Still searching

I had downloaded daytime walk pictures and have been unable to locate where? This piece was done several weeks back when I had had some surrendered oil pastels. They were tiny chunks of colors. They'd been taken by Capt Destructo, so I'd seen a few decorations in yardwaste! Productive laundry day. Other tasks swept at. Life is moving and I'm overdue for a holiday!

Cooperation

Isn't the computer required to cooperate with its user? It is ignoring my every attempt to load a picture! Oh, well. Didn't post last night, watched some of the vice presidential debates and was fully blown away! My pitbull is smarter! How many people don't already understand what is going on in this country? How many people are ignorant as to what is represented in the media? It is alarming. This is exactly why we lost lives to 9/11.
My personal delimma's strike even harder today as I was asked to take a cut in pay. No. I cannot accept that, I will take a cut in hours and hopefully recapture living among the living. In poverty of course, hopefully not homeless. I run myself ragged for pay that does not cover living expenses, but that is the way of current America is it not? Of course the nation has filled with fear, but I already know poverty...it is normal to me. Maybe I will learn homelessnmess. All for keeping the countries CEO's on their jet planes and in their hot tubs.

Life Drawing

Here is first 20 minute pose working with new pencils from potlatch. Thank you to my tribe! The later poses with more time became somewhat muddy. Looking forward to experimenting and finding out what a water filled paintbrush might do. Creative play, to learn through. I hadn't allowed myself in the past to fail at a piece, but now I do. With perfectionism out of arena, growth through mistakes comes much faster. Watched for fellow earth dwelling companions while I walked today, with light disappointment. Expectations to witness wildlife each day are out of proportion to the daily habits of individual friends. I was blessed to see Whistlepig on m,y way to children's drawing class. Approaching it I was thinking, that is one fat squirrel. But a squirrel it was not, and it was enjoying whatever was falling from a roadside tree. My children's class went very well. We drew macaws today of all imaginary colors and I had enough feathers to share with each child from my own blue and gold. I suppose a picture there would be forthcoming. Maybe tomorrow as three jobs on this day have wiped me out. Had a hard time staying awake scanning labs this evening, had to stand on several occasions to keep body heat from dropping. My pets need extra care. Pictures of today's frolic though the foam jungle should also be taken. Another cushion shredded and lost while all the dogs find the foam particles rather enjoyable to roll in. Mascara chewed up again. At least it's not getting old and target for parasites. And of parasites, it's comforting to hear at clinic that I'm not the only one battling fleas. Seems present plague. If only the toads liked fleas!

Dixie

Dixie was my newest rescue before Captain Destructo. Her owners entered a nursing home and she and another chihuahua were taken in by family. She's rather food aggressive and apparently bit her new owner who surrendered her for euthanasia. Her first day was a nightmare! Once outside she slipped through fence and ran wildly through acres of fields. With poor sight as expected of our canine friends, I was a distant monster and she kept running. It took over an hour to reclaim her. With her fear marked all over the fields around me, the coyotes came in close. Later that week they took my Chiquita, a little desert dog who was abandoned by owners after repeated fines. She'd become quite plump with age and cataracts. She was with me for 5 years and had several close calls with coyotes and sutures from being sliced open in attacks. Back to Dixie. I couldn't let her out for several weeks as the coyote stayed close waiting. I lost all my mourning doves and rabbits. As time went on she accepted her new pack. She now lives for me and of couse maybe her food dish, but she no longer mourns her losses.She's a little alarm system, not accepting strangers until I hand her to them. When I get a hug from my children she plain freaks!
And for today, I traveled my regular walking route. Kept rather busy though the workday with some confusion as needed items to purchase. Sometimes I wonder how I get through the multitasking and constant change of direction with each phone call and in house enlistment for help! It's a really good thing that I gave up caffeine a while back as that simply heightens insanity rather than calm and relax as needed during times of stress. Life drawing this evening was needed, even overdue as so much has hoarded my time. Was so good to be there and share evening with like minded friends! Art Now for Autism gallery is now open! Clink on link on my sidebar to see available works!

Lucky Pup

No he's not a pup anymore. But the name rings well. He was adopted from a shelter down south, lived in a backyard on a tie out, and pulled dominance on the toddler he shared residence with. I re-homed him with the help of my veterinarian/employer. It failed. People with two children screaming about anything, frightening the dog and rather than counsel them I asked for return. It is very unreliable when a dog has more intellect than his owners. Lucky is highly intelligent and focused on tasks. He'll chase his rabies tag reflection around the living room floor in morning time. Quite capable of becoming obsessive compulsive, but he gets enough attention to keep him put of trouble. Optimally he would be working agility. He has drive, stamina, and intelligence. My daughter's ex asked me to keep him for him while he was serving in Iraq. My daughter nor Lucky Pup neither were important upon his return. So here he stays, getting fat and making decisions of his own.
Today the rain interrupted my plans. I lost my lunchtime walk. Dropped in on my sister after work as I had an overdue birthday gift for my nephew. Shared a cuppa decaf and a fortune cookie while we caught up on life's struggles. Home again, although it had rained most the day, I went out and worked at finishing lawn cutting. Worked under security light, watching for the full moon that I hadn't witnessed. Nearly done when in the dark I ran out of gas a second time. Gave in and made myself some dinner. That last section will be exceedingly tough to cut as next weekend more rain is expected and I'll not have time before then to finish. Today, my art waited. Patience is a virtue, and it embeds my art life. There had been so much fear, but fear accomplishes so little, I'd given it up.

Spike

I should introduce Spike. He ran out of time again and again. Why I'm not sure, he's been blacklisted, again and again. He and his sister were surrendered to animal control. His sister who looked like a whippet and was half his size found a home immediately. Spike caught his toe in kennel grate and broke it. He did not appreciate anyone looking at his toe, so it was not discovered until I took him out of animal control and put him in a rescue favoring pitbulls. Obviously a shelter catering to pits will be overcrowded and I procured his stay at local kennel with lots of friendly exercise. he had already earned a naughty reputation at vet clinic. Imagine that? Long term pain that no-one is willing to help with. I had him sedated for x-rays and I had his toe amputated at this late date. Is he part pit as feared? I believe he's part basenji as his tail curls over. What else? Feared pit? Feared black dog? There is an abundance of black dogs and cats that never find homes, and beyond superstition, the public has a fear of black. Black is a strong genetic gene of cats and dogs, but unfavored by their human companions. So Spike did his time in kennel and was incurring excessive bill when a home was finally found. He had a identicle twin, was loved by a family who took him in. A child was interference between the two dogs settling territories and Spike lost out on a home. I held him for awhile at vet and finally took him home as his reputation was now irrevocably lost. He is the placid, eager to please all his pack and feline companions too! I had a time with him whem he first arrived as he'd pop the front door open and do laps around pastures, jump at the neighbor's horses before I could reclaim him and drag him home. But pleasing others is his hearts desire.
The day moved quickly, Potlatch was sucessful and enjoyed by all. Food was absolutely wonderful and it was over much too soon. Afternoon caught up with Saturday's undone tasks before a quick visit with my folks, a couple errands and lawn mower gas for tomorrow. Betcha bottom dollar the sun'll come out tomorrow!(Well actually it's supposed to be cloudy the next two days.)But intent on starting the week out in a healthful manner!

Missing Photos

Been searching around my computer and I seem to have misplaced a number of photos! All over and I'm not finding some of my daily walk pictures I wanted to share. It's been a long Saturday, I'm getting together some soup to share at potlatch tomorrow. I called and scheduled a brake inspection this morning. After about 5 hours I was driving my van back home with new front brakes. Al the days plans upstarted and fortunately I had not paid my bills yet and could fix the brakes before they locked up the front tire. The brake pad had slipped and I was literally driving with brakes engaged. The money is sorely missed. Utilities are not paid nor groceries purchased. But most importantly I can drive to work as needed. And of course to visit my friends. I was able to catch up with my meditational readings during that time and prepare this coming weeks lesson plans for children's class. Walked to post office, GoodWill store, grocery and Panera for lunch while I waited. So I did accomplish although things had not been prioritized for today. Work was very slow, minimal dollars, will have to makes some decisions about workloads as I've too much time caught up in too little money.Well, soup is now on and cooking through the night for potlatch and rest is overdue!