A Magical Day

Monday dawned with gray skies and drizzle. Another dreary day... with no indication of what was in store for us.

My husband left at 8:00 to take a bike ride to the State Park just a ways down the road, and I had my coffee and posted on the blog about the past week and listed a few new things in the Etsy shop. Around 10:00, Abby and Empi started barking and rushed to the front sliding doors, a signal that John was coming up the driveway. But when I looked out the window, he was coming from the woods and through the yard... very strange. Then the dogs took off up the stairs to the window which overlooks the back side of our property, and they were squealing with alarm and concern. I took a look, and there in the back yard was a black dog.

We all rushed back down the stairs just as John was poking his head in the door and calling for Abby. I went out with her and John led her to the back yard to meet the stranger who was in the fence there. As they sniffed and circled and met each other, John told me the story. He'd seen this dog a few times over the weekend, thinking at one point that she was dead because she'd lain in the same spot for hours on end without moving. But today she was hanging around some construction guys who are working on a new building between our road and the park. He wheeled up on his bike and asked what they knew about her; not much, they said. He looked her over, petted her, and immediately, there was a bond because as he rode off, she followed him home, no short distance.

She seemed just a wee bit thin, and we gave her some food on the porch and talked about what to do. We decided to take some Found Dog flyers down to the houses close to the park to see if anyone would claim her. But first, we introduced her to Empi, who normally is fairly territorial (though this is only her home away from home), but there were no problems at all. Seems that Empi and Abby would both accept her without any trouble, and she was very accepting of them too. She even does quite well with our cat, Scout, who has rubbed up against her and gotten a kiss. Next we gave her a bath, cleaned off all the mud and dirt, and inspected the scars in many locations on her body. She's got a bad limp and it appears that her right shoulder may have been broken somehow and healed without surgery.

A few hours later, after a nap and lunch, John headed down the road with the flyers, and he found the owner at the house where he'd first seen the dog over the weekend. The man said that he'd planned to move into town soon and didn't want to take "Ladybird" with him. He said she's about 8 months old, has never had shots or been to the vet, so of course she also hasn't been spayed. He said she is part Pit Bull, part Boxer, and part Lab. She'd had a brother who was larger than she, but he'd been hit and killed by a car. When John asked about her injuries, the guy said he didn't know anything about them. He was more than happy to leave her in our care.

She is definitely not a dog we would have picked out at the shelter, not a breed or mix we'd be inclined to search out, but it seems clear to me that "Ladybird" picked us out, that she found us. I believe she knew where she wasn't wanted and knew where she would be loved and cared for.

Last winter, when Bruschi died and I'd posted about the sadness and grief of that experience, one of my followers wrote this: "Our kindred spirits never go far from us in this universe, Bruschi will be watching over you and when his spirit is ready he will be at your side again in fur form." I could not help but think of this as, on Monday afternoon in the drizzle, I went out to pick blueberries, and our new dog came out to the bushes and sniffed around, happily eating the berries I offered her, wiggling her whole body with delight. Then she laid down and patiently waited for me to finish. That evening, when I was cooking dinner, I looked up the stairs and found her laying at the very top, with her paws draped over the edge, surveying the goings-on in the kitchen. Let me tell you, I got a bit teary-eyed because that is just what Bruschi used to do.

Tuesday morning, we finally reached a consensus on her new name. I simply could not live with "Ladybird", so we chose Cooper, and it seems to suit her. She has easily made her way into her new home. She likes to go up the hill with John to the shop, and she lays there, quite content just to be near him, while he works; occasionally she'll wander back down to the house alone and ask to come in. She has no inclination to leave, and it's a marvel at how well suited she is for us and we are for her. At bedtime, she has her own bed upstairs with us and Abby and Empi, and all three dogs sleep peacefully through the night. Yesterday I bought her a collar and leash, as well as her own puppy food (Blue Buffalo... natural and holistic without all the crap and fillers that most commercial dog foods have; it's what we finally started buying for the adults dogs when Bruschi was sick and needed less protein and better food), and tomorrow she'll take her first car ride to the vet where she'll get her shots and an appointment for spaying.

Last week was a hard week... full of fear, pain, emotional issues. So I'm very thankful and feel quite blessed that this week is balancing out with light, life, and love. Amen and amen.

Dogs, Dogs, and More Dogs

This past weekend was crammed full of activities around these parts... dinner parties, brunches, family visits, graduation, and not least... Woofstock which took place on Saturday.

Woofstock was a fundraiser for the Forsyth County Humane Society and it was the kickoff for Art Unleashed, the project for which I painted the fiberglass cat form which became Scout in the Garden. All these dog and cat sculptures had their debut on Saturday, and wow! They were all beautiful and so very different. Here are some photos of the forms, the first includes Scout sitting between two very precious puppies.




I was happy to discover that Scout was featured in the Art Unleashed brochure! Also, each artist learned where his or her animal form would spend the summer before the exciting auction party in September. Scout in the Garden will spend her summer months at Associated Artists, which is the artist organization to which I belong. I was thrilled to learn that bit of news. That means I'll get to see Scout a couple times during the next few months!

Woofstock took place from 1:00 - 10:00 pm and there were many wonderful musicians who provided great music and entertainment throughout the day.

There were also animal-oriented booths such as artists whose work features animals, animal-rights booths, booths who sold animal treats and services, and booths who wanted to make the public aware of various local laws regarding animals. The Humane Society had a few of their adoptable animals on site, and making a big splash was the doggie pool! Sometimes there were two and three dogs in there, and sometimes just one while others patiently waited their turn at the edge.

There were dogs of all kinds and sizes everywhere, so for us dog-lovers, we were in heaven! Woofstock was a fabulous event for all who attended, it was well run, and I hope that it made lots of money for the Humane Society, a very wonderful organization run by wonderful folks who care immensely for the dogs and cats who find their way there, looking for a forever home.

My Kitty in the Garden!

She's done, she's done... with ten days to spare! I worked on the base today for my Scout in the Garden sculpture for the Art Unleashed fundraiser for the Humane Society. All sculptures are due on May 1 (the same day as a very wonderful arts / crafts / music show that always proves very successful for me!), so I knew I better get my ducks in a row and get out my One Shot enamel paints. Fortunately they take so little time to dry and the colors are amazingly vibrant too!

So here is Scout standing next to her base and among the flowers and cool season garden veggies growing in the pots on our deck.

And here she is on her base, looking very festive, bright, and cheerful... a happy kitty indeed!

Music for a Cause

Tomorrow is a big night... something I've been planning for a couple months now. I will be doing a music gig, Music for the Community #4, as a fundraiser to benefit the residents at the local nursing home where I sing a couple times a month and to benefit a local animal rescue organization run solely by volunteers. These are two areas that touch my heart deeply, and I wanted to do something special for them, to help make their lives a little better, their work a little easier.

I'll do a solo set covering some songs by my favorite songwriters as well as some originals. The second set will be with the band, The Ramshackles, and we'll do more originals and more favorite songs. Which songwriters, you might ask? Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen, Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou, Lucinda Williams, Steve Goodman... and more, including a song by my brother who is a pretty good songwriter himself!

For over two weeks, I've struggled with some mysterious and weird physical issues, as many of you know, and I truly think I've willed myself to get better enough to do the show, because, as the saying goes, "the show must go on!" I did not want to cancel or reschedule; I simply wanted to follow through with my plans and to get some money in the hands of these two groups so that they can use it to continue to do the oh-so-important work that they do in easing the lives of and tending to the needs of those dear old folks and in rescuing, caring for, and treating, and finding homes for neglected and stray animals. So this afternoon will be a long practice with the band since those have been rare of late. I'm feeling pretty good right now and hopefully my energy level will stay up because the motivation is truly there! Wish us luck, a good crowd, and a full donation basket!

Scout in the Garden

It seems to be a cat week for me. I finally had the energy and motivation to finish my cat sculpture for the Forsyth County Humane Society's Art Unleashed Fundraiser. She's been sitting on my table for several weeks, untouched from a few earlier painting sessions, while I dealt with more pressing matters. But today, I decided I'd work on her as the breeze (and pollen) blew through the open windows and doors. And work on her I did... until I was satisfied that she was done. All that is left to do is the base on which she'll stand, and that means primer and enamel paints. But first, I have to decide what to put on the base... I'm leaning towards a big bumblebee and some flowers... but I'll give it some more thought before I begin.

Bright Sunshiny Day: Tuesday's Treasures

Well, tomorrow maybe. Today is cloudy, grey, and rainy... but I can dream of the sun, can't I? And there are other ways to make the day brighter! You can be a volunteer in your community, donating your time and energy to improving the outlook and life of someone else. You can donate money to a cause close to your heart, like Haitian relief for children, cancer research, animal welfare, literacy efforts, or so many others. You can simply offer thoughts, meditations, and prayers for those who suffer or for the world at large.

My little glass pin of a happy redheaded girl is offered in my Etsy shop and a portion of the sale is donated to the American Cancer Society. The artists included here are also active in donating to various causes, in an effort to bring a bit of happiness and sunshine to the world around them!

Sweet little fish pins by fionamacneil... donating to Haitian Children's Relief


Softcover journals, many covers and colors available by thisisit... donating to animal welfare groups and who is also working to raise $3600 to save three bulls from the slaughterhouse

A necklace to make you feel happy by LaViejaTunTun... donating to Etsy for Animals monthly charity


Bright and cheery coat rack by veggiecrocker... donating to Breast Cancer Research


Lovely little felted nesting bowls by maddyandme... donating to Haitian Relief


Sunny day mittens by LamaWorks... donating to the American Cancer Society


Beautiful Trembling Citrus earrings by ErikaPrice... who always donates 100% of profits, split between the American Cancer Society and her 14th century parish church


A gorgeous bird photo collage by allieart4children... donating to a children's charity


An Orange Cat Enjoying the Sun by LissaLushHelpingCats... donating to an Ohio shelter for Cats


And to wrap it up, who could possibly resist this face by carolscanvas... donating to Mostly Mutts Rescue in Atlanta


There are so many others out there in Etsy who give of their money, time, art, and energy to make the world a brighter, better place. You can simply do a search on the site for Charity, for teamepe, for Team EFA, for Etsyveg team, for Haitian Relief, for Etsy for Autism, or any other issue that is important to you, and you will find hundreds of sellers who participate in these variety of causes.

MY DESIGN WAS CHOSEN!

Yippee!! Time to celebrate! I posted back in September about the Art Unleashed fundraiser to benefit the Forsyth Humane Society. Click here to see that original post and find out about the fundraiser. I'd entered two designs this time around, and I just learned that one of them was chosen! They picked Scout in the Garden, and I am so excited! The design was based on my cat, who likes to lie around in the garden when I am working the dirt and weeding and planting, and on the flowers I grow and the scenery around my home. For the last fundraiser in 2008, I'd painted a dog sculpture, so this time it will be fun to do a cat... they are not quite as big either!

Here's the design I submitted and what I will follow once I pick up my form.



Forms and bases should be ready for pick-up in early January, so once the holidays are over, I'll be busy with this project. Stay tuned... I'll post images and descriptions as Scout in the Garden develops.

No Kill Zone

When a man wantonly destroys one of the works of man we call him a vandal. When he destroys one of the works of God we call him a sportsman. ~Joseph Wood Krutch

It's deer hunting season once again in NC, and I am starting to hear gunshots around our home in the woods and on the mountain. Of course the nearby State Park is off limits, but this area surrounding us is open territory, or so that's what hunters think. Now I know that not all hunters are inconsiderate and disrespectful, but some are, and they don't care whose property they go on in search of deer or turkey or whatever wildlife they are interested in shooting.

I recently heard a story of this happening from a friend who lives three miles up the road... of course the hunters left the unwanted deer parts along the side of the road where my friend and his dogs could find it and deal with it. This happens a lot around our area, and wandering dogs are often hit by cars and injured or killed because they are drawn to the smell and cross the road in search of a tasty snack. Hunters don't think about that after-effect of their sport, I suppose.

And I am also not too fond of those hunters who tempt deer by placing out deer corn or other treats to lure them into their sights. I have to say that I was quite proud and warmly drawn to my husband when he told me of the time he was out walking in the woods and came across such a stash of corn... he peed all over it, thereby giving the deer a better chance!

We have enjoyed a family of deer on our property, and in our front yard, quite a bit during the summer and fall. The above photo captured them one summer afternoon, but the little fawn has grown quite a lot over the past few months and it worries me that a hunter will catch one of these beauties in his sights one day soon. Perhaps I should put out deer corn in my yard to keep this family close by! I know the pros of hunting... keeping the deer population from getting out of control, feeding the rural folks in our area who often rely on that meat for the coming months. But I also know that I could not hunt and kill, and I do not want anyone doing it on my property or in the nearby woods, and I do not want hunters to use my property to access other areas.

So my husband suggested that I call the sherriff's department to see what needs to be done about posting legitimate No Trespassing and No Hunting signs. That way, if someone does come on the property, we can call the sherriff's office and press charges, if we so desire. Of course one would hope that the signs would be enough to ward off hunters so those kinds of measures don't need to be taken. I believe I will follow through with this on Monday, and perhaps if there are signs down on the main road at our private road and drive, hunters will think twice before coming in our direction. And perhaps with luck, we can continue to enjoy the visits of that beautiful family of deer in the coming year.

A Thousand Invisible Threads

This 24 x 48 original oil painting is currently hanging in my home. It's listed on my website, but for now it is gracing my walls with beautiful color on these dark, dreary, grey days we've been having. I love its quilted look of vibrant squares, and I added my favorite quotes within it to make my statement of the connection of ALL life, of the value of respect, of the importance of each creature and being on this planet.

The quotes are:
"We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results." ~Herman Melville

"When on tugs at a single thing in nature, one finds it attached to the rest of the world." ~John Muir

"Walk in harmony with the universe." ~Native American quote

Art for the Animals

I have spent a good portion of the week on designs for the upcoming Art Unleased 2010 fundraiser for the Forsyth County Humane Society. This event connects artists with the organization and the local community as a way to raise money to support the Humane Society, its programs, and the care of the animals who reside there while they wait for a new home. My daughter volunteers there once a week; she visits with the cats and she walks the dogs. She keeps me posted on all the sweeties and when they find homes. Though I live in a neighboring county now, I used to live there, 45 minutes away, and of course I have always supported this organization and others who work so hard as advocates to neglected or homeless animals.

I first got involved with Art Unleashed during their 2007/2008 event when my design was selected. There were approximately 60 designs chosen out of about 280, I believe. Each artist received a cat or dog fiberglass form to paint, decorate, or enhance in whatever way their design called for. It was amazing to see the beautiful work that came from the project and how each artist had such a different vision. Each artist and his/her dog and cat had a sponsor and the forms decorated various locations within the city during the summer months, many sitting outside the front door, some sitting inside. After being a part of our home and sitting at the table (where I painted him) for three months, my dog, "Dogwood", graced the floor at Windsor Jewelers, an upclass jewelry store. You do get somewhat attached to your critter, and it was hard to let Dogwood go, but he had a mission to accomplish! At the end of the summer, an auction was held for supporters and community members to bid on the animals... both a silent and live auction. What a fantastic night that was... about $58,000 raised... and so much fun!



This year will be a little different. Only 10 dog forms and 10 cat forms will be created, but artists are encouraged to submit designs for original art, such as a painting, collage, 3-D work, and whatever else they can think of. I'm sure there will be some fabulous work made! I will be submitting a dog form design and a cat form design. The deadline is coming soon, and notification will be towards the end of the year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that one of my designs will be chosen, but I know that Forsyth County and surrounding areas house amazing artists, so competition will be stiff. And whoever gets chosen... well, it's of course the animals who benefit!

Dogwood now belongs to a wonderful husband and wife eye-doctor team. To create the base, I thought about my own dogs and how they are so faithful and loving, such wonderful companions in all seasons of life. So they inspired the words I wrote and painted around the base of the sculpture: "I will fetch the sticks you throw into blue-dream skies. I'll carry your cares, sing them to the moon, lay among dogwood petals, waiting patiently at your feet."









And here's a photo of Dogwood at the kick-off parade...