Dog bits...

This new house we live in is lovely and old.

Which means the house has lots of rooms chopped up and even

though we put in an amazing wood stove, the heat doesn't quite

reach the room which is my studio.

So during the cold months I've been working in the main room where

the heat is but now the spring weather is on it's way

and I am once again able to work in the studio room in comfort.

Sometimes I watch these shows about the Tiny Living revolution and I wonder...

Could I be in a space that small?

I must admit I do love 'my stuff'...

I love to surround myself with lovely things from near and far, old and new and treasures

I've had for years. 

I love to look at art my friends have given me or pieces I have purchased from them.

Anyway, back to work..

I'm currently creating a likeness of a customers dog...

His name is Alexander The Great...appropriately since he is after all

a Great Pyrenees!

 So he's coming along nicely...

 The form is what I am looking for and so far so good...

 Sometimes I start a piece and It's just not taking shape.

I will cut off heads, legs or whatever and start again and 

do whatever it takes to get it just right...

Still got a ways to go...

The finishing touch will be using some of ATG's real fur which

the owner has been collecting...

That's all the news for now.

Hope everyone is well.

Thanks for stopping by!

Variations on a theme...black and white

Alright, so everyone in the East and up North can stop laughing now.

Yes, Victoria has snow in February.

Our days of bragging about walking by the water in our shirt sleeves

whilst everyone is shovelling their walkways are over.

At least for now.

So, lets embrace this stuff called snow!

This is my street this morning...

Of course Lil' Jed was ready for some snow action!

Although he wasn't impressed with the tiny snowballs gathering on his legs and feet...

"these things are really starting to annoy me" 

Aside from the ornaments, he really had a great time out there plowing with his wee snout...

I live in an area filled with Garry Oak trees and they really lend themselves beautifully

to shadows and light and general perfect silhouette specimens...

The paths are no sooner trod with footprints then are covered up just as quickly...

Wild roses and blackberries preparing for spring have put their plans on hold...

The bright green lichens and mosses have been subdued by falling snow...

And so we trudge through our unpredictable season, 

embracing what may come, being grateful for the warmth of a good fire when we return home...

Jeds big adventure...

Talk about timing!

With a new puppy in the house and my hubby going in for a knee replacement in two days,

it just seemed like the perfect opportunity for my back to decide to go out on me. 

Argh!!!

In the mean time I will take you with Jed and I on his first real adventure.

I wanted him to get use to travelling in the van so I'm starting

with short trips.

Two days ago we went to a sweet little wild park in 

the city called Anderson Hill.

It sits on the eastern edge of the city of Victoria and 

has lovely views out to Trial Island...

Actually a group of small islands, it houses an automated lighthouse who's main

function is to record weather and tides for the area.

There's Jed heading out to the lookout!

It's a small park but along the mossy, rocky terrain it has BIG views.

Here, looking west towards the neighbourhood of Fairfield and Gonzales Bay...

Jed was full of wonder at all of the new smells and sounds...

I forgot how hard it is to take pictures of a black dog! he kept getting lost in the light!

...thats better!

I kept telling him that this was the start of many rambles together and that the van will be his best friend. He was kind enough to listen to me even though it probably sounded like Zulu to him.

Once more, a lovely view of Trial Island, this time with a freighter gliding by...

"hey there little mite!"

The Garry Oaks up on this point are very short and scrubby.

They are very exposed to mighty winds here.

The trail looking back to whence we came...

Jed trying to become one with the grass..

A big day for a wee lad...naptime on the way home...dreaming of what's to come!

Introducing.....

As promised I have some big news!

This little face has stolen my heart...Introducing Jed!

At last my heart, regarding the loss of my beloved Griffin, 

has passed a threshold and the door to another pup has opened...

There are certain things in my world that disappeared when Griffin died.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed a good ramble through the woods and swimming in the

cool summer lakes and rivers but it was those moments without my boy by my side

 that felt somewhat empty.

Replacing Griffin was not on my mind as he was a once in a lifetime dog.

That will never be disputed.

Some people never have that blessing bestowed upon them and I was one of the lucky few.

Jed is a new companion...

Fresh off the press and ready for action!!

All be it he's the same cross as Griffin was (Lab/Poodle) he is showing

me his very own personality along with the quirks of all individuals...

It was almost 14 years ago that Griff was as small and terrorizing as Jed and time has let me forget just how much energy it takes to begin the task of raising a puppy!

Do you see the mischief in those eyes???

It really is akin to having a newborn baby and stealing showers when possible and doing chores

while the wee one naps!

But as all puppies do, he will grow quickly, leaving only the photos

and chewed up shoes to remember these days.

I hope I do well by him and that our adventures together will fill

my soul with the joy that only a dog can bring...

Here's to looking ahead Jed!