It's only March…

Did not make it to Florida, all Direct Air flights were cancelled until May. Instead, warm weather came here. Unseasonable weather for March, several 80+ days, had to bring out the shorts and tees, flowers and trees are all 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule.  Frost returns this week, will see how the plants do. Off to Rhode Island on Wednesday with Tim holding down the "fort."

Facebook out, Pinterest in…

There was a time not that long ago that I was checking my Facebook page practically every time I logged on my computer. These days I go on just for the occasional glance at posts or pictures, to send a birthday message or to contact a friend.

Current obsession: Pinterest. For the longest time I couldn't understand the point of pinning pictures. Now I get it! It provides a way to sort into categories and save links to everything you are interested in without having to bookmark sites, dragging images on your desktop or remember URLs. It's also a way to share what you find with others that share your various passions and vice versa. Whether it's remembering a favorite piece of art, a link to a recipe or a how-to video on YouTube, this is an organized way to follow favorite "pinners"(one who pins) and your own interest "boards." Right now I'm building a library of links and pictures at quite a fast pace, I'm sure my collecting frenzy will become more selective in time. Your boards are an open book for others to see so you can choose to follow a friend's recent pins or check a subject board of theirs you'd find interesting. You can "pin" (find and save an image off a site) or you can "re-pin" (which means you are saving a pin another person you are following has found. One can find friends under an interest category, then they can choose to follow that person who shares the similar tastes. I now have "friends" from all over the country as well as in Europe, Israel and Japan. Very, very cool. (and addicting too).

A portion of my boards. Each photo represents a link to the
original photo and site. You click on the photo and it directs
you to the original site.

Rain, rain, go away

We had so much rain last night that there were two ducks that came back twice to check out the giant puddle in our backyard. Our un-tiled clay soil out back simply cannot absorb the water fast enough between these spring-time downpours. I am just grateful that it's just been rain and not scary tornadoes. It's 8:30 p.m. and 72 degrees, isn't that freakishly warm? The perennials and bulbs in the yard are sprouting everywhere. With the warm winter we had, it looks like it'll be a year for weeds and bugs.

The giant puddle early this morning

new blog name to start the new year

Since I am now maintaining 2 blogs, I felt that yackety-yack is a better catch-all name for what I write on this blog. The other blog, also renamed Bits of clay, will focus on my ceramics-related thoughts and news. Originally this blog was intended to focus on my printmaking and pottery endeavors but it seemed that other activities, such as gardening and traveling, became prevalent blog topics. Perhaps this variety of postings better reflects my 4.5-years since retirement and that's a "good thing."

We made it through the easiest January I can remember. I had thought I'd be spending much of January stuck at home but that hasn't  been the case. I've actually seen a bunch of friends for many a lunch last month, including Ronnie from Cleveland. I was also glad for Benny, our blind dog who has difficulty navigating outside, particularly if there are banks of snow. He's hanging in there, we take one day at a time and he doesn't seem miserable.

Spring is coming! I recently picked up some bush bean, sunflower and zinnia seeds at Downtown Home & Garden in Ann Arbor. It seems like others are also getting psyched, checking out the gardening catalogs and making garden plans in anticipation of warmer days.

Looking forward to my girlfriends trip this March with Becky and Terri. Heading back to Florida, this time, Fort Myers, Key West and Sarasota. Sometime between now and then, I need to schedule a trip to Rhode Island.

Check out my ceramics blog for what is really keeping me busy these days.

happy holidays!

I made this ceramic snowman
last year at the 577 Foundation.

Christmas is this Sunday and it really doesn't feel like it's the end of the year.  Apparently northwest Ohio broke an all-time record for rainfall this year. It does seem like it is raining all the time. Right now it's unseasonably warm and the ground in the the backyard is saturated and squishy. There also hasn't been any snow yet this season. At least no snow means no shoveling.

Here's another year we don't get to go to New York for Christmas. I feel bad that I don't get to see everyone out east more frequently. Right now it is impossible to board or leave our lone dog, Benny, with anyone. At 13 1/2, he's now diabetic with twice-daily insulin shots, completely blind, almost deaf and is having trouble with his hind legs. However he is still alert, has a hearty appetite and has seemed to adjust to life without his brother, Jerry. He likes walking all around in the backyard because he's less likely to bump into things as in the house. When the quality of Benny's life deteriorates more, we'll have to make the tough decision at that point. We dread that day and it could come at any time.

Still cranking out the pottery although the busy holiday season for the galleries ends tomorrow. Now I am simply trying to build up some sample pieces and have on-hand inventory. I am extremely pleased how much was accomplished these past six months—from starting to sell my pottery, to building a great studio conveniently located in the backyard, to producing in it, and then having my work represented in 3 top area galleries. Sales have been very good.

This is my last entry for 2011 and I am wishing that all my friends and family have a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2012!

and now a new website too!

Not only did I create a second blog last week, this past weekend I launched my own website. After much discussions with others and online research on pricing and building sites, I happened to find a cost-free way to get a domain name and build a 3-page business site through Ohio Get Online. It's free for the first year and is sponsored by bunch of Ohio organizations, Google and Intuit. I was able to alter the Intuit templates to arrive at a satisfactory design and was limited to three pages. I managed to fit what I wanted by doubling up some of my areas. After the first year, the monthly costs are reasonably priced and there is no obligation.

Check it out: cheryltakata.com
Can you tell that Art & Marketing were my majors in college and that I worked in Marketing & Communications for way too long???

please check out my new blog

This month I decided not only to make a page on Facebook dedicated to Cheryl Takata Ceramics, but to create a new public blog for my pottery as well. It is my intention to keep this blog going so friends can read whatever is on my mind while the new one will focus just on my ceramic work. It will feature some of my newest works, announce where my work is available and other related events. We shall see how this works out. I would like to build a
web site at some point but I am still trying to figure a low cost way to
do that.

My new ceramics blog address is http://takataceramics.blogspot.com/

Last of the fall harvest

Kitchen garden is ready for winter with
 mulched leaves from the backyard trees.

Fresh-picked leeks. Heard they are sweeter
after being touched by frost.

Swiss chard and leeks still thriving
in November.

Pottery studio is done!

The studio sits behind the kitchen garden.

The finishing touches were added the other week and
I'm proud to report that I love my studio and have been happily working in the space. Christopher and his brother Jason did a wonderful job in making my vision of the perfect space a reality. The building is clad in cedar shingles which should weather to a natural gray, similar to the cedar trellis gate
of the kitchen garden. Christopher's attention to detail and his knowledge of pottery making made the project go very smoothly and I finally have a "second home." Everything fit inside as was planned and my brand new Skutt kiln is up and running. With the helpful advice I got from Julie, I did my first cone 6 firing it on Friday. It really is so nice to be able to just walk out the kitchen door and have it all right there.

Next posting: Results from the kiln, perhaps.

A outside shelf was added
so I can put pots out in the sun to dry.

The kiln is just the right
size for my work.

A counter provides additional workspace. 

Made the sign at 577 and
couldn't wait to hang it.

A place for everything!

Love my Shimpo wheel!

Got this sturdy worktable at
the Borders closing sale.

On a sad note…

Jerry

Still filled with so much sorrow, I have to mention that our 13 1/2-year-old dog, Jerry, died on Sept. 15. He was always so sweet and such a trooper, enduring the last four years of twice-daily insulin shots and the nasty side effects of diabetes. My friend and vet, Tiffany, had the unpleasant job of euthanizing him but could not have been any more compassionate. I am truly thankful she was there and she reminded me that Jerry did have a happy life. These past weeks have been difficult especially for Benny, whose own health has seemed to deteriorate in his brother's absence. I can't help but reflect on the days when they were both so young and active. They will always be my babies.

Brothers and best friends

Benny (left) and Jerry on the backyard snow path

Art exhibit this Saturday, Oct. 1

Hudson Gallery • 5645 N. Main St. • Downtown Sylvania

I'm hoping some of you can stop out and say hi at the exhibit opening at Hudson Gallery this Saturday. Located in downtown Sylvania right on Main Street, the opening runs from 4 to 6 this Saturday, Oct. 1. This lovely gallery always presents great exhibits and this one promises to be no different, featuring 9 local all-women artists in a variety of media. If you can't make it Saturday, the show runs through October. Hours are 10-6 Tuesday through Friday, 10-3 on Saturdays. They now have a selection of my sgraffito porcelain pots, some wood-fired stoneware and soon, some of my prints.

Studio underway!

Last Friday Christopher was working on the soffit while Jason (not shown)
was working on the roof. Temperature: 95 degrees!!!

Tomorrow Christopher and Jason start Week 3 of the studio build. It appears they are just about where they expected to be at this time.
I think it's looking good, it's quite a presence in the yard however I believe it will be just the right size. I've ordered my Skutt Kiln after much deliberation as to what size to get from Bennett Pottery. The kiln should deliver just after I return from my family visit to Rhode Island. I decided to buy a kiln that is a size smaller than what Julie has but I think it'll be adequate for my needs.

I have been laying out a lot of money for all sorts of building materials, exhaust fans, etc. This has me a little stressed but I keep telling myself it will all be worthwhile and really nice in the end. It's actually pretty exciting. I decided to forego taking classes at the museum this fall since it appears I'll be busy enough getting the studio up and running. I also realized that I have gotten spoiled working on my own wheel in my own space. I'll just have to visit those people I will miss.

Tim and I went up to Ikea last weekend so I could purchase some shelf brackets I had seen online and counter legs for a side counter that'll be inside the studio. I have tentatively planned the layout of the 12 by 16-ft. space. Today I bought a solid wood (I think it's maple) table that I plan to use as a work and wedging table island. I got it for a good price from Borders bookstore during their liquidation sale. They will be closing in three days. (I'll miss Borders.)

Autumn in the kitchen garden.

Despite the 95 plus temperatures we had a few days ago, it has now cooled off. You can feel that fall is approaching and the garden has reached its peak. It was a great summer for my tomatoes, herbs, zucchini, zinnias and sunflowers.

On a sad note, Ben and Jerry are really having a tough time lately. Jerry's sugar levels have been quite erratic and at times he has had seizures, temporary blindness and trouble walking and eating. Of the two, he is having the most difficulty. Ben is now blind and has to be lead around. Both dogs are nearly deaf. It seems Tim and I may have to make some very difficult decisions in the near future. I hate that they age so quickly, it breaks my heart.