Cold Weather..White Dobermans..more Chihuahua Puppies

With the start of a new year and the hope of good things to come, esp. with our New President..our house is FULL of the sounds of new puppies...Nikki's puppies are almost 4 weeks old and are getting so cute and playful and she has turned out to be an excellent mommy...they will soon find brand new loving homes..always hard to let them go, but I know that they will be loved and spoiled, as only chihuahua lover's can do..And I love the pictures that the new owners send me and the stories that they tell me..Our beautiful blue Doberman female, Thea, had her first litter on January 2nd..and we were up until the wee hours of the morning with her during delivery..Were we ever amazed when the first WHITE one came out..I immediately got on the internet and started reseaching this beautiful creature, since I had never seen one and my husband started thinking that an intruder had found it's way to her somehow...lol..I found out that there are pros and cons to a white 'albino' doberman...one of which being the sensitivity to light..the word albino means 'lack of color'...I also found out that they are not actually 'white' but ivory or cream..and their markings, where the rust or tan would be is actually white..they really are something to see..and of course, my husband wants to keep and train the biggest white male for home protection..He has trained dogs for obedience and guard dogs for the past 25 yrs..Our home has always had a large breed guard dog protecting our family and property..And it's a funny thing..living in the country all these years, we never locked out doors..up until recently, with all the home invasions and robberies, ect..signs of the times I guess..Anyway, here are a few photos of our beautiful litter of dobies..

Two days ago, my other precious female, Sister, had her second litter of puppies..the cutiest (notice I say that word alot..lol..) littlest chihuahua puppies..These are all white with black spots and black masks and are only about 3 1/2" long....The mommy and babies are doing well..I must say that it is a little noisy in our home with three litters of puppies, but it makes life happy and interesting...My husband was worried about the 'empty nest syndrome' when our 5 kids grew up and out of the home, but puppies have taken care of that..lol..and it keeps him busy, as I am always painting, creating or off to 'work'...

Is everyone else, as tired and 'over' winter and this cold weather, as I am? It's about 10 degrees this morning and snowing lightly....the older I get, the more I really dislike cold weather..I think more than anything, I am tired of the LP gas bills..It is on my 'list' to find a more cost effective way to heat our home in the winter..With my husband losing his job a year ago now, and unable to find another one in this economy, the large gas bills are hard...but I thank God that I found a wonderful job and are making ends meet..We have learned that we really don't need alot to live on and have gone back to a simplier way of life..It's alot less pressure and we find the time to enjoy life..which, in a way, is a real blessing...So, until next time..I'll be creating and painting and of course, having more puppies..and waiting until spring and warmer weather..Blessings to you all....

Etsy Cottage Style

New Chihuahua Puppies and Finished Train Case

We had new arrives last night..3 beautiful little chihuahua puppies...This is my new mother, Nikki, and she did such a wonderful job...nice easy delivery and fast, too..lol..She had 2 little boys and 1 little girl...such beautiful colors and markings...I just love my fur babies..I've taken pictures, but of course, there's not much to see at this stage..they move too much to get a clear picture, so I have to take what I can get..but momma cooperated and let me take a few photos..after, of course, she sniffed the camera to make sure it could be around her babies...I have finally finished my vintage train case for a special order....it turned out so soft, feminine and so shabby and pink...I used the Norcott Teacup fabric, pink satin, pretty delicate white lace, pink beaded ribbon, organza, pink of course, and a crystal broach....and a pink satin ribbon on the padded bottom to tie up love letters....it's really beautiful... Oh, and a beautiful sachet pillow, too....I hope my customer loves it as much as I do....
I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas...We sure did...our grandkids are so much fun to watch open their presents...it was a little noisey, tho..lol...Now that the Christmas season is over, it's back to the 'real' world....although, the weather here in Indiana has been unseasonably warm, it's still winter and I'm counting the days until spring...I have recently joined a new group on Etsy and it has such talented, creative women that I am going to have such fun, sharing, chatting, and enjoying looking at their items...I have not listed any items in my new store, as of yet, but will after the new year...Until then, I will keep painting and creating....Have a wonderful week....

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...

I just wanted to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...

http://www.glittergraphicsnow.com/christmas.html">Christmas Glitter

Christmas is almost here.....

Wow!! Christmas is almost here...again, I say, where does the time go...Since I have been working full time again, and sometimes working double shifts, the time seems to fly by...I still LOVE my job and going to work is actually a pleasure..I still enjoy painting and creating when I can find the time...My ebay has slowed down and I have decided, with all of Ebay's new rules for buyers and sellers, that I may not list there too much...With ebay's new 'Best Match' and 'Star' system, they have made it harder on the smaller sellers...I am concentrating on 'special orders' and have opened up a new store on Etsy.. I haven't listed anything yet, but after the first of the year, I plan on doing so..I have been taking care of my chihuahuas and our dobermans...litters due in a few weeks and in January...they are so much fun..and what a pleasure they are.. Here is a picture of our female doberman, Thea...all dressed in her green Miami Hoodie..waiting for a treat..hence, her ears layed back...lol..And, NO, I am not a Miami fan....I am a COLT'S fan, all the way...It was just a sweatshirt that my youngest daughter left here after she got married...lol....My computer died a few months back and I lost all my photos of my chihuahuas, for the time being, until I get a friend of mine, to try and retrieve them..But here is a pic of my latest little fur baby....We called him Bullit, because he ran around so FAST, but his new owner had a new name for him...lol....

I have been working on a special order for a nice lady that loves my roses and had ordered from me before and wanted more...Here are some photos of the french phone I have completed for her and a vintage train case that I am working on...

I think that french phones, vintage train cases and gumball machines are my favorite item to paint....Here is my last gumball machine of the year, that was sold on ebay last week...
I have another gumball machine, 15" that is on a black metal stand, just waiting it's turn to be painted...but, it will have to wait until after the holidays...I have my Christmas shopping done, almost, and will spend an afternoon on my day off, wrapping everything...Wrapping gifts is probably one of my least favorite things to do, but maybe this year, I will enjoy the moment, take my time and drink some hot chocolate....I have learned a lot about myself this past year...I have learned about living in the moment and enjoying life and to be grateful for all that I have...My husband still has not found a job, but maybe in the coming year he will find something that 'is meant to be'...until then, I am happy to have him home with me and enjoying life...And I think that I have finally gotten him use to my 'pink fetus'....when I brought home my PINK Christmas tree...lol...He said that it was cute...Okay, that's a start...lol...Blessings to you all and I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.....

So many changes...Life goes on....

I can't believe that it's been 3 months since my last post...Time just goes by so fast and things change, just as fast...The summer has flown by and now I have to start planning for the cold winter that we are accustomed to, here in Indiana..But, for today, I am going to enjoy the beautiful weather and sunshine and the beautiful yard that my husband has been creating all season..He has set up humming bird feeders in front of my window where I paint..and has planted beautiful flowers that attract the humming birds and butterflies...and our lawn has never looked so beautiful..Let me go back a bit....In January, my husband lost his job, of 27 yrs..to a company buy out..He has been a concrete driver all these years and is going to be 58 yrs old this month..He has been searching and putting in applications in hundreds of places..Of course, he started with the most logical employers..concrete plants...but with the economy the way it is and the housing market the way it is, they are not hiring..in fact, some are laying off..So, he has put in applications in the work place that he has never dreamed of..The funny thing is..he has not even got a 'nibble' of interest from employers..So, I have had to return to the work force..I have gone back to work at my mom's convenice store, that I ran for 17 yrs..but quit last year due to stress..Now, the kicker in all this..my mom sold the store in January of this year..so, now I am working for a new employer, making half of what I use to..BUT....I am thankful to have a job, close to home, and the stress level is way down..My husband has taken over all the 'chores' of running a home and yard and taking care of all of our animals..We raise chihuahuas, dobermans and pot bellied pigs...I have found that my husband is a better cook than I am..He cleans better than I.....He takes care of the yard better than I....Let me also say, I have found out that I have been such a control freak all these years...and when I 'let it go' and gave up the 'reins' and let him, I am at more peace than I have been in our 31 yrs of marriage...Let me go back a little farther....About 2 years ago, I read on one of my favorite rose artist's 'me' page about how her husband did all the housework so that all she had to do was paint..I even read it out loud to my husband...lol...I thought..'How WONDERFUL' that would be...JUST TO PAINT!!..Well, be careful what you wish for..lol..Okay, so I do have a job that I work 40 hrs a week..but, now, all I have to do is that job and paint..He has even started priming all my items that I paint..and he does a wonderful job..(it was that 'control' thing again..) Since we live in the country and have a HUGE barn, he has even built me shelves and an area to store my items and set himself up a work area to prime my pieces..I have even opened up an Ebay store to be able to list my items and free up some more time..and give me more time to paint..It's really strange..I always thought that after raising 5 kids, and 2 yrs from paying off our mortgage..that this was 'our time'...Well, it IS our time..even with him losing his job, and me going back to work, and having to refinance our home (for 20 yrs to get the payment down low enough) I am more peaceful than I have ever been...Life is good...it does go too quickly..but it is good...My husband will continue to look for a job, but in the mean time..he has never been so relaxed and stress free in his life..He has worked hard and it's good to see him enjoying each day and doing things that he loves...yes, even the cooking...lol...

Our Granddaugher catches her first fish!!!!

My husband and I have our 3 1/2 yr old granddaughter for the next 4 days...what a delight she is..and so adventureous and inquisitive about everything..Papa took her to our pond to go fishing and she loved it..She was so proud when she caught her first fish..with papa's help, of course..She was a little 'ify' about eating it..lol...but, to my surprize, she watched papa clean the fish and when it was time to eat supper...she ate the whole thing..And I might add, she loved it..she has talked with her aunt's and uncles on the phone today, and told them all about 'catching a fish with papa'....Special days and memories that we can store in our memory bank...