cairn terrier

Boy or Girl

Boy or Girl

My pup Geordie was such a smart guy that I constantly had to come up with games and puzzles to keep him occupied. One thing he really liked was flashcards. He learned the alphabet, familiar words and he even did math. Toby turned out to be more of an active guy preferring to play chase or fetch, so we didn’t use flashcards much after Geordie left.

This weekend, the weather was too rainy to play outside, so I decided to bring out the flashcards. One game Geordie and I would play was Boy/Girl. I would ask him if someone he knew was a boy or a girl, and he would have to touch the correct card to get a treat. It turns out that Toby is really good at this game too – except that when I ask him if mommy is a boy or a girl, he insists I am a boy. Geordie did too. Both dogs are adamant that I am a boy. It makes me wonder: what do they know that I don’t (and do I need to notify the DMV)?

Duh, of course I know things you don’t!

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Teddy bear next to green and white layette set.

Might you be having a new addition in the near future? If so, please consider giving him or her a cozy crocheted blanket as a “Welcome to the Family” gift! Each piece is very warm and is made of super soft, brushed yarn – perfect against baby’s delicate skin.

Now is a particularly good time to order domestic goods. Inventory is already in the US and ready to ship.

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

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Toby Goes to Walmart

Faith, Family Farts

It wasn’t me. The pumpkin tooted.

Totally unrelated to Toby’s tooting, I recently saw an ad for Windows 11 and thought I would read a little about it. Turns out that “older computers might not be compatible with the upgrade”. Oops, I guess you’ll just have to get a new computer. Hmmm, what genius came up with this idea? Electronics are about as rare as unicorns these days. Will new computers just float across the Pacific and land in our stores? With the cost of food and fuel skyrocketing, who has hundreds or thousands to shell out for a new computer?

In my neighborhood, you can’t find canned pumpkin. The only vegetable in the store freezers is broccoli. A neighbor is trying to get his lawn mower fixed, but he can’t due to a parts shortage. The last thing Americans need is to worry about a new computer. I’m more concerned about food…and toothpaste. (And kibble! – Toby)

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Want to get your Christmas shopping done before there is nothing left to buy? Then come visit my store at L Bowman Studios. There are gifts for the whole family – in stock – ready to buy!

Handmade cross stitched patchwork hearts acrylic coaster set.
Cross stitched afghan with roses and bows on it.
Teddy bear next to green and white layette set.
Handknit man's cardigan.
Madison House wall hanging sized quilt.
Butterfly Quilt
Peacock colored Star of Bethlehem quilt.
Handmade ASL/American Sign Language Quilt with stuffed monkey posing on top.
Bear Paw Quilt

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Toby Cooperates

As you can see, Toby makes taking a nice picture of him soooo easy.

No one told me my job was making your life easy.

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Full Length Black Cape with Red Lining will allow you to make a dramatic entrance anywhere. Whether you are going for a night on the town, a theme wedding, a theater production, Cosplay or a party, this cape is sure to make a bold statement.

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

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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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Handknit man's cardigan.

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.

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Troublesome Toys

I don’t see no stinking sock.

I have no idea how that got there.

It wasn’t us.

Blue puppy is to blame for the gloves on the floor.

Must have been a ghost.

Blue Puppy lies amid the trash can carnage.

Um…Achoo?

Toby’s toys have been busy getting into trouble while Toby remains an innocent little angel.

My toys are the bad actors, not me.

I would never steal anything

(and then trade it back to you for food).

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ASL Alien Hand Pillow with Galaxies

Tell someone you love them without saying a word! Too shy to tell that special someone how you feel? Then send them this playful Alien Hand Pillow that will tell them “I Love You” on your behalf.

Alien Hand Pillow and other great gifts are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

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Chippendale (Warning: Mature Content)

What? Death is a mature subject!

While my Geordie was quite the hunter, Toby hasn’t really followed in his footsteps (paw prints?). That is what made his killing of this chipmunk so surprising. Toby was really proud of himself, and I guess part of me was as well…until I saw the chipmunk’s brother looking bereft at the feet of an angel statue nearby. Perhaps it was actually shock at having been nearly killed by a vicious animal, but I read sadness and loss in his body posture.

Yet, what a hypocrite I am. Those blasted little rotters did a number of my truck in previous years. They chewed up all the insulation under the hood and gnawed on my cables. I wished them all dead.

So what is the lesson from this encounter? I guess mostly that I am stupid and anthropomorphize vermin. Unless, perhaps, by not better supervising my pup, I have allowed him to create Mexican Joker Chipmunk…..

You think too much. I am a good killer!

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Cooler weather is just around the corner! Make your special young man is prepared for whatever comes with this stylish, handmade argyle sweater in merino wool. This Hand Knit Argyle Cardigan, and many other fine products, are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

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I Feel Weird

I feel weird. Yeah, me too.

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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Dream Our World

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.

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The Vomitorium

Yuck. My tummy does't feel well. I think I need to visit the vomitorium. We have a vomitorium? Well, mommy calls it her bedroom.

When Toby doesn’t feel well, he likes to go under the furniture to get sick. Last time he had an upset tummy, he went under the bed where I tuck an extension cord power strip for when I need to charge things. Little stinky monster decided to puke into all of the little plug holes in my power strip. I didn’t notice it until it had dried. Honestly, I don’t know how this puppy hasn’t managed to kill himself the way he finds dangerous trouble to get into.

What? I’m not dead.

I don’t know what you are complaining about.

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Dream Our World

To find out what other trouble my boys have been into, pick up a copy of Dream Our World. Inside Bitey and Toby view the world of art from a canine perspective and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun! Dream Our World is available from my shop.

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