The New Year

I took this photo the other day of a sweet, chubby Robin sitting in our tree....feels like a good New Year image. I am wishing for a New Year full of grace, simple beauty and feeling strength in myself. I want to sit on a branch and be perfectly happy...and fly when I want to. Takes a long time to get to that place...but I'm workin' on it!

Happy New Year everyone. xox

"I'm not afraid of
storms, for I'm
learning how to
sail my ship."

~Louisa May Alcott

DNA and Maisie May!

Hi everyone! Yes, Maisie May is a new nickname we're calling Maisie along with Maisiekins, Maize...and James calls her Mayhem (ha! just kidding). Isn't this the coolest stamp of her? My wonderful and talented friend, Melissa surprised me with it yesterday and I just love it. Thanks, Melissa!

We finally got Maisie's DNA results back and you won't believe it...they're inconclusive. Maisie has them stumped! What it basically said is that they could not find markers in her DNA that would indicate she had any German Shepherd, Whippet or Greyhound in her. They did find trace amounts (which means they don't really know) of Siberian Husky, Dalmation, Australian Shepherd, Dachshund and Airedale Terrier. Dachshund?...Moira, any thoughts on that little surprise?

So...because of these lamo results...James and I have done some more research on our own and now we think she is a Dutch Shepherd. The Dutch Shepherds are not on the Wisdom Panel DNA list of breeds so it wouldn't even show if she was a purebred. She might be mixed with something else...but her characteristics and personality really seem to fit a "Dutchie". Take a look at "Coco" on Dogster and you can see the similarities. I think we want our DNA money back now! Sheesh!

Hope you're all getting some good r&r this week after all the Christmas hooplah. I'm very happy that a bright new year is coming! Yay!

Merry Christmas!

"Two Pugs" 2003
digital card from one of my original paintings

Merry Christmas!
Hope you have a magical holiday filled with all good and tasty things!

~Love from Linda, James and Maisie Rose

Little Mary Christmas

I was rummaging through some old family photos yesterday and I came across these two of my mom. They felt so sweet and Christmasy so I wanted to share them with you. You can see where I get some of my adoration for dogs from...little Mary Ann had a dog on her purse even then! A Boston Terrier, three English Bulldogs, Labs, Mixes, Shepherds...and a Partridge in a Pear Tree later...she still has two and loves them with all her heart. And that's a big heart.

The picture below is of teeny tiny Mary Ann in the Iowa snow. I think she was the cutest baby ever.
I finally finished my work for the holidays yesterday...cards, prints, paintings all done and shipped. Yay! Time to sit back a little and enjoy the season...and most of all...Miss Maisie! By the way...thank you all so very much for your emails about Maisie's surgery. She's doing really well and thanks you for your kindness and concern. xoxo! She's definitely getting her sass back!

It came without ribbons,
It came without tags,
It came without packages, boxes, or bags.
Christmas can't be bought from a store...
Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.
~Dr.Seuss

Wicked weekend!

Oh 'tis the season...blah blah blah!! Yes, I'm a little scroogey this morning because my baby girl dog, Maisie had to have emergency surgery over the weekend. To try and make a long story short (and look out for the gross factor)...Maisie ate a tampon out of the bathroom trash on Saturday morning. I had heard this could be a very dangerous thing for a dog so we called our Vet. She had us bring Maisie in to take an x-ray and if it was in her stomach...would have her vomit it up. While they were looking at her x-ray...they saw an unidentified object of concern. They called us in...and we immediately knew what is was...a metal framing diamond (the kind you shoot in the back of a frame)!! Maisie had been down in my studio with me on Friday...and apparently had licked one up. It was lodged in her small intestine and we couldn't take the chance of perforation so it had to be surgically removed.

Maisie had to spend the night in the hospital...but we brought her home Sunday morning and she should make a full recovery. Poor baby though was just getting over kennel cough...and now she can't take a walk or do much for ten days. She's fine though and pretty much acts like nothing happened. "I" on the other hand am a wreck!! Oh well, at least it's over and she's back home with us. All is right in the world again.

By the way (and this will really date me!)...did you hear that Dan Fogelberg died over the weekend? He was one of my all time favorite singers and I probably listened to his album, "Home Free" about a million times while I was in college. Gonna have to get the CD now and reminisce. He was a great talent for soft, beautiful rock ballads.

Have a good Monday all...xox

Movies!

One of the most talented movie stars of all time...no not Elizabeth Taylor...but Lassie! You could add Rin Tin Tin and Hooch of "Turner and Hooch" as well but I think in my book...Lassie gets the Oscar.

So I have been tagged by my lovely friend and wonderful Artist, Kathy Weller to reveal my top 25 all time favorite movies. This was not an easy task...and I had another 10 or so (mostly dog movies...big surprise) that I wanted to add but in the spirit of THE TAG...here we go...

Out of Africa
Elephant Man
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
The Miracle Worker
Frida
Edward Scissorhands
House of Sand and Fog
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Chocolat
Napoleon Dynamite
Capote
Forrest Gump
Little Big Man
Schindler's List
A Beautiful Mind
Dances With Wolves
Driving Miss Daisy
The Bounty
Splendor in the Grass
To Kill a Mockingbird
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Straight Story
Cinema Paradiso
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Romeo and Juliet (1968 version)

And now I would love to tag YOU to see what your movie list is like!...Kate, Kim and Melissa!

Please Mr. Santa!

I found this "vintage" (better than calling a picture of myself "old")...photograph of me and Mr. Santa Claus when I was about five. I think even then I was wishing for a puppy! Well...a puppy and mickey mouse ears. I definitely got what I wished for this year...a beautiful new girl dog, Maisie Rose. Thanks, Santa!

I always love reading "letters to Santa" from local kids in our newspaper every year. They are so funny and endearing. Here are a couple I came across on the web I thought you would enjoy. I especially like the ones with bad spelling! (from emailsanta.com)

Dear Santa, I will spray down the fire plase so you do not burn your butt and i will leav you cookes and milk.
- Nick, 5, Oskloosa, Kansas

I really like the red suit, but when I saw you in the mall the other day, it was lookin a little too small. Maybe you should ease up a little on the milk and cookies.
- Conrad, 9, Calgary, Alberta

Enjoy your day...I'm heading down to the studio now! The dogs await!

SNOW!!!

Maisie's wish came through and we finally had our first big snowstorm of the year! It snowed about 8-10 inches on Saturday and it's been cold. I love this picture of her...she was fascinated with my snow boot and was chasing me up and down the yard trying to get a piece of it. Her ears are so sweet here...kind of like a donkey (Amy, Katherine...are you smiling yet?).

And speaking of donkey ears...we're having a DNA test done on Maisie to find out exactly what this little girl is made of. James and I think she's German Shepherd/Whippet/Donkey/Tiger but we shall actually find out in three short weeks. Our Vet suggested we do it...not only because Maisie is a very unusual looking dog and it will be fun to know...but also because it will help with her training and with future medical care.

I'll have some art to show you soon...I'm trying to finish everything up by the end of this week so that it all gets where it needs to go by Christmas. Time to get to work...get me my turbo tea!

Have a good Monday! xoxo

More Holiday Spirit!

Maisie wants to be in the Christmas spirit but is feeling a little blue without her snow to romp in. It was 72 degrees here in Colorado on Tuesday! What's a snow lovin' dog to do?

It's a little frantic and busy here in Santa's Dog workshop this week. Dog painting commisssions must be done and sent out in just over a week so I am panting and pacing a little. Everything always works out though so I just need to take a little breath, have a little kibble to keep my energy up and keep that paintbrush in hand!

Here's a little holiday cheer for you from Maisie, James and Myself. My step-sister sent this link to me the other day and it really had my laughing. Hope you enjoy our performance! Click here to view!

Holiday Spirit and Stuff

"Mr. Snowman"

Being that it's the 3rd of December...I thought I should try and get myself in a little holiday spirit today (bah humbug hee hee)...and Mr. Snowman is just the person to do it! I think I collaged him when I was eight years old and amazingly enough have kept him intact all these years. I always thought he would make a cute Christmas card...although I would have a hissy fit if our card did not have a dog on it!

So...Miss Melissa (awesome dog artist!) at Pugnotes tagged me the other day to reveal 5 random facts about myself. Oh geez, you know this requires brain power, Melissa!...

1) I love movies, my favorite actress is Cate Blanchett.

2) I was featured in the local news as an ice skater when I was 5 years old. I stuck my tongue out at the camera when they were filming and my grandmother was forever mortified by that incident.

3) I have to eat cashews every day. It's a serious addiction.

4) One of my ancestors is Benjamin West, an American Painter. He died on March 11...and I was born March 11. Kind of weird. I don't think he painted dogs though...too bad.

5) I am a Saluki after taking the "What kind of dog are you" quiz.

Rules:
Link to the tagger and post these rules on your blog.
Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Now I know it's the holidays so if you can't play along I totally understand...but I will lovingly tag...

Patience-please
Greenfish Watercolors
This Joy of Art
Holly Loves Art
Keeper of the Chocolates

One more thing...we had a great time in San Diego...but it's good to be back with our Maisie girl!! Thanks for all your sweet wishes for a good trip. xo