Sheep in the Misty Twilight

The other day I snapped these images as I was working the dogs with my friend Vicki.  Shooting into the sunlight highlighted the mist that was rising from the sheep in the sunlight & gave the lens flare. 

Beth walks up on the flock.  

It is not easy to shoot pictures and work your dog.  One thing suffers, as you can tell from Beth's expression. 

In case you were wondering...that her version of "WTF"? 

Beth does not appreciate the finer nuances of inside flanks - this is her blowing me off. 

Beth grumbles "You didnt really want those sheep crossing the pasture did you?  I will bring them back so you can take pretty pictures."

 It is really bad when you don't correct your dog because you realize she was right about the photo op.

Sometimes you just gotta trust your dog...in matters of sheep & photography

Sheep

The Sheep adorns the landscape rural

And is both singular and plural—

It gives grammarians the creeps

To hear one say, “A flock of sheeps.”

The Sheep is gentle, meek and mild,

And led in herds by man or child—

Being less savage than the rabbit,

Sheep are gregarious by habit.

The Sheep grows wool and thus promotes

The making of vests, pants and coats—

Vests, pants and coats and woolen cloths

Provide good food for hungry moths.

Thus, with our debt to them so deep,

All men should cry “Praise be for Sheep!”—

And, if we happen to be shepherds,

“Praise be they’re not as fierce as leopards!”

 by Ellis Parker Butler

Featured Artist: L.A. Shepard, The Dog Lover

In my effort to help support a small family owned business I am featuring an artist occasionally on my blog.   These are non-solicited reviews.  I have purchased and paid full price for each item prior to reviewing their work.

Last week I stumbled across the work of The Dog Lover, L.A. Shepard on Etsy

Featured Artist:  Lee Ann Shepard, The Dog Lover

About (In her own words) 

I have been a full time artist, specializing in animal portraiture, since my husband was diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2006. Since he could no longer work, we had to close our wholesale business. At 54 , I needed to find a way to support our family and take care of him 24/7. Luckily, I had my art ability to fall back on, and I have been painting diligently ever since. I feel blessed to have been able to work at home and look after my husband at the same time. I count my blessings daily, as I could not have gotten through this without the support of my family, friends and all the new friends I have made through selling my work. I have learned so much, but especially - not to waste a moment!

Gary Shepard, my incredible husband, passed away in the early morning hours on Sept 26,2010 surrounded by his family. His battle with brain cancer was a long one, yet it seemed far too short for those that loved him so dearly. We have a huge hole in our lives as he was a man who never stopped giving , even when he became so physically impaired that he could barely move.

Throughout his illness he had an idea to start a movement of giving. He wanted people to celebrate their birthday by giving a gift to someone in need. He felt that if each of us could be charitable each year on the day that they were born, then the world would be a kinder place. As a family that suffered through a devastating illness, we were always so moved when an act of kindness was done for us as our world fell apart. So, we ask of you, to take a moment, as you celebrate your date of birth, to share an act of kindness. Whether it be a gift of money to a family in need, or shoveling the driveway of an elderly neighbor, or buying a mosquito net for a child in a land far way- no matter what the gift- we ask that it become a yearly habit. And then share the idea with those that you know. Then perhaps the movement will bloom and the world will become a kinder, gentler place. This was Gary’s dream for our future, and I promised him that we would do our best to spread the word to fulfill his dream.

If you would like to share what you plan to give on your birthday, or just read about the movement- please join our face book group “Giving for Gary” http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129513710432628&ref=mf started by his children in memory of their Dad. And remember, no gift is ever too small, especially if you are blessed to celebrate yet another year of life.

Lee Ann's story inspired me, her beautiful work implored me to whip out my debit card and shop.  Her ability to capture the essence & personality of each dog is brilliant.  Of course I had to purchase two border collie prints.  

Each print comes on a high quality flat canvas sheet, which looks like the original painting.  Each can be framed easily in a standard frame with a backing, with or without glass.  

Border Collie canvas art print of LAShepard painting 11x14 dog art

Border Collie canvas print of LAShepard painting 11x14 dog art

  I framed my prints in 16x20 frames under 11x14 mats with glass. 

L.A. Shepard has every dog breed imaginable, in various print sizes.  

Here are a few of my favorites.  

Australian Cattle Dog - Blue Heeler     This face cracks me up!

Bearded Collie & a Cardinal  

Australian Shepherd's in the Snow

Boston Terrier & a Butterfly

Mom & Puppy 

A Dachsund that will melt your heart

American Staffordshire Terrier or Pit Bull

Pembroke Welsh Corgi 

Jack Russel Terrier 

Border Collie - one blue eye, one brown eye

Pugs

Bernese Mountain Dog

Take a few moments and check out L.A. Shepards shop on Etsy.   

Tell her Ranger sent you.

For guaranteed Christmas delivery, order prior to Dec 4th. 

Bedroom Re-Do

The past two weeks my mother has been staying with us.  I love it when she comes to visit because she whips my house into shape.  This time she set her sights on sewing projects and....my bedroom.

I was told our bedroom was a mess and I was grounded until it was cleaned up. 

Okay, so it was pretty bad - I confess I am a slob.  The disaster started in the closet, then it spread like a bad rash to the bathroom.  Finally the bedroom was overcome.  I gave up even trying to find  clothes in my closet - and kept the clothes I would wash regularly in my bedroom on top of the dog crates.  Whenever I would look at my room I would just sigh and close the door.  Being completely overwhelmed I gave up.  Really, how can you make a bedroom with a king size bed and 5 dog crates look nice? 

I knew this needed to be done in stages and there was no way I was going to conquer this alone.  So, four generations attacked my mess.  My mother, daughter Amy and granddaughter Alyssa and...me.

First we laid siege to the huge walk-in closet (12 ft x 12 ft), sorted and bagged clothes I didn't wear.  Everything I owned was clean & nothing needed to be washed - so we folded, hung and organized. I am not a hoarder, so there was not a lot of garbage, it was just disorganized and cluttered.

For some reason I had three large dresser drawers in my closet.  Who needs to have that many dressers?  One of them was empty.  We moved it out and put it next to the bed as a night stand where I can store miscellaneous items.  When the closet was clean we admired our handiwork and it occurred to me that the dog crates would fit perfectly into the empty space.  Viola!  That solved my ugly bedroom dilemma.

Here you can see my bedroom on the left and the closet on the right.  Finally the dog crates are out of my bedroom.  They used to be divided up on either side of the bed - huge ugly eyesores.  

There are only four crates.  Brynn does not sleep in a crate, she is my 'bed-dog' and sleeps with me (she wakes me up when I quit breathing).

I covered the crates with a large sheet which gives me a new surface to fold & sort clothes.

With the crates out of my room it gave me the chance to finally decorate it the way I wanted.  I know the 'country' style has gone out but I love it and do not care what anyone thinks of my teddy bears and other odd things.  It makes me smile to look at all the things I have loved for years, so I embraced it and decided to plaster my room with quilts, bears, sheep, stars and dogs. 

The wall under the windows used to be filled with crates. In that space I put the deacon's bench that was at the foot of my bed.  One of my favorite quilts tops my bed.  It seemed to go with the holiday season.

The other side of the room was also dominated by crates, now the space is empty and tonight I moved a rocking chair (not pictured) into the corner under the sheep pictures I framed this weekend.  

Looking into the room you can see the doorway to the bathroom which leads to the closet (aka dog room).  The red cabinet holds a television and stores many of my antique quilts on top and inside the bottom level.  

A favorite painting of sheep and other things that make me smile are displayed.

The far side of the red cabinet are two new prints I received last week and framed.  One of our local craft stores had a sale on frames 60% off last week and was able to frame them for under $20.00.  The square picture is one of my favorites of Beth I shot years ago. 

Here is a close up of my new border collie prints.  I am absolutely in love with these.  They are canvas prints by L.A. Shepherd.  You can find her work on Etsy at
Giclee Canvas Prints of LAShepard TheDogLover

Now I have a nice clean room, happy secure dogs, and my favorite stuff all together where I can relax, sleep and dream.  Thanks to my mom and daughter...I love you!

Goodbye Little Lamb

Today little Miss Lamb died, sometime before I arrived to feed them this morning.

She passed peacefully, laying next to her twin.  The bedding around her was not disturbed.  I believe she died in her sleep.

She is not going to be the last of our livestock that will move on to 'greener pastures' either through death from illness, slaughter  or other reasons.  It is only to be expected in farming.  What upsets me is the circumstances for this senseless death.  I remain frustrated about how she was wounded & ultimately died - it was truly a waste - in so many ways.