this creating part is finished, then I have to pack it all up and take it to the venue. By this time I have set up the show, publicized it, worked with Team Rabbit to help me and made arrangements for Leon to stay with my daughter and family. That is important. <br />
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We pack very carefully in boxes that have dividers that I have made to fit the boxes. It's precious cargo!<br />
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Team Rabbit helps unpack and place the items for the show. We have a great visit and get to catch up on all the latest news. Steve Kehl unpacks pieces in this picture, while his wife Susan gets her wrapping table ready in the back ground. Team Rabbit rocked this show.<br />
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After we are set up, we go get something to eat at one of our favorite places. We love the fish sandwiches at West Side Pub and Grub. Team Rabbit Captain Nancy Seeman and her husband Doug always know the best places! They are the owners of Sanders Jewelry Store in Shelbyville and they carry our work in their store. I stay with them when I am in town. It's the best. </div>
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Team Rabbit bakes and brings the most yummy treats. Here we see Ben with Susan Kehl, Nancy Seeman and Mary Kay Cortelyou right before the show. Sandy Learned and Marcia Kuhn were there to help too. After taking this picture I went outside to visit with the eager shoppers waiting in line. We had fun and then it was time for the doors to open. I am sorry I don't have pictures of the crowd during the show, but the girls were using my phone to take credit cards and I was busy visiting and answering questions. It was a lovely whirl of shopping, visiting, and lots of hugs. Oh, and sharing pictures and stories about grandkids. Thank you Team Rabbit and thank you to all of my dear friends who came to visit and get their ritas and bens. XOXOXO!</div>
Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-67026283612127151142018-02-23T08:20:00.001-08:002018-02-23T18:17:57.330-08:00Art Imitates Life or, Life inspires Art<br />
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Probably the question I am asked the most is "Where do you get all your ideas?" It's usually followed with very much appreciated comments about my creativity, sense of humor and whimsy. I'm always at a loss to answer this very important and sincere inquiry because honestly my mind works overtime with suggestions for what I should make next. What my eyes see my hands often want to put into clay. How does this happen? Let's take a look.<br />
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One of my neighbors gave me this wonderful bird bath. He thought I should have it because I love nature. So, I might look at this and start to think about how to sculpt it. Then I see the birds gathered around one of my bird feeding stations and I start thinking about that. This might dance around quietly in my head for a few days or weeks and it finally comes out like this birdbath with delightful little bathers eagerly awaiting their turn.<br />
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Here's one more. The birds in my garden constantly amaze and amuse me. Last year I had two successive and successful blue bird nestings. The Mr chose it, the Mrs agreed and I had bustling, busy, chatty flashes of blue all summer long. So of course, I am making lots of birds and birdhouses this spring. I am not a realist in my work. I think I should be classified as an Impressionist, because I like to bend and alter colors, attitudes and activities to match what I see in the aforementioned crazy brain. And besides, it's really hard to get that color of blue...<br />
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Back to the two cutie pies and the clay piece at the top. My grandkids are always up to something. I love that about them and I try to keep my phone/camera ready. When I started making gates, inspired by my blue million trips to the fenced in garden for Leon's potty breaks, the first one I HAD to make featured the rascally bunnies sneaking into a garden with a locked gate. My grandkids inspire me like everything else. And I am thankful for that. <br />
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Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-49659991470105181342018-02-16T13:23:00.000-08:002018-02-16T13:23:12.349-08:00Time in Fountain Square<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was tempted south by warmer weather earlier this week. I needed clay and glazes, but mostly I wanted to visit my son Ben in Fountain Square. This is an arts district in Indianapolis and I really enjoy being there and experiencing the area, the food and the fun. Ben lives in a beautiful older home with hardwood floors, high ceilings and a great big kitchen. His studio is downstairs in his basement and is a cozy, creative space. I took a few pix during my visit, but mostly I well...visited!</div>
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This is Ben's cat Heimdall. He is a great studio cat and frequently sits in Ben's lap while he works. Ben has another cat named Porch Cat who is very shy, and a wiry rescue pup named Bacon. Bacon is too active to photograph, but he loves when Gaga visits. He always dances for me.<br />
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Ben is a landscape architect by profession and works for the city of Indianapolis, making their parks wonderful. But he has been sculpting since he was very young and has always enjoying working in the clay. I am so proud of his work in the park system AND the wonderful dogs he makes. He throws on the wheel too, but right now we both are gearing up for the Spring Show Season. It's wonderful to share my business with him and plan new seasonal pieces, shows and techniques. </div>
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So. Well fed and loved, armed with a fresh supply of clay and new glazes, hours of interesting talk about everything and more, I headed back up to the frozen north. I loved my little art to heart getaway and am steadily back at work. Thanks Ben! I can't wait to see what you make with your clay!</div>
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<br />Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-71834798183193638882018-02-11T09:08:00.000-08:002018-02-11T09:08:09.102-08:00Valentine's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We take holidays very seriously here <span style="text-align: center;">and Valentine's Day is no exception. We have baked heart shaped </span>cookies and iced them since the kids were little and now the grandkids get to help. It's a fun thing to do and you get to eat the results! It's a win-win situation for all involved. </div>
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We also make wonderful clay sculptures decorated with hearts and flowers that tenderly tug at the heart. While they can't be eaten, they have a very long shelf life. These little bunnies, pigs, chicks, dogs and a whole variety of animals make the perfect gift for that special someone in your life or add a bright spot of color in your kitchen or any room in the house. </div>
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I love my dog Leon. He is just the best. And when I look at the dogs that Ben sculpts, I know that he gets it. We are big dog lovers and these sweet little pups just say it all. Perfect.</div>
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Because that is all we really need, right? <br />
Love, cookies and ritabunnies!<br />
<br />Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-13659655102913481172018-02-08T06:05:00.000-08:002018-02-08T06:05:08.298-08:00My Little Shop Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's a Gaga day. And my grand-daughter has come to visit. My grandson is now 6 and in first grade. Pink (that's what I have called her from the first moment I saw her when she was born) loves to come and spend the day. She's a very bright, vivacious, determined little child and she loves to help. We do crafts, we feed the birds, we build with legos, we fold clothes, we play with the doll house, we do dishes. But she really loves to be a shop girl and help Gaga in the studio. This girl simply loves to paint.<br />
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She makes things out of the clay I use, and now that she is 3 and a big girl (no Gaga, I'm a little girl, I'm just not a baby) she makes things that look like what she wants them to look like. Gaga fires them and then she paints them! Oh the colors! The pink and purple, the red and green...the blue. She's a natural. Mommy says Gaga is really patient and I say I am grooming my future helper. And besides, I really enjoy her company. <br />
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She loves to help me when I ship things to "far away." She loves to pop the bubble wrap, just like big brother and Mommy and Uncle Ben did when they were little. She draws pictures on the notes I tuck inside and she plays with the calculator. But most of all, she loves to see what Gaga makes. And hold it in her little hand. Some special little someone has come to visit, and brighten Gaga's day. <br />
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Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-53160175500200695002018-02-04T09:03:00.000-08:002018-02-04T09:03:27.063-08:00Snowy Sunday Morning on Taft St.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I woke up to snow this morning. It is February and winter has time left on the clock. My daughter and grandkids were very excited at the prospect of more sledding, but I will admit my heart sank a little at the weather forecast last night. The snow is lovely but the coming frigid temps don't sound too appealing. Still, the studio is cozy and it is a great time for sculpting some orders and new ideas. Watching the birds at the feeders prompts me to get to work. <br />
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Mrs. Cardinal stopped in for a snack. She and the Mr. are regular visitors at my feeders and I love seeing their bright color against the snow. She was joined by house sparrows, a chickadee, a downy woodpecker, house finches and a few starlings. <br />
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I have really been enjoying making these birds. Like I said before, I keep making them smaller and in different forms. These soft blue pocket birds will be wonderful and so tiny! You can see that I have a little cardinal there too. I am making a bigger size cardinal this morning. Art imitates life. And life is very good on Taft St. <br />
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Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-48279196134204875342018-02-01T09:14:00.001-08:002018-02-01T09:14:46.356-08:00My Little Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love sculpting things out of clay. But I really love making little things. Maybe they feel like tiny treasures. Maybe they add a little bit of color that can brighten you day. And maybe I just like tiny items. My soft blue birds are really popular so my mind moves them from 3 dimensional pieces to a Christmas ornament and now a pin or magnet. <br />
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And these! They are about an inch or less tall and so sweet. They are simple but full of life and color. My daughter has named them "Pocket ritas" and I think the name fits. You can perch one of them on a window sill or a shelf. I think I will try making one of the soft blue birds this size...<br />
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Ideas are running around in my head so I better get back to work!Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-41371447502199548792018-01-29T11:14:00.000-08:002018-01-30T06:51:25.755-08:00A Lovely Visit with the Bluebirds<br />
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It's been a cold winter with quite a bit of snow up here by the Lake. The temps warmed up this weekend, and the bluebirds came out in force. I think they were as excited to feel the sunshine as I was. Two pairs frolicked around my yard, checking out nesting sites and bird feeders. </div>
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They were chattering and busy! I had two successive nestings in one of my blue bird houses last summer, so I am hoping that they approve of the real estate and nest here again. It's so interesting to watch the Mr. come and go, passing in worms and other little delights to the Mrs. on the nest, and then the babies when they hatch.<br />
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This photo is blurry, but you can see Mr. Bluebird surveying the real estate. Mrs. Bluebird looked it over soon after this. One couple would swoop in, and the other couple would brush them away, chattering the whole time with their opinions. Then they would land on the overhead wire and talk things over some more. <br />
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I feed the birds year round. I put dried meal worms in this lovely turquoise feeder and the blue birds love it. Last summer I had 4 bluebirds (probably some of them juveniles) sitting on the feeder having a snack. They also eat from the shelf feeder and the suet cakes. <br />
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This bit of bright sunshine, warmer weather and colorful bluebirds has really raised my spirits. I suspect there will be more snow before spring arrives completely, but I am thrilled for this respite! And I certainly enjoy the inspiration of these beautiful blue birds. <br />
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Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-92128315137756410622018-01-27T19:20:00.000-08:002018-01-27T19:20:32.672-08:00Goodbye Old Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Questrial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">A very good dog died today. He belonged to my daughter and son-in-law and had guarded them with grace and love for 18 years. He came to them as a stray and quickly settled into their lives. He was a regular in my studio, enjoying time with his “cousins” and not seeming to mind being low man on the totem pole. They went out, he went out. They ran, he ran. And they all slept in a heap, arguing over who got the best bed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Questrial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">He became a Dunes dog when they moved up to Northwest Indiana. He learned to love the sand and kick it up while he ran. When a boxer mix named Zia joined his family, he was thrilled. Then babies came and he grew to be the elder statesman in this family, watching over all of them and loving them as only a loyal dog can. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Questrial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">He will be missed. His grace and dignity as age took away his strength has touched us. The pup we loved still shone in his eyes and he still got excited for treats. Godspeed Indigo, we love you.</span></div>
Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-1054623796427316632013-07-11T20:23:00.000-07:002013-07-12T05:12:23.147-07:00Taft and Washington<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love my neighborhood. I have not lived in town for over 26 years. But my house on Taft Street sits on two lots so I have breathing room. The house has been well loved and wonderfully landscaped with so many flowers and exotic trees that it was "The envy of the neighborhood" according to my neighbor who lives on the west side of me. She is the one who invited me to have Memorial Day dinner with her and her interesting family. I have been working on the yard, weeding, moving flowers and mulching. Apparently this makes my neighbors happy. <br />
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A young man and his father live across the street to the south of me. The son is a nice, helpful young man who helped me plow out my driveway last winter. He also brought me mushrooms this spring. This picture is of a deer that visits their yard every evening. I was missing my deer something awful last week and I looked up and saw this doe grazing on the clover in their back yard! When I told the father about it, he said that he has a fox that comes at 4 am every morning too. My animals have found me I thought...<br />
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A few days ago a nice young man was walking down the street with his very blond and curly little girl I asked how old she was and he replied in the thick Irish brogue I remember from Catholic school as a girl! I told him about my grandson, anything, to keep hearing that lilt and accent. I love the diversity here right down the street. I have a single mom who lives catty corner from me too. She and I really relate and have great conversations about our lives, kids and all the craziness that goes on in the world. I like her. She is friendly and down to earth. And the most amazing woman lives across the alley. She is larger than life and has a huge white, pet rabbit. Naturally we bonded easily.<br />
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I started mowing my yard this evening. Lovely time to do it, still warm, still sunny. A jogger ran past, I waved, so did he. Then a neighbor lady came walking up with her very "chatty" little dog. She stopped and wanted to visit! She always worries that her dog barks too much, but he stopped and calmed down as I petted him. She chatted away, and told me that she misses her grandkids. She asked if I mow to get some sun, "No, it is part of my work out" I replied...I like her. I think she lives in the house with the beautiful roses out front so I should try to visit sometime. She is nice. I started mowing again. The father who has the fox in his yard came over and motioned me to stop. Now he worked as a greens keeper at a golf course so he knows grass and lawnmowers. He had something to give me which was a jug of flower fertilizer. He said, "I don't need this but you do. It is awful heavy, but you can use it on those flowers. You are really making this place look nice." I liked hearing that. I like knowing it even more. I like the people I have met here and I like that it is quiet and people are nice to one another. I like that rabbits are everywhere, that deer wander about and foxes slip silently through at about 4 am. Sweet little neighborhood, my new place to live.<br />
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Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-91483677066850731182013-06-24T05:53:00.000-07:002013-06-24T05:53:05.482-07:00Asher and I had a late afternoon date yesterday. We drew pictures first. First we drew one of Gaga and her curly red hair, and then one of Asher standing next to Gaga. When it was time to draw Asher's blonde hair, I drew it curly. He squealed, pointed at my hair, his hair and we both said "Curly!" We played in the sand box for a while, but decided a picnic on the beach would be better. He could hardly wait for Gaga to pack the stuff, but had me lower the sand pail with beach toys one more time so he could be sure I had everything he wanted. We took each item out, like a checklist and added it back in. Both of us nodded and we were on our way.<br />
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First things first. We found our spot. The beach was still busy from a beautiful weekend, so we wound our way down to the lake's edge. We pulled out the sand toys and started finding rocks and digging for wet sand. Asher made me a sand pie. Now I like rocks in my pie, but he does not, so I had to agree to have them on the side. That's ok, I think he will develop a taste for them later in life. We built a couple of castle turrets, but he was more interested in the "GULLS!" and rocks this time. <br />
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We ate our snack, goldfish crackers and cold water, and watched the people and the waves. It was sublime. <br />
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The time passed. We moved from spot to spot as the rest of the beach goers left, one tired group at a time. The breeze off the lake started to feel cooler as the sun started sinking. He remembered that our jackets had pockets so we started filling up them up with one curious rock after another. Gaga suggested we might want to start towards the car...<br />
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Now leaving the beach after a wonderful time like this is never easy. There is always one more shovel of sand, one more rock, one more gull to chase and one more something that delays our departure. "Wow," he says, "hole!" He explored it, climbed in, out and all around. Why do we have to leave yet anyway? Bedtime? Naah, Gaga thinks, we won't worry about that tonight.<br />
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Once more close to the water. I wonder if he knew this magical moment was waiting. Sun dropping, turning the lake into a silver mirror, warm brown sand and a little boy staring into that water with far seeing eyes. I snapped several pictures and then I stopped and watched as he said "Bye, bye" to his favorite place to play and laugh and learn. Some times are special to a Gaga and her precious little boy, but this one was magical and will stay in the heart forever. Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-28822234123332622302013-06-01T19:10:00.000-07:002013-06-01T19:10:13.008-07:00<br />
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My house came with a beautifully landscaped yard. The gardens are filled with the most amazing trees, shrubs and flowers, many that I have never see before. This first spring is like a birthday every day...each morning I go out to see what is blooming! This beautiful flower is a Sweet Bay Leaf magnolia and the blooms are huge and fragrant. <br />
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This must be an old fashion fairy rose. It is so softly pink and tiny and covered in blossoms! It looks so pretty growing against the white picket fence. <br />
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This unusual tree is a fringe tree. It is covered in feathery white blooms with the softest fragrance. I looked it up online and a website said it was lovely viewed at night under the light of the full moon. I will add that an evening of great blues music, a good friend and some tequila add to the experience. <br />
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And here is my peekaboo rose. This curious bud sneaked out of the slats in the privacy fence on the alley side of the dog park. So much beauty must burst forth I guess, it just has to fill the world. <br />
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There are so many roses planted in this yard, and they are covered in buds. Shrubs and flowering trees are full of buds also and I can hardly wait to see what they produce!<br />
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One of my neighbors told me that my yard was the envy of the neighborhood. I can hardly wait for more proof!Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-42968725807955935372013-03-26T06:20:00.000-07:002013-03-26T06:20:56.939-07:00Spring Show Season Preparations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The spring show season is here and I am really enjoying it. I just had a wonderful show in Shelbyville, Indiana, where I used to live and raised my kids. It was busy non stop and I got to see so many of my friends! It always helps to get the first one under my belt so I can see what people like. These bunnies were the first to go, better make more!<br />
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My next show is a new one for me. It is called the Indie Arts Vintage Marketplace and will be held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds April 6th. Here are a couple of links with some more information:<br />
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https://www.facebook.com/iavmindy?fref=ts<br />
http://www.indieartsvintage.blogspot.com/<br />
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I am sculpting more new items for this show, great ideas that I got at the last minute and just didn't have time to make. Ben is making lots of dogs, too, and I can't wait to see them!<br />
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The Fairy Garden Collection has grown also. Lots of new animals, birds and fun, tiny, little pieces that will add color and interest to your miniature landscapes. There are even wee little owls that sit on a pic overseeing all that happens in these tiny forests. <br />
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The booth I use is getting a spring overhaul as well. Living in this cottage has given me lots of ideas about room like presentation. I can't wait!<br />
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New Pins, new ritabunnies...new life! It is spring after all. <br />
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Yep, it has been very busy here in the cottage on Taft Street! And that is how I like it.<br />
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<br />Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-5720805327677969242013-03-18T06:54:00.001-07:002013-03-18T06:54:15.734-07:00Wren's Nest<br />
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A wren can live anywhere. I had a very determined one on Rabbitville Road, who kept building her nest in my gas grill. I finally gave up, and didn't cook out that summer. One also built a nest in a pile of sticks on the patio by my studio. She often perched on the fence outside the windows and sang and, I thought, peeked in to see what I was doing in my nest. We had lovely conversations, but I was frequently scolded for coming too near her territory when I came and went. Now miles away, and shaking off the cold, I opened the back door of my car the other day and realized the reason for some of those scoldings...she had built a nest in the spare wheel that is attached to the back of my car! Nesting season was over and the nest had been empty, but here was a sweet little remembrance of my old place and my little wren companion. Bits of sticks and that lovely moss that carpeted my woods were carefully patched into a nursery and a sweet memory. What a lovely going away present...<br />
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I take inspiration from my surroundings when I sculpt. I draw on my experiences and interpret them in clay. That's what artists do I guess. I have been sculpting these rust colored little bits of energy for a few years now. They completely fascinate me and they let me be familiar, share their lives. I love the color and the movement, and I love their adaptability. I see that there is a wren bird house on the garden fence here, so I will be looking forward to making new friends and hearing their songs. A woman I met up here has asked me several times what I am naming my cottage and I have decided. No surprise at all...Wren's Nest. A wren can live anywhere, and so can I.<br />
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Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-22995360981724279002013-03-11T06:37:00.000-07:002013-03-11T06:37:15.159-07:00Morning and Spring is in the Air<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's morning on Taft Street. I start my day in this sunny kitchen and prepare myself for sculpting. I do my morning marketing and drink that important cup of coffee. Then it's off to the studio to work in the clay. <br />
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Spring is in the air and I feel it. The blackbirds are here and singing and the other birds are joining right in with their own spring songs. The itch to be outside in my yard pulls at me. This spring will be delightful, watching all these mystery plants come up and learning what is planted in my new yard. The cottage is delightfully landscaped, and the former owners sent me a list of a some of what is planted. Roses! It has been years since I had cultivated ones. Can't wait.<br />
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Taking the dogs out for a break, I see that I have Snowdrops up and blooming already! And they are right in the fairy garden. It must be fairy magic. My grandson and I are going to do a lot of playing in that little spot this spring and summer. <br />
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Spring is coming in the studio too. I am sculpting the Spring Collection for my upcoming shows. Since I love rabbits there will lots of those, but also wrens and chickens. New pins and earrings, pigs and foxes...it promises to be a great season. These bunnies with their bright, cheery flowers remind me that warm weather is coming, and soon.<br />
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This wren perched on a teacup has been tossing around in my mind for some time. I love wrens and the fact that they will build their nests anywhere, even in a discarded cup. There's a lesson about happiness there I am sure. <br />
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This time of seasonal anticipation fills me with delight. It's morning, and I am so ready for spring!Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-29304273139074469832013-03-08T06:43:00.000-08:002013-03-08T06:43:31.851-08:00The Cottage on Taft Street<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm settling in. It took me about a year to make it happen, but I moved up near my daughter and her small family this past August. I now live in a 1939 Cape Cod cottage near Lake Michigan and I love it. I can tell you it has been a remarkable undertaking, exhausting, monumental and rewarding. It took me 3 months to find the box with my socks in it and there are still things I can't find. But I am in, becoming a part of my new community and loving each and every minute of watching my grandson grow and explore. "Tanks Gaga..." that's all it takes.<br />
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But how does this old crabby basement become a studio? With memories of my lovely tucked in Rabbitville Road work area still tangled in my mind, and a lot of help from my friends, I started in. Two heavy coats of bright white Dryloc worked wonders. This past Christmas season, my busiest time of the year, I worked out of boxes, finding each new color of glaze as I needed it. I had a simple work table and a glazing station. Shipping happened on another banquet table. Boxes everywhere but it worked. <br />
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Thank you Kathryn for that lovely set of purple shelves. This is that same corner before hurricane Rita happened. And I mean this little sculptor, not the weather kind. (I am sure I did more damage.) After Christmas shelves were placed and jars of glaze found their homes. <br />
Those months of intense holiday working gave me a good idea of what to put where. <br />
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Scary, isn't it? I have made a lot of progress in the last few months. I want to give a big shout out to Brandt and Allyson, Mike and Kim, Lexie, Ben and of course, my little cutie pie Asher. Obviously there is a long way to go, but wonderful things are coming out of this studio. I like it. Asher made his first sculptures here, his first owl. And I am only 5 miles from Lake Michigan...good decision. Now I had better get back to work. Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-43125081568135845162012-05-31T20:09:00.000-07:002013-02-27T08:17:39.272-08:00Fairy Gardens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love little things. Teeny tiny, miniature items from daily life have always made me smile. I have collected them for years, tucked in little boxes and wrapped in tissue, safe. And I love gardening. I love planting, nurturing, protecting and watching new life grow, all green and ready to make flowers. So, this business of fairy gardens is just my style. I have been making all kinds of bits and pieces and putting them together in little planters. <br />
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It is kind of like playing with doll houses again, except you are playing with furniture and little things in dirt. That makes it even better! Here is a picture of my first fairy garden. I even made tiny little bunnies.<br />
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Now who wouldn't want to live in a little house like this. I like to put houses in my little gardens. I think it makes it more inviting for fairies and wee folk to want to live there. The colors are amazing and add so much to green, green plants. <br />
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My son Ben has gotten in the mix too, making little dog houses and pups in just the right scale to make little dog gardens. I just love these! He is making tiny garden tools and watering cans too.<br />
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This is just too much fun! We are bringing them to our summer shows, see you there!<br />
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Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-69297433893629799772012-03-02T04:33:00.001-08:002012-03-02T04:33:28.425-08:00The Nursery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Somehow we always end up in here. After we have chased the puppy and grabbed her tail and been licked on the head. After we have emptied the cabinet that holds the plastic containers and scattered them all over the floor and cooked imaginary meals that we know mommy would certainly enjoy. After we have stepped out on the deck and looked at all the constellations we need to talk about. After we have played with our toys and left them all over the living room floor. We somehow end up back here, in the nursery with the special toys that wait for bedtime. We sit on the floor and play with each car and truck. We stack our blocks and we knock them down and we turn on the toy that Gaga loves the most. It's a plastic alarm clock music box, with star shaped buttons on the front. When you push the purply star it plays classical music. The blue button plays Brahm's Lullaby, but we're not ready to go to sleep just yet. Gaga's favorite, and the best, is the green one that makes the nature sounds. We love that one. It sounds like spring peepers and crickets and water rushing by in a little creek. And every once in a while, we hear a night bird and a bull frog that says "Barrumph!"</div>
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The top of this toy is magical. There is a place where light shines through a little stencil. We take turns putting our hands over it and it shines flower shaped bits of light on our fingers, like the constellations we gazed at in the starry sky earlier in the night. Maybe that is why Gaga loves this toy the most, those dear and familiar animal sounds and the stars above that remind her of home. </div>
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We listen and we continue playing. Cars roll under the bed and we fetch them out, zebras dance across the floor and dolphins swim all in a line, until baby scatters them like the waves that hit the shore of the lake nearby. Baby goes after this toy and that, but always circles back to sit next to Gaga. Then it's off to play again. He climbs her knees like a tower and gives her another hug. Finally, baby crawls up to Gaga, and stops, stares intently at her and then gives her a little kiss on the cheek, musses her hair and smiles. Perfect moment that Gaga will never forget. He chases after another toy as the music box plays on. </div>
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We're getting sleepy now, both of us. After this long day of playing and visiting and looking at giant animals that must be mooses, and scary animals that must be bears, it's getting close to bedtime. This day has been so perfect, we don't want it to end. One more change of diaper, one more big hug. One more crawling around the room with sleepy eyes and baby yawns and Gaga sings the sleepy song that mommy started months ago. Sleepy baby, time to say goodnight...</div>Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-23957445335353758382012-03-01T04:16:00.000-08:002012-03-01T04:16:28.081-08:00Our Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ahh, we have a day. How are we going to spend it? </div>
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I watched my grandson the complete day today. Mommy had a very special Chamber of Commerce dinner that she organized and daddy helped out too. I got to be moral support and baby watcher. Sweet. We got up, got ready and took off on an adventure! We decided start it off right and go to one of our favorite places, Bass Pro Shop and look at the animals and watch the fish. </div>
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<img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M_zyvgr_LOA/T07gFCNMSbI/AAAAAAAAAeo/DK_sVdSXsTk/s200/asherbasspro.jpg" width="200" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">The aquarium there is huge, filled with all kinds of freshwater fish that one could no doubt catch if they were using tackle purchased from this store. Baby's eyes were glued to the fish movement and the water fall above it. He talked to them a bit and we moved on. We talked to mounted foxes, bears and moose. He was stony faced when we came up to the big grizzly mount. He stared. But the moose was almost too much for him. A salesman said, "You can see that he just can't quite wrap his mind around it." Perfectly stated. I could see the wheels turning, the mini daddy mind calculating the size and trying to understand if this was some kind of really huge dog? And would it step on him? Or lick him on the head like his puppies do with some really huge slurp? Shudder. </span></div>
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We stopped in to see busy mommy for a minute. Yep, she was busy alright. We went to McDonald's for a snack and I finally got a picture of his first tooth that came in yesterday! And the second one which thank heavens popped out today. First time trip to McDonald's for us, he enjoyed the place but really didn't eat much. </div>
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Michaels! Aisle after aisle of wonderful colors and toys and paper and all the things that gaga and baby love. We had a whirlwind tour trying to spend that 40% off coupon because we were meeting our very dear friends for lunch. He teaches people how to run businesses, she teaches people how to knit. They are lovely! He took mommy and one of his daughters to China a couple of years back, she taught mommy all kinds of things about new babies and nutrition. They are keepers. </div>
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Baby sat between Nana Knitter and I. While we were eating, and we talked to him quite a bit, baby leaned over towards me. He looked at Nana Knitter and he looked at me. Then he looked back at her, reached down and patted my arm and said "Gaga." We were amazed. This is my gaga he was saying, and she and I have adventures. We go see great big hairy things and she tells me what they are and stories about them. We talk about our plans for fishing and camping and we walk on the beach. We dance and we laugh and we eat ice cream every chance we get. She gets me to eat my vegetables and she has me try new things and buys me watermelon and we eat it and laugh. She loves me, and I love her. She is my gaga!</div>
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We had a day and we filled it with fun and play, visiting and learning. It was the best and you can bet there will be more.</div>
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<br /></div>Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851194005602368807.post-42872066609007928262012-02-24T18:03:00.000-08:002012-02-25T21:24:22.061-08:00The Written Word<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Did you ever get news? I mean NEWS that just surprised the heck out of you and was totally unexpected? Nice kind of news, like a pat on the back or an amazing bit of, well, news!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have experienced this joyful situation a couple of times lately, and it all has to do with the written word. Let me tell you about what I heard today, because it effects a decision I have to make about what happened February 13th. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have been really busy. Too busy to think let alone write. It has been a long couple of days. Warm weather gone, I trudged into the post office to mail show invitations. One of my neighbors came in after me and asked if I had heard his "Announcement." (Grandfather? I started to say...) And then I got the news. I have lived down the lane from this man for over 16 years and if I were dangling over a vat of something vile and scorching hot, I could not have saved my own life by guessing what his wonderful news would be. Never. "I have written a BOOK!" (Again my mind searched the wild range of possibilities. Dogs?) He said..."I'm a poet and I have just published my first book!"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What? This bear of a man who plows out my snow covered drive so my family can get in for Christmas? What what what? We went on to talk all about writing, about life and living out our dreams, and his wonderful book that we hope one of our other neighbors who drives a UPS truck might deliver that very day. Hope. I can't tell you how incredibly proud I am of this man, a retired school teacher and Humane Society volunteer, who has written what I'm guessing will be a tender collection of his poems called <u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books&ie=UTF8&field-author=Buddy%20Hendricks">Whispers of Autumn, Love and Reflection.</a></u></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This brings me to another evening, another tired Me sitting here after another long day. A very good writer friend of mine Ginger Janda, had complimented me on my blog. And then I was invited to read the latest post in hers, <u><a href="http://thebeachwriter.com/2012/02/13/sunshine-state-of-mind/">The Beach Writer.</a></u> Ginger is a wonderful writer, and used to write for and run the local newspaper. She grew up in the newspaper business, and I suspect has printing ink running in her veins. She and her family are now living in Jacksonville, Florida, where they are pursuing their creative dreams. Being a poster child for such endeavors, I am thrilled with every post, beach picture and comment I see on facebook and in her blog. I am proud of her for doing it. Anyway, back to this blog post. In it, she announced very proudly that she had won the Sunshine Award for her blog, and was required to follow certain steps in the acceptance of it. In agreeing to accept it, she had to thank the person who gave it to her, answer certain questions, and pass it along to 10 more people. In true Ginger creative fashion, she chose 5 instead of 10, and based it on the creativity of each writer, each person. Now it gets exciting, now here is my NEWS: she chose me as one of her Round Table. I was amazed and quite overwhelmed. I accept this honor now with great pride, and will attempt to obey (sort of) the rules. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Rules:</strong></span></div>
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<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thank the person who gave you the award.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Write a post about it.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Answer a few deeply personal and revealing questions.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pass it along to ten people and let them know they received the award.</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thank you Ginger Janda for choosing me to receive this pretty flower and the award that goes with it. Thank you for noticing my blog and writing...it is something that I do with the part of me that is left over after sculpting. I enjoy it very much, and have written quietly for years.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Deeply Personal and Revealing Questions:</strong></span></div>
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<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Favorite colour: Rust</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Favorite animal: the dog (what...not bunnies?)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Favorite number: 1</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Favorite non-alcoholic drink: coffee</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Facebook or Twitter? Facebook</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My passion: Creating. Sculpting, building, crafting, landscaping, fixing, cooking, writing, painting, remodeling, growing, making. I love making something out of something else. I love nature, the outdoors and watching things grow. I love sculpting my clay, but I love that my seven acres are a broader canvas for sculpting also. </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Getting or giving presents? Giving</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Favorite pattern: solid colors please</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Favorite day of the week: Saturday</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Favorite flower: anything that begins with H. Hollyhocks, hellebore, Hibiscus, Hyacinths and the grandaddy of my flower obsessions...Hydrangeas!</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pass It Along:</strong></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ginger picked according to a theme. But today, to tie this all together, my neighbor and his budding career gave me my idea. I am going to hand mine out a bit at a time to aspiring writers and beginners just crawling out on the stage of literary notice. I have a few friends who are just starting their blogs. They are just sinking their feet into their words, or transferring their family newsletters into this internet format. I will mention some here, and the rest will get their big surprise when they are ready.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First award, or course, will go to my neighbor who just published his first <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books&ie=UTF8&field-author=Buddy%20Hendricks">book</a>, Buddy Hendricks. He is getting ready to start a blog and I can't wait to read it. Another take on Rabbitville Road!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Second, will go to Melanie Deckard, who is going to turn her entertaining, informative and delightful family newsletter into a blog. I told her it would be so much easier for her...no maintaining email lists and sending it all out. Melanie's family are dear friends of mine. Their giving nature and hilarious stories in the midst of family illness and tragedy is legendary. But then, her mom and dad ARE Mr and Mrs Santa Claus. When I have the address of her new blog, I will post it for you. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My third award goes to my good friend and former banker, Brain Rainey. He has started a collection of posts and here is what I think is the <a href="http://brianrainey.hubpages.com/hub/Are-we-Doomsday-Prepping-Well-youll-never-get-to-Heaven-or-TV-if-you-dont">first.</a> He is a very dedicated family man with a strong faith in God that helps him and his family through some very interesting times. His sense of humor has gotten me through some rough patches. Good guy, promising thinker and writer.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #373737; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 24px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One more for now, and the rest I will hold like lightning bugs in my secret jar. My lovely daughter, Allyson Baughman is a writer. She writes beautifully and is the Queen of Marketing for the Dunesland Chamber of Commerce up where she lives with her husband Brandt Baughman and the light of my life, their son Asher. She has a blog called <a href="http://allysonbaughman.blogspot.com/">Air Baby</a>. I am awarding her this Sunshine Flower, because I want to encourage her to write in the one minute of free time she has each week.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wow, this was long, or as my Dad would have said, "You sure had a lot of words tonight." I guess I did. To my award winners, please accept this flower, and post it if you want. Follow the rules and pass it along. I will be reading and enjoying, and I will smile from this poster for creativity and say, "Keep it up!" You color the world with your thoughts and writing. You represent what makes us human, our words. </span></div>
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<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></u>Rita Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17500224037684068487noreply@blogger.com0