Spring Is In The Air

Wow, what a difference a week makes. Last Sunday we were pelted with snow and today it is 74 and sunny. I guess that is the way spring goes. It certainly is nice to see some of the flowers made it out from that blanket of white. Hopefully, the white stuff will take a hike until winter is back.

The Opportunists

We've had some really strange weather here this winter. Warm one day, then freezing the next. It is really hard on the bees. I lost one of my colonies during the snow. I took out all of the frames to clean up the hive body and super. The frames had capped honey in them, so I took the ones from the supers and harvested them and then left the hive body frames with the capped honey out for my other colony to clean up. They sure did love it as you can see in the short video. I went into their hive box before they found what I left for them to see if they were doing ok, and sure enough they are going like gang busters. The hive is full of bees and they have started building comb on top of their super so I went ahead and put another super for them to fill. This one will be for me. March is the time that our bees get going here in Georgia and hopefully this colony will do well with their honey production this year.

Oh, and by the way, this colony is the swarm I caught last year.

Snow In Georgia

You wouldn't believe it is March here and spring is around the corner. We had snow for several hours on Sunday. It was a light wet snow and the flakes got to be the size of a quarter. No light dusting this time. We got about 7 inches. In the photo, I took the picture the next morning after the snow was starting to pack and melt. We were fortunate that we didn't lose power like a lot of folks around here. Here in the south we aren't prepared for snow. In my county, the schools were out for 2 days. I took this short clip during the afternoon. If you go to my YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/user/badbarefootchef , you can see more short clips that I took of the snow.

Meet Hambone

Well, a month ago I went to get my mail and a dog was in the road by my mailbox. I always shoo stray dogs because I don't want them on my property. I have some really irresponsible dog owners around me who just let their dogs run loose. I don't want someone else's dog on my property to chase/upset my goats and I certainly don't them here bringing disease. Not to mention tearing into my trash, pooping in my yard and me having to pick up after someone else's pet.

At any rate, I tried to tell the dog to 'get'. He rolled over in the road and stayed there. I could tell he had a soft temperament and was an older dog. I went back to my house and he followed me. What can I say? I took him in (named him Hambone because that is what he looks/acts like). I called neighbors and they told me he had been seen for at least a week running around. I called animal control, the local humane society and all of the local vets as well as putting ads in local papers and Craigs list. I even had him checked for a micro chip. No one was looking for him. Seems as though someone just dumped him off. What a pathetic thing to do.

He is sweet, gets along with other dogs, housebroken, heartworm free and an all round happy fellow. Who could do something like this to him? At one time he was someones loved pet.

I called my vet and she works with a local group that is a no kill shelter. Most animals are being fostered until they find a forever home. I have been Hambone's foster home. This is a great group. They take care of all of the animals health care and food. Hambone not only got a fecal, he was tested for heartworms, he got his shots, teeth cleaned and microchipped at their expense. This group sets up at PetSmart every Saturday to show off the adoptable pets. They require a 3 page application to be filled out, a home inspection (for 3 reasons, one to see that there is a home at the address given, two to see that they actually have a fenced in yard with four sides and a gate if they claim to have one and three to make sure that they are not hoarders, meaning they don't collect dogs/pets because they feel sorry for them and have too many). There is also a $200 adoption fee which is really cheap when you consider the price of spaying/neutering, heartworm check, fecal, worming ect. I took Hambone there and on the first Saturday, someone fell in love with him. It has taken a few more weeks for paperwork to be filled out, a home inspection done and tomorrow Hambone will go to his new home. He will be a companion to a new family and a 13 year old boy who wanted him to love. I would say that this is a good ending for this delightful fellow!

Yet Another Try

Set aside some time to try another plum blossom on a more appropriate paper. It does take a good amount of practice. It is fun to watch brushstrokes become something familiar. I do like this one better and will keep trying...

My First Attempt

Ok, I've tried to attempt some plum blossoms with my Chinese brushes. It wasn't the correct paper (didn't absorb well), and was only an envelope that I used to paint on. I however did use the black inkstick and tried to copy some colors with the watercolors I had on hand. I didn't have a seal, but used a stamp that was supposed to be a Chinese coin.

Hopefully this first attempt (after practicing) isn't crummy. I know what I need to do differently and I think with practice and time I will get better.

She Doesn't Deserve It

As many of you know, I don't have children, but I do have dogs. Many don't know the love of an animal, and the love you have for them along with the bond you create between the two of you. I spend many hours in training for various AKC titles, and when you spend this amount of time with the dog/animal, you form an extremely close bond with the dog/animal you are working with. You learn to notice little differences in body language when working with them, and learn to read their body language. My relationship with Hannah is no exception.

Hannah is a German Shepherd Dog. She just turned 6 years old on this new years eve. She is brave, protective, a guardian of my small goat herd, a friend, companion to all other dogs here, and a loyal friend to me. She is always good natured, happy and delightful to be around. She is very loved.

Last year she began to limp on one of her back legs and I took her in for X-rays. Her hips seemed fine, so I chalked it up to pulling something due to the fact she loves to run so hard. I kept her inside with R&R for 2 weeks. A couple of weeks later, it happened again. I just thought she had once again pulled or sprained something. When it happened again a few months later, I took her in and requested more X-rays. We redid her hips along with her back and neck. Low and behold, she had compression going on in her neck and spine. Not only did she have compression, but little spurs growing out of several of her vertebra. She was in severe pain. She had been for some time. We put her on pain killers and steroids to relieve the inflammation. She was also put on 'bed rest'.

A couple of nights ago, she ran a bit and then began limping. After a vet's visit, she was diagnosed with 'Ruptured Cranial Cruciate'. She has torn a ligament in her knee. She will now be going to have surgery on Monday to try and repair it. While recuperating, she might be using her other leg/knee so much that she will damage it and have to have surgery on the other knee.

She is such a sweet and good natured dog. She always tries to please you and do whatever you ask. Throughout all her pain, she has never been the least bit snippy. She doesn't deserve this. This whole time all she does is wag her tail and give you kisses.

The photo I have posted is when she finished her AKC C.D. title.

A Delightful Gift

For Christmas, I received this lovely Chinese brush, ink stone and ink stick set. My stepdaughter purchased in China and thought that I might be able to use it. How wonderful is that?

In the upper picture you can see the ink sticks on either side of the case. They are beautiful and ornate. They are so lovely that you almost hate to grind them down to use. The lower picture is of the ink stone with the lid removed. It too has a wonderful ornateness to it. It is heavy as well.

Chinese brush painting is supposed to be therapeutic and relaxing. When slowly grinding the ink stick on the ink stone, you are to meditate and contemplate about what you are going to paint. The grinding process also relaxes and loosens your hand and wrist muscles. A friend of mine, Stewart, who lives in the UK does this type of work and says "you can smell the charcoal of the pine forest from which it (the ink stick)was made." Wow, smelling the forest/tree from which it came! That would certainly make one slow down, reflect and enjoy the wonder of the ink.

For a little history in Chinese brush painting, go here.

This is a neat website that has some lessons in Chinese painting.

If you google Chinese ink painting or Chinese brush painting, you can learn more about it. I can't wait to get some nice paper now to give it a go.

Altered Domino Ornaments

Finally finished up some Christmas ornaments. They are altered dominoes for Lucia and Isaac and all have to do with their wedding that was in August. Most have danglies at the bottom and all can be hung by the fibers that are attached to the top.

When Lucia and Isaac announced the date, they sent out a delightful postcard with a picture of them together when they were younger and then made a photo to look similar of them now. The two pictures were put one on top of the other on the front of the postcard. I thought it was really special and surely had to use the picture on one of the dominoes. They made their own invitations, so of course the invitation is on one. On the flip side of the invitation, they drew themselves biking, so that is another domino. There is one with a photo of the church and one with a wedding photo that I have surrounded by music that was sung at the wedding. There is also one of the invitation to the rehearsal dinner and one of the front of the wedding program.

I think all will have a special meaning for them, as it is their first Christmas together as husband and wife. They are not done in Christmas colors, so can be hung anywhere and anytime.

Just wish I had time to make more...

A Piece Of Me

A friend is hosting a swap where she sent out a puzzle of 9 pieces to 8 people and we are to alter each piece of the puzzle to represent us as an artist. She will be the 9th person in the swap and will alter her pieces as well. We will return all 9 pieces to her and she will mix them up so that each of us has a puzzle piece of the other that makes one puzzle when they are connected together. The outside pieces can have chunky pieces on the outside of them.

I have altered my pieces with a picture of an Avatar that I sometimes use. It is a 'Zetti Me'. On the outside of this outside piece, I have added fibers and if you look closely, there is a little sewing machine and a pair of scissors. The colors in the photo aren't accurate, they do match the Avatar much better in person.

I can't wait to see the returns and the finished 9 puzzles. I am sure they will be amazing!