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.