So Long, 2011!

I sit here, wondering when I will take down the Christmas tree and decorations. But, there's no time limit, so it will get done when it gets done. I no longer make New Year's resolutions, I make revelations. I realized that I was always pushing myself and staying in a rush for no good reason. No more of that.

There were a couple of nice changes in 2011. We adopted a young male lab/pointer mix as a companion for Gremlin. They are inseparable now and sleep in the same bed much of the time. He has ended up being more like a moose than a dog and eats like one, too.

I also bought a glass kiln. I wanted to move away from stained glass, into glass fusing. So far, I have slumped wine bottles. My next project will be fused glass pendants. I'm ready to learn!

Recycling Bottles

I bought a kiln this year. I will eventually be fusing glass, but at the recommendation of some of my fusing friends, I have started out slumping wine, beer and liquor bottles. The are really cool! They can be used as snack or cheese trays and beer bottles make good spoon rests.

It has helped me familiarize myself with the kiln. I know that it's going to take 5 hours for the program to run from start to finish. The hardest part is waiting for the kiln to completely cool down so the glass is room temperature. Have to wait until the next morning.

I guess the neighbors think we are lushes, there are boxes of bottles people have saved for us in the garage. The laundry room looks like a liquor store with cases of bottles stacked. At any rate, I'm having fun!

Nashville Zombie Walk 2011

Parrot Panel Installed!

I finally finished the parrot panel and it has been installed. It is the focal point of a bathroom in Kentucky. The beautiful glass looks great day and night. This was my final leaded panel, and I am proud of the way it turned out. I painted the parrots' facial features on the glass on both sides. They would have been such tiny pieces of glass, and would have been lost if leaded. The beak of the 2nd parrot is a foiled overlay onto the window. It gives some depth and dimension to the panel.

My next project will be with glass fusing. I just bought my first kiln and although I have a lot to learn about fusing, I am excited about trying something new. I will still make stained glass suncatchers and do some mosaics.

SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS!

On my way home this morning, I saw two dead kittens who had been hit by cars on a remote stretch of road, where they had evidently been dropped. They looked to be no more than 3 months old. It breaks my heart that these little guys never had a chance. I only hope there aren't litter mates still nearby having to fend for themselves.

I get angry when I see abandoned animals. There is no excuse for it. There are low-cost spay and neuter clinics available. All one has to do is call their local Humane Association or animal shelter. In Tennessee, there are several mobile clinics that travel to neighboring counties, as requested. If one can show need, it can be done free of charge.

It is unbelievable how many dogs and cats are being abandoned today. Whole litters of puppies and kittens turned out. Pregnant, old, young, large and small. Even more are being euthanized because the shelters are full. There is no need to bring more animals into the world when there are so many available for adoption. The 3 little girls in the photo are waiting for a home. They were abandoned.

Please, spay and neuter your pets!

Parrot Panel Progress

I got caught up from my trip and found some time to work on the parrot panel. I got one parrot leaded, which is a little tedious. Pictures help me keep up with my daily progress.

Traveling With A Pit Bull

I just got back from visiting my youngest son and took my pit bull, Gremlin with me. Her experiences with riding in the car had previously been to the vet or the lake. I was a little nervous about the 2 hour trip and staying away from home for several days. My worries were unfounded. She had the entire back seat of my car to herself, didn't mind being tethered to the seat belt and slept or watched the traffic during the trip. She was the perfect house guest. She didn't mind when we went out and left her alone in the house and didn't bother anything. I am very proud of her.

I took her because I wanted her to meet a 9 month old lab mix named Smokey. He was abandoned at a drive in market when he was just a few weeks old. I saw him last August when he was about 8 weeks old. Boy, has he grown! I think he's a horse pretending to be a dog. He needs some training, but he is sweet and eager to please. He and Gremlin had a ball together, but she wasn't used to playing with a dog bigger than she is. She needs a dog friend and Smokey will be a great playmate. He will be coming to live with us in April.

I still get angry when I hear another "all pit bulls are bad" story. I own a pit bull. I know what they are like, how they behave and how smart they are. Pits love people. Our veterinarian says Gremlin is a perfect example of what a pit bull can be when loved and treated well. I think I will always have a pit bull, now that I live with one. They are remarkable dogs and great companions.