Animals everywhere

 Merrin did Gertie's hair in barrettes and pigtails.  Once Gertie realized there was something in her hair she rolled around and tried to wipe it all off.  Then we humiliated her with pictures.

We like to humiliate all of our animals equally. ;)  Junie is modeling a lovely pink scarf-

And the next two photos are Junie and her prosthetic ears and tail.  Merrin trimmed her hair really short and we had a hard time adjusting to the look -so we tried this (until Junie moved and everything fell off).

Junie had a squinty eye for a day.

This is Peeps...  She's a soft little thing.  She sang to me on the back deck at Shane's house.

Sometimes Rosie will bring Dante in to work with us.  He's an old Italian Greyhound.  He likes to sleep at contorted angles in the sun.

Merrin loves Dante.  

Dante loves blankets when the sun is unavailable.

He's really leggy - makes holding him sorta awkward.

This was a rare occurrence.  Junie SHARED!  Junie thinks this bed is HERS but she shared with Gidget at nap time.

Junie loves her beds.

 Mickey has to get help onto my lap.  He tries and tries but his back legs won't jump.

This never happened.... (Junie is not allowed in my bed)

 This is Lee.  She's a Greek Tortoise.  She might eat your flesh if she can reach it.

My Mini-Gallery continues...

Even more artwork....

 Bone-eater, watercolor/acrylic/colored pencil, 6 x 10"

Einstein, Acrylic and colored pencil, 12 x 17

Black-Billed Magpie, Acrylic on artboard, 24" x 12"

 Peregrine Falcon, acrylic on board, 36" x 36"

 Red-tailed Boa, colored pencil, 17" x 11"

 Crocodile with a toothpicker bird, acrylic on pine, 48" x 24"

King Vulture, acrylic and colored pencil, 14" x 17"

Running dog, acrylic on pine, 36" x 12"

All the sizes are really approximate....  Maybe I'll measure them, but if I know me (and I do) then I won't.

A mini gallery of my work.....

Well, it's not all inclusive but it's what I've taken photos of....

 Blue-Footed Boobies, Acrylic on board, 36" x 36"

 Cheshire Cat, acrylic on masonite, approx. 3' x 2'

 Great Dane, Watercolor/soft pastel/charcoal, Size....undetermined

 Western Screech Owl, scratchboard/watercolor, 4" x 6"

Hornbills, watercolor/charcoal, 22 x 32"

Robin's Nest, watercolor, 11 x 17"

Rabbit, acrylic on canvas, 11 x 14"

Most sizes are approximate because I don't want to go look for all these and measure them. :)

Now for more artwork.....

I've been juggling school and work---and lots of adorable pets to keep me sane :) These are some of my final assignment paintings for my figure drawing class last semester.  Alice in Wonderland themed!

Wherein Alice falls into a deep slumber, watercolor, 32" x 22"

Contemplating Hatter's riddle, watercolor, 32" x 22"

Painting

I did some little watercolors for the invitation to WRCNU Wildlife Baby Shower.

Right Now--

Kids with the stomach flu......  That about sums it up.

Acrylic portrait

I did a painting for the doctor that unfortunately was saddled with the job of draining the gloop out of my foot.  The painting is of his sister and her dog Baxter---I think he liked it.

It's Cold Outside

I was bird watching out my sliding glass door and saw a lovely robin with partial albinism.

I haven't been posting much lately.  I don't seem to have the time.  Sorry about that.

Labor Day --South Fork

For Labor Day we went up to Perception Park in South Fork for a picnic lunch . We brought dogs. Gertie came with my parents, Junie B came with me and Stephanie brought Hoops - the Chihuahua.  We had sandwiches, played in the river, enjoyed the scenery.... you know, picnicy stuff. Jen and Tim don't have a dog so they took turns with everyone else's animals, including my kids.  We had fun, took pictures, found Water Hemlock....

Junie B. having adventures

Gertie peeking through the forest

Sandhill Cranes flying overhead

Sandhill Cranes out in the field

Shane Fishing.

Teasel

Fishing

Shane taught Merrin and Kohl some fishing basics.  I don't have a fishing license so I just watched and released some birds from WRCNU.

This is a young Barn Swallow that I released at the bridge into the loop of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. We released a Willet as well.

Kohl's Channel Catfish.

Merrin spotted this little Leopard Frog on the river bank.

Blue Damselflys were all over the place. The color on them looks unnatural.  My grandma used to say that if you told a lie a dragonfly would come and sew your lips shut.

This is Merrin's Black Bullhead Catfish.  We did catch and release because I don't actually want to eat catfish, but they were fun to catch.  Shane brought worms and shrimp for bait.  Worms worked the best - Shane wanted to fish with chicken liver but all the stores were sold out.  We brought Junie B. along - but she's not much for fishing and ended up resting in the car (she's peeking out the window).