Pencil Sketch

I discovered a new program (because my Internet Explorer no longer works on my laptop, I am using a loaner right now, and the only way I can access online programs is if there is an app for my Windows 8.1 laptop) called "Pencil Sketch" which will make your photos look as though they were drawn or painted.

For example, this photo:

Becomes these:

 

I also did some rattie photos (surprise, surprise) but did them like real pencil drawings (B&W) and saved them in another new app called "Cool Collage" and got this:

It's my first use of a free-form collage. I usually use Pixler where you choose the layout and put the photos in boxes. I tried to do that with the old photos of me (above) but they saved as wrong format (boo). So, it's not exactly how I envisioned it but a good start. Working with so many overlapping photos is just that, work. Gives me a new appreciation for all the ads and brochures we receive and just toss away- lots of time and work probably went into them.



Former Foster & Butt/Body Collage

Just a little doodling with Pixlar and photos of my former fosters (by the way, we are adopting the old gal, Diamond) and one where I assembled the leashed up and ready to go butt shots. The butt/body shots include the beautiful Miss Daisey (miss her everyday) but excludes Peanut. Peanut was an accidental foster and I didn't have a digital camera at the time.

 

 

Jake Will Be Going To His FURever Home Soon!

After a few applications Jake finally has an approval! Once the contract is signed and the fee paid he will be traveling to his new home in Jacksonville, FL. CongRATulations Jakey Boy! We will miss him terribly. I so wish his Missy could have been adopted along with him but I guess the important thing is that they both find good homes (she is not yet adoptable due to a skin issue).

Daisey was quite annoyed witht he boys this morning. She wanted to sleep in (with her mama in the bed) but the boys were wide awake, active, and hunry for their breakfast. You can see her bad mood inthis photo where they are barking at the window behind her.

Got them to quiet down for a couple minutes with a new Kong brand toy. I bought this one last week. It has a squeaky ball on one end, an animal head on the other, and a bungie in the middle. Jake likes it and he doesn't like all toys - that's one picky rat terrier. Eddie, on the other hand, believes ALL toys belong to him.

Jake is so hard to photo. He turns his head at the last second, bulges his eyes, or stands his ears straight up. He usually looks like he has just seen a scary movie scene. Add to all that the world's worst photographer ;)

The boys watching the activity in the neighborhood. Foxy Roxy, our last foster, bit the blinds and Eddie has fallen into them a few times so they are a mess. I want to replace that window with one where the blinds are on the inside. Good idea?

Even little Miss Daisey couldn't stay upset for too long. A rat terrier has got to do what a rat terrier was bred to do - be ont he lookout for possible vermin.

Finally got a shot of them playing with the new toy. It's a total set up of course because Eddie can rip that away in seconds. The first shot Jake dropped it when he heard my camera open. Then Eddie pulled him across the room (the ottomon is on rollers) as I tried to take a second shot. But as they say, third time is a charm :)

Eddie finally ran off with the other toy. Jake is enjoying playing alone with an unstuffed Christmas toy from Aunt Michelle.

Finally! A good shot - except for the green eyes of course.

Farewell Sweet Roxy

Roxy and her new daddy and grandpop. She liked him right away. And, he brought me flowers. How charming!

Packing Up Roxy's Belongs

Tonight is Foxy Roxy's last night with us. She came to us in October sick with heartworms. She is leaving us happy, healthy, and a member of our family. Tomorrow her new family will pick her up and drive her to Virginia. With her will go a little piece of my heart.

It was chilly here (in the 50's) and I put their polar fleece jammies on for a photo op. Then I got the bright idea that Foxy's new sister (the family is adopting two rat terriers) needs a pair too so I set to work sewing. (Daisey on left, Eddie in middle, and Roxy on right)

Here's Roxy modeling the "extra' PJs that will go with her for her new sister. She is sniffing her bag. I have her all packed up. It would have been a sad process but I was distracted trying to find her toys, LOL.

Today she has been my velcro dog and snuggling with me (is doing so right now) almost as though she knows our time together is short.

I she a cutie pie or what? She often has sad eyes - I wish I could look into them and see her life before she came to us. She must have been loved by somebody because she is so sweet and affectionate.

Here is the gang all dressed in matching attire for a holiday party held Friday night (online). Just silly, fun dog stuff.

Close up of Miss Foxy Roxy in her spaghetti strap dress. I bought that fabric at the Coast Guard exchange in Kodiak probably about 10 years ago.

Even after making two dog dresses and one doggie bow tie, I still have plenty left as it was several yards. It has a little metallic to it to give it that holiday feel.

My handsome Ed. I need to learn to use the camera to where there is no unwanted green, blue or red eye.

Mom's Birthday

Today is Mom's birthday and we went to Kobe's Japanese Steakhouse for teppenyaki cooking (mom, me, hubby jerry, and m-i-l marge) and then back to our house with cousins Lea, Erica, & Sarah for German chocolate cake. Mom came over early to do her laundry and ended up sitting with the dogs as I went shopping (yup, still have a little to do but mostly for Christmas dinner) then we listened to opera from the Met on NPR. All in all, a very nice day.

Dinner started and moved along so quickly I almost forgot to take photos. Seriously, we had appetizers about 5 minutes after sitting down. Grilled teppenyaki style cooking is so tasty and feels so "clean:. Plus, it's entertaining - the cooks get to play with the food!

Me and mom. She was twenty two when I was born. The reason we don't have big smiles is because the flash didn't want to work and this pose was a retake or two :)

My honey, the photographer.

Of course when it is your birthday you get ratted out by your family and friends so the restaurant workers can make a fool of you with a paper hat and a song in Japanese that, for as much as we would know, could be singing "this person wears a watermelon bikini". {smirk}

Nah, I'm sure the song was Happy Birthday or something similar. They brought her a cupcake and banged the drums and made a big deal.

Opening of the gifts. Luckily the tissue paper didn't meet the flame on the candle.

I was so into everything else I almost forgot the gift I had stashed in the chair under the table.

We gave her a digital camera. Hopefully she will learn to use it and take better photos than me. Actually, she can probably do that without even reading the instructions!

Back at home - cousin Lea and cousin Sarah with my foster dog Foxy Roxy. Sarah is trying to avoid the fastest tongue in the east.

Looks like Sarah failed and Roxy planted a wet one on her. We dressed the dogs up for Sarah's benefit.

Lousy photo but it was the only one I got with cousin Erica in it because she wasn't feeling well. Plans are to go over to her house to set up her Christmas tree tomorrow, December 29th ;)

Eddie & Roxy playing tug with the toy I made them from leftover polar fleece. I've had to repair and restuff that thing. I thought if I made it big they wouldn't rip it up. Silly me.

Seems everytime I put her Little Miss Merry Christmas on Daisey she gets in a bad mood. she had leftover hibatchi chicken and fried rice but I guess she was upset she didn't get cake. h well, my birthday is in 9 days so maybe she will get lucky then.............

Foxy Roxy Updates

Roxy has an adoption application pending! Possible adoptions are bittersweet - happy for the foster and his/her new family but there is a loss when they vacate your house and life. Hers is in the VERY early stages so it is yet to be determined if she is the right dog for this family.

Well, just in case, we had an early Christmas for Miss Roxy. She got a new Puppia & matching leash. Isn't she gorgeous in green?

Look at that body! No ribs or spine showing now. Her fur is so soft - you gotta feel it to believe it.

Chair thief!!!!! When you leave your chair or your spot on the sofa or bed, she's there. If you lean to far forward in your chair, she will fill the gap between your backside and the chair.

I tried to take Christmas photos of the dog with no luck. It turned out to be more of a chew-on-the-camera event :(

Eddie, Roxy, and Daisey. They are just now getting used to her because she's oly recently out of the cage.