In Flossy's Opinion

Well, finally I am allowed to give my Views on Life again.  Much has changed since our relocation to The City.  We live in an Apartment but it really seems more like a house especially since we got furniture, and we have an actual yard.

I am constantly on the alert in my new yard.

I have made many friends here.  

Meeting Other Dogs is one of the best parts of living in The City.  I met this chap at a recent street market.

  

My Grandparents live with Pogo, who is my best friend.  I lived at their house in Denver for some time this spring, but we all live here now.  Pogo’s apartment has an elevator, and lots of Other Dogs live there.

Pogo and I get many treats but also get warned not to bark so much, even though we are well within our rights.

Some things never change.  Mother still goes to her studio and relies on me to do calculations for her all day long.   

We still take at least two walks every day in fascinating neighborhoods with beautiful gardens and many cats.   

Sometimes we walk down to the Ship Canal where I visit with the ducks and geese.

There is a good beach, and fine woods.   

The big problem is the squirrel population.  They do not respond to my barking at all.  Mother says I will get a sore throat.   

Hmmph.

  In summary, so far a moving goes I find truth in the old adage ‘wherever you go, there you are’, which seems to mean that a Dog is about as happy as it has a mind to be.  

 I hope you are enjoying a fine summer (or winter) where ever you are! 

Drawing Challenge: CokeCola

In this week's drawing challenge, our charming hostess Rachel of Hi Happy Panda commemorates her home city Atlanta, Georgia USA - birthplace of CokeCola.  (Who knew?)!

When I was a kid my parents were very strict about soda pop, which was considered a beverage for Special Occasions Only.  We NEVER hardly EVER got to drink CokeCola, but our cousins in Illinois bought it by the case!  Going to visit them in the sticky heat of mid-west summer meant being allowed to cool off with a frosty bottle of bubbly brown cola: HEAVEN! 

'Summer Icon' - Inktense pencils and graphite in 6x8 sketchbook

CokeCola still brings back many summery memories to me.

Please visit Rachel's blog for many more artists interpretations of this theme.

Camping, II

We went camping again yesterday afternoon.  Just can't get enough of this astounding summer sunshine.  This time, I made a little tent over the bed of my pickup, Bluebird, and slept there on the super-nice inflatable foam pad my Dad gave me last time I visited in Denver.  

Bluebird as a gypsy caravan.

The first thing I saw when I woke up this morning.

Well, maybe this was the first thing.  Curled up in my down sleeping bag with my cozy dog I stayed toasty even though the night was cool.

Once the others woke up and coffee and breakfast were over, we took a long walk on the beach.

A small lichen or fungus clings tenaciously to a drift log.

O. went through the log...

...while his mother, K. went over.

A drift log spirit.

Flossy did not want to come home and neither did I but alas, it is a work day tomorrow!

Hope your week end was as refreshing as camping in Alaska.  See you Wednesday!

Good Time Outdoors

Our camping trip out the road was so relaxing and memorable.  Here, have a look:

Saturday the skies were overcast but no rain, and warm.

Our camp was in the woods, right along the shore at Green's Camp.

Titus and Flossy setting up camp.

The beach combing was good.

Ziva was definitely the ring leader of the four-dog pack.

Brother Rex - a sweet boy!

Cherie scrubbing Ziva, who made the mistake of rolling in something dead and had to be bathed in the tide.  (Ziva had no regrets)!

Titus didn't quite get the whole 'play in the tide' thing.

Sunday morning dawned crystal clear and gorgeous.

We stayed out all day, exploring and enjoying.  Lots of huckleberries ripe already.  I did some picking.

Hope your week is going well and you are finding some time to get outdoors. 

Morning Walk

It is a daily ritual...

...which Flossy considers essential to well-being...

...a sort of prayer and meditation neither of us can do without.

(note the sun-dog right just above the mountain, middle right)

The mouth of Twin Creek, 5:50AM

There are a couple of pretty good hills on the route.

This is the nameless creek close to our house.

the amazing green glow of devils club leaves

Back at our house, Thomas greets us in the driveway.

Good morning!

DC - Gossamer

gauzy

silky

lighter than air

wafting 

on summer breezes

insect 

wings

summer 

dresses

ladies 

veils

gossamer

Prismacolor pencil in 8x6 gamma

 Our drawing challenge 'Gossamer' was brought to us by Montana Fairy Princess Tammie over at her enchanting place, Beauty Flows.

Please wend your way there to glimpse more ethereal delights by artist bloggers from all over Blogland.

 

Summer Visions

I have been busy as heck putting together my proposals for public art for the new Petersburg Public Library, creating mail art for exchange with Connie Rose (it's in the mail, Connie), and enjoying summer in Southeast Alaska.  Since I can't show you either of the first two efforts yet, I will share photos of our walk from Friday and this afternoon. 

Friday was ridiculously stressful but mid-afternoon I called a halt to the craziness, asked myself what would give me joy the rest of the day, went back to the studio from which I had been called away on a fools errand, gathered my things and retreated to the quiet of my home on the beach.

I sat in my rocking chair by the sunny window with a glass of ice tea and finished the novel I was reading.  Then Flossy and I...

went out the road for the afternoon walk.

The clouds were amazing, flying across the blue...

...throwing shadows dramatically across the landscape.

The Slough was a mill pond - the variety of blues struck me.

 This afternoon we went on a picnic with dear friends to Sandy Beach.  (Every town in Southeast Alaska has a place called 'Sandy Beach').

 After the fabulous food, we went for a walk along the nice trail through the beach fringe. 

 We met a big old Tree fellow.  He was very friendly - see all the hearts around him?

This exposed root has developed a beautiful verdigris palette.

Shy Maiden is the name of this tiny flower, I was told.  Thanks for visiting - hope your new week is starting out splendid!