White dog, black paper

Chloe posing by her portrait, this morning.

Chloe under the Lilac tree

Chloe's Portrait

Pencil and watercolor. No tracing! : ) What do you think?

Catching up with Chloe - Merry Christmas!

Anna van Keulen playing the theme song from Downton Abbey

Tragedy struck on Thursday after 13-year-old Anna van Keulen passed away from injuries sustained in a bicycle accident on her commute to school. Her father, Niek van Keulen, is now attempting to fulfill Anna's dream of becoming famous. He posted a YouTube video of Anna playing "Did I Make the Most of Loving You," the theme song to the television show Downton Abbey on the piano, urging people to watch the video. Please view and share!  

Nature Nuture

Nothing is better than being in nature.
It soothes our soul.
It transports our worries away.
With each petal, each leave,
each breeze, each sunbeam,
we move beyond the drudgery of chores
and distractions
to another realm
where peace looms
and waxes.

Let's play ball!

We're game - are you? Join us for a game of ball ...

Ok, ready for serious Bichon "Show Dog" cuteness?

Well, she may not be an official Show Dog - but she sure looks like one to me. Presenting my little Chloe Honeygo Beasley Pinkerton the 1st (that's her full name, btw), in all of her pooled out wonderfulness, thanks to a recent grooming session - for your visual enjoyment. She smells soooo nice and need I mention how SOOOOFT she is ...

  This top one is my favorite!

I think Chloe looks like a puppy in this photo of her on the grass.

Our little sweet pea ... 

Morning Walk with Chloe in her stroller

A cloudy day is wonderful for taking photographs

A cloudy day is wonderful for taking photographs. Everyone thinks a sunny day is better - but when the sun is hidden by a cloudy mist, the lighting is not so direct, not so harsh, and this time of year, when the flowers are in high bloom, colors POP. So out Chloe and I went, camera in hand. Chloe rode in her stroller parts of the way and walked the other parts, stopping with me to take photos of the beauty all around us. I logged a bunch of steps on my FitBit. It was good to be outside before the rain comes.

Everyone needs a spa day

Our friend Derrick is a hairdresser, and when I told him Chloe's groomer was retiring and I was going to try to groom Chloe myself, he said, "I've been cutting hair for 30 years and I draw the line at pets. Everyone needs a spa day."

Nevertheless, I tried to clip Chloe's hair using an electric hair clipper. I read online it was ok to use human clippers on a small dog. I was careful and semi-successful, trimming her down nicely but not too short and sort of evenly. The ears I cut puppy style, on the short side, kind of like a bob for a dog. The top of her head I scissor cut but it wasn't perfectly round. And the face - well, I butchered that up real good, in my opinion. Gone was all semblance of Bichon-ness. She became a poodle. Not that poodle cuts are bad. Or maybe this was a puppy cut? The nails I trimmed a bit, but couldn't do really short for fear of cutting the quick. The ears I tried to pluck - but stopped short for fear of hurting her. The hair around her nails on her paws and between her pads, well - that never got done because I kept hearing Derrick's words in my head ...

"Everyone needs a spa day."

So off Chloe went to a new groomer. And they said she behaved well, while I think they did a great job. We call this Chloe's new outfit. I'm so glad we found a new groomer for Chloe. And in the meantime, between visits, maybe I'll give her a little trim or two. ; )

Wildflowers

✽ ✾ ✿ ❁ ❃ ❋ ❀

"You belong among the wildflowers,

You belong somewhere close to me.

Far away from your trouble and worries

You belong somewhere you feel free."

- Tom Petty, Wildflowers

✽ ✾ ✿ ❁ ❃ ❋ ❀

Good morning, Chloe!

 Chloe likes to sleep in the big bed with us and snuggle. 

She's a little sleepy head - with one eye half asleep.

Yes, she wears a bandana to bed. 

It's her nightgown!

Pink, of course.