Wordless Wednesday

March's Last Blast

Almost every year, there is a late snowstorm in March, and this year was no exception. It started snowing late last night and is still snowing this morning. The dogs and I are not amused!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

A Week of Little Things

It has been a week since I met the transport and picked up Keaton and Quincy, and it has been a week filled with challenges and triumphs. We never thought we would have 4 little dogs running around our house and yard at once. At times it is a zoo, and at times we hardly know we have any dogs here. Mostly it has been a week filled with little things --- like watching Keaton and Quincy race around the yard (probably for the first time in their lives), like watching Keaton roll in the grass almost every time we take him outside (we can just see his pleasure at the feel of the grass on his little body), like watching Quincy actually start to look at us (instead of cowering in the corner with his head turned away), like feeling Keaton's kisses on our hand as we scratch his back and ears (probably the first kisses he has ever given anyone). Yes, they are little things, but they are huge triumphs for these little guys, and we have had a week filled with little treasures like this!

Today's Photo Shoot

This little guy is Pogo, a 4 year old maltese. Pogo just got his very first grooming, so I had to take some cute photos to show off his new look. Pogo is a puppy mill dog, but he is doing great in his foster home. His fur is so soft, and he is so cuddly --- he just melts in your arms!

Pogo is available for adoption from Wag N Train Terrier Rescue.

My life has gone to the dogs....

This is Keaton, a little 7 month old Yorkshire terrier. He is from a puppy mill in Kansas that closed, and he's one of our new fosters. He is quickly becoming a "momma's boy", following me around in the house and the yard.

And this is Quincy, our other foster puppy. Quincy is a 6 month old Yorkshire terrier, from the same puppy mill as Keaton. I didn't want to have to choose between them, so I agreed to take them both. Quincy is more timid, but I have no doubt that he will learn that he is loved.

Quincy's coloring is more like Zeke's, and Keaton's coloring is more like Mya's. When all four of them are out in the yard, we almost feel like we are seeing double!

This handsome guy is Teddy, a cairn terrier/pomeranian mix that I photographed yesterday. He is very friendly, cuddly, and photogenic!

All of these boys are available for adoption from Wag N Train Terrier Rescue.

Artist Retreat

Late in February I went on an artist retreat in Griswold, Iowa. The property is owned by Creighton University and is gorgeous. It has 157 acres of woods along the East Nishnabotna River, and this is the second time I have attended a retreat there. A small group of artists get together and rent a 9 bedroom cabin, and everyone does their own thing --- whether it be photography, painting, stitching, collage, hiking, or just relaxing. It is a great group of artists, and it is always a productive retreat for me!

This is the front of the cabin that we stay in.

This is the side view, showing the amazing deck that overlooks the woods.

Wordless Wednesday

New Puppy in Rescue

Rudy is a young, male cairn terrier (less than a year old) that just arrived in rescue. I took these photos yesterday after he was groomed. He is so adorable and playful --- he loves to give kisses, and he loves to play fetch!

Available for adoption from Wag N Train Terrier Rescue.

Wordless Wednesday

The Squirrels are Back!

The squirrels are back in our yard after their winter hibernation, and Mya is in heaven chasing and tormenting them. She absolutely lives to chase the birds, squirrels and rabbits in the yard. How she can be such a dedicated hunting dog in such a little package amazes me. Luckily she doesn't actually catch any of them!

What a Difference!

This is a photo of Mya when we first started fostering her. She had been bred during her first heat cycle, delivered stillborn pups, and less than 24 hours later was tossed in a creek by a puppy miller. She was scrawny, with thin fur and sad eyes. Yet she still came running up to us and gave us kisses when we first met the transport transfer.

This is Mya today, just a few months later. Tons of love and good nutrition have transformed her into a gorgeous dog, and she is our little princess.

Making an impact like this in a dog's life is the reason I do rescue work. It is extremely gratifying to turn a puppy mill dog's life around and give them a chance at a much better life.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Valentine's Day!

Mom made Zeke and Mya little collars out of heart fabric for today! They look so adorable, and they prance around in them, almost like they know they are cute.

Adopted!

Watson, my foster maltese pup, was adopted this afternoon, and he hit the jackpot on finding a great forever home. Doesn't he look adorable with them?

Wordless Wednesday

Making Books

Recently I have been in book making mode. I have several upcoming artist retreats and exhibitions, and I have been creating handmade books to use as journals, guest books, and exhibition entries. The photo above is my original cover design for a book that I will use as a journal on a retreat.

I liked the design, but I wanted to incorporate a tree image. I printed several tree images on transparencies, so I could see which image I liked the best and how to position it. Then came the decision on how to transfer the image from the transparency to the book. I am not very successful at gel medium transfers, and I didn't really want to burn a thermofax screen and print it on the cover. Then came the "aha" moment. I positioned the transparency image where I wanted it and cut it to the size of the cover. I now have a tree overlay and a protective cover for my book!

Photo Shoot with the Dogs

Yesterday was my day to spend some time taking photographs of our newest foster, a tiny male maltese named Watson. When I got him, he needed a bath and grooming. Once that was done, I couldn't wait to take some cute photographs. Of course, Mya had to get in on the action as well. These are two of my favorite photos from the day.

Mya, the princess of our family

Watson, our newest foster pup

Wordless Wednesday

Watson's New Haircut

This past weekend Watson got groomed, probably for the first time in his life. I had given him a bath when I first got him home, but he had mats in his fur that I couldn't brush out. So, he got a new haircut, and I am thrilled with his new look! Once the groomer was done, he pranced and pranced around, almost like he knew he had a handsome new look.

He is such a sweetheart, and he's turning into a "mama's boy". He loves for me to scratch his back and hold him, and he's finally relaxing enough to fall asleep in my arms. Watson is also doing very well on his house training and loose leash training. I am amazed by his progress in the week that we have been fostering him!

If you are interested in adopting Watson, here is the link.

Wordless Wednesday

A New Foster

This is Watson, our new foster. He is a little Maltese that was found dumped in the country with another Maltese, probably by a known puppy mill in the area. Right now he is very shy around people, but he has a little bit of attitude around other dogs. He and Mya will give each other a good run, while Zeke watches on the sidelines!

Mya in the Snow

Even though Mya is a year old, she is a puppy mill dog, and this is the first winter that she has been outside in snow. At first she didn't like it; then she went through a phase where she romped through it fearlessly; and now she is thinking that it is a bit overwhelming when it gets this deep!

Mya on the potty path that we shoveled for the dogs. The snow is taller than Zeke and Mya, so we shovel paths for them to go outside. Although the snow is pretty, it is a ton of extra work with little dogs!

Wordless Wednesday

Details

Recently I have been looking at some of the canvases that I have painted with new eyes. Instead of looking at the entire canvas, I am using a 55mm lens on my camera to see the details of certain areas of the canvas. These miniature detail shots are inspiring me to paint large canvases that are less "busy" than what I usually paint. It is an interesting exercise and has been consuming most of my studio time recently.

Wordless Wednesday

Beginning Stages of a New Mixed Media Book

I have been working on a new mixed media book about nature, that was inspired by my art retreat in a wooded area along the East Nishnabotna River. It was in the fall, yet the trees were barren, and the leaves were thick on the forest floor.

This is the base layer of the cover. It is mat board covered with a crumpled piece of painted paper. I used gel medium to adhere the paper to the mat board once the paint had dried.

Layer #2 --- I added a thermofax screen print of a tree. This is from a photo that I took at the retreat, and I love all the fine branches that radiate out from these tree trunks.

Layer #3 --- I have added some pieces of painted canvas to the cover. The strips on the left bring in some of the other colors that were present in this landscape, and the rectangle with writing in the center starts the narrative of the book.

Wordless Wednesday

A New Blog

As part of the new year in my studio, I am concentrating more on my photography --- as an art form on its own and as a component in my mixed media artwork. To keep me on track, I have started a second blog, "A Photographic Life", that is strictly photographs. I will try to post a new photo every day --- photos that really show the details that I am discovering in every day scenes. I hope you enjoy it!

A New Year

Today is the beginning of a new year --- a time when I look back at the year that just ended and appreciate all the blessings that I enjoyed, and a time when I look forward to the year that is beginning and make plans to enjoy it to the fullest. I plan to spend today with family and in my studio creating art. If what they say is true, and however you spend New Year's Day is how you spend the rest of the year, I will be happy.

Wishing you a brand new year filled with all that is important to you!

Wordless Wednesday

Chickadees

Last spring we had chickadees in our yard for the first time. I'm not sure if it was the addition of the suet feeders that attracted them or not, but we were thrilled to see them. I have noticed the last few days that they are back, just as cute as ever. Along with the wrens and goldfinches, the chickadees are one of my favorite small birds.

Another Holiday Photo

I was taking some photographs for an ongoing project that I am involved in, and Mya came around the corner to see what I was doing. Another example of being in the right place at the right time --- and having my camera turned on!