Two More Weeks!

Java, Howie and Winnie Wiggles

Fredericksburg Vacation 2007

Java, Howie and Annabelle are counting the days until their Pug Vacation in Fredericksburg, Texas. In two weeks they will be living large with mom and dad at the pet-friendly bed and breakfast, where breakfast arrives promptly at 7 am each morning and is usually a lovely fluffy egg-sausage casserole or something scrumptious like baked french toast. (Howie's mouth waters just thinking about it).

Howie said he is looking forward to barking at the guinea hens and Java likes running around the house from the front yard to the back yard and again from the front yard to the back yard ad infinitum, just because he can. This is Annie's first vacation trip with us, and our first trip without Angel Winnie Wiggles. Annie will get to meet the three dogs who live there and are the official greeters, including little Paris who is so small she can walk in and out the crack in the gate without even opening it. Paris may weigh only 3 lbs, but it is clear she is in charge of the dog and pony show on her little ranch outside of town.

We'll put on their finest gear and take the pugs to Dogologie for a refill on peanut butter cookies while we're in town, and mom and dad will visit their favorite little coffee shop with outdoor seating at a little old antique house just off Main Street. There won't be any late night partying with this bunch. It will be to bed at 9 pm for the puggies, but mom and dad will stay up and watch for the fireflies, who will be outside the back porch by the millions. Fredericksburg, here we come!

Wallflower

Wallflower, 11X14, Oil on Linen

From the Dallas Arboretum

Drowsy Pickles

Pickles the Pug's mom Melissa shared more of her beautiful photography yesterday. You might recognize this sleepy little boy from his portrait with his sister, Peaches, that I posted earlier in my blog in May. Pickles was wearing his blue checked sweater in his portrait. Here he is snoozing in the sunshine and wearing his harness. I was tickled pink to see that he has exactly the same harness my own Mister Howard Pee Pugpants wears when he decides to go out in public and terrorize the neighborhood.

Hummingbird Lane

Hummingbird Lane, 16X20, Oil on Linen

Hummingbird Lane is another painting from my collection of works created during the Dallas Arboretum Paintout. I love color, and it was fun to throw in almost everything on the palette into that mix of blooms.

The Story of Mister Pug

When I arrived at Foster Mom's house she said I was very

skinny, but I had a scandalously handsome smile.

I made some new friends.

One of them, Howard Pee Pugpants,
was a very bad influence.

These were just laying around
everywhere, so I grabbed one!

One day, Foster Mom said it was time
to meet my furever family.

Pugs in the mirror...are closer than they appear!

Someone has posted a welcome sign in my honor!

My new family was very excited to meet me,
and who can blame them?


Now I've pretty much got the pawfect life. Foster
mom misses me and thinks of me often. She hums this
little song when she thinks of me.

I'm Just a Sack o Bones...

I'm just a little sack o bones.......
Just looking for a home.............
Yes I'm just a sack o bones........
Just waiting by the phone.........
For the family who will be.........
Forever love to little me.........
Cuz I'm just a sack o bones........
Just waitin for a home..............

I've got some knobbley little knees...
And a tail that's very waggley...
I've got some skinny little fleas....
and a coat that's kinda scraggley....

If you see a sack o bones....
Who is lookin for a home..........
Pick him up and hold him near....
And then just whisper in his ear......

I love you little sack o bones.....
I love you little sack o bones.....
I love you little sack o bones....
Just lookin for a home.....

Birdwatchers Anonymous

Howard Pee Pugpants' favorite recreational activity out in our garden is birdwatching. When he spots one, he huffs and ruffs at it and runs as fast as his little legs will carry him. He makes sure none of them outstay their welcome for very long. What on earth would we do without Howard to make sure our house, home and garden are not overrun with pesky birds?

Togetherness

Togetherness, 11X14, Oil

Togetherness was a fun exercise in drapery, reflected light, and warm and cool color notes playing off of one another. I love pears, their color and shape can be so unpredictable so you have a bit of leeway when you paint them as long as they remain believable when it's all said and done.

Max - Westie

Max Portrait, 11X14, Oil

Anniebelly Bossybritches' Bath Day

Cruelty-free designer doggy shampoo - CHECK!

Soft-flow fancy water squirty thingy - CHECK!

Avoid soap in the googley eyes - CHECK!

Wishing I were anywhere but here - CHECK!

Getting even with Dad - CHECK!

Feeling much better now. - CHECK!
Thanks Dad - Happy Father's Day!

Texas Yucca

Flower Mound is more than just a little speck on the big ole Texas map. It happens to be where the famous landscape painter Bob Rohm lives. I painted Texas Yucca in Bob's workshop and even though a fellow student accidentally put her chair leg through the canvas, Bob helped me get it all patched up good as new. Bob specializes in plein air painting and is a wonderful teacher. I hope to paint outdoors with him someday.

Spring Garden

Spring Garden, 38X46, Oil

I just entered three paintings in an "art contest" at the Creative Arts Center in Bonham, Texas. I'm a little nervous, because I've never won any awards before, and usually I just get a polite rejection letter when I enter juried shows. I have started my collection of rejection letters, but I'll keep plugging. Cross your fingers and toes for me! I'll rub the pugs to get some good pug hair mojo going on, too.

Resourceful Pug

Howie's solution to excess paperwork

People think I exaggerate when I say that I depend daily on my fattyfurred studio assistants to complete almost every piece of artwork churned out of Flower Mound Studio. But it's true...as you can see, Howie is not afraid of a little paperwork. In fact, he thinks the printer is a magical machine whose job it is to spit out delicious paper for recreational purposes. You probably can't see the chew marks on that little paper hat he's wearing. Trust me, they're there.

A New England Life...

A New England Life

My friend Sharon has launched a blog about her life in New England, her critters, her gardens, and some of her favorite foods, too! I just love going to her page and listening to the sound of the waves and looking at the picture of her sweet doggygirl Lily on the beach. I could hang out there all day, if it weren't for Howard Pee and Annie and Java insisting on getting fed every 20 minutes...

Olivia's Story

Olivia Before

Olivia Now

Olivia was found wandering the streets by animal control and was brought in by the Houston branch of Dallas-Fort Worth Pug Rescue. She was skeletal and frightened and had demodectic mange and heavy yeast. Today Olivia has found a furever home with her mom Julie and she is lavished with only the best. She has come such a long way, and today Olivia can squeak the toy out of any squeakie toy.

Ask Miss Wigglepants

Winnie Wigglepants, puggy columnist to the stars....

Unlike so many other supermodels, Winnie Wiggles never complained during a fashion shoot, no matter what silly outfit her mommy insisted she wear that day. Winnie knew that when the bright lights dimmed and the glossies went to press, she would always be rewarded with a delicious treat for all her hard work. She was the gentlest, most patient divapug I have ever loved. I miss you my little jiggley.

Cybil

Cybil, 8X10, Oil

Cybil was rescued from the shelter in 1992 and went to the Bridge just a few weeks ago. Her mom, Sharon, honored her by planting white Impatiens this spring. I got to meet little Cybil when I visited Sharon in New Hampshire two years ago and she was the sweetest, most loving kitty. Sharon posted this poem on Cybil's catster page:

And oh how the years go by
And oh how the love brings tears to my eyes
All through the changes the soul never dies
We fight, we laugh, we cry
As the years go by

Soft What Light

Soft What Light, 11X14, Oil

This little painting found a home with one of my dearest friends, CJ. CJ reminds me almost every day to laugh at myself. If I don't, she'll do it for me! What are friends for? Every month CJ and I scratch together our pocket change and buy a lotto ticket. There is much agonizing each time over picking just the right numbers. We're not buying losing tickets, we're just building up our winning ticket mojo. Love ya CJ!!

Yard Blooms

The back yard is full of color but with the heat it is taking constant care. I'm anxious to see if the new roses we planted in Winnie's garden will perk up.

Depths of Blue

Depths of Blue, 16X20, Oil

Inspiration for Depths of Blue

Depths of Blue is another in my series from the 2008 Dallas Arboretum paintout. When I was painting depths of blue, I could hear my former art teacher Vicki McMurry in the back of my head directing me. She was saying things like, "It worries me that you are making that flower so bright near the edge of the canvas..." She really is a great teacher. I worry about me, too, having all these voices in my head when I am painting. Must have something to do with the aging process.... Vicki has one of the best books on painting I ever read. She is a master of beautifully rendered color and she has the added distinction of being a Texas gal.

Three More Weeks!

Java, Howie and Winnie Wiggles, Fredericksburg 2007

Angel Wiggles enroute to Fredericksburg 2007

In three weeks, we'll be off on our trip to Fredericksburg with the puggies. We've got three seatbelts, the extra fancy back seat cover, and two little windowscreens to block out those annoying cars whizzing by and making Howie crazy. That and an ice chest full of goodies. Puggies are always in need of goodies, doncha know.

Blue Hydrangeas

Blue Hydrangeas, 8X10, Oil

Hydrangea blooms make their debut.

My gardening assistant this morning, Annabelle.

Every year I buy a little hydrangea plant from the grocery store and stick it in the ground and think positive thoughts about it. After 3 years, one of these thirsty little shrubs has finally produced flowers! They're tiny, but the blossoms are just starting to open.

Meditation and Pug Napping

Meditation, 11X14, Oil

Inspiration for Meditation

The plants on the deck and in our garden are in full bloom now, even though the temperatures are up in the high 90s. Meditation is fashioned from one of my favorite flowers, geraniums. The decorative screen behind this pot of geraniums looks like aged stone, and I wanted to see if I could capture its delicacy without letting it dominate the painting.

Angel Wiggles, Howie and Java in the sun.

Puggy Footnote: Spied out the window yesterday afternoon - Howie went out the doggy door to nap on the deck. A few minutes after he laid down, Annie came out and plopped down next to him and settled her head on his rear. Then Java came out and lay down and put his head on Howie's belly. Howie can now add "professional pillow" to his puggy resume.

Annie's Story

Annabelle is not JUST the little sister of Howard Pee Pugpants. This little lady is officially the half-sister of Winnifred Wigglepants. Our Winnie Wiggles went to the Bridge after losing her battle with encephalitis (GME) in January. Winnie's breeder, Louise Tran, brought Annie over to visit with us a few days after Winnie died. Louise wanted to give us a gift for all we had done for Winnie. At first I was not sure I was ready to have another little chunky girl in my life, to fill the big shoes my jiggley wiggley had left behind.

But Annie quickly found a tiny chinkhole in my heart's defenses. I think it was her little crooked tooth in her underbite that really got me. She loves to play and has a puppy's energy, unlike her big sister Winnie, but she looks exactly like Winnie when she is focused on some toy that needs chasing and chewing.

Even though it was sadness that brought Annie to us, it's love that will keep her here.