Insect Season

I have been thinking about bugs a lot  lately.  Now framed and visible is the bug that I drew in February.  I took Amy Bartlett Wright's course The Artful Insect : Entomological Illustration at RISD.  We studied insects under high magnification and drew them in the traditional style of scientific illustration.  I drew this leaf footed bug that I believe is Leptoglossus Occidentalis from the instructor's collection.

 I am trying to start my own collection of hard bodied insects to draw.  For now I am freezing anything that looks interesting and planning to pin them properly later.

We are currently having an unpleasant experience with Lyme disease that has caused us to increase our searches for ticks on the bodies' of dogs and people. Also Willa has been actively enjoying her hobby of jumping and snapping at any flying insect that comes her way.  She is so tall that the snapping teeth can come near the face of a standing adult.  Knowing this makes us even more aware and perhaps more bothered by flies in the kitchen.  It is only the beginning of bug season here.  -Polly

Pick

"Not the least hard thing to bear when they go from us, these quiet friends, is that they carry away with them so many years of our own lives."  -John Galsworthy

16 years in the case of our good dog Pick.  A fine friend, we are missing him already.  -Polly

Where We Went

We have been again to Maine.  It has been two full years since the boys and I have visited.  Considering that last trip, this one was much better.  There was a lot of driving and then a lot of sun and green.  We saw racoons up close,  found porcupine quills, heard owls, and I found more rusty treasure in an old cellar hole. Some blue socks were finished, then there was some more driving.  The actual driving was done by the Mister.  I sat under the dog and handed out snacks. -Polly

New Nikon

I am ever so excited to have a new camera.  All of the pictures on this blog up until this point were taken with one of two beloved point and shoot Nikons.  My new one should allow me to experiment more.  And you know what that means.  More gratuitous pet pictures! -Polly 

Me and Mina, with painted chimney.

Our Mina

Much has happened since my last post here. While our roof was being removed, the cable that brings telephone and internet to us was also removed. Now it has been repaired and I can again report what has been going on. One thing that occurred was the one year anniversary of our dog Mina coming to live with us. We adopted her through the German Shorthaired Pointer rescue in our area. She was sweet and lively right from the start. She had no interest in listening to us at all. Our understanding is that she came from a home where she was loved, but not given much direction. When her elderly owner moved, Mina stayed with relatives that could not let her run. GSP dogs are meant to run. For the first two weeks that she lived with us, all that Mina did was run. We were happy enough to let her use up her anxious energy, but we had no way to call her back in when we needed to go out, or night had fallen. Mina really knew no commands at all. She has come so far since then. Our lawn has suffered for it, but she is doing ever so well. The strange sound in the video is Mr Moss's whistle. It does sound more like a whistle in real

life. -Polly

Gull Mural

On Friday I made a sea gull mural for the very nice mother of a very good friend. My camera finds red to be challenging, so these pictures are not very accurate, but the finished room looks great. While painting and visiting, I was able to meet a smart and protective new lady dog. When I arrived, the dog wanted to meet me and bite me, but I was shown how to endear myself to her. First I tossed some dog cookies into the crate where she was secured. Secondly, I hid while a game of fetch was started in the yard. I was then substituted into the game as the ball thrower. After the game, we got along nicely. We did find that the unexpected sound of me moving a stepladder would bring her running and barking, but she would see it was me and chose to let me paint without a bite. Also I had some tea. All on the last half day of the school year. -Polly

Three Sides To Every Story

Three angles anyway. -Polly

RISD Sale Recap

Another sale day complete. Lots of scarves went home with new owners. I met some wonderful new customers, and enjoyed seeing some familiar faces. Many interesting dogs were sighted. The sun shone down hotly all day. In fact, it addled my brain enough that I forgot to take pictures of my display. I have these few shots to show the street scene from my behind the table vantage point. -Polly

Mina's First Bird

Yesterday Mina brought home a pheasant.

Mr. Moss is very pleased with her. We all are. - Polly

Dog Training

Our girl dog is settling in very well with us. In this picture she is standing steady waiting to be called over by Mr. Moss. One of the adults in our family knows a lot about dog training, and has been reading up on the subject. That person is not me, but when I was asked to help with a training session I agreed. My job would be to "hold the rope in the field". I prepared myself by donning a raincoat and the clogs that I wear most days. These being the wooden type of shoe that can sometimes pass as heels with the earthy set. When we arrived at the field, I learned that my job was indeed to hold the rope. I was to hold the rope while doing an experienced hunting dog impression running back and forth across the field and into the marsh. As commands were shouted out, I was to respond and help our dog learn to respond properly. One of us did very well. For our next training session I will try to be better prepared. I don't need to worry about wearing those unsuitable shoes though. My dog partner ate them this morning. -Polly

My new friend Mina

We have a new dog! She is a full grown speedy speedy German Shorthaired Pointer. She is getting to know us, and we are getting to know her. So far, we really like what we are learning about her. She is so fast a runner, that this is a typical view of her as she blasts by. -Polly

Running

Running



Pointing

Bad News

Well, the weekend away happened. As I hoped, there was some reading and a little knitting. But, something terrible also happened. We lost our little pup. The country vet tried to help. The city vet tried to help. In the end, he just could not stay with us. I can't believe it. I can't stand it. But, that is what happened. -Polly

Puppy Love

So, the puppy is still here, and he is getting bigger. We still think he is charming. I took some pictures of him when he first arrived. I particularly liked this one of him exploring the garden. That was just the beginning. He has since proven himself to be a truly expert and tireless plant demolisher.

Picture this coming at you if you are a tender lily.

Here he is doing what he is meant to do. That interesting object is a packet of grouse feathers. When it is dangled and swung from a fishing pole, he points at it steadily. Good Dog! -Polly

Puppy!

There is a puppy in the house. He traveled. He arrived. We just love him.

-Polly

Yet another animal post

The bun lads here proving that they can live peacefully together. When they do not think that I am watching, they snuggle together happily. When I approach with their nutritious pelleted meal the fur does fly. The older gentleman.

The sweet old girl. Gone two months now, and very much missed. -Polly

Sweet Old Girl

Thirteen years is a long life for a big dog. But, when a girl and a dog are friends, it's not so long at all.

-Polly