lessons from Helen

Helen, our blind dog, has led me down many paths since we rescued her 3 years ago...despair, anger, joy, quiet reverence, etc. In an attempt to get her more settled, I recently have been working with Linda Farris who had some great observations about Helen. She suggested using Urban Wolf dog food to get Helen's stomach and general disposition on some kind of even keel. OK, it's more work than I would normally spend on feeding dogs (Helen is 1 of 4 dogs), and I can't just treat one dog without treating all!! So, I'm mixing this soupy goop about every other day...but...
The results have been fairly remarkable. I believe that Helen always had a stomach ache because of the grain in her normal food...
She's still a tough customer, but she's feeling better, her coat is soft and silky. She is much more patient with my inconsistencies. She still knows when 4:30 feeding time is, and she's pretty rigid about her daily routine. Her internal clock is impeccable! In addition, she's lost some weight!
Our next move is to an Evo no grain dry food to see if that will work. We are keeping the habit of adding water to all the dogs dishes to make sure kibble is very moist and soft before they eat.
Wish me luck!

A Chair for Helen

I've been hand writing a journal about Helen, our blind dog, and some of the challenges of adopting a dog with special needs. Maybe someone will find this diary of my "Helen" observations interesting and maybe even helpful. Maybe some reader will just decide to rescue a dog that presents some interesting challenges!
Helen always likes to climb up in chairs, so I'm calling this blog "A Chair for Helen" 05/16/10
(The photo was taken this past winter )

Ever More Complicated

I should not complain about the complications of technology. But, it seems like once you learn one technical item or way of communicating, it's replaced by another! I am currently working somewhat diligently on my Bellacompany Face Book to get some friends and then launch art auctions for some of my many paper pieces. You can check out our progress by going to http://www.bellacompany.com. With any luck at all there will be a link on the front page that works! I do plan to share any reasonable income from auctions with local shelters. It is a work in progress, but I will get there.
The generous spirit of Luna guides me.

We did get a new pup for Noodle (our terrier) as she had no playmate when Luna left us. Why do people get puppies when there are so many grown up dogs needing homes? It's a mystery. However, she is my first puppy since Bella and, we got her for free from a local Weston person. She's an education in why adopting grown up dogs is such a good idea and, at the same time, she has brought smiles and laughs into our lives. And, she's added some exercise routines to our day
On another note: The Artist Coalition of KC is having their annual auction on Feb. 13th. Lots of great art to see and buy.

public art

I've been too busy to blog...
running Bellacompany.com, getting my art ready for Open Studios and life itself leaves me little time to sit and even seem intelligent.

We lost our big white dog, Luna. We found a puppy to keep Noodle company and to brighten our spirits too. That's working well.
This last weekend, I visited Salt Lake City to participate in a No More Homeless Pets of Utah fund raiser. What an inspiring event it was. These Utah volunteers are highly organized and put on a spectacular event. The best part was that people got to bring their dogs with them. It was great fun and I drew quite a few Luna Toons to help their cause. At the same time, I wonder what the world would look like if we all got some dogs and cats and took good care of them so that all of these devoted highly skilled volunteers could use their nohow to help with other causes on this planet! Being responsible for ones pets seems like a no brainer...but I'm somehow not quite right about that!

Blogging student

I saw " Julie and Julia" yesterday, and in addition to being a wonderful film to watch, I learned about blogging! So, if I could improve my blogging efforts and my cooking efforts, I'd really be on the path to heaven on earth!

Our household doesn't spend as much time as we could on creating great meals. The excuse is the same old same old...not enough time. But, we do have time if we plan ahead. Now that our kitchen is remodeled we don't have too many excuses for not eating well. There are lots of great vegetarian websites with wonderful recipes, so I'm on the path. ...even if the approach is a little slow. By the way, I'd love some suggestions for vegetarian recipe sites!

As far as my blog subject matter, I just need to keep on the art path. (Being "discovered" is a whole other arena.) What's enjoyable is viewing my own comments and paintings as I move along to each new painting. Hopefully I can learn to slow down my multi tasking gene (way over active), and sharpen my "stay in one place" gene some. This blog began as a way to organize my art, so I'm feeling pretty good about showing new work as well as a few pieces of work from 1960....and all of the stages in between then and now.

The artist coalition event, Artists Sudios: KC, will be happening in Oct. My studio will be open Saturday, Oct. 24th from 10-4 and Sunday, Oct. 25th from 12-4...or by appointment.

July of my Dreams

I'm not sure if it has ever been like spring in Missouri
...in the middle of July! A chance to not only get the garden into some kind of mid summer order (without a heat stroke)...but also, to paint. I'm sketching outside and painting in my studio.
Getting ready for Open Studios at the end of October.
I hope to have many new dog/garden paintings for visitors to enjoy and buy too!

When I first moved to Missouri, I was thrilled to paint flowers. There were so many in summer! I was raised in Seattle where flowers were abundant, so, in some ways, it was like returning home.
July 19, 2009

Spring to Summer

Spring is such a great and difficult time. It's nature's "e" ride at Disney World! Great to be on, but I also realize I'm already missing the contemplation of a winter day. Everything beckons! The yard gardening, the longer dog walk, the necessary home repairs. Like the fall season before winter, spring seems like the perfect time to get too many things done before summer. I did take several days away from other work to go out in the yard and draw some flowers. My studio is next to the garden so it's amazingly easy to get back in the cool and bug free environment to work on some small mixed media paintings! Enjoy.
ps. roof project done, new porch working, kitchen remodel turning the corner to completion!
In addition, I need to be working more in my studio as the Kansas City Artist Coalition is gearing up for another Open Studios event this fall in mid October! Folks visiting my studio in Weston will probably want to see some new work! More about that event later