Art is Life

Kennedy (age 10) and Parker (age 8.5)

I attended my nieces' Art Festival tonight where the art work of grades 1 - 12th is exhibited... I was pleased to see such a strong art program in place at a school since in Calif there seems to continually be an outcry at how art programs have no funding available and therefore must be eliminated from the schools- even though it's known how beneficial to development the arts are, for children of all ages.

Tonight I found myself most drawn to the works depicting dogs...

Paintings, drawings, pastels, sketches, mosaics, wire forms, clay sculptures...they all

demonstrated how at a every age, the family dog is indeed an integral part of the family unit.

As it should be.

A Clearing of the Mind

What is is about a change of scenery? An opportunity to be away from that which is familiar? It clears the senses, makes me take in new sites as though I have never seen them before and then I appreciate them all over again; that which is familiar but at the same time feels so brand new!

Spending time in Ohio these few weeks, away from southern California has provided a sense of wonder to my senses. I've enjoyed the powerful thunderstorms, taken in the multitude of varying shades of green as winter's long dormant trees burst forth in their leafy green branches of lush cover.
The lilacs are blooming -oh the fragrance -it's as if it has a melody that sings especially for my nose.

I take my walk each day and ponder the comparisons of a place I love so much (Encinitas) against a place I grew up (Columbus, OH) but still find myself so fond of...

These photos are around the farmer's fields near my Mom's home in Granville Ohio where she spends her summers. I wish there were more walking paths along the farms' fields here, like all the trails across the countryside in England
I noticed when I worked over there in the 1990's. I have to pretty much pick my way along the fence lines to peer into the woods. The British on the other hand can walk for miles along trails that connect one farm or homestead plot to another; from one village to the next withOUT having to walk on the roads with the cars, (What a concept!)

How I love being out in nature.

Days gone by and blogs not yet posted...

My sister's golden rescue Max (above and below)

A smiling, happy boy!


oh yea I let my brothers cat Sabrina slip in here but she is just adorable and really thinks she's a dog, she's THAT friendly!



This is Oscar, my friends' Shihtzu

and his sister Fiona

My brother's lab/greyhound mix= Brutus
Below Brutus says - here's my pink pig toy PLEASE play with me!

I admire the full time bloggers who can balance their days (or seem to, and STILL find the time to place coherent thoughts in cyber space).

It's been over a month and I often think of things I so much want to post to my blog. I have the photos too - trust me- LOADS of photos since my last blog post back in March.

I have been to gorgeous Yosemite and Francie and her black lab friend Tatiana saw LOTS of snow for their first time and LOVED it. I can't wait to post these shots!

Then there was Woofstock - a fundraiser and festival for dogs and people -very cool and YES lots of photos.

And then the Carlsbad Flower Fields and this was a CCI puppy outing with our service pups=so load of stunning puppy photos in the flowers...

now just to find the time to download them and get some posts in place.

See http://www.theflowerfields.com/

But alas I am in Ohio now, here originally sadly, for a funeral of a dear childhood friend that has shaken me.

And since that time I am now spending additional time with family before heading back to San Diego next week...

Thus thoughts have been swirling and the idea came that I should log on and see to posting something on my belated little blog site.

So for now capturing these few shots of some sweet Ohio dogs will have to do.