Happy? Whaaaat's that? Only sort of kidding, here. The Struggle of Life has been a doozy for the past few years with health and other issues. When Tilly passed the door kinda slammed shut on that feeling, as he was the one who kept me connected to uncontrolled joy. The last little thread of happy in my life. Every time I looked at that dog he would smile back with his eyes and be pure love and joy. Now, I've noticed that I can look at Teddie and the same feeling is starting to creep back into my heart again. She is so little and funny, it is impossible not to feel love for her. She looks at me (and everything) with such amazement and wonder, and has no clue what our hopefully long adventure will look like. I don't either, but am happy to give it a go! My little angel.
The cats are figuring things out, slowly. Uncle Theo rests by Teddy's pen all day, pretending not to care about the puppy like a Real Cat should, but lifting his head to look if her squeals and yips are louder than normal. He is a mothering kitty who used to clean Seamus when he was a kitten, and I can trust him 100% with the birds. He is wonderful. Seamus, on the other hand, feels like our "pack" has been disrupted and is causing trouble. He ran into the kitchen and bulldozed Theo yesterday in a menacing way, prompting a hissy fit on behalf of both angry cats. Their relationship is tenuous on a normal day, and puppy has rocked the leaking boat. On the bright side, I woke up at 1 am with both cats sleeping on the bed with the puppy, so there is hope! As always, I feel optimistic that the dust will settle and everyone will get along.
Ellie has started to be stiff and somewhat lame sometimes in her hind quarters. Her vet thinks it is a neurological degenerative problem, with an inflammatory component. She struggles on stairs and stumbles from time to time, and is very stiff upon waking. Like me! She is on a trial of meds (one of which I take, too!) and seems to be a bit more comfortable. Will know when I spend more time with her this weekend. She is nearly 14, and I can't help but fear the worst for my old girl. I want her to live forever as she has been such a good doggie.
On the art front, things are bustling! STILL working on the current still life piece that I like very much, and hope to get the bead step started this weekend. Really looking forward to that. It needs more surface texture on top of the stitching. I've got a name for the piece now (not telling) and see how future pieces can relate. Love being in this spot. If only I had more healthy time.
I am working with a lovely lady at the Reading Public Library to set up an exhibit there next year. The current series I am making will fit nicely in a library context. If I can get the work done! And, there is the piece for the Norwegian museum I signed up to make based on an important historical weaving, and and and. Am cutting lots of stencils on the cricut for gelli printing, and have set up a gelli print area in my classroom for kids to explore, too. This week most of the 7th grade is away on a nature-based field trip and the remaining kids are regrouped for nature-related workshops here. I am giving them a crash course in gelli printing with leaves -- and it is a blast! At least for me! Some kids get it right away, others will need more play time. Looks like I will need to start hoarding small bottles of acrylic for the kids to use. So much art, so little time!
Onward to feeding Ellie da Pug wet dog food by hand (this is a new wrinkle) and of course, giving the baby the hundred kisses she needs every day. Cheers!