June Already?

Please Note:  I have not done any linking within my text in quite a while.  As I preview this, I notice links come up everywhere in my post, including old text.  My computer has been embedded with "trusted offer surveys" left and right.  My apologies for this and I suggest not clicking on any of the links.
So, about my life:
I have been addicted to Facebook and Pinterest recently.  Fun stuff.  I have also been doing a lot of work both in the home studio and at Long's Gardens.  My dogs are happy that I get to be home more now that Open Season at the Gardens is over.
I have been playing with Zentangles for a few months now and have started creating pieces like the one pictured here.  My new style of quilts are done on silk with very fine threads and a lot of doodling.  Ohhhhhhhhhh, I really like where I'm going with this. I can't wait to do more.
I have also been attending some local quilt guilds and meeting new people with the same passions about quilting.
My mother in law has been hankering for pictures of her grand-dogs.  So, here are a few.  Gwynnie loves sitting on this windowsill.  I have tried to break her of the habit, but to no success.  She has the best, most comfy view in the house.  She and I have been putting oil of coconut in our hair every few weeks.  She tries to eat it before I can get it on her.  It is quite entertaining.  She also loves taking naps with her best buddies Bogie (dog) and Loki (cat known as Big Dog).

Getting Along

These two are starting to get along.  The day Bo realized she was girl puppy and not just this little biting black fuzzball was pretty funny!  The cats are doing better with little Gwyn too, one is very much playing with her and the other is hiding less.  The problem with Gwyn learning from the cats is that she thinks she can move like they do.  Therefore, I will often bust Gwyn following a cat onto a chair and then onto my sewing table, computer desk, etc.
I've been invited to do an Artist Open Studio tour in Sept.  That means that the studio floor remodel will definitely be happening.  I have a long arm demonstration to do at the local library and that is the perfect time to move everything out and just do.  More likely, I'll move everything out and have my husband refinish the floor while I work on a 4 tier wedding cake. 
I have been doing the quilting on many quilts lately for Kerry of Commaworkshop in Boulder.  Her quilts are doing wonderfully right now and I believe there will be an article about her in the New York Times July 26th.

Busy Times Means Handwork

Taking care of my best friend has been the focus of my days for a week or so now.  Bogie was due for a shot when I noticed a lump on his leg.  At first, I thought it was an infected dew claw.  My fabulous vet didn't buy that story.  He took one look and announced "malignant tumor, let's get it out right away."  The next day, we denied Bo his breakfast (he hates that part) so he could go in for surgery.  Doc did a great job removing the pre-malignant tumor, 2 fatty Lypomas, 2 skin tags and giving the needed shot.  At about 2, my husband got a call stating "Bo says he is ready to go home now."When my husband got there, Bo was howling (and had been since he woke up). 
The receptionist was on the phone when my husband arrived and began howling back to our baby.  Bogie endeared several of the vet assistants to him with his pitiful pleas.  One of them actually crawled into the cage with Bo to try to soothe him.  I was very touched when a mutual friend shared that bit of info with me.
He is recovering well and was back to jumping around in no time.
With my very busy babysitting, chauffeur and Bo's surgery recovery, I have not been able to focus on a large project.  Therefore, I have been doing handwork.  I've got to block of the months I've been working on for a client.  They got more attention this past week, one block done for each.  I bought a little carrying case that all the pieces and sharp stuff goes into and it makes it so easy to just sew for 15 minutes while at the vet's office.  I can sew longer periods of time while the child naps but as soon as I hear him wake up, everything gets thrown in box and clasped shut real quick before I go get him from the crib.  I really like this new little system I've worked out.  It is hard to keep track of hourly time though when doing 10-15 minute stints.
Time to go make blueberry coffee cake for the blacksmiths.  Have a great week!

My Bogie Bear

Today was all about my dog, Bogie. He is the light of my life and my best friend. This is only funny because I was afraid of dogs for quite a while. You see, I was attacked by a dog when I was 3 1/2 and the same dog got me again just before 4 years old. My parents kept nice dogs around when I was little. Partly because they love dogs and partly to keep me used to them. Family dogs were fine, but strange dogs terrified me until I met my husband.
He taught me how to read dogs. There are many things that make good and bad dogs. Genetics in the breeding are the start for personality. I have learned however that nurturing can win out over nature. I have had the pleasure to meet 3 of the sweetest pit bulls ever as well as many not so good ones. This is the case with my sweet beast.
Bogie is a Catahoula mix of the mountain variety. We didn't quite know what we were getting into when the 7 week old was given to us. Luckily, we did some research and found out his genetic temperament. Catahoula's are not recognized by the American AKC because they don't breed true. They can come out grey with spots, brindled, or the mountain ones are brown with a white butterfly on chest and white feet. That's my little Bogie bear. He weighs 89 pounds and is the great at snuggling. The Catahoula's have a reputation for fierceness and a used in packs of three to bring down wild boar, bulls, and alligators.
I never wanted to be afraid of my own dog, so we learned and trained for specific things. Socializing him was a huge goal and we succeeded. He is friendly with other dogs, people, and children. Just don't bring food into the picture. As he ages, Bo is getting more aggressive over food issues. A good old codger we knew looked at me once and said, "You ruined that dog." To which I happily took responsibility for taming a beast into a sweet, snuggle dog.
Don't get me wrong, Bo can be quite a handful. As a puppy, we trained him the property boundaries by having tied to a rock climbing rope that was tied to the house. He could go anywhere on the property and we checked on him often. During one of those check ons, I found my dog looking up at me innocently with his teeth in the knot. He was halfway through untying the knot! Well, right then I knew I had thinking dog. He knew he wasn't allowed to chew the rope, we'd gone over that one. But to untie it... it was funny. I have thousands of Bo stories if people like them, I'll continue to share. The story of how he made me see a bear so he could eat the cake is good one, maybe tomorrow.
I'm writing about my buddy today because he is at me feet trying to shake some heavy anesthesia. Very fast metabolisms are another Catahoula trait, so the Doc has to give a rhinoceros size doping when my dog gets surgery. Yep, Bogie went under the knife today to get some lumps removed. We weren't too sure if it was a hernia, fatty lumps, or worse. Luckily, it was the fatty sort which can be dangerous as well. One of the lumps had tentacle-like things that were thinking of strangling an important blood vessel. He is going to be fine though and continue to enrich our lives. We are moving him to the back rooms now so I'll say goodbye for today. Thanks for letting me talk about my best friend while waiting for his recovery.
Dogs are the best. Bo's the first I've ever truly loved. Now I understand just like everybody else. If you have one, go hug your dog right now.