The Snowman

Look, it's snowing! I think I'll build the boys a snowman while they're sleeping.
They're going to be so surprised.
The next morning...
Hey guys, come see what I've done!
Yay, a pee man! If I give him my hat, can I bring him to life?

Yesterday was the first snow of the season. I took Toby outside to play, and we decided to build a snowman. As I rolled the snow across the ground, I picked up pee spot after pee spot after pee spot. When I was done, I had more pee than snow. Toby was thrilled and even kicked the dirty snow into my face. (Thanks, Toby.) It was one of the grossest experiences I’ve had.

After some of the pee melted off, we decided that the snowman looked like a despondent cat.

Cairn terrier pup standing in snow.

You didn’t like my pee snow? I don’t believe it.

***********************************

Bear Paw Quilt

Looking for a gift this holiday season? Consider giving the gift of warmth with this hand quilted Bear Paw Quilt! Heating costs are projected to be 28% higher this winter, so a nice, cozy quilt could help keep utility bills down. Plus, what is more fun than snuggling up together with someone you love on a cold, blustery evening?

This Bear Paw Quilt and other fine gifts are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

Puppy With A Death Wish Part 9 (or The Nutty Buddy)

Toby stole a can of cashews this week. He has been pooping nuts ever since.

You took mine, so I took yours.

Cairn terrier puppy hold his food bowl.

I told you there was nothing sadder than a puppy with an empty dish. This puppy did something about it!

**************************************

All summer I have been watching fawn twins grow up. I’ve caught them frolicking in the fog and sunning themselves in the middle of the day. (Unusual because deer are crepuscular.) This day, while Toby and I were out making a nut deposit, we caught them watching us. This is the first time I’ve had a camera with me when we’ve seen them. They are so much more mature than when we first met.

What’s that yappy little thing saying? Something about venison?

**********************************

Red velveteen capelet for little girls.

Do you have a little girl in your life who might enjoy celebrating the holidays in Dickensian style? If so, then this Red Velveteen Capelet was made for her! Whether out caroling with family and friends or heading off to a holiday dinner, Red Velveteen Capelet is sure to turn heads.

Red Velveteen Capelet is for up to Size 4.

This and other fine gifts are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

The Puzzle Toy

What the heck is this?!? I thought you two might enjoy eating your supper from a puzzle toy.
Awoo! Nooo!!! Dinner is meant to be served, not worked for!
Wusses.

Last week I bought Toby a puzzle toy. When I got home I broke up a biscuit and hid the pieces for him. He was so thrilled to “hunt” for his treats that his tail wagged the whole time he played with it. Then he tried to pull it apart to see if he could find more food inside. (He reminded me of a kid at Christmas returning to the tree in case more presents had appeared.)

The next day I decided to hide his kibble diner in the puzzle. While he was willing to go along, I could tell that Toby wasn’t happy about having to work for his meal. It made me wonder what our coyote neighbors might think if they saw my spoiled boy.

Cairn terrier puppy hold his food bowl.

Is there any sadder sight than a puppy with an empty dish?

*************************

Dream Our World

Looking to do your holiday shopping early? Then consider giving the gift of sweetness and joy with Dream Our World! Inside, my puppies visit the museum of their dreams and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun. The book is an adventure for children and adults alike.

Dream Our World and many other fine gifts are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

The Naughty Tomato

I stole something once.

Why? What were you expecting?

Every year the garden gives us something entertaining. This year it was a tomato.

I’m tellin’ ya, I’m much more entertaining than a stupid tomato!

**********************************

If you would like to be entertained by Toby instead of a tomato, check out Dream Our World! Dream Our World can literally be checked out at your local library, or you can order a copy from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

In Dream Our World, Bitey and Toby go to the museum of their dreams and view the world of art from a canine perspective. Dream Our World would make a perfect gift for friend or family!

Dream Our World

Dandelion Fluff

Hey look! A closed door. Let's open it. Absolutely! Do NOT open this door!
Don't look at me! What happened? You always look normal when we see you.
Last August my hair fell out again. I have been drawing myself with a wig ever since. Why didn't you just draw yourself with hair?
Hmm, why didn't I draw myself with hair?

Did you know that psoriasis can make your hair fall out? Well it can! After falling out (again) last August, mine has finally started growing back and is maybe four or five inches long. When I stand in the light, I resemble a dandelion gone to seed.

I have a friend who is facing chemo and is rightly disappointed at the thought of losing her hair. I wanted to let her know that she is not alone. When I lost mine, I spent a good bit of time looking at chemo hats, and I found a company that I liked. It’s called Headcovers Unlimited, and it has a lot of options other than traditional chemo scarves.

Of course all their models have a healthy glow to their cheeks and don’t have tired eyes, but it is nice to imagine that I might look this cute in one of their hats. Some of the hats and scarves have hair in the back to protect your neck from the sun. (The hair is attached to the hat in this picture. )

So, if you are dealing with alopecia, you don’t need to send your husband beat up comedians. Instead splurge on some soft hats to make yourself feel better. And chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate.

Not my image, but I wish it were!

Mommy gets lots of compliments on her pink sunhat

…but she gets even more compliments on me!

****************************

Self conscious about the state of your hair? Then consider this dramatic hooded cape/cloak when you go out for the evening.

Made of light-drinking black pinwale corduroy and lined with soft as silk red acetate, this cloak is sure to make a bold statement wherever you go.

Ladies Cloak/Cape is available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

Sweet (Potato) Dreams

A friend of mine said that my sweet potato looked like a dinosaur.

Oh wait, maybe she said it was as big as a dinosaur.

When digging up the garden, I had been giving Toby the tiny little potatoes that never fully developed which made him a pretty happy guy. Then he watched me pick up this behemoth, and you should have seen the expression on his face! I don’t think his eyes could have gotten any wider nor his tail wagged any faster. I couldn’t let him have it, though, lest I have to write another poem about yark.

Who are you to judge the yarkworthiness of my adventures?

******************************

Thank you!

The local paper had an article about how allergies are being mistaken for covid symptoms. Whether you have ragweed issues or a virus, these earth-friendly, reusable cotton hankies are perfect for keeping your nose clean and dry.

Cotton hankies come with different pictures or phrases painted on them to make extra special gifts for those you love. Hankies are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

Playing Ball

Just like when we play Kick the Snow in the Winter, all sorts of neighbors look outside to watch Toby play Tennis Balls. (I can’t call it “Fetch” because he won’t bring them back.)

I may not bring them back, but I am one happy little camper!

***************************

Dream Our World

Toby’s love for tennis balls even made its way into the book Dream Our World. Inside, Toby and his big brother Geordie visit the museum of their dreams and explore the world of art from a canine perspective. Dream Our World is a sweet book that appeals to all ages.

Dream Our World is available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

The Yark and the Witching Hour

Electric mustard colored fungus growing in wood mulch

Luminescent pile of yark

gently glowing in the dark.

Yellow like a ‘nanner peel

Little doggie do you feel

better now the puke is gone

sitting outside on the lawn?

(Wouldn’t Mozart be proud?)

The other night, Toby managed to jump up to the counter and steal and eat a banana peel before I could stop him. At 3:00 am he kindly gave the peel back. The poem has a happier ending than real life because it happened outside unlike reality which required an early morning kennel scrubbing. Thanks Toby.

Anytime, mom!

*********************************

Dream Our World

If you would like to know more of what Toby and his brother have been up to, pick up a copy of Dream Our World. Inside Bitey (Geordie) and Toby visit the museum of their dreams and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun.

Dream Our World is available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

B12 and Boys

Boy or Girl

The last doctor I saw thought that my cluster of symptoms might be due to a B12 deficiency. The easiest way to find out if you are deficient is to take some. If you are low, you should feel more energetic. If you’re not, you’ll just pee out the excess.

I picked up a bottle of B12 at the store and took some for several days. Each day brought with it unpleasant stomach cramps but no extra energy. I looked up B12 side effects. Reported incidents were relatively low. For women the most common complaint was shortness of breath. Stomach ailments, however, were almost exclusively listed by men.

This got me thinking about the game of Boy or Girl that Toby and I play where he adamantly insists that I am a boy. Before I was kidding about him knowing something I don’t, but now I’m less and less sure…

You should listen to me more. I know what I’m barking about.

************************

Dream Our World

Come on an adventure with Bitey and Toby to the Museum of the Imagination in Dream Our World! Inside the boys view the world of art from a canine perspective and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun.

Dream Our World and other fine gifts are available at my shop at L Bowman Studios.

The Schirmer Test

On Tuesday I went to the ophthalmologist for a follow up to see how my eyes are responding to the medication. To test tear production, paper strips with little rulers on them are places between the eyeball and eyelid. Then you wait to see what volume of tears are created in a certain period of time.

Goofball me, I managed to skew the test within seconds. I closed my eyes and the first thought to pop into my mind was Geordie. Aww, how cute my little boy was! Then I started crying. Not much, but enough that it looked like I have a crazy high amount of tears. I told the doctor what happened, but she was still pleased with the results.

My Geordie hasn’t been on earth in almost three years, and he can still fix everything!

Happy Cairn terrier pup

I told you I was magic!

*********************

Dream Our World

To find out what my magical puppies like to do on their day off, pick up a copy of Dream Our World. Inside, the boys view the world of art from a canine perspective and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun.

Dream Our World is available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.