Thank you for Pedey and Lu ,to Tracy Sepela , Beth Seman, and Karen Flicher

I woke up this morning thinking about all the special friends and joy I have found on Facebook . For me who only leaves the house on a average one time a week to get my picc line bandage change and blood work at the hospital it has been my connection to the world . What a gift Facebook has given to me , social connection . It has been a long hard year in treatment , but out of it came dear friends that I have never seen in person , but now belong deeply in my heart.

I have wanted a dog for about 8 months . Yes I would check out pet finder, when Anita was not looking . I followed up on some posting on Facebook, only to find the pup was in California , how could I ever make that happen ?

Then I had the honor of sketching Malcolm and Lucy , who belong to Karen Flicher and Beth Seaman . Both these little guys are doxies, which I had my heart set on because of my illness I knew a little dog would be easier .

I spent months bringing up my wish for another dog with Anita . Yes, I knew she was right , She does daily IV infusion , shots , pills and i spend days on the couch . Anita was so busy taking care of me how could I expect her to care for another dog ?

But those sketches gave me the longing , and Beth Seman was into rescues. .Before I knew it dogs for adoption were on my Facebook page and other friends were pitching in on the sales job to Anita . Tracey Sepela and Karen Flicher were the greatest saleswomen and poor Anita did not stand a chance . Anita said YES ! Lu and Pedey are part of our family .

Just so you know ladies every morning I hear laughter and giggles coming out of Anita , as Pedey and Lu lick her face . To hear that is heaven to me .

Thank you ladies for the joy you gave to us !

Finding your own joy , art and fear

Paintings flowed from every inch of my soul for more than 20 years. They poured out of me , like the oxygen that I breath everyday . Yes I took it soooooo for granted. The sun would rise and I would paint. That is the way it was....day after day . Brushes, canvas, paint , and hours in the studio all just part of a normal day . This was life ....my life .

Today I will open up two new canvas " 30 x 24" , something that I would of done and not have a second thought . I will get my brushes ready , my paint , and of course pour a cup of tea. Things that are second nature , that now have dust on them .

Lessons to learn , fate, luck ,and tragedy all play a role in our human destiny . Here in the day -to -day world ( which is, after all, the only one we live in ), the job is often to just keep moving forward , by placing the responsibility for my actions in my own hands and walking into my studio . They are hands that live daily with pain in them now , but they are my hands , and they still long to create art .

So I am proud to introduce Coop and Bella, who will safely guide me back home to my studio , one brush stroke at a time .