Helllllllllllllloooooooooooo

Really quick since I'm doing this at work and I may be traded for a younger version if caught! :)

I hope all of you are well! I miss this world very much. My computer died and I've not had a chance to replace it yet.

Love work.
Still only have 4 dogs.
Mom doing well .

Mr. Wicky has disappeared - I'm worried, we've had critters prowling and I hope he wasn't eaten.
Working on several projects that I can't wait to share. Craft room is REALLY scary.
Bought new car.
Finally cleaned house.
Threw out 3 month old milk.
Discovered "Sons of Anarchy" which is my new fantasy. I get to pretend I'm a bad mama when watching it.
Still being called an old woman. Was called Ma'am when I was looking for devil horns at Halloween.
Must go now. Big Brother may be watching.

Love to you all and as always, best wishes and high hopes to you!

New (new to me) site for supplies

Hello dear friends,
The fabulous Collage Contessa has joined the design team for Red Lead. She's posted some wonderful ideas for Christmas using various papers and stamps from Red Lead. I'd never heard of the store, still being new at this I'm not surprised! ha ha ha

But...it's wonderful. They've a great variety and their prices are really good! Please visit both the store and Kris' site to see her beautiful creations.

Best wishes and high hopes to you all,
Jennie, the pretty pooches and Mr. Wicky

Fun Finds and Ticks

Happy Sunday dear friends,

I hope you've all had a wonderfully restful weekend. I've been busy scanning family pictures, creating some collage pieces and catching up on my naps! A few weekends ago I found something I've wanted for so long and envied when I see it in other's crafts - a vintage ledger. It's full of beautiful script with details about various businesses and well aged blank pages. It's a treasure that I keep flipping through and imagining all of the lovely things that can be done with it.

I also found some beautiful crocheted blue lace, an old book from the 30's that lists property and taxes for the state of Kansas, an unused brass photo compact and a juice glass that's name has escaped me. Mom collects these and anytime I find one for less than $5.00 I grab it for her. Sweet Mother of Pekingese...why can't I remember the name. Oh well!

I need to take some photos of the various collages I've been making. I'm really proud and have found something I truly love doing. I was inspired by Michelle Caplan's art featured in the May-June Somerset Studio. I love the idea of taking photos and incorporating them with other bits and images. Visit her site - she's amazing! www.michellecaplan.com

Yesterday was briefly traumatic. For those of you who don't know, I've had dogs for more than 30 years. I've experienced so many situations, injuries and illness with them. But I have never, ever dealt with a tick. Never. I pray I never have to again. I showered and dried my hair and when I walked into the den, there was precious Sandy, bleeding terribly from her head. Since she's blond it was very obvious and I searched and searched to find the source of the bleeding. She had this hard ugly monster attached that I couldn't remove so I rushed her to the emergency room. 10 minutes later they brought my beloved back and explained it was a partially engorged (is there a grosser word?) dog tick. It had managed to embed itself so far under her skin that when they removed it she lost a large piece of skin and had a hole the size of a pencil eraser on her head. The vet was surprised by the injury and didn't make me feel like an idiot for bringing her in because of a tick.

My little Sandy, a Hurricane Ike survivor, heartworms survivor and now tick survivor. It has healed well already though they had to shave her head some to treat the wound so she has a little bald spot. Needless to say, the yard is getting sprayed and the dogs shaved. I hope I never have to see a tick again...blech!

Below is a picture of a dog tick. I always thought ticks were brown or black and little. Boy was I wrong!

So...are you itchy now from reading this? ha ha ha

Best wishes and high hopes to each of you,

Jennie, the pretty pooches and Mr. Wicky.

Pink Saturday - Pink Sunsets

The calm of the air before a storm and the silence that seems to envelope the world during sunsets - I love those moments. It may sound strange, but I will stand in my backyard, raise my hands to the heavens and breathe deeply; in that moment I feel centered and truly a part of the universe. I can feel God, I can feel love, I can feel strength and I can feel hope. Such powerful and strange moments that I treasure.

I found these images online and just knew that I needed to start my Saturday with images of pink sunsets. After you look at them, close your eyes and recall a sunset that you've treasured. A time of great peace, romance or laughter spent under the final rays of the day.

Best wishes and high hopes to all of you,

Jennie, the pretty pooches and Mr. Wicky

Mr. Wicky

Hi friends!


Well, I seem to have a new tenant on my land-a Texas Spiny Lizard.. I've named him Mr. Wicky. I noticed him about a week or so ago and it appears that he's made himself at home. He darts back and forth from my shed to the crepe myrtle. He's rather handsome and getting pretty docile around me.






I think I'm in love.

Best wishes and high hopes to you,
Jennie, the pretty pooches and Mr. Wicky

Pink Saturday - Pink Hats

Hello and happy Pink Saturday dear friends!

I thought this week would be a great time to celebrate pink hats! Why? Why not!

Now, since I live in Texas I couldn't begin this without a pink cowboy hat; a necessity for any junque fanatic and well, just rootin tootin fun to wear!

While I live in Texas, I'm a true Southern Belle at heart. Having been raised in Tennessee I can assure you that while Texas is in the south....it ain't the South! People down here think everything has to have a jalapeno pepper in it and NO ONE knows how to make true cornbread and try finding a hush puppy somewhere other than Long John Silvers. My gracious!

As a true Southerner I was raised among aunties that believed in silver patterns, red nails, white gloves, lipstick...always, high heels and lovely manners. While I didn't wear hats all that often - except for that strange phase during junior high - it was always a treat to wear one on Easter Sunday. Something like this would have found it's way onto my head...

Today, I still love the preciousness of a fancy hat with tulle and millinery. And while I wish I were the kind of woman that could carry off such hats as these:

but these days a pink Phillies ball cap is more my speed...(modeled by the normally camera shy Peanut Butter.)

Best wishes and high hopes to you all,

Jennie and the pretty pooches

Pink Saturday...Audrey

Sometimes words aren't necessary...

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day friends!

I saw a sign at a local Church that I wanted to share with you: "Mother = Physical Life, God = Eternal Life". I thought that was a lovely comparison. May everyone who is a Mother to either a human baby or a fur baby have a wonderful day and know that what you do is appreciated so very much.


Best wishes and high hopes to you all,
Jennie and my babies

(Mom and Me...somewhere in time...)

Pink Saturday Notions

Happy Pink Saturday!

I love sewing notions, playing with buttons, twirling emroidery threads together to watch how the colors blend, lace trim, ribbons and best of all...tassles and fringe! Here are some lovely examples in our favorite Saturday color...PINK!

Best wishes and high hopes to you all,

Jennie

I am not an older woman!

For the love of Pekingese what is going on?
Last Saturday one of the "girls" at the jewelry store I work at said that I probably liked babies because I "keep hitting snooze on my baby clock".

Today, one of the "young whipper snappers" in my department asked me if computers were around when I first started in the banking industry. I almost think he was serious.

That balding waiter on Easter Sunday started it. Now everyone is calling me old!

Is it the weird gray streak that I have in my hair? Is it the freaking crow's feet? Is it the fact that I don't understand what-the-Pekingese is being said in most of the music out right now? Is it the fact that I keep singing "Green Acres" and have the theme to the "Love Boat" on my play list? Is it those crazy brown melasma spots on my face because my freaking hormones are a little nuts right now? (Which by the way the "girl" at the jewelery store even pointed out and asked if I was going to get them "lasered.")

Oh well, Charlie Brown said it best...


Best wishes and high hopes to you,
Jennie and the old pooches

Sharing!

Hi there,

This postcard is one I found some time ago. I hope you enjoy it; please feel free to use it if you'd like.

Best wishes and high hopes to you all,

Jennie

Goodies!!!

Bonjour my friends,

I received the most wonderful package today! From Jenn at Noodle & Lou, a precious French mademoiselle.

I've wanted a Lullette for months now and I finally beat the crowds and was able to get one from her Etsy shop! YIPPPPPPEEEE!!!

I've "stolen" Jenn's picture from her site because as usual, I can't take decent pictures. But the best surprise was the sweet little gift tucked in her card. She included one of her fabric door hangers! Sweet Jenn, you are just too kind; I love it! Thank you!!!

Best wishes and high hopes to you all!

Jennifer and the mademoiselle pooches

My newest creations

Hello and Happy Monday,
I've been busy trying my hand at something new. Inspired by all of the little stages I've seen I made the following:



Someday I must learn how to take proper photos. At least my thumb isn't in them! ha ha ha

I also made a new postcard, "Bonjour", inspired by Jenn at Noodle and Lou.



I hope you've all had a wonderful day.

Best wishes and high hopes to you all,
Jennie

Pink Saturday...Lady Di in Pink

I recall waking very early so that Mom and I could watch the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. I suppose many women my age share a similar memory; gazing at the TV with tears of joy, in awe of the formality and the fact that we were watching a living fairy tale. I remember every shy glance Lady Diana gave her Prince. I fell in love that day with love. For me, Princess Diana will always be someone I admire, someone that showed me even though fairy tales don't have the predictable endings, life can be a wonderful tale.

Sadly, I recall to well the day she passed, the news coverage and how again, I was gazing at the TV but this time with tears of grief. May we all handle challenges as gracefully as she tried to and may we all try to give as much of ourselves to others as she did.

Love always to Princess Diana.

Best wishes and high hopes to each of you dear friends,
Jennie and the Pekes

A beautiful journal page...

Hello friends,
Every evening when I get home one of the first things I want to do is relax and visit everyone's blogs. It's such a treat to see your newest creations and read about your "world".

This evening I was so awed by Patty Syzmkowicz's post that I wanted to share it with you. While I don't really know Patty I've been visiting her blog since I started blogging earlier this year. Her art is inspiring and always so lovely. However I've gone back several times tonight to look at today's posting. She has created what I think may be 2 of the pretties journal pages I've seen. Since I don't have her blessing, I'm not going to post a photo of it but here's the link - please visit her page and enjoy her creations. You're going to love these pages!

The Awakening journal pages

Patty's Blog

Best wishes and high hopes to all of you,
Jennie and the very sleepy pooches

It's 1984!

Oh my... the second British Invasion was in the late 70's / early 80's and what a time I had! From an early age I was enthralled with music, especially my dear first love...Adam Ant. It was February 1984 when I went to see Adam Ant and the Romantics at the Grand Old Opry in Nashville. That night is one of my favorite memories with my Dad, just the two of us experiencing some British craziness.

I share this with you because I just purchased the latest album from Adam Ant. A couple of years ago he did a show in England that was very small and acoustic. In between songs he read from his auto-biography. Why oh why couldn't I have been there! But fortunately they've released an album of the show and in about 2 weeks I'm going to feel as elated as I did that snowy February night in 1984. WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! (That's me spinning!)

Thought I would share some memories with you of that night, our ticket stubs and the t-shirt Dad bought me at the show.

Front of the Shirt.... (I wore this to school and my teacher, Mrs. Ramsey, wanted to paddle me for it. Luckily the Principal and Dad were good friends and he sent me back to class with a piece of candy and no punishment! I miss you Mr. Royster - you were cool before it was cool to say cool!)

Back of the shirt...

Best wishes and high hopes to all of you,

Jennie and the pooches

My beloved Sandy Sue

is free of heartworms! I'm so thrilled. When I was a child I lost my first Peke to heartworms, granted that was long before anyone really knew what heartworms were or dressed their dogs. Dr. Norris assured me that Sandy Sue would be fine and that she was healthy enough to survive the shots but I was so scared.

In November she began heartworm treatment, two shots of arsenic between her little shoulder blades to kill the worms. I then had to keep her still for 4 weeks and only let her walk when she needed to go outside. I sort of slipped on that one because she was so upset being in a cage while the other 3 played.

When it comes to the girls, I always worry. Not that I'm a drama queen or a hypochondriac or anything.... ha ha ha But truly, it is a relief to know that she's healthy. She is such a dear.

Enjoy your evening and remember to give your little loves their heartworm medicine monthly.

Best wishes and high hopes to you all,

Jennie and the healthy pooches

Bette Davis and her Peke

The exquisite Bette Davis and her beloved Pekingese, Popeye. Hard to see the little one but what a glamorous picture. I do believe she's being pushed while in her lounge chair!

Best wishes and high hopes to you all,

Jennie and the Pekes

Ziggy the Painting Pekingese

Oh my heavens! I found this precious little man while surfing the internet. I'm in love, he's so sweet and talented. And he's the perfect age for my little Ginger Socks or little Sandy Sue. Hmm....he lives in Palm Springs and I love Palm Springs. Girls, get your prettiest ribbons - ROAD TRIP!

This talented Peke actually paints and quite frankly...he's better than me! ha ha ha Please visit the site and send some Peke love to little Ziggy.

http://www.ziggythepaintingpekingese.com/index.html
http://www.youtube.com/user/tazviolin
http://www.myspace.com/liondogart
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1324085681&ref=profile



Best wishes and high hopes to you all,
Jennie and the smitten Pekes