Sunday, December 27, 2009

just an old softie



 

 


 

 

 

 

 


if you were a mouse in our house you'd figure out quite quickly that when it comes to puppies, my hubbie is just an old softie. it looks like i'm definitely going to have to be the disciplinarian. of course, i'm the only one who read cesar milan's book on how to raise a well-balanced, submissive dog. we'll just blame it on that. here are a few conversations to prove my point.

old softie hubbie: let's just leave their food down all the time and let them eat whenever they want.
mean old mama: no. they need a schedule and a routine.

old softie hubbie (at 3:00 am): now that they've gone potty just put them in bed with us for the rest of the night.
mean old mama: no. they need to sleep in their crate. once they sleep with us, they'll whine to sleep with us every night.

old softie hubby: i'm just walking her around in my arms so she'll go to sleep before i put her in her crate.
mean old mama: you're spoling her and treating her like a baby. she's a dog and we need to treat her like a dog. otherwise, she'll have an identity crisis.

old softie hubby: look how they're crawling all over me and biting my hair and ears.
mean old mama: you're letting them be dominant over you which is getting things off to a bad start.

old softie hubbie: let's just let them play for awhile before we take them out
mean old mama: they'll have an accident.

old softie hubby: you were right. they both just pooped on the carpet.
mean old mama (said with big sigh): read the book, please, read the book.

seriously, things are going wonderfully. they want to please, are very quick to learn, and are already begging at the door to go out. they go into their crate on their own when they want to nap and love our big back yard where they can run and leap, tumble and play. zoe is the lover, wanting to cuddle more than bella although bella is coming along. zoe is also the adventurer and the first to do just about everything. bella seems to be more of an observer and follower.

we couldn't be happier and are loving every minute of this experience.



Wednesday, December 23, 2009

introducing bella and zoe



zoe & bella's first photoshoot


 


zoe isn't fond of the ribbon


 

zoe guards her toys

 

bella has the sweetest face



 


bella is the timid one (sometimes)


 


bella finds the scrapbook paper


 


zoe watches quietly

 


zoe wants bella's bow


 


they share my love of tissue paper!!

my heart overfloweth with love, love, love!!!! our first night was quiet and uneventful. they liked their crate and settled right down for the night. i got up at 1:00 and again at 4:30 to take them out to potty and they went right back in their crate and back to sleep.  no accidents in the house yet. they are such sweet girls! tonight we buy different color collars so we can tell them apart. so looking forward to introducing them to our kids and grandkids tomorrow!!

thanks to all of you for your sweet birthday wishes and congrats on my new little furbabies!!

Monday, December 21, 2009

a romp in the snow



first footprint


 

smashing

 

angel wings

 

tasting

 

that darn hat

 

peeking

 

rosy cheeks

 
warming up with a movie


almost 5-year-old jenna loves the snow! it was fun to see how delighted she was playing in it. i never liked the snow as a child (or as an adult either!). it was too much work getting ready for one thing. back when i was a child (in the olden days) we had to wear many layers to keep warm. we didn't have all the snow repelling fabrics kids have now. and our boots were always hard to get on. we placed bread sacks on our triple-socked feet before pushing them into the boots. it made it easier to get the boots on and off. our sledding place back then was an abandoned gravel pit way back across a big field behind our house. it seemed to take eons to walk back there, especially since you had to walk like a mummy with all the heavy clothing. i was usually cold by the time i sled down the hill a couple of times and would head back to the house. inevitably i was in tears by the time i was able to shed all the layers. not my idea of fun.

these days i do enjoy getting out in the snow to take photos but sledding, not so much.

my apologies to my daughter megan for letting jenna taste the snow. as soon as i had the photo i told her to stop. seriously, i did!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

afterwards




 


 

 


 


we woke up to a gorgeous blanket of snow yesterday morning -- the kind that weighs heavy on the tops of tree branches, bird feeders, honeysuckle vines, etc. i so wanted to grab my nikon and head out for an hour or so of photography. but, alas, i had my extended farmer family coming to my house for our holiday get-together at noon. and, i had soooo much to do before their arrival. late in the day after we were all stuffed and sleepy, jenna and i headed outside to make snow angels and snap photos. these photos are the aftermath of a blanket of heavy snow -- large drops of light-reflecting water.

so the first holiday get-together is over and now we are preparing for #2, our annual chrismas eve fest with all our kids and grandkids. hubby is off to the grocery to do the shopping and i'm finishing up a few custom photo pendants that have to be delivered to co-workers tomorrow. plus an order for prints that will be shipped to england for an after-christmas treat for the buyer. you gotta love someone who buys a special treat just for themselves this time of year!!

my heart is overflowing today. joy for being able to have the majority of my family together here in my home yesterday. pride in my kids who are such wonderfully giving and thoughtful people. feelings of blessedness that i still have my mom and dad with us for christmas this year. wonderful thankfulness for the memories i continue to make with my siblings and their children. and, abundant joy for my grandchildren who let me experience the joy of christmas through a child's eyes once again. and for my hubbie, hugs hugs and thank yous for being such a wonderful host and doing all the clean-up so i could spend more time with my family.


next on the agenda is the wrapping of more presents. and a little eggnog. and a little christmas music. and maybe later on a warm, snuggly nap.


only two more days and then we pick up our puppies. tres sweet names have been selected, adorable collars purchased and images of photos to be taken are dancing in my head. introductions to my bloggy friends will be made on wednesday.

Monday, December 14, 2009

my birthday presents!!!!




yes, we did it!! not only did we buy one adorable miniature schnauzer puppy -- we bought two sisters!! ours are the two in the middle above. we will bring them home next tuesday, the 22nd, the day before my 57th birthday! we're excited! now off to make more lists, including possible names. did i mention i'm excited?

more photos and gushing and funny stories to come!

december happenings




i’m longing for snow so i can get out and take photos!! Although I’m not complaining about the glorious 54 degrees and sunshine out there right now.

list after list after list occupies my time and thoughts these days

my art cards, prints and pendants have been selling very well at my work and at my hubbie’s work

all my holiday decorating is done but i haven’t started the wrapping yet

work is slow which makes for long, boring days. i keep thinking about what i could be accomplishing at home!!

did you know i’ve started 2 new blogs? just click on the photos on the sidebar for my daily photo blog or my she blog – reflections of my life told in 3rd person (loving this exercise so much!!)

jenna spent the night with me saturday and we spent mega hours in the art room creating and giggling and getting chalk on our faces

i went to the post office at lunch to ship several etsy orders, including 2 small originals, some prints and some cards. it took 35 minutes to get thru the line but i so enjoyed my conversation with an older gentleman who was shipping a coffeemaker to his sister in arizona. the PO had an older holiday movie playing and he and i took turns saying the names of the actors – bing crosby, danny kaye and rosemary clooney i knew. a few others i did not. he seemed lonely and very grateful for a little attention. i hope someone will do the same for me when i’m old.

i’m hosting my extended farmer family christmas get-together at my house this saturday. i’m fixing chili soup, vegetable soup, cauliflower salad, 2 cheeseballs, a christmas cake, cookies, snacks and drinks. other family members will bring dishes as well. so much to do!

i watched julia and julie last night and really enjoyed it! how can you be a blogger and not love that movie?!!

the non-stop snacking at work is in full swing. i’m trying to pump the water to counteract the salt and sugar.

i’m almost done with stephen king’s under the dome and am already reading john irving’s latest titled last night in twisted river.  i would recommend both of them.

that’s it for today! have a merry, merry!!

Friday, December 11, 2009

cherish









"cherish"
mixed media collage
30" x 30" x 1.5"
gallery-wrapped canvas
(c) 2009 julie king

cherish life's little blessings
sweet babies wrapped in joy
the knowledge of our elders
golden sunset to enjoy
symphony of crickets
rainy evening walk
smell of fresh-brewed coffee
fishing off the dock
loyalty of girlfriends
a random stranger's smile
the blessedness of giving          
napping for awhile
magical glow of fireflies
a lonely frog's bassoon
scent of morning roses
calling of the loon

open your heart to blessings
a fuller life you'll live
the more you drink of blessings
the more you have to give

                                    






Saturday, December 5, 2009

carefree friends



"carefree friends"
mixed media collage
12" x 12" x 1.5"
gallery-wrapped canvas
(c) 2009 julie king
SOLD

i created this piece at the request of a previous buyer. she wanted a little folk collage with an english bulldog in it. i wanted this one to be lighter and brighter than my previous little people pieces. so it has a little less of a vintage look and feel. the buyer is very happy with it and i'll be shipping it out on monday.

now i'm working on a 30" x 30" custom collage for a young mother in california. she saw a print in my etsy shop that she liked and asked if i would create her a custom piece similar to it. i haven't done too many large pieces lately and i'm really enjoying the process. i'm actually working on the floor of my art room. i hinted to hubby that i'd outgrown my small art room and he suggested i move to the dining room table. i suggested that we knock a doorway into the wall that separates my art room from his den so i could take over both rooms. funny how he just kept walking on down the hallway with no reply. lol

hoping you're all enjoying your weekend!

((hugs))