Ick. Another Tick

It’s tough to take a picture of the back of your leg.

About 3 1/2 weeks ago I was bitten by a tick. Since then the bite has been itchy and red like a huge mosquito bite. I feel sure I’m fine because I got the tick off minutes after it attached, but still, it’s miserable.

It makes me wonder. Back when I was bitten by a tick and developed Lyme Disease, how on earth did I miss something this big and red and itchy? I never suspected I had the disease because I was unaware I’d been used as a dinner service by a gross insect.

Just keep that thing away from me, will ya? Dogs really don’t like the “T” word.

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The Boxes

What's all that? You know how mommy does posts about how much stuff she's getting rid of? Well these are the things that she pulls out of those piles or that never make it in in the first place. Do you think there are biscuits in there?

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I don't think so. According to this, all IL smell is childhood and failure.

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For some reason I am especially fond of hoarding failure.

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After my last post I got a notice from WP telling me that it was my 1,000th post. I wish I had realized that and made it more festive!

Festive or otherwise, biscuits are the only suitable things to hoard.

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Dream Our World

A good way to spend the miserably hot days of summer is to stay cool indoors reading Dream Our World! (Plus, proceeds help Murphy’s Biscuit Hoarding Fund.)

Inside, Geordie and Toby view the world of art from a canine perspective while enjoying a day of unsupervised fun. There are a lot of hidden stories about the different works of art inside Dream Our World, in case you are using it to teach a young person about art. Dream Our World is a joy for all ages. Treat yourself to a summer read that is both fun and educational!

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

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Even Fake Bunnies Are Naughty

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Look what that stupid “rabbit” did to my mulch. Harrumph. – Murphy

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I thought it was rain that brought out the Electric Mustard Mulch Puke (Dog Barf Fungus), but it turned out that it needs heat to really bloom. Like most of the country we’ve had more than our share of that this week. Fortunately Murphy doesn’t show much of an interest in the fungus. (I know a certain other pup who would have tempted fate by tasting it.)

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Dream Our World

A good way to spend these miserably hot days of summer is to stay indoors reading Dream Our World! (Plus, proceeds help Murphy’s Biscuit Fund.)

Inside, Geordie and Toby view the world of art from a canine perspective while enjoying a day of unsupervised fun. There are a lot of hidden stories inside Dream Our World, and it is a joy for all ages. Treat yourself to a summer read that is both fun and educational!

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

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One Thing Each Day / What Was I Thinking?!

A neighbor contributed a few of the donations in this collection.

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While going through my stored items, I found a few that really left me scratching my head.

One was a collection of plaster dental molds – the type the dentist does when you have a crown made. I must have had at least six sets. What on earth possessed me to put these old molds into a box – inside another box – in storage?

In a different container I found a plastic sandwich bag filled with periwinkle shells. They weren’t even in very good condition. Why on earth did I think I should save them?

I found an old letter from someone I don’t even remember. I also found one – only one – paper Chinese lantern cover. It looked as if it were made to be hung around a Christmas light-sized bulb. What? Was I planning to have a very small outdoor party someday?

While I’ve rid myself of these embarrassments, I wonder what I am hoarding now that will make me cringe years later.

As long as you are hoarding biscuits, I say it is time well spent.

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Dream Our World

Another good way to spend your time is reading Dream Our World! (Plus, proceeds help Murphy’s Biscuit Fund.)

Inside, Geordie and Toby view the world of art from a canine perspective while enjoying a day of unsupervised fun. There are a lot of hidden gems inside Dream Our World, and it is a joy for all ages. Treat yourself to a summer read that is both fun and educational!

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

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The Scanner

Mom, why aren't you telling stories about us?

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Sorry sweeties. The scanner decided that it won't work with the new computer, and I'm to lazy to learn to draw digitally.

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OK, this isn’t entirely true. I did draw Murphy digitally. It’s just that I am more comfortable drawing on paper.

As long as I get adulation, I don’t care if it comes digitally or otherwise.

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With Independence Day coming and patriotism at an all-time high, consider adding this unique Armed Forces Quilt to your home decor.

An Armed Forces themed alphabet quilt is a great way to introduce little ones to the world Mommy and/or Daddy work in, or it could be a gift to a hero who has already served.

Each letter block in this U.S. Armed Forces Alphabet Quilt has a colorful, non-threatening representation of some aspect of military life. (W is for “World comma anywhere-in-the,” which is where you may serve! M is for M.R.E.) The corner blocks have pictures which represent the caring and kind natures of the men and women who serve in the armed forces. After all, a lot of what the military does is build relationships.  One corner has a sailor kissing his baby goodbye.  Another shows the special relationship between a soldier and the camp dog.  Another has a service member playing soccer/football with a young boy.  The final block is a family waiting for their loved one to return home after deployment.

This U.S. Armed Forces Quilt, and other fine gifts, are available at my shop at L Bowman Studios.

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Hippie Dippy Weather Bun

What's up with mom?

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You know that humans like to convince themselves that they have clean paws when it comes to killing. Well thanks to you two lazy bones mom had to "dispatch" some rabbits that got into the garden.

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What are we supposed to do? The rabbits are already gone? For heaven's sake, go pee on the fence of something. make critters at least think that a predator lives here!

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This is so unfair. We have to do everything.

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Hey man, why'd you have to do me like that? Why did I have to "do" you? You were in my garden, you little runt, eating all my vegetables!

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Like, nobody "owns" food, man. It's just there when you need it. Eat what you want. Those things weren't there by accident. They were there because I worked and I built and I cultivated!

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Sheesh. Histrionics much?

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You may have been mean to me, but I know I'll be right with the Spirit in the Sky. Oh no. You ate out of my garden. You were a bad bunny. No Bunny Heaven for you. You are going to DOGGY Heaven!

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Noooooo!

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What do you think they'll give us to play with next?

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Now you know why God was so ticked about the Garden of Eden.

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If you look at the base of the pinwheel, you can see a nest of baby bunnies. Murphy is definitely not a predator at heart.

Geordie

My mom was trying to get Geordie to look at the camera so I could take his picture. She said “bunny” to get his attention, and this is what happened. Geordie was my hunter.

A lot of people have tried to make me feel guilty about protecting my garden, but if there are no checks and balances, rabbits can quickly get out of control. Australia was devastated by a rabbit invasion. An island in Greece housed prosperous vineyards for centuries until rabbits destroyed them. Bunnies may be cute, but they are prolific and ravenous.

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Looking for a Fathers’ Day gift that’s as soft as a bunny? Consider giving the special man in your life a Hand Knit Merino Wool/Tweed/Alpaca Cardigan.

This classically tailored Man’s XL Coffee Brown Tweed Cardigan is comfortable enough to wear on chilly evenings at home yet  handsome enough to wear to work on casual Fridays.  It can even be worn to church or out to dinner. Dressed up or dressed down this hand knit cardigan in Coffee Brown is sure to quickly become a favorite in your man’s wardrobe.

For more information on this Tweed Cardigan and other fine gifts, please visit my shop at L Bowman Studios.

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Toby Touches the Sky

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Just playing with my new toys. Trying to make skies and clouds and grass while learning a new way to do cut and paste. Toby is excited. Murphy is bored.

Chorkies are meant to be fed and spoiled – not ignored in favor of a computer.

I don’t know if I can add speech bubbles with this particular editing ackage, so for now the boys can’t talk. Ahh, if only that worked in real life…..

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A Fine, Fermented Beverage

Tulamore Doo-Doo A Fine, Fermented Beverage

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We made it ourselves!

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But Kopi Luwak is OK? You hypocrites disgust me.

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Actually this post was a way for me to get acquainted with a new computer. My old one was 15 years young (not even old enough to drive *sniff*), and I was afraid it would give out on me during tariffs/chip shortage – name your disaster of choice to make prices higher. Of course my old software won’t work on the new system, so I have been experimenting with replacements. What a mess.

Bitey Dog might have a different look since old tools are no longer available. Maybe I’ll take this opportunity to make the boys all Westies so I don’t have to worry about colors anymore.

Don’t you even think about it.

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We Had To Take Murphy To A Farm

Don’t worry. He’s fine! (I think of Brian from Family Guy yelling at the family, “You never joke about that with a dog!!”)

My mom and I wanted to get some bedding plants, and the local greenhouse is on a farm. As far as I know this is the first time Murphy has ever been to one. He was particularly captivated by the lambs. The seemed equally happy to see him.

For the first time since I’ve known him, Murphy wasn’t eager to get back in the car.

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Well, it did smell pretty awesome there…kind of like pre-mutton.

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