BICHON FRISE LOVE

I got my first Bichon almost four years ago and fell in love with her immediately! I never had an indoor cuddly dog before and Zoey fit the bill. She follows me around and sticks to me like Velcro. I never understood why Bichon Frise owners were crazy about this breed. They were like no other owners I had ever met before. They would carry around pictures of their dogs, have birthday parties for them, play groups, and even Bark Mitzvah's! I wondered what was up with that???? But now I know why these little furry bundles of energy tug at your hearts. You can't help but hold and pet them all of the time! Now I get invited to their get togethers when I was shunned before I had Zoey. I have asked my famous pastel artist daughter to draw a portrait of Zoey but she keeps telling me NO. Is it sister rivalry? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I still miss my Dalamation Simone, who passed away last December. She was almost 13 years old. She was a great dog that tugged at another section of my heart. She was my walking buddy almost everyday of her life. People would stop their cars on the street and point at Simone. Her spots definitely made her stand out especially when the first 100 Dalamation movie came out. Do you have a dog and if so what kind? Let me know. Here is a funny video I found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3bdigI7HcY

WE CAN "CAN CAN"

I am having fun with my friends today. Check out the link below! http://www.jibjab.com/starring_you/receipt/1099499

THE HUMMERS ARE BACK

Yesterday I was out in my backyard and the hummingbirds kept zooming over my head playing chase. I ran inside and got my camera and started clicking away. Those buggers don't stay still very long! Here are a few pictures I was able to get along with some of the flowers growing in my yard. You can tell that I manipulated some of my images.

WHO ME?

This image I named "WHO ME"? The look in that cow's eyes says it all. Do you think he is upset over being featured in worldwide CowParades? For Art, For Charity, For Fun CowParade is the world’s largest public art event. From Chicago and New York in 1999 and 2000 to Kansas City and Houston in 2001 and London in 2002, CowParade continues to evolve, not just in size, but in creativity and quality of art. While the cow sculptures remain the same, each city’s artists are challenged by the art from past events, inspired by the cultural influences of their respective cities, and moved by their own interpretation of the cow as an art object. ************************************************************************* Check out the link below to see one of the slide shows: http://mycowparade.com **************************************************************************** You will be amazed at how creative these artists were at creating these cows for charity! If you are lucky enough to have seen them in your city then you know what I am talking about. If not, they are still having shows around the world. CATCH ONE IF YOU CAN... Check out this picture. Avery is about to be drenched with the rain storm that is coming. We went up to the levee across the street to watch this storm head in. Hopefully it will bring cooler weather for us.

MOVING ON UP

The Houston Civic Art Association held it's annual art show yesterday at the Bellaire Recreation Center. There were over 25 competitors in the portrait division that Avery was competing against. She entered three of her pastels and won ribbons on all three! Her portrait of Lizzie, the Boston Terrier, took first place. Dusty, the Lab mix, took third place and the picture of Simone kissing me took honorable mention. Only the first through third place winners are invited to have their art hung at Cafe Mezza and Grille for the month of October. There is an opening reception planned for Thursday, October 4th from 5:00 to 7:00. Avery is thrilled with her success and so are we! Hopefully she will sell some of her work during the month. This is Adam who owns the famous dog!

SLEEP IS THE NEW SEX

Pass out in Savasanah, the corpse pose! Last year Forbes magazine quoted a sleep expert as saying, "sleep is the new sex." It also said the sleeping pill industry is in the billion dollar range. Which is why I'd like to offer you something free and hopefully addictive—yoga tips to improve your slumber numbers. Want to find peace? Practice active relaxation in corpse pose, which releases muscle tension. It's almost like hypnotizing yourself but not as hokey. Only 20 minutes to total rejuvenation! A pose that requires you to do nothing more than just lie there. Genius. Just don’t fall asleep. 1. Set a timer for 20 minutes (20 minutes is best, but even 5 or 10 will help if you are pressed for time) and lie on your back on the floor. 2. Place your arms near your sides with your palms facing the ceiling or bend your elbows and place your palms on your stomach. 3. If you have neck tension, use a thin pillow under your head, which will realign your head so your forehead and chin are level. 4. Listen to a guided relaxation tape, or simply relax each area of your body in sequence until you drift into a peaceful place.

I OWE MY MOTHER

• 1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
• "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside.
• I just finished cleaning."
• 2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
• "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
• 3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
• "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you
• into the middle of next week!"
• 4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
• " Because I said so, that's why."
• 5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
• "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck,
• you're not going to the store with me."
• 6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
• "Make sure you wear clean underwear,
• in case you're in an accident."
• 7. My mother taught me IRONY.
• "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."
• 8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
• "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."
• 9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
• "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"
• 10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
• "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."
• 11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
• "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."
• 12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
• "If I told you once, I've told you a million times.
• Don't exaggerate!"
• 13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
• "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
• 14. My mother taught me about ENVY.
• "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world
• who don't have wonderful parents like you do."
• 15. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
• "Just wait until we get home."
• 16. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
• "You are going to get it when you get home!"
• 17. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
• "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going
• to get stuck that way."
• 18. My mother taught me ESP.
• "Put your sweater on; don't you think
• I know when you are cold?"
• 19. My mother taught me HUMOR.
• "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes,
• don't come running to me."
• 20. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
• "If you don't eat your vegetables,
• you'll never grow up."
• 21. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
• "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"
• 22. My mother taught me WISDOM.
• "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

• 23. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
• "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.

************************************************************************************* Found this duck this morning on our walk in the neighborhood. I hung him outside my kitchen window to see how long it takes my husband to notice it.

CRAZY ABOUT COOKIE JARS

Today I hit one of my favorite consignment stores and I found a treasure to come home with me. It is a McCoy teapot cookie jar. It was sitting on the shelf with my name on it! Ha... I must have over 75 jars gracing my kitchen and den shelves. Do you know that not one of them has ever held cookies! I also collect salt and pepper shakers, Russian nesting dolls, character trinket boxes, and vintage ashtrays. There is more but I am afraid that my husband will actually read my blog and see how much stuff I come home with!!!

BUTTONS ARE THE RAGE

Do you get excited when you see really cool buttons? I love looking at old clothes and seeing the unusual buttons they would use on them. They are different than the kind you can buy now in Jo Anns or Hobby Lobby. It is fun to visit bead shops that carry old buttons in those tubes stacked one on the other. Reminds me of an old time candy store. ************************************************************************************** There are also the buttons that people wear on their clothes to express themselves. WHICH WOULD YOU WEAR?

BATTLES TO BE WON...NOT

Astrology

In French, Tuesday is "Mardi", associating it with the planet Mars. Tuesday is also associated with the dwarf planet Pluto. This marries Tuesday with ideas of strife, battles to be won and pressing issues and jobs to get sorted. It is not a day to relax.

But I thought it would be nice to enjoy some humor after the stress of Sunday! So enjoy our day sewing, shopping, or whatever makes you happy!

LIFE CHANGES ON A DIME

"Life changes on a dime" is a phrase that is often used when something awful happens! Avery had an accident yesterday and lost control of her car on a neighborhood street. Thank goodness she and her friend were not hurt. Only the car suffered extensive damage!!! She claims she heard a pop and then everything happened too quickly. THIS VIEW SHOWS YOU THE DAMAGE OF THE GUARD RAIL THAT HELD HER CAR FROM GOING OVER A 30 FOOT LEDGE.

IT'S GOOD TO SHUT UP SOMETIMES

It's good to shut up sometimes. That was a quote by Marcel Marceau, the very famous mime who passed away today. Millions who have never seen him perform live, or even on television, have heard of Marcel Marceau. He's, you know, that French guy in white face who for some inexplicable reason doesn't talk. He's toured the world with his show 40 times. He's written and illustrated several books. He's received France's highest artist honor -- the French Legion of Honor -- and two Emmys. Michael Jackson modeled his moon walk on Marceau's walk-against-the-wind techniques. He's garnered honorary degrees from prestigious universities across America. He's had three wives, four children, survived the Holocaust, joined the Resistance and marched in Patton's army.

Even when you don't quite get it, Marceau makes you think twice.

In 1947, Marceau created "Bip", the clown, who in his striped pullover and battered, beflowered silk opera hat — signifying the fragility of life — has become his alter-ego, even as Chaplin's "Little Tramp" became that star's major personality. Bip's misadventures with everything from butterflies to lions, on ships and trains, in dance-halls or restaurants, were limitless. As a style pantomime, Marceau was acknowledged without peer. His silent exercises, which include such classic works as The Cage, Walking Against the Wind, The Mask Maker, and In The Park, and satires on everything from sculptors to matadors, were described as works of genius. Of his summation of the ages of man in the famous Youth, Maturity, Old Age and Death, one critic said, "He accomplishes in less than two minutes what most novelists cannot do in volumes."

check out the link below to see him perform:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qx8_C1hMko&mode=related&search=