I WILL not let this year slip away. There is plenty of time and I have plenty of goals. Some I don’t want to tell people because they might think I’m silly, but they involve fitness, health, family  and my art and blog. Just for a start. There’s so much I want to do.

We were away for Christmas vacation in Mexico, and had a great time. My daughter didn’t come for the first time ever … She had to work. Bleugh!!!!!!

I missed her!  She stayed home with the doggies which was perfect because Blue got sick. Poor Blue,  Jess really stepped up to the plate. She stayed awake with her at night and took her to the vets. Luckily it was just a few days before we came home.

But Blue has some kidney issues. She was in pain and apparently she has at least 65% kidney failure. She is still amazingly peppy and energetic considering she’s 14. You would never guess how old she is.

So we have changed her diet and we are hoping for the best. My family was freaking out for a bit about what this would mean. But thankfully we do not have to go there, quite yet.

It’s so sad, because I have always had a houseful of animals growing up and our dogs have got older and have reached the end of their lives at some point or another. I realize my kids and husband will be experiencing losing a loved member of the family for the first time. Apart from losing my mother ( I was devastated, but my boys were not born and Jess was 5.) They have never experienced loss. and pets are truly loved, irreplaceable members of the family. But I really am jumping the gun. I shouldn’t think like that. She is doing great.

Last summer I mentioned that she seemed confused and disoriented. We gave her prevagen which is a jellyfish supplement that they give to people with dementia.  We actually saw a huge improvement. She remembered how to get into the garbage again.( darn it ) Someone must have read the blog and were kind enough to send me  Neutricks. The dog’s version. It’s great, we give it to her once a day. She definitely seemed to be more herself and smart again.  I recommend it to anyone who has an older dog that seems to be a confused.

This helped Blue a lot.

Anyway sorry to bring a sad note to the new year!

I have some new art, although I have shown it  before in the  ”almost done stage,” so I feel not much has changed. It’s hard to know when a painting is done. Sometimes I have to leave it and just keep looking at it until the right thing comes to mind.

I really have to send  my sketchbook project in, before the end of the month. So really in the next few days. The problem is that most of my little drawings are on post it notes. The best invention ever!

I always have the pads near me. I have post it reminders on my dash-board of my car, everywhere. Maybe I should take a jellyfish supplement. It drives my husband nuts.  So I always do lots of doodling on them. I have so many that I decided I would somehow modpodge them into my sketch book.

Post it notes doodles...

Here’s a mermaid and her octopus friend. I think his legs are somewhat tangled and he needs help to separate him. That’s what his best mermaid friend is there for.

I think Octopus needs help separating his legs......

I don’t think anyone should count too carefully. I definitely got confused as I was painting the legs. There may or may not be 8…..

Not finished yet... his boat is called the sea monkey( or it will be)

pictures are a bit blurry darn it

not finished either

This is some artwork I’ve been working on….. I have lots of stuff to do  like buy, wrap, mail packages to England….. Oh my!!!    and I’m off to mexico next week. Im going Cancun with the family. I can’t wait….

Fly Piggy Fly

When pigs fly

I have been working out at least an hour a day. Well most days anyway. I’m off to Cancun in 2 weeks and the pressure is on. Well it’s been on for a while. This is the longest I have ever managed to continue to work out for.
The problem is I haven’t seen much difference ( if any) on the scale. But I have taken photos at day 1 and day 30 and Now I’m technically at day 49 because I’ve missed a few days . and I DO see a difference in the photos, so I’m forcing myself to stay with the program darn it!!!!

I could post them……. but I just can’t. Maybe I will at day 90 or so, when I’m absolutely ripped or something.

I’ll tell you where I’ve been, Obsessed with Pinterest.Any  spare time I have that I sit on the computer is usually taken up with blogging, reading blogs I subscribe to by google reader (why have they changed their format waaaa) and commenting.

This is the best sign I've seen.... (via pinterest)

I have still been reading your blogs, I so enjoy that, but I haven’t taken the time to comment… sorry!

So I’m thinking, how am I writing this blog today? I’ll tell you how, I haven’t gone on Pinterest yet this morning.

Don’t get me wrong…. I LOVE PINTEREST. It’s so pretty  and  so relaxing for some reason. I see beautiful pictures, Learn amazing things.  There is new things to see, constantly, talk about feed my ADD.

I have made several recipes that my family have actually eaten!!!!!!  But once I check it out  I can’t get off. I love all the craft and do-it-yourself ideas.

You can check it out  without being a member , but you can’t repin anything you like to your own boards. Which I love because if I see anything interesting I want to try later , I just save it to my board and can go back at anytime when I’m ready, instead of having to save it on my own computer or search the internet all over again. So then when you click that picture it take you to the original internet source and information. I also follow other people, so I see their fave things. Oh my!!!!

Pinterest what have you done to me?

cats with heart tails ... seriously.

I send cute little animal pictures to my daughter, as love texts. when she’s working late etc.. sometimes we have a little cute text battle going on. I think I’m winning.

They look so yummy... I'm gonna make them.

If you want to become a member you must have an invitation, I’m not sure why. So just send me an email and I’ll send you an invite…. if you think you are made of stronger stuff than me that is and it won’t take over your life.

I haven’t even managed to post anything new to Illustration Friday In about a month. I’m such a slacker! here’s my Zombie mermaid I was going to post for last week’s Scary theme.

Zombie Mermaid. I would say I'm being influenced by my favourite show: Walking Dead on Sundays AMC.

I am off to a soccer game for Harry soon, I drove to Brewster for a hockey game for Jack yesterday, It’s at least 55 miles away. I had no clue where I was going , thank goodness for GPS.. Also the highway was pitch black on the way home. I’m such a wimp.  But seriously why no lights on the side of the road.

I’m posting this now ( even though now I have started I’ve  started so much to say)   This way it wont stay in my saved drafts and get forgotten.

I will try to wean myself off of Pinterest.  I’ll try to restrict myself..

I am a little behind and when I should have been working on the monkeys.. I found myself sketching a little dancing robot. I’m not sure where she came from, but I’m sure it had nothing to do with watching Dexter!

She was painted with watercolours and she's a little softer than the scan shows. Which I prefer.

I’ve been busy with the kids, back to school, Jack is driving and is making me taking him ALL the time. My poor gas tank needs constant filling up. Doesn’t he realize gas is expensive!!! He’s actually very good, and I’m loving the bonding time in the car together. Harry is playing school soccer  and we look forward to the new show Terra Nova on Mondays. yay tonight Woo Hoo. Jess just got promoted … well done Jess. Although she’ll have a commute .. about an hour in the car.. It’s a great thing…yay!!!!!

Anyway I took a movie ( sort of. I kept running out of memory card and battery ) of the monkey painting and I see myself painting Over and Over the same stuff!!!! I use all types of materials, pens, pencils, paints .. I didn’t use paper in this one. I have an idea for the next one with paper  though. I also see myself with a fistful of paintbrushes. At least you don’t see me dip my brush in coffee or tea…. I do that a lot! Anyway… I managed to paint the eyes finally… I just couldn’t bring myself to do that for a long time.  I still think there’s something missing.

http://www.youtube.com/user/jasperandblue?feature=mhee

By the way I just cannot figure out how to put the video in this post!!! Even though i’ve done it before . Hmphhhhh!

Here’s the video.. I’ve speeded it up , so hopefully it won’t be too long. I’m still working out the format and stuff. Lots to learn.

jasperandblue’s Channel – YouTube

Mesmerizing

I used water colours and then some markers  and then because  I think I messed it up , I put a warming filter on it in Photo shop to clam it down. Here’s the original sketch that I drew and painted  while watching X-factor , Up all night and Modern family….. too many shows to watch.

original

I hated that big purple mark on her left side.

On a different note, this a monkey picture I’m working on. I have a series of them… i ever get anything finished.

Don’t be scared , I haven’t put eyes on her yet. I’m not leaving it that way. I’m not sure why. I think I’m scared !!!! Of ruining it, Because  I quite like how  it’s turning out. Silly I know.

Monkey see no evil!!!!!!

This is what I keep telling myself. So I’m sticking to it.

Meanwhile on a side note, I would love to whine about my frustrations with trying to create a treasury list for Etsy.

Grrrr I can have a whole bunch listed and then I may put the etsy item url just slightly over the box and it loses every item that just took me ages to build in my list. It’s then gone for good. I must have tried to make as many as 15 treasuries and I haven’t finished one yet.

I certainly have my boundaries have that’s concerned. Waaah!

She's so pretty!!! Sweet dog.

She has cataracts… so her eyesight is not so good anymore. But that’s ok she can still see,  but she does miss a few tasty morsels that are thrown her way. Of course Jasper takes full advantage of this. So we have to remember and make sure she still gets the treats.

She  also seemed a little confused.. When I called her she would stand and stare at my chair. She seems a little skittish. and  to be generally a little confused. Every night she seems to pace, walking around the house  for what seems like hours. Her nails click clacking on the wood floor.

Although, she still sits by my big windows at the front of the house and manages to  bark at every one who walks by… That’s her favourite thing. It drives me nuts though.

My husband recently took her to the vets and mentioned to the vet how she’s still so perky, and how long do Wheaten Terriers generally live for. ( I have no idea why he would ask the vet, when he asks me I reassure him she looks great and live for a very long time.) So the vet said ” Oh probably about 13/14 years.” My poor husband came home in  a panic. I reassured him again and told him the vet was stupid!

He seemed to respond well to that.  But this summer we have definitely seen our hyper dog slow down. But she is 14 right… So it happens a little. I’m sure that’s normal. She’s still very happy and still has tons of energy and people never guess how old she is. They are always shocked when we tell them.

So I was discussing Blue with a good friend who suggested Jelly fish supplements. Called Prevagen, her mother had given them to her dog and had seen a huge improvement. Apparently these supplements are giving to people showing signs of dementia and it helps with memory loss etc .

Honestly within a week of her having these pills, we have seen a definite difference. she seems perkier ( she was always hyper) She definitely seems more “there” than she was  this summer. When we call her she now looks right at us, instead of looking confused. Jasper’s not getting twice as many snacks as she’s a little quicker!! Which is good because jasper was looking a little chubby, he lost his girlish figure. She still paces, but she had a little arthritis , maybe that helps with stiffness. We are giving her glucosamine too.

She has managed to open my garbage and get food out. She never did that before, well only if some fool left it open. But the other day  she got in it 3 times. I know I closed it well after the 1st time. I thought I was the fool who left it open. Then I realized it was closed. Could the jelly fish be making her smarter? Smarter than she was. She was never really a smart dog, sweet, loving, pretty but not terribly clever.

So far I’m giving a thumbs up to prevagen. it was hard to find to find but I found it online although my friend said her mother got it in a drug store. Hopefully it will keep on working.

My Mum  always used to say….. “Collette was born 3 weeks late and she’s never been early since!!!!”

Which is not entirely true, because my husband is a little anal over time, so I’m much better now.

Here’s my post. mysterious.

So, is this a mystery?

Say what you will. I know he’s one of my Flying Piggies so he has wings.. But it’s still a mystery how he fits in the nest. Poor chicks  and why he thinks he belongs there at all.

He’s made from paint and paper on a canvas… He was lots of fun to make. The leaves are cut from one of my  birthday cards this year. I loved the colour of the card.

I’ll be back tomorrow with an update on my dog Blue… since we’ve given her jellyfish supplements she’s a frickin’ genius.