A Few Words on Barbaro

It is certainly sad news to hear that Barbaro, who had brought so much hope and joy to the racing world, had to suffer so much, only to be euthanized in the end. He was a horse full of power and class. Few are of that caliber and we as humans just thrive on that type of energy.

I would like to comment on a few negative things I heard in the media. First, there is the belief that the effort to save this horse was purely for the money that his offspring might bring in breeding. If you know anything about horse racing you know that only live semen is acceptable. A horse with this type of injury would never be able to "perform" that type of duty. Sure his owners and caregivers could have hope but the odds of that were slim to none. Second, there have been comments that racing in general is cruel. Again, if you have ever worked around the majestic thoroughbred, you would know that these animals were meant to run. Stand next to one that has been brought to the race track for racing and it is like watching a boxer getting ready to go into the ring. There is nothing like it. Just as in every sport, there is ugliness in horse racing. Man has tried to chemically improve on every sort of athlete from baseball players, cyclists to race horses. That is sad but the sport of kings should not be held responsible for this behavior alone. Lastly, I have seen mention that horses should just be left to be horses. Do these people mean to say that horses should be left in the wild? If so, don't they realize there is pain there as well from starvation, untreated injuries, being hunted or worse yet being hit by lightening. Man has domesticated this animal and needs to take care of his charge. I was not for the surgery on Barbaro because I knew the slim chance this horse had. However, I have great hopes that much was learned in the process and that many other horses will benefit from his 8 month struggle to live.

My eBay auction for an 8x10 pet portrait ends this evening. Please check it out and bid. This would make a great Valentine's Day gift for your pet lover.

A quick note to my friends and family to thank them on their well wishes concerning my last treatment. You all made the process so much easier with your kind words and prayers. Thank you all.

Gracie's Face and Ebay Offer

Everyone always asks me if I have any paintings of my Gracie. Nope. The shoemaker's kids have no shoes. I did do this little sketch of her today out of guilt. Actually I drew her face out of love. She's been such a good girl these days I couldn't imagine being without her. Don't ask me how I felt about her a few months ago.

I haven't had an Ebay auction in a long time. Well, as of 8pm these evening that will change. For the first time ever I will make an exclusive offer on Ebay. I am auctioning a custom graphite pet portrait, 8"x10" with mat on archival paper, for the very low starting bid of $99. This size and price is only available on Ebay and not from my main site. I do not plan to auction a portrait at this special price often. So, now is a unique opportunity to commission me to create a lasting memory of your beloved pet. Tell your friends and family and bid, bid, bid!

Puppy Attitude

If you have loved a pet you know the look. Your pet takes something of yours and refuses to return it to you all the while giving you "that look". The "you can have it and I dare you to take it" look. I'm playing around with ideas for the painting I'm doing for CPL and their wine auction. I'm required to use an image of a Labrador Retriever. This is from an image my dear artist friend Terri Amig sent me. If you have any photos of true Labrador Retriever dogs or puppies that I might be able to use, there is a free print of the finished work in it for you!

I have a bit of nonsense for a moment to share. Since I've had more time for evil television lately I've become addicted to cooking shows. I just have one question. Who is this Giada chick? Darn she is pretty. Wasn't Rachael Ray cute enough? C'mon guys, if we eat the food these beautiful ladies cook we would all end up looking like Paula Deen(bless her). These girls spit that food out into a bag when we aren't looking. Also, where are all the hot studs cooking? Mario Batali? I think not. Bobby Flay...ech. I'm outraged. I can't wait until I can stop subscribing to cable again. This is just too much to take. Now where is my EVOO?

Oh, one last thing, yes this sketch was dated with tomorrow's date. Oops. They call it "chemo-brain". I think I wasn't all there to begin with.

Deb Lynam...are you happy I posted again?

Can You Smell the Puppy Breath?

Melanie from Canine Partners for Life emailed me a picture of BeeLee, photographed in October, who is now a 7 month old lab puppy. I just had to take a few moments to do a little pen sketch of him. Don't you just love a puppy? They have such warm bellies and that sweet puppy breath that later turns into doggie breath of death. It did this heart good to think of their goodness for a bit so I thought I would share.

Chanukah T'was for the Dogs

I'm a little late for posting a Chanukah image. So sue me. I sketched this quickly in my new Moleskine sketchbook. I've decided only to allow images created from my imagination and not those from observation in this book. I have other sketchbooks for those. Yes, the inspiration for this doodle was from a photo but it that is where the need for the photo stopped. I want to thank Li at WetCanvas for this one. She creates gorgeous silk art as well as paintings and has a great heart. Thanks Li.

Funny, I started this blog just about this time last year. I can't believe that New Years Eve is almost here again. It will be a wash for me since I have chemo on Friday but thoughts of 2007 still fill my head. I was thinking about resolutions and such and had to laugh at my first thought. "I resolve not to get any form of cancer ever again!" How's that? I actually might have more luck with that than a resolution about diets. Sigh.

HAVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Wishing You Peace

The holidays fast approach. For those of us who are Jewish they are already here. I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone Happy Holidays and most of all Peace. This is a page out of my new Moleskine sketchbook thanks to Nance and Joyce at 4Tails. This is just an image from my heart. I am lucky for I truly feel quite at peace and I wish the same to all of you.

I also want to thank all the folks at my gym. There was a birthday card waiting for me today signed by all the other gym rats. I was so touched I almost fell off my treadmill (how is that different than any other day I wonder). A big thank you goes out to the folks at WetCanvas as well. You ladies know who you are. Thanks Li for never forgetting about me. Also a shout out goes to my friend G at U of P. He is making sure that I remain strong on a cellular level. Nutrition and fitness are everything people (this being typed with a sugar cookie in my hand). Also Trac and Jen, you ladies rock.

I mention all of these "thank you's" because I often don't realize how many people care about me. One thing that I've learned is that one doesn't have to do anything big to make a difference. Everything that we do and say is like dropplets of water in a pond. The ripples go out far and wide. Don't gag here, I'm quite seriouse. This may be one of the most important things I've ever learned.

Happy Chanukah...Merry Christmas...Peace and Happiness to All!

Having a No Hair Day

Ok, so you say you're having a bad hair day huh? I guess I got you beat! Ha! Seriously, I am doing well and enjoying getting back to a level of some normalcy. My plan was to spend the afternoon painting but I think I did too much yesterday and this morning so I'm going to relax the rest of this day. I'm very excited that I've been able to paint a little (this installment shows the glazing I've done) and get back to the gym. Well, I'm not doing kick boxing or pumping iron but the treadmill is my friend again and it is good to hang with the other gym rats.

I'm proud to announce that I've been chosen as next year's artist for Canine Partners for Life's 10th Anniversary Wine Auction. You can check out the artist's work for this year here. I consider it an honor and I can't wait to start on my own version of a Labrador. Warm fuzzy puppies maybe? Signed prints will be offered from this piece so I want it to be something that just tugs at your heart and is beautifully rendered. I will also donate a portion of the proceeds of my own sales to CPL. I'm really pumped to get started.

Gracie is having her other knee operated on tomorrow morning. Poor little pittie. She and I will convalesce together since my next chemotherapy is scheduled for December 12th, my 37th birthday. Oh heck, I guess I blew the lie I was telling that I was 29...again. What do you mean you never believed that tale anyway?

Sinead O'Levin

Spent some time in the studio today. This is the beginning of my self portrait, Sinead O'Levin. With energy low, I was only able to complete the sketch but was thankful to be painting at all. This is a 16"x20" oil on canvas. There is absolutely no significance to the red paint mixed with the charcoal used for drawing. I usually start in red because I just darn feel like it. In college they usually had you start in umbers or siennas. I use red because I can. My plan for this piece is to knock it out with big brush strokes and no fussing around in one day. I hope to do that one day next week when I come back to the studio. It takes a while to warm up when you aren't painting everyday so it might take me two days to complete. This isn't about creating a masterpiece. It is just about the act of putting paint on the canvas. That simple.

Being that I now look like the Taco Bell dog, all skin and eyes, I find showering very unfulfilling. When one does not have any hair to shampoo or shave there isn't much to do in the shower. I've now taken to the habit of buffing my feet and elbows. So much so I think I'm wearing off the skin in those areas. However, don't think I get ready any faster in the morning. Oh no! Now I painstakingly apply very smokey looking eye makeup to make up for the missing hair.

Speaking of hair, I bought a blonde wig. Yup, her name is Pamela. I'm much more fond of the scarf but it seems other folks feel more comfortable with the wig. I think it helps them relax. So, in certain situations you just might see Pamela out and about. Keep your eyes open for that because she really doesn't get out much.

I want to send a special thanks out to Joe P. from www.photojoe.com . He is an unbelievable photographer and just a heck of a nice guy. Check out his site and enjoy the music there too. Ooh, don't forget his blog because it is always worth reading.

One last thing is my playlist for painting. Check out or download Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" and "Beautiful", India Arie's "I Am Not My Hair" and "This Too Shall Pass" and finally Melissa Etheridge's "I Run for Life". It really goes with the painting!

Thanksgiving in Silk Pajamas

Hey you can’t beat that right? My family is coming to the house to prepare everything and all I have to do is show up in my best silk pajamas. Talk about service. I will wear a hat or scarf though so as not to shed on their mashed potatoes! I’m quite thoughtful like that.

I am so thankful for so many things this year. I’m alive and doing great. I’ve been given the opportunity to see life with a new and healthier perspective. I have new goals and dreams. I look good in a hat. Chemo treatments get easier. Did I mention I look good in a hat? I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with my mother in a way that I will remember forever. I have so many friends and family that love me and I never feel alone. Ever. I am so very blessed. I guess I am thankful for everything.

My next chemo treatment is on my birthday, December 12th. How fitting. I think I will have a t-shirt made saying “Bald Women Do It Better”. I will stuff my bra and parade around the oncology floor until I get a laugh. Try me. I have to admit I stole that idea with pride. Maybe I’ll bring a camera to prove to you that I did it.

So, I wish all of you the best on this holiday. Enjoy those around you. I know these times can be hectic but try to take a deep breath and remember the alternative.

Thank you everyone for your kind emails and phone calls. Nancy at the Harem in Carney’s Point, thank you for cutting my hair and taking care of my tears. Go to her if you need a good style…she rocks! Thank you Jen for checking up on me…and Trac and Kleo. Thanks everyone. Oh…maybe in a bit, my next post will have art! I can’t wait.

Happy Thanksgiving.

xo

Even Cancer Doesn't Make Me Skinny

I'm a medical mystery. What else is new?! How can anyone with a tumor the size of two babies heads in them not lose weight is what the doctors want to know. Well, they never met a Levin. I just had to throw in a little humor for all of you who send me such lovely emails and gifts. I have so many great folks to thank it might take my entire recovery to get it done. Really, thank you everyone for so much support and positive thoughts. It is working.

While I am staying with my mother and eating her out of house and home thanks to Prednisone (an evil drug that I am loving at the moment), I do have access to email. I have a dial-up connection of 26.4 kbps! Woo hoo! I do not have any of my email addresses with me. So, I ask everyone to please email me so I can hit "reply" and to please not send photos until my prehistoric computer connection changes. This should be for about 3 weeks or so. I'm just thrilled to be connected.

Many have asked me the details of my lymphoma. I found a website that explains it pretty well so I am sharing the link with you. http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Lymphomanon-Hodgkins/TypesofNHL/MediastinallargeB-cell I'm Stage II with an approximately 15 centimeter mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma. If you are going to get a cancer this is a good one to get because they can probably get rid of it. I will go through 6 courses of CHOP-R chemo and then radiation in February. My second dose is supposed to be the day before Thanksgiving. I think the holiday has new meaning for me now. I am so excited that my family will be with me for that day.

Thank you again everyone for your thoughts and prayers. They work and I am thankful. More updates in a few days.

xo

Lori

PS Please excuse typos...spell check is not working on Blogger for me today. :) Neither is my brain.

Normally on my blog I try not to get too personal. Often I fall from that mark because I feel sometimes it is good to share and it gives people an idea about what drives my art. Right now I am going to share my most personal entry yet.

I have been ill for some time as some can see by the lack of art posts. Recently I have been hospitalized and have been diagnosed with Lymphoma. This is a very curable form and as soon as my tumor shrinks and puts me out of risk I can continue my chemo treatments at home. My art will then take a new turn for me I believe and I will focus on self portraits for a while. I feel I need something cathartic and extremely self indulgent. It will be about healing.

I write this because I have so many cyber friends that I know will pray for me. I belive in all kinds of prayer and positive thoughts. I ask now for everyone just to visualize this big ugly tumor shrinking by leaps and bounds so I can go "home" and stay with my mother for a while and be close to the people I love. I am so very blessed to have the best family in the world and friends that have not let me down. This is not a time to be sad but a time to be strong. I need laughter and tough people by my side. If you know me you know I'm stubborn and not easily beaten.

Don't worry, I will be fine and better for it. I do believe everything we go through has a reason. I don't know what that is right now but time will tell. So "think shrink" for me so I can get those healing brushes in my hands.

Love to my family and friends.

Lori

Always Take a Second Look

The leaves are turning and the cool breezes are starting to turn into chilly winds. I love this time of year. However, I thought I would give you one last fleeting glimpse of the summer we left behind. I try to have my camera at the ready at all times and on this day I was lucky enough to have done so. I was going to a restaurant with a friend when I saw this cute boy fishing. At first I just wanted to photograph him but then I took a second look and got the joke. This was a good reminder to always take the time to really observe what is around us. A good laugh is always around the corner.

I know, you are wondering where the art is. It is coming I promise. Gracie and I are quite tired of convalescing and are on the road to recovery. In 6 weeks she will have her second surgery so I better get healthy soon! It is good to just be in the studio.

Until then I thought I would list some blogs that I enjoy. If you visit, tell them Lori sent you.

http://www.wuli.com/
This is my friend Carl's site. He is an artist among other other things and is good at ranting!

http://jenzstudio.blogspot.com/
My internet buddy Jen is a fellow dog lover and queen of Greyhound art as well as any other 4-legged creature.

http://piscesplace.blogspot.com/
Kleo is in California and posts a lot of neat stuff about Vegetarianism and Judaism. Good stuff.

http://runswithdog.blogspot.com/
Trac is a runner, a vegan and Greyhound lover...what more is there to say?

http://greywarenart.blogspot.com/
Maggie is an incredible artist, cat lover and sells big on eBay. Her work rocks.

http://www.deniseerickson.com/
Not a blog but an incredible artist and friend. Her work is unique and mezmerizing. Oh...did I mention what an animal lover she is?

http://www.veltridesign.blogspot.com/
Nancy is just the most talented designer and an animal lover and a vegetarian. Can you see the theme here?

http://www.4tails.blogspot.com/
Need a company logo, website, business cards or overall company image...visit here!

Gracie Update and Thanks

Thank you everyone for your care and concern. It means so much.

Gracie is doing much better. Her regular personality has returned. Her leg is healing nicely and the staples will be removed in a few days. She did end up tearing the other ACL as I had feared but the vet said her ligaments were just bad and better to catch them both early on. Lord knows we all have our defects. The good news is that in 6 weeks we can operate on the other one before there is joint damage and she should be set for some years of good running miles. Something we both miss very much.

I also wanted to thank you guys for the healing wishes on my shoulder. Turns out I don't have any of the problems mentioned in the previous post but there was something wrong. I've learned a great lesson in all of this. Something I should have known but I never seem to learn. We should always trust ourselves to know when something is not right with our bodies and keep searching for answers if the ones given don't seem to jive. We are meant to be productive creatures and when our normal routines become difficult it is a red flag. I always tend to blame myself when I am not accomplishing anything and I start to throw around the word lazy. I go to the source I think is responsible which is me. I was wrong. There are times that instead of looking inward we must look outward for explanations and help. Someday I'll get this right. The moment I do get it right I think I will live a much more relaxed and happy life. So this New Year truly has brought changes for me. I may not like the package they have come in but I appreciate the lesson all the same.

So hang in there my friends. New and exciting art will be back in a few weeks. The canvases are calling and now I can hear them!

Cruciate Ligament Surgery Photos

Ouch.

Have a Little Pity for the Pittie

Thank you everyone for your emails of concern for Gracie. I thought I would post an update on her condition so you would know exactly what is going on. Will post pictures of her leg tomorrow...Blogger is being a pain.

She had surgery 3 days ago and today seems to be the worst of it. Anyone that has ever had surgery knows that day #3 is always the ugliest and most painful. It isn't any different for my viscous pit-bull. She does not want to eat or walk today. She doesn't want to put weight on the good leg today. I guess that is because the muscles are so tired from carrying the extra load. The surgery required the removal of the torn cruciate ligament and then drilling of a hole in the bone so that a nylon replacement could be looped through to hold the joint in place. The leg requires 15 minutes of icing 3 times a day as well as range of motion exercises for 1 week. She must stay on a leash and be monitored and kept quiet (though today that is not an issue) for some time. In two weeks she will have her stitches removed and be allowed to walk to the neighbors house and back 5 times a day. Each week there are more rehabilitation exercises added to her day. She will not be allowed to go back to school for at least 6 weeks. I will need to start drinking more within about a week of this and should develop my alcoholism within a month. Did I mention in all of this I also have been visiting the doctor for bicipital tendonitis and possilbe tears in my left rotator cuff (the pain of it prevents me from sleeping)? The EMG test was really fun yesterday. Not. I have not slept more than 4 hours a night in 3 weeks. I was supposed to fly out to New Mexico this Friday for a trip to ignite my artistic mind. Instead I will probably go to shul to keep myself from downing a bottle of tequila by myself that night. Wouldn't want to be hung over whilst performing Gracie's exercises! LOL!

Seriously, that tight shot of Gracie's mug just breaks my heart. She looks like she is suffering. Oh my poor furry baby. If I get some sleep I think all this will be funny in the morning. If not there is always tequila. Don't worry, I won't eat the worm...you know how I feel about animal products!

Rottweiler and Finished Horse Portrait

More heads! I promised you a better photo of Bud and this was the best I could do. The large pencil works are nearly impossible for me to photograph. Maybe I need a professional. The rottweiler is Max. I have a real fondness for this type of dog. The strong head and stoic look gets me every time. However, every rottie I ever met was a big baby.

Speaking of big babies, I have some troubling news to report on my pup. Miss Gracie has a torn ligament in her hind leg that requires surgery. The good news is that after surgery, with 8-10 weeks of rest and making me crazy, she should be able to resume normal activity. The bad news is that there is a 50% chance that she will tear the other one within a year or so. I am a tad stressed over this news but know it could be worse. Gracie is the most expensive "free dog" I've ever had. However, it isn't about the money and I still feel lucky to have her as my fuzzy friend. I need to have my head examined.

dog portraits
pet portraits

Quick Dog Pet Portrait

This little pug drawing was done as a sample for a future business partnership with Posh Pet Parties. I will keep you posted as we progress with our business plans. I have great hopes that that our idea will take off so that I can spend all my time creating pet portraits and someone else can work at promoting them. Marketing creates such a frustration level for me that I am looking at as many creative solutions as possible. Like most other artists, I just want to make art and leave the business stuff to the business people. That is why most artists starve. They just don't want to do the business end that will afford them the ability to be artists.

You can click here to visit the site of my friend and fellow artist Carl B. Johnson. There you can see photos from the Phantom Gallery. His tone is very "frank so be warned! His lady Liz Nicklus is also an awesome artist and you can see her site here. I feel so blessed to have met them and call them friends. You will be hearing more about them I'm sure in the future.

I also want to send a big "CONGRATULATIONS" out to my friend and food policeman, Dave Pulcinella, for his big win at a national level body building competion. If you want to know how to eat properly and get in shape, Dave is the person to go see. I'm wearing the same size I did when I was 20 (not so long ago...ha) because of his help. This guy is the ultimate pro. Way to go Dave!

Finally a quick "GOOD LUCK" to Vicki Nixon for this weekend's pro body building event in Atlantic City. I'll be there cheering for my dear friend and bun buster. Go get 'em tiger!

Next posting I will show you the final image of Bud.

Have a great weekend everyone and Happy New Year to my fellow Jews!

dog portraits
pet portraits

Horse Portrait - Graphite Drawing of Bud - 4th Step -Marination

Last night I showed my work in a Phantom Gallery with other local South Jersey artists in Pennsgrove. It was a nice turn out and the free wine tasting took care of my upset when one of my pieces went crashing to the floor and the frame bit the dust. I met some great people and had great response to my work. I hope to get the pictures of that soon to share with you. Tonight I'm going to Millville to their 3rd Friday event to hang out with some artist friends and drink more bad wine. Tomorrow I will run 6 miles to try to make up for my evil ways. One never makes up for the other though and I will never learn.

Anyway, here is the 4th installment of Bud and his portrait. (Sorry for the dark photo, it is raining today.) This is the stage where it looks done but the picture must sit for 4 days or so without me looking at it so that it can "marinate". When I come back to it with a fresh eye, I will be able to touch up any last issues that stick out to me. Already I see the left side needs to be softened and more subtle. More things will rear their ugly heads in a few days. Also at that point I will turn the piece upside-down to find more things that need a little love. However, no matter what, I am not allowed to touch the piece for more than an hour so that I do not kill the beauty of the work. "Stop me before I kill again", I will repeat in my head over and over. It works for me...or is it the wine talking?

Oh yeah, Gracie is feeling better. She ran with me today and was a trooper until she went to greet a sweet little boy and tripped me. I won't be wearing a skirt for a long time. Also, I learned the hard way that her sensitive stomach could not handle the medicine the vet gave her. We won't discuss that. Let's just say we were both up all night.

Have a great weekend.

horse portraits
pet portraits

Canine Partners for Life Open House and Cow Bingo

What an incredible day! These photos were taken yesterday at the Canine Partners for Life Open House and Cow Bingo. Though I was there with a booth (see the two photos) to promote Soulful Studios, that seemed to be the least important part of the day for me. Never have I seen an organization of people that were more determined, focused and positive than the folks of Canine Partners for Life (great photos on this link). Everyone worked so hard and made me feel like part of the family. I felt so cared about and I was only a vendor! I've never seen so many positive individuals working their butts off without a complaint in all my life. I'm still going today from all of that great energy (or is it the sugar from the homemade ice cream and cookies...I'm so bad)!

Ok, so a little explanation. Canine Partners for Life trains and provides service dogs for all sorts of folks for all sorts of jobs. The recipients of these hard working canines come from many different states and truly appreciate the gift of a 4-legged working partner. It is an amazing thing to see people and animals working together doing daily tasks, with both the humans and the canines getting something out of it. This is something you must see for yourself to truly appreciate. They have many events to educate the public and to raise money (it isn't cheap to raise/train one of these pooches). I urge you to come out to one of these events (I will post the next one) and check it out. If you can't do that they will happily schedule a tour as well. I cannot recommend the experience enough.

So what's going on with the photos you ask? Cow Bingo? Ah yes. The cow was the main event. Uma the cow stood with the Dairy Princess in a field of 3,000 squares, representing a purchased raffle ticket. You know where this is going don't you? We all stood waiting for the cow to um, well...pooh. The first cow patty was worth $5,000! (That is a bit frustrating because I struggle to get a few hundred dollars for my art and somebody else makes $5,000 off of bovine fecal matter.) Other prizes were awarded after that. You can see in the one photo the actual $5,000 moment. There is someone in the background even raising their arms as everyone else cheered for cow pooh. It was a hoot. Other photos show some of the activities that were there and the great people that were involved. You have to love the lady in the motorcycle and her service dog with shades on. (I believe her name is Lori as well.) The dog even had polished toenails to match the blue shirts! Now that is style.

Sorry for the disjointed sentences. I just have so many images and thoughts in my head that I can't get them all down fast enough. A quick thanks goes out to Janie, Jennifer and dear Melanie from CPL for all their help and caring. Even their families helped. CPL not only needs donations but host families for dogs and people to help raise puppies. Also, if you are thinking about getting a dog, check with them first because some dogs that have gone through training don't make it as a service dog but they make a wonderful pet that comes already trained. Really, if you want a furry companion contact CPL.

Again, thanks everyone yesterday for all your help. Thank you!

There will be more about CPL in future posts so come back often.

An update on dear Gracie will come later this week. I promise.

Horse Portrait - Graphite Drawing of Bud - 3rd Step

This one is maturing like fine wine...it is getting better VERY SLOWLY with time. Sometimes I can really work quickly and other times, with pencil drawings as large as this one, its seems to go at a snail's pace. This photo is really dark (consider that the paper is white) but I think you get the idea. It looks as if I am moving from top to bottom but I still consider the values of the whole before I commit to any area.

Off to buy "stuff" for my booth at the Canine Partners for Life Open House on Saturday. I figure by next year I should have my act together. Right?

Oh, a quick note on Gracie. I will get her blog together...looking to do it on the new Blogger, the Beta version. She is doing really well with her training. My "viscous" pit bull is getting compliments everywhere we go for her perfect behavior. Check out the site for where we are taking classes. The gang at K-9 Basics is the best! Unfortunately between getting ready for the booth and Gracie's recent "limping" issue, we have missed class this week. Hopefully we will both be back to school next week. I'm sure I'll have plenty to tell you all about with that!

horse portraits
pet portraits