Alfie? Remember that song? Guess I'm dating myself.
Anyway, in these troublesome times, we can be wondering, or perhaps relearning -
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT :
I think we're learning, it's not about what we have, or even what we do (secularly). It's about home, family, friends. And in these times, we're all about spending time together and helping one another.
That's why home is so important. A beautiful, relaxed, comforting home is where we all want to return to at the end of a hectic day. The kids, Mom & Dad, or if we're single, we all experience stresses during the day and home is where we need to unwind. And if we're dealing with the stress of job loss, salary cutbacks, or added debt, we need a comfortable and welcoming home environment even more.
Nowadays, people are rearranging and reusing existing furnishings to create a more comfortable environment. This goes right along with the 'go green' movement, and it is an affordable alternative. Then a few moderate accessories can complete the look. The services of a Design Professional can help you avoid costly mistakes. Designers have relationships with retailers, manufacturers and consignment venues; and can save you money and frustration.
Remember also, that what makes it home, is first and foremost the people. We all need to love one another more, help one another more, support one another more. And bake some cookies once in a while.
More people today are looking to self-employment - whether to supplement a tight budget, or for full time income. And they deserve all the credit in the world for making the effort. Why not do our best to support these self-made entrepreneurs. Let's all go out of our way, just a little, to support a local business person.
And why not look for a way to do someone a favor - help a neighbor out, for free, just to be nice.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, October 19, 2009
Rowdy/Coyote Run-In
Rowdy is good 90% of the time. He's a great little dog. He's agility trained, and altho he doesn't compete, he could, if we spent time on refinement. He's got the skills down pat - the speed, agility, etc. It all came in handy this past August.
We live on a desert acre, surrounded by two arroyos, or washes, that border our property and join together in the back, like the letter 'Y'. We are on a regular coyote route. Their ancestors have probably been following it for hundreds of years.
To add to the problem, our neighbor has chickens, which attract the coyotes and an occasional bobcat. The man who lived in our house for 20 years before us, fed the coyotes (not a good idea, for them or for us). So they are very comfortable on our property.
Before the back yard was fenced, they would regularly traverse our yard, looking under rocks and cactus for rodents and lizards and such. We've even had one come up and look in our back window.
Trust me, I appreciate and respect that this is their territory first. They are beautiful creatures that live in a tough environment, and are part of God's creation. Never underestimate, however, that they are a vicious and cruel and very crafty predator. Hence, the cartoon character was appropriately named 'Wile E. Coyote'.
We recently had the back yard fenced, and Rowdy and Ziba can now run in and out safely. The fence routes the coyotes around the outside of our property, and R&Z go nuts when they go by. The coyotes regularly howl at night. I think from the sound of it there are 3 packs. Of course R&Z go nuts then, also. We are working on it.
In any case one afternoon in August, Dad is out in front with the two dogs, around 5 pm, hanging our exterior lights. He is standing on a ladder in flip flops. Ziba stays right near, practically underfoot.
Rowdy is 20 feet away, sniffing around, not wandering away, just hanging out. Until the coyote wanders by. Rowdy, the furry cute schnockerpom, goes into 'guard dog' mode, thinking he's going to show this coyote who's property he's on. The coyote takes off running, Rowdy right behind. Dad jumps off the ladder, shouting 'Rowdy! stop! come back!' and of course Rowdy is in chase mode, totally disregarding Dad.
They run across our dirt road out front, onto the neighbor's property across the street. Dad is 50' behind, running through the raw desert in his flip flops, shouting all the way. The dogs get 100' into the neighbors property. Rowdy's in the middle, with Dad catching up and now 20' behind, and the coyote 20' ahead of Rowdy.
Suddenly, Dad sees the coyote stop, turn around, and head back toward Rowdy. And then Dad sees the second coyote come out from behind a bush. This is they way they hunt, in packs, just like wolves and killer whales. One lures the prey, and they ambush him.
Dad sees a scuffle, and the two coyotes go down on Rowdy. Dad hears Rowdy yelp!
Dad is almost caught up, still running and yelling, with a huge lump in his throat and a sinking heart, when the coyotes suddenly turn and leave, and here comes Rowdy, shaken, walking back toward Dad! Don't know how he got away, but his ears are back, and he makes a beeline down the driveway to the house. Dad tries to pick Rowdy up, but he yelps again, (maybe out of fear?) and Dad lets him walk back on his own.
Dad, Ziba and Rowdy all go inside, and the shaken up little Rowdy won't let Dad near him. It takes 15 minutes before Dad can him to wag his tail a little. Dad checks Rowdy over, and so do I, when I get home 30 minutes later. No more yelping, and no injuries to be seen or felt.
We all thank God for our blessings, (I'm sure Rowdy would if he could) and have a somewhat normal evening.
On the third day later, we are all watching tv together. (Rowdy actually watches tv. Ziba just sleeps nearby.) As I rub my hand across the back of Rowdy's neck and down the side, I feel a large bump. Upon investigation, I find Rowdy has two puncture wounds, one on either side of his neck, which have scabbed up. The coyote actually grabbed him by the back of the neck, and pierced his skin. There are only two punctures, though, so we think Rowdy's little leather cowboy collar with sheriff stars on it, blocked the other two teeth. If the coyote had been able to get a good hold, he would have shaken Rowdy and broken his neck. It would have been all over. Apparently that - the missed grab due to the collar, allowing our quick little Rowdy to scramble out of his grip, and Dad following and shouting, caused the coyotes to move on.
As I said, we are counting our blessings. Obviously, we need to work on Rowdy's obedience skills, (as well as maybe Dad's). Did Rowdy's agility training make him a little more quick and agile and able to get away? Did the leather collar with metal studs block two of the coyotes teeth? Or was it their natural tendency to be wary of humans and leave when we show our presence that allowed Rowdy to get away safe? We'll never know, but we thank God daily for our little companions Rowdy and Ziba and the joy they bring into our lives.
We live on a desert acre, surrounded by two arroyos, or washes, that border our property and join together in the back, like the letter 'Y'. We are on a regular coyote route. Their ancestors have probably been following it for hundreds of years.
To add to the problem, our neighbor has chickens, which attract the coyotes and an occasional bobcat. The man who lived in our house for 20 years before us, fed the coyotes (not a good idea, for them or for us). So they are very comfortable on our property.
Before the back yard was fenced, they would regularly traverse our yard, looking under rocks and cactus for rodents and lizards and such. We've even had one come up and look in our back window.
Trust me, I appreciate and respect that this is their territory first. They are beautiful creatures that live in a tough environment, and are part of God's creation. Never underestimate, however, that they are a vicious and cruel and very crafty predator. Hence, the cartoon character was appropriately named 'Wile E. Coyote'.
We recently had the back yard fenced, and Rowdy and Ziba can now run in and out safely. The fence routes the coyotes around the outside of our property, and R&Z go nuts when they go by. The coyotes regularly howl at night. I think from the sound of it there are 3 packs. Of course R&Z go nuts then, also. We are working on it.
In any case one afternoon in August, Dad is out in front with the two dogs, around 5 pm, hanging our exterior lights. He is standing on a ladder in flip flops. Ziba stays right near, practically underfoot.
Rowdy is 20 feet away, sniffing around, not wandering away, just hanging out. Until the coyote wanders by. Rowdy, the furry cute schnockerpom, goes into 'guard dog' mode, thinking he's going to show this coyote who's property he's on. The coyote takes off running, Rowdy right behind. Dad jumps off the ladder, shouting 'Rowdy! stop! come back!' and of course Rowdy is in chase mode, totally disregarding Dad.
They run across our dirt road out front, onto the neighbor's property across the street. Dad is 50' behind, running through the raw desert in his flip flops, shouting all the way. The dogs get 100' into the neighbors property. Rowdy's in the middle, with Dad catching up and now 20' behind, and the coyote 20' ahead of Rowdy.
Suddenly, Dad sees the coyote stop, turn around, and head back toward Rowdy. And then Dad sees the second coyote come out from behind a bush. This is they way they hunt, in packs, just like wolves and killer whales. One lures the prey, and they ambush him.
Dad sees a scuffle, and the two coyotes go down on Rowdy. Dad hears Rowdy yelp!
Dad is almost caught up, still running and yelling, with a huge lump in his throat and a sinking heart, when the coyotes suddenly turn and leave, and here comes Rowdy, shaken, walking back toward Dad! Don't know how he got away, but his ears are back, and he makes a beeline down the driveway to the house. Dad tries to pick Rowdy up, but he yelps again, (maybe out of fear?) and Dad lets him walk back on his own.
Dad, Ziba and Rowdy all go inside, and the shaken up little Rowdy won't let Dad near him. It takes 15 minutes before Dad can him to wag his tail a little. Dad checks Rowdy over, and so do I, when I get home 30 minutes later. No more yelping, and no injuries to be seen or felt.
We all thank God for our blessings, (I'm sure Rowdy would if he could) and have a somewhat normal evening.
On the third day later, we are all watching tv together. (Rowdy actually watches tv. Ziba just sleeps nearby.) As I rub my hand across the back of Rowdy's neck and down the side, I feel a large bump. Upon investigation, I find Rowdy has two puncture wounds, one on either side of his neck, which have scabbed up. The coyote actually grabbed him by the back of the neck, and pierced his skin. There are only two punctures, though, so we think Rowdy's little leather cowboy collar with sheriff stars on it, blocked the other two teeth. If the coyote had been able to get a good hold, he would have shaken Rowdy and broken his neck. It would have been all over. Apparently that - the missed grab due to the collar, allowing our quick little Rowdy to scramble out of his grip, and Dad following and shouting, caused the coyotes to move on.
As I said, we are counting our blessings. Obviously, we need to work on Rowdy's obedience skills, (as well as maybe Dad's). Did Rowdy's agility training make him a little more quick and agile and able to get away? Did the leather collar with metal studs block two of the coyotes teeth? Or was it their natural tendency to be wary of humans and leave when we show our presence that allowed Rowdy to get away safe? We'll never know, but we thank God daily for our little companions Rowdy and Ziba and the joy they bring into our lives.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
The Tawny Tail
This is probably the very beginning of the Rowdy Gypsy Tails. Well, maybe not the very beginning...
In any case, we had this great little terrier, Tawny. She was a feisty little thing. We got her for free at a yard sale.
Actually, it was a grade school yard sale and we were selling things. Luke was in kindergarten, and Tim was in 5th or 6th grade.
At the end of the day, this lady comes walking by, with this little 5 month old puppy on a leash. The woman is calling out, 'I still need a home for this dog - it's free!" It turns out she had other dogs, and this little one was causing fights.
So, the boys looked at the puppy, and of course fell in love. When Dad came to help load up the sale remains, we asked him about the puppy.
"Well," said Dad, "I guess I'll take trouble if it comes free, but I'm not going to pay for it." So she came home and we named her Tawny, for her color.
Now, who would think a little 5 month old puppy could cause trouble? But, being a terrier, Tawny was feisty, indeed.
So, Mom and Tawny were off to obedience school. Now, this was my first encounter with obedience school. The instructor was a loud, tough acting, biker-type woman, who in the first class told us, 'This is not a fashion show! Wear practical shoes!'
She was a real toughy, who told me I really needed to get Tawny in line. She had me jerking Tawny around, this little 10 lb. ball of terror. Poor thing. But she survived, and we developed a wonderful relationship.
Tawny was a biter, and we even had an episode with Tawny under the desk, defending her space, and me right under there with her, proving 'you're not going to bite me!' Anyway, I'm not proud of it, but we both came out of it okay.
In time, Tawny was a wonderful family member. We had desert tortoises, who we had from hatching, and also a pair of found box turtles, who bred regularly. We would watch to see where the female laid her eggs, and when the little guys would hatch, we would call Tawny over to see the baby turtles, and hold them, and let her sniff, and pet her, and let her know this was a member of the family and not to be touched.
One day I came home from work, and Tawny was in the back yard barking. She usually came in through the doggy door to say 'hi'.
So as I came in the house, I called out 'Hi Tawny! It's me, I'm home!' But Tawny stayed in the back yard, barking, barking, barking!
I went to the back door, and called again. Tawny would not come in. She stood in one spot and kept barking. So I went outside to get her.
There, between Tawny's front legs, was a brand-new turtle hatchling! Tawny was protecting it and barking to alert us to it's presence! She was not going to move until we found the new baby turtle!
And this was a little rescue dog, that someone picked up at the dog pound, and then couldn't keep because she didn't get along with their other dogs.
In any case, we had this great little terrier, Tawny. She was a feisty little thing. We got her for free at a yard sale.
Actually, it was a grade school yard sale and we were selling things. Luke was in kindergarten, and Tim was in 5th or 6th grade.
At the end of the day, this lady comes walking by, with this little 5 month old puppy on a leash. The woman is calling out, 'I still need a home for this dog - it's free!" It turns out she had other dogs, and this little one was causing fights.
So, the boys looked at the puppy, and of course fell in love. When Dad came to help load up the sale remains, we asked him about the puppy.
"Well," said Dad, "I guess I'll take trouble if it comes free, but I'm not going to pay for it." So she came home and we named her Tawny, for her color.
Now, who would think a little 5 month old puppy could cause trouble? But, being a terrier, Tawny was feisty, indeed.
So, Mom and Tawny were off to obedience school. Now, this was my first encounter with obedience school. The instructor was a loud, tough acting, biker-type woman, who in the first class told us, 'This is not a fashion show! Wear practical shoes!'
She was a real toughy, who told me I really needed to get Tawny in line. She had me jerking Tawny around, this little 10 lb. ball of terror. Poor thing. But she survived, and we developed a wonderful relationship.
Tawny was a biter, and we even had an episode with Tawny under the desk, defending her space, and me right under there with her, proving 'you're not going to bite me!' Anyway, I'm not proud of it, but we both came out of it okay.
In time, Tawny was a wonderful family member. We had desert tortoises, who we had from hatching, and also a pair of found box turtles, who bred regularly. We would watch to see where the female laid her eggs, and when the little guys would hatch, we would call Tawny over to see the baby turtles, and hold them, and let her sniff, and pet her, and let her know this was a member of the family and not to be touched.
One day I came home from work, and Tawny was in the back yard barking. She usually came in through the doggy door to say 'hi'.
So as I came in the house, I called out 'Hi Tawny! It's me, I'm home!' But Tawny stayed in the back yard, barking, barking, barking!
I went to the back door, and called again. Tawny would not come in. She stood in one spot and kept barking. So I went outside to get her.
There, between Tawny's front legs, was a brand-new turtle hatchling! Tawny was protecting it and barking to alert us to it's presence! She was not going to move until we found the new baby turtle!
And this was a little rescue dog, that someone picked up at the dog pound, and then couldn't keep because she didn't get along with their other dogs.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Why Buy The Work Of Other Artists?
I love to go to art fairs. I love to look at all the works of different artists. Each one has his/her own unique style, media, presentation, and so forth.
I have no desire to copy the work of others. There is no originality in that. But I do find inspiration.
I love to find a work of body art (jewelry or clothing) that is in a media or style previously unknown to me. If an artist can work metal, wire, or other materials into an object that decorates the human form in some way I have not imagined, or outside of my skill realm, I am so impressed.
I realize that person has spent many hours and dollars on: learning their skill, practicing and refining that skill, purchasing and/or creating materials and tools, the final design and fabrication process, and the whole marketing scenario.
To spend $30 or $100 or whatever, for that skilled and talented person's artwork is more than worth it. To wear the work of another artist is a privilege. I take a little piece of that person's life with me, through my life.
See my life on Facebook: click here
I have no desire to copy the work of others. There is no originality in that. But I do find inspiration.
I love to find a work of body art (jewelry or clothing) that is in a media or style previously unknown to me. If an artist can work metal, wire, or other materials into an object that decorates the human form in some way I have not imagined, or outside of my skill realm, I am so impressed.
I realize that person has spent many hours and dollars on: learning their skill, practicing and refining that skill, purchasing and/or creating materials and tools, the final design and fabrication process, and the whole marketing scenario.
To spend $30 or $100 or whatever, for that skilled and talented person's artwork is more than worth it. To wear the work of another artist is a privilege. I take a little piece of that person's life with me, through my life.
See my life on Facebook: click here
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Norman and Pepper Get Busted
Mom was working in the kitchen and visiting with Grandma. As they were chatting, Mom thought she heard a 'woof!' She went to the front door to see who it could be, and there on the front doormat sat Pepper! Pepper looked up at Mom and said with her eyes: "Norman got busted!"......For the end of the story, please click here: RowdyGypsyTallTails
Well, for starters, I guess it's all about time and money.... an artist never has enough time or money.... If you have the time for your art, it's because you're not working and you don't have any money... If you're fortunate to be working, and have the money to support your art, you don't have any time.... so, it comes down to those late night to 3 am creative binges, that don't seem to happen often enough... and in this economy, you could be working, and still not having the time or the money...
Check out my website: www.therowdygypsy.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
