As Annie said, "Oh, My Goodness. . . . Oh, My Goodness!!!" How did it get to be over a YEAR since I last posted on my blog? All I can say is--"I've been very busy!" Running a business, living the life as a retiree, semi-keeping up with a big house and yard, and enjoying 2 Havanese boys means there aren't too many extra hours in the day. I think I'll start with a few high points of what I've been doing since I last posted:
1. Roy and I have been spending a lot of time with Artie and Bernie. Artie turned 2 years old 2 days ago and Bernie turns 2 years old today. They are half brothers, having the same father and different mothers. Artie is a red and Bernie is a cream. Artie has finished his AKC Championship and Bernie is a Canine Good Citizen. They both are delightful dogs and we are enjoying learning more all the time about the dog sport called "Barn Hunt", upon which I will elaborate at a future time. Here are "The Boys" (at left) and a photo of Artie at his first Barn Hunt trial. We have also been doing some private classes that are a combination of obedience, nose work, agility, tricks, and "shaping" behaviors.
2, This is the "Year of the Dog" in the Chinese calendar and I've been drawing/painting dogs all year. I've been doing small 5" marker drawings and larger paintings from them. In October, I said I didn't know how to draw dogs. . . and I didn't. But since then, I've drawn over 120 and I'm feeling more confident with each one. Below are a few of my favorites. I didn't think I could fill up a year with a focus on dogs, but I actually need to continue it into the next year and maybe beyond.
3. I have a new "dream" sewing machine, a Pfaff Creative Icon. It is a sewing/embroidery machine and I am loving every minute of learning to use it. I want to spend more
time sewing than I have to spend.
This is a little blog post about some of the outstanding features of the new Creative Icon if you'd like to know more about the machine.
http://www.girlsinthegarden.net/2018/07/how-i-love-pfaff-creative-icon.html
4. After living outside of Sanger for 25 years, we've been in the process of having our backyard redone since last fall. It is in the final stages and we are very pleased with it. Photos will follow very soon.
5. After 25 years playing with the Fresno Community Concert Band, Roy and I am not continuing this year. We needed to free up our Thursday evenings and our weekends for dog-related events. Roy is not playing with the Sequoia Symphony either, so his life has changed quite dramatically.
6. I am beginning YEAR 7 as the owner of "Mixed Messages" ART. Time has gone by quickly. My mother, Vivienne Walton, celebrated her 100th birthday on July 22nd with about 85 guests at the Sanger Woman's Club. It was a wonderful party and we all enjoyed it greatly.
Kathleen
PS. No promises, but I'm going to try to return to my routine of sending out a newsletter each month and doing a blog post each week. I do promise to try harder to stay in touch better.
1. Roy and I have been spending a lot of time with Artie and Bernie. Artie turned 2 years old 2 days ago and Bernie turns 2 years old today. They are half brothers, having the same father and different mothers. Artie is a red and Bernie is a cream. Artie has finished his AKC Championship and Bernie is a Canine Good Citizen. They both are delightful dogs and we are enjoying learning more all the time about the dog sport called "Barn Hunt", upon which I will elaborate at a future time. Here are "The Boys" (at left) and a photo of Artie at his first Barn Hunt trial. We have also been doing some private classes that are a combination of obedience, nose work, agility, tricks, and "shaping" behaviors.
2, This is the "Year of the Dog" in the Chinese calendar and I've been drawing/painting dogs all year. I've been doing small 5" marker drawings and larger paintings from them. In October, I said I didn't know how to draw dogs. . . and I didn't. But since then, I've drawn over 120 and I'm feeling more confident with each one. Below are a few of my favorites. I didn't think I could fill up a year with a focus on dogs, but I actually need to continue it into the next year and maybe beyond.
3. I have a new "dream" sewing machine, a Pfaff Creative Icon. It is a sewing/embroidery machine and I am loving every minute of learning to use it. I want to spend more
time sewing than I have to spend.
This is a little blog post about some of the outstanding features of the new Creative Icon if you'd like to know more about the machine.
http://www.girlsinthegarden.net/2018/07/how-i-love-pfaff-creative-icon.html
4. After living outside of Sanger for 25 years, we've been in the process of having our backyard redone since last fall. It is in the final stages and we are very pleased with it. Photos will follow very soon.
5. After 25 years playing with the Fresno Community Concert Band, Roy and I am not continuing this year. We needed to free up our Thursday evenings and our weekends for dog-related events. Roy is not playing with the Sequoia Symphony either, so his life has changed quite dramatically.
6. I am beginning YEAR 7 as the owner of "Mixed Messages" ART. Time has gone by quickly. My mother, Vivienne Walton, celebrated her 100th birthday on July 22nd with about 85 guests at the Sanger Woman's Club. It was a wonderful party and we all enjoyed it greatly.
Kathleen
PS. No promises, but I'm going to try to return to my routine of sending out a newsletter each month and doing a blog post each week. I do promise to try harder to stay in touch better.
