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.

 

 

Back Online, Maybe?

I've used another computer to remove/change things on my blog hoping I will be able to access it from home now. Currently Blogspot never responds and I am left waiting and waiting and waiting.........so, we'll see when I get home. For now, I am using a computer in an undisclosed location ;)

Here's a photo of the trio at Christmas. I couldn't get all three in one photo so I took pics separately and through the magic of Photoshop a friend was able to create our Christmas photo. Love modern technology! (That's Daisey on the left, Eddie standing in the middle, and Woody to the back and right.)

Halloween Party 2011

Last night we went to my friend Christina's Halloween party. Tonight the dogs are doing an online doggie party.

Jerry as a Greek man turned to stone.

Me, as Medusa.

Daisey as a pirate's winch.

Eddie as a tiger. He went completely crazy with excitement when i put the costume on him and it was everything I could do to keep it on him much less get a decend photo.

Woody as a spider and unhappy about it. He did get better once I got it off his eyes.

Christmas Eve

Eddie

Woody

Daisey

We went to Christmas Eve dinner at the Beachcomber again last night - Marge treats us every year because she can no longer contribute to holiday dinners so this is "her thing". The lobster bisque is yummy.

Last night put together a strata for breakfast/brunch which will be in a couple hours. Dinner will be later. I'm doing this cooking under a boil water alert. A water main broke and it's a difficult one to repair so we will be boiled water for 5 days. The timing!

These are a few shots of the dogs under the tree. Hope you all are having a wonderful day.

Santa Photo 2010

Eddie, my foster Woody, and Daisey had their Christmas photo made with Santa. Do I need to tell you how hard it is to keep three terriers attention and ON Santa's lap long enough to snap a photo?

The photograpoher kept trying to get one where Ed's ear didn't cover up part of Santa - like that is possible :) I wanted to tell her I didn't care about Santa's face but I didn't want to be rude to Santa!

Halloween Costume Party (for Dogs)

***alert***alert***alert***alert***alert***
If you don't like a dog dressed up for Halloween, stop reading NOW.

I made Daisey a fairy dress and then painted some bright pink wings to match the skirt.

Eddie ended up wearing a costume I bought for Daisey during a closeout last year. It was way to big for her meaning it fit him perfectly.

Woody wasn't sure what the heck was going on !

Happy Halloween!!

Rambling Photographer

Getting closer.....down to 500 miles. Any quesses as to the date and tine my odometer will roll over to the big 100,000? Julie, you sticking with September 30th?


If there were 52 year-old flower children, this is what one might look like. We had 60s & 70's day at work - just couldn't do the disco thing. I am so far ahead on my Halloween costume for this year n- thanks to my work party. This SHOULD mean no down to the wire sewing.

Woody, my foster, not terribly photogentic. He runs from the camera and I had to hold him to take the photo and then shoot him from under the bed for more photos. :(

Green Thumb Sunday and Woofstock

I have this small fascination with palm fronds. I really dislike throwing them away as debris. Normally I let them stay on the plant as long as possible so that the plant (did you know palms are not a tree at all but are in the grass family?) can replenish nutrients from the old fronds; however, sometimes you just have to remove one . Weaving a few strands together was all I could think of. I did look online and people do some fancy stuff but don't think I am up to that.

Now, different subject. August 15th - 18th is the anniversary of that famous concert Woodstock. In honor my doggies are dressing up for a Woofstock celebration. I was busy sewing outfits for them to wear.

Daisey in her peace and love dress. She's normally such a good model as I try to measure each peace agaisnt her for fit but today she wasn't having it so I;m lucky it fit so well. You can see Woody in the background (click for larger image) before I convinced him to wear clothes - he was going with the nekked Woofstockers wearing only beads, a peace symbol, and a smile.

Eddie was happy to model his fringed vest.....especially with Jerry holding a treat to get his attention!

And, finally Woody in his fringed vest made of faux suede. Well, we gotta go get in the VW van so, until next time, have a groovy time.

Peace!

Since they weren't the most cooperative of models today, here is a group shot of my handiwork. I spent hours on their costumes and they were only willing to wear them for a couple of minutes. Downer dude.

Green Thumb Sunday

I've been busy in the yard this weekend having spent over 5 hours and two fingernails cleaning up the two beds along the entry way to the house. It was so overgrown you had to duck and dodge the limbs, fronds, and leaves just to get in my front door unskathed. It really needs to be completely replced, with the exception of the African Iris, because the plants there are not suited to the space requirement.

This bridal bouquet is the closest I came to flower gardening so far this weekend. I made the bouquet a couple weeks ago for a friend getting married on the 4th of July but she wanted something smaller so last night I tore it apart, removed a few flowers, and then redid it. Don't know if she will use it (was planning just to pick up a bouquet at the grocery store) but it's here and waiting if she likes it. I preferred the larger version but hubby thinks this is beautiful. I have to say it does look better than the photo.

Woody is going to meet the family and dog that has applied to adopt him. They wanted to meet him before adopting him and to test him with their own dog. Additionally, I will be doing their home visit so it's a two-birds-with-one-stone scenario.

I've been back writing again and am well over 200 pages and 50 chapters in my book. I have a friend reading it who says "hurry, hurry, I want tot know what happens" so I guess that is a good sign ;) I would love to do nothing other than work on it but my schedule is a bit busy for the next week or so. I am performing a wedding ceremony next weekend and need to work on what I am going to say, find an outfit appropriate for an officiate at a botanical garden, and I would love to get a visit in to my Aunt Flossie who is in the hospital.

Woody Has An Interested Applicant

Go Woody.....Go Woody.....Go Woody

Photo Shoot

Had a little photo shoot with the doggies the other day:

Eddie with his Kong Bungie

Had to hold a high C to get Daisey to tilt her head.

And shy little Wiiody who does not like to have his photo taken.

Shamless Plug

Sorry about the long tenured shameless plug for the Ratbone quilt raffle. I'm not ignoring my blog but wanted it to be the lead post for a while :) That quilt is a connection between my old life in Kodiak and my new life in Florida in that the blocks for the top were block-of-the-month squares made by members of the Kodiak Bear Paw Quilters Guild (everyone makes a block and a name is drawn to win them all) and I just think that is so cool!

As you can see by these photos from Pass A Grill dog beach, Woody is doing good. So good in fact that I haven him on a couple home visits for Ratbone. He did really well interacting with other dogs, cats, and kids. The only low moment was diarrhea is someone's house :(

Woody is Doing Well

He's a little short on teeth but he is on his way to better health both physically and mentally.

My New Foster, Woody

Meet Woody! We picked him up last weekend. He came from the same shelter in Naples where we got Jake. This guy also has some bad teeth and his health seems to be impacted by the dental issues.

I am guessing this fella was ruled with an iron fist because he is very submissive and seem to be unsure when you reach for him. But, he is very sweet and his fur is so soft. He also has a full tail!
I believe that he is beginning to learn his new name. Have no history of him including no old name or his age.

I am taking him in for a dental procedure tomorrow. My vet recommended waiting a week because he seems traumatized but Jerry is thinking he doesn't have a chance to get better until the dental is done - Jakey sure made a remarkable turn around once he had his. At first I thought we should listen to the vet but I hear and see his breathing/sinuses going the wrong way even though he is on antibiotics so I want to do whatever it takes to get him feeling better and I want to do it as soon as possible for him. So, I'm in.