When I Grow Up...

I want to be just like my dog. And here are the reasons why:

1. She thinks I'm just perfect when I get outta bed in the morning.
2. She looks better in most of her outfits than I do in mine. And even if it's not her best look, her self-esteem dictates that she feel super-cute.
3. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body. I know not all dogs are this way, but I kid you not-she lets her 2 cat siblings have a nibble or two of her food before she partakes. And no necks are broken!
4. The tiniest things excite her so much, even if she has done them a million times. How exciting can it be to walk around the block? Apparently, pretty exciting!
5. She is more perceptive than Dr. Phil. If I'm upset or feeling down, she is aware of it almost before I am and is always at the ready with a sweet, sloppy doggie kiss.
6. She assumes that everyone is a friend (even other dogs and cats) and that no one means her harm.
7. She can fall asleep in the middle of a hard tile floor on her back, legs pointing to the sky. I'm getting to the age where I can no longer take for granted a good night's sleep and you can forget about that tile floor.
8. She doesn't have any baggage from being abandoned a few times in her life or because her Mom put her on a diet.
9. Even when she's grouchy she's not.
10. She starts each day with a huge dog-smile on her fuzzy face and with the knowing strut of one who is just bound to have a great day.

 Which brings me to something you have probably heard before, but it's fitting-"I hope to one day be the person my dog thinks I am".

Terriers and Trying Times

I am constantly hearing about the sad state of our world. Be it the war or the economy, there is a noticeable air of negativity buzzing about. Am I crazy? Do you feel it too? I have always considered myself a mostly positive-minded person, but I am finding myself thinking in ways that surprise me. I rarely have someone just be directly rude or angry in their interactions, but seething right beneath the surface of the written and spoken word...So, what to do with these people and experiences???? I think my hubby has a good idea when he suggests that we "kill 'em with kindness". I don't mean this in a sarcastic way, but rather to take a minute when someone comes at you with negativity and really think about how personally it is meant. Let's face it-times are tough. People are struggling. So, if I feel a barb that I don't feel I initiated or deserved, I am much better off if I can remember from whence this person came. It took me until I was into my 40s to realize and really "get" that everything wasn't always about me!!! Most of the time I am simply standing in the way when something happens and it isn't meant personally. I really believe this-and I also know that I am guilty of misplaced aggression and anger as well. I would love to be someone who always knows immediately what I am feeling, why I am feeling it and handles each situation appropriately. Maybe the fact that I still mess this up makes it easier for me to have compassion when it is coming my way. And I say this with a disclaimer-I don't always do the best I could with these things, but dammit, I'm trying!!!!

  One great way for me to stay centered and positive is to play with my art supplies. I love participating in art swaps and I am currently hosting an altered art book swap. What a kick this has been! I have  the good fortune to be playing at this with 5 ladies, all of whom I have admired for their artistic prowess for quite some time. It is set up to have only 2 weeks between mailing dates which has definitely been a challenge at times, but it has also kept me creating when I might have otherwise opted out. In this particular swap we each chose a different theme and that has just added to the fun-no chance for boredom or repetition. The themes are: "Play", "Alice in Wonderland", "Creative Abandon", "Love & the color Red", "Women of the world" and mine is "Exploring your inner Pin-Up Girl". Quite a diverse group, huh? I have only done 3 of the books thus far, but look so forward to seeing all the others. In the meantime-here are some recent artsy endeavors that have helped me keep things straight in this crazy world...

The little guy on the right was a Hobby Lobby purchase.
My Mom recently adopted a sweet Cairn Terrier
she named "Abby". I painted the all-black figure
to resemble Abby and added a real doggie collar with a tiny red bell and sent her North for Christmas.