I never would have been one to let anyone lead me down the garden path, let alone a dog! This week I not only allowed it, I also enjoyed the unusual twists and turns which it created in my paintings and life. I wasn't at all sure I wanted another dog in my life. "Do you really want to spend the NEXT ten or fifteen years cleaning sand and dog hair out of the house?" I kept asking myself. "You're getting older," I said to my Self. "Think of how old you'll be in 15 more years.
  

 

    Today is my birthday and when Dad called to wish me Happy Birthday, I couldn't even tell him how old I am now!  "Think about this before you get another dog," I warned my Self.

  

   Katie is not getting any younger either. I have been thinking of painting her since we adopted her 14 years ago. This week, I finally did it!  I have always been intrigued by her white on white coloring, and imagined painting her on an antique ivory patterned bedspread which she used to sleep on years ago. 
   

   As I finished up painting Kate, Jim returned from the grocery store to say he had stopped at the SPCA and wanted me to go see two pooches he had seen. Reluctantly, I went. When we arrived, one of the dogs he had told me about was out front getting clipped and brushed. Fur and dog mess was everywhere! We went inside quickly. "No way," I thought to my Self.
In the kennel we met the other dog Jim wanted me to see. A shy little dog, 'Honey,' was in a kennel with another dog. She looked like a puppy, small with a cute rounded face. Reading her card, we discovered she was actually two years old ~ full grown! This little pooch was only 24 pounds, a doxidor: a dueschund/labrador mix. She charmed us both. Reluctantly, I agreed as Jim made arrangements to take her home to see if Kate would also approve.   READ MORE>