Dogs On Thursday: Soul Special

Originally, my plan for today's "hear ye! hear ye! celestial canine time" was on the topic of a new friend coming into the fold of the extended family. However, due to the comment left by my second mum, Miss Soulbrush, considering she has been ill the last few days. The topic today will be more focused on "moi". Dearest Mummy Soul, I know you have been requesting it, my mom here has stepped beyond the boundaries to bring you some never before seen photos......hope you enjoy them, feel better soon (slurp)!
First, allow me to share a few words on the ballgame last Sunday. Though my team did not walk away with the win, my salutations go out to the state of Louisiana and my Uncle's sidekick, "Pee Wee." Their jubilance is over the top, though Pee Wee probably is immune to the noise. He is quite elderly and this morning's report is that he has lost almost all of his sight and hearing but retains his physical prowess! You keep on waggin' buddy!
Warning: These next four photos may contain canine nudity and subject matter not suitable for children!

My best buddy gives me the royal dip regularly behind closed doors........mom, that crazy, canine, puppyrattzi entered, with permission, to take these photos last weekend.

The shame of it - me, the Royal 'Hine'ness, Canine Messiah, buck naked, soaped up, like some type of common soap commercial!

Zone out, that's what I do, just concentrate on my next meal, or anything! Mom explained to me that Second Mum misses out on these tender moments and that I should put my pride aside for her...........so I did.

How freeing it felt, once that wall was let down! This personal moment was yesterday, immediately after my morning meal. Such a great feeling to run to the den, scruff around, roll on the rug. The canine puppyrattzi caught me again as I held this calming, comfortable pose for a few minutes yesterday. Feel free to blow it up into a poster, Mummy Soul.

Well, after the physical and EMOTIONAL week, YOU would be tired too!!!

Friends, far and near, furry and fur-free, don't hold back from the ones you love, particularly this Valentine's weekend! Especially Snuffles, Annie, Emma, Luna, Snickers, Buddy, Dizzy, Friday, Penney, Tonka, Hope, Trixie, Bella, Zoe, Chief and, coming next week - Sophie!

Cats On/Animal Wednesday

Stretch out a little further there Dudley, so I may get an accurate measurement!!!

Thank You/Opening Photos

Thank you all so much for your caring words concerning my last post about the school shooting. It continues to lead the news here in the Madison/Huntsville area as you could imagine. Yesterday, I learned that my best friend knows the family of the shooter because she had his little sister in her 3 year old pre-school class last year. His name has not been released to the public since he is a minor, it will be decided in a couple of weeks if he will be charged as an adult. This morning the paper revealed that 3 or 4 people had received organ donations from the victim which gives the family some comfort. We continue to keep everyone in our prayers.

This past Saturday was the opening of the art exhibit at Mill Villa Gallery from 12-6. I spent a few hours hanging out there along with the owners and 3 or 4 of the other artists. Mr. Unplugged, BigBoy and VolleyGirl made there way up there for awhile, as did one of my nieces, my sister-in-law and her family and a friend and her husband. The two ink pieces shown above was sold! I immediately thought of Teri and the cactus gang when I spotted the cactus pictured above in the area outside of the gallery....that pic is for you!!!

This is some of the seating area outside the gallery. In the background you can see the old elevator that brings you to the 3rd floor of the building where the gallery and 27 artist studios are. The gallery doors are to the left of this area shown in the photo above.

Outside the double doors looking in the gallery. One of the owners is seated to the left, the man, standing to the left in the back is one of the artists. He and his wife's work was displayed just to the left of mine. There is my work, right in the middle of the photo, about a third of the way down from the top of the photo...see the green pear and red apple, with the larger landscape below them....that's me!

There are large hallways on both sides of the gallery with artist studios. There are also some studios in the center, behind the gallery. I am hoping to get one of these studio spaces on the outside when it becomes available, they have the really tall windows

Duh...here's a close up of my section. The artist with the work just to the left of mine was set up working, see, just to the right in the photo. Her husband was in the previous photo. He is from England, she used to work at the same company I did, a lifetime ago, she was in the England office, they were awesome! She worked in pastels, he in pen and in oils. He was a trained cartographer and did some map type art that was amazing.

This photo is just to the left of their work, there were scarves and other items too. Two of my color pencil drawings are in the black frames in the front of the photo.

The photo above is from the back of the gallery towards the front doors. The Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment Center is the location of the gallery, which is on the 3rd floor. Orginally it was a textile mill back in the early 1900's and the wood floors are old and awesome, you can still see paint lines or markings from where equipment once was. The walls are the old brick. Stairs are available but the old elevator is used, must press the button that rings a bell to get the operator to come pick you up! There is a little restaurant and bread place on the first floor. In the near future more artist studios will be built on the first floor and you can already get on a waiting list but I like the 3rd and am going to get on that list. BigBoy was impressed, better than he thought, and was open to utilizing any space I might get in the future! The second floor hosts different events and has most Saturdays where anyone can come and set up there art, wares, etc. You will see a wide variety of items. The 3rd floor is the recent opening of the building, less than a year. Many people have not been up there. Okay, bored you enough? Almost finished with another fruit painting. They have one or two extras to replace my work at the gallery but that's all I have! Must have items ready in case something sells, responsible for providing art within 5 days of notification. I have also contacted another place here about exhibiting in the near future. I worked yesterday from 9-2:30 and that does it for the week. Until they get some more of their clients, it is hard to get all the auditors many hours. That is fine with me and Mr. U right now cause I am working on the art and he is in the throes of a job change, after 23 years, he resigned and will be starting a new job. Something he has been planning for a very long time, every i is dotted and t crossed with careful attention, so this has been whirling around here intensely the last couple of days, weeks and on for months. The company has changed over the years, he is now one of the employees from "old school" and this is a great change for him. I need to be available for majestic duties on demand for one thing.

Bored yet? Relax. I'm finished for now. Will wash, grocery, paint, cook, catch up on your sites the rest of the day! Have a great Tuesday!

Horrific Day

Sadly, our little town is in the national news, we have been before, for being a good place to raise your kids, educated, young, diversified community, one of the fastest growing in our state. My uncle lived here when I was growing up, it was a little place, close to the airport...seems like it took forever to get out here from my hometown. It was a few places surrounded by cotton field. Then the interstate was built and the town has grown soooo much. The high school is the largest in the state now and they are finally planning to build another. Yesterday, at 1:45, at the middle school less than 2 miles from our house a freshman student was shot by another freshman student. I usually have the television on the news when I am around the house but didn't. Only when I passed the school on my way out yesterday seeing all the police, the entrances blocked off to the school, photographers snapping photos and all the news trucks did I know that something bad had to have happened. Didn't take long to find out on the radio what had happened. Called my best friend where I work and told them. Then my niece and sister-in-law started texting me. None of my really close friends have children there but many that I know do. I can imagine how frightened those poor students were, especially after reading our paper this morning. Fortunately, the school officials, the emergency workers, everyone did exactly what they should do and in a very timely manner. Still, nothing could help, last night the boy died and now the other will be charged with murder. One thing that makes me angry is that I am not shocked. Not because our schools here aren't doing all they can to be safe or that we have much crime. Just because it can happen anywhere, just like every other town feels when it happens to them, because sadly this is what happens in our society now. My heart aches for the families of both boys though and for all the kids that will be nervous when they return to school Monday. Bless all those that are affected by this horrible incident.

SkyWatch Friday

This was taken last week while Mr. Unplugged was driving me to drop off the artwork for the exhibit. Go to http://www.skyley.blogspot.com/ to see some beautiful sky photos!

Dogs On Thursday

Giddy, that's what I'm feeling in anticipation of the Super Bowl this Sunday. Canines do not watch t.v., you say? Ahhhhh, but you are viewing a Royal Canine, His Royal "Hine"ness, the Canine Messiah........proof for the disbelievers pictured above.........

Yes, giddy.....because today is my dearest 2nd mommy, my other mother, overseas nana, homeland honey.......Soulbrush....Miss Joss...birthday! Happy birthday from all my family!

"I feel giddy......."

"...oh so giddy, I feel giddy and....."

.....and tired now......all that giddiness tires a Royal out. Here's hoping that all my buddies out there furry or bare feel giddy all week themselves - especially to my English blogmama! Big woof out to Snuffles, Annie, Emma, Luna, Snickers, Buddy, Dizzy, Friday, Penney, Tonka, Hope, Trixie, Bella, Zoe and Chief! Hey, did you miss my buddy, Dudley's post below?

Cats on Wednesday/Animal Wednesday

Keeping look out at the goings on of the morning. Freshly taken this morning at the top of the stairs, used the "soft focus" lens once again.