I’m so glad I’m not a costume whore like my brother.
Happy Halloween from everyone at Bitey World!
Memories
Memory Bears
This week I spent time making Memory Bears from the shirts of a neighbor’s family member who passed away.
I tried to incorporate those things which made the shirts unique like embroidered patches and special tags. When possible, I use the shirt’s buttons as the bears’ eyes.
Fortunately I was almost done before a certain stinkymonster noticed what I was doing and wanted to play with the bears.
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If you are looking for a gift for that special man in your life, consider this classic tweed cardigan so you can show your love for him for years to come.
This cardigan and many other fine gifts are available in my shop.
I Feel Weird
Poor Bitey and Toby. It’s always the kids that suffer.
It is looking like what I thought was a simple case of osteoarthritis is either psoriatic or psoriatic + rheumatoid arthritis. Very suddenly I have lost nearly all the strength in my right hand. (Unfortunately I am a righty.)
For the time being, Bitey and Toby will have to be drawn with my left hand. As you can see, they don’t look quite how they usually do. I am also having the fun of learning to use a mouse with my left hand. Oh the joys that abound in Bitey Land!
Like Job, I am trying to be grateful for this most recent challenge. If you are a subscriber to bootstrapping philosophy in neuroanatomy (i.e. W.H. Calvin’s The Throwing Madonna) , potentially switching hands like this might help to unlock my crippling writers’ block. Of course, I still can’t draw, write or type anything I think up. Hmmm….
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To find out what trouble my boys have been up to, pick up a copy of Dream Our World. Inside they view the world of art from a canine perspective and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun!
Dream Our World is available from my shop.
Before and After
Yesterday was Toby’s first grooming appointment. I was comforted to find out he was just as evil and bitey for the groomer as he had been for me. (Now I don’t take it as personally.)
As I was checking out, I asked if we wanted to schedule another appointment, would we be welcome or should we call someone else. Surprisingly, they said they would take Toby back. Suckers!!
What made me smile was just how happy Toby has been since his grooming. He has been cheerful and playful and in a great mood. It may be unrealistic, but I hope he makes the association between being groomed and feeling good. Maybe he won’t be so incorrigible next time.
It’s Shoe-Cleaning Time!
Some may know this time of year as Blueberry Season.
Toby taught me not to wear felt-bottomed shoes when I go blueberry picking. That day, he would not let me move until he had cleared every drop of juice from my poor tennies.
There is at least another bucket of berries waiting to be picked and turned into pies. Tomorrow I plan to help them with their collective wish.
What? I like to keep things interesting!
Clip Clop. Clip Clop. Bang.
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No, that wasn’t an Amish drive by. That was Fed Ex Ground (formerly known as The Pony Express) delivering my modem.
Over the past week, Toby and I have been visiting friends, drawing pictures and otherwise trying to keep our sanity without the internet. Here are some samples from our week.
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Update on Toby’s new sleeping arrangements: the little guy has adjusted to the change very well. Now when he gets tired he demands “Biscuit and Bed” and happily runs into his kennel for the night.
In real life, it is Mom who still feels bad.
Toby doing “The Dance of Love” with one of his many lady friends~
Remember The Swimming Hole? This is one of the full-time residents.
Toby tried to eat a bumble bee. Again.
Anyway, that was part of our week. Hope yours was even better!
Big News on the Book Front
It finally happened. Dream Our World is now officially part of the inter-library loan system! If you want you can go to your local library and request a copy. (You won’t get it for a few days, though, because I have it checked out.) If you are feeling generous you can also donate a copy of the book to your own library, and it will already have a number assigned to it. (When cataloguing the book, the librarian in charge entered it as Bitey Dog and Toby in Dream Our World, so you may have to request it under that name. )
Does this mean we’re famous now?
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Many years ago, this was real Geordie’s Gotcha Day. Still thinking about you, handsome!
Would you like your own copy of Dream Our World? Copies are available at my shop. Come see what the world of art looks like from a canine perspective!
Chopped Liver
Yes, we like Uncle and Auntie better than you? Are you so surprised?
Once again company came to town, and once again my “faithful companion” deserted me. Both of my dogs preferred to hang around with my brother’s family, even if they were ignoring my pups in favor of their phones.
Really, I find it sweet that my dogs are so loving toward others, but boys….save the last dance for me. (Auntie and Uncle aren’t going to clean poop off your fur, after all.)
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Looking for a gift for someone special? These hand-stitched Calico Heart Coasters would be a great way to keep a loved one’s tables safe from glasses of icy lemonade. This set of coasters (and many other gifts) are available from my shop.
It Almost Happened Again
It was hard enough to believe the first time, then today it nearly happened again.
Last year Toby found a newly fledged bird on the ground. He was so startled that his eyes grew wide and his mouth fell open. The bird was startled as well and tried to fly, and he did…right into Toby’s mouth. Toby coughed out the bird, but unfortunately it died. (These were some rough sketches I did to remember the day.)
Today I opened the front door only to have a little bird come in and once again try to fly into Toby’s mouth. In his mind, catching birds must be the easiest thing in the world.
I must have chased that little bird for half an hour trying to get it to go outside. When it first came in it could only hop. By the end, it was starting to fly in earnest.
When I went to prop open the door to shoo the baby bird out, I found this.
A sibling waiting to come in and join the fun.
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If you would like a little birdie for your house, consider adding this Chicken and Eggs Stitched Bread Cloth to your decor. Homemade, warm, crusty bread (or breads you claim are homemade!) presented on a beautifully decorated bread cloth will taste even better when served to guests.
Chicken and Eggs Bread Cloth is available from my shop.
The Adventures of Bitey Dog 