WIP's and Ralphie

Well, just a quick post of some of the things I'm working on:

This is a mixed media painting that I'm  working on. I've used an old cupboard door and primed and painted it and then I collaged papers onto it and I've just been layering the paint and gel medium and wiping some off and now I've started on the dog. I would say that I am about half way finished.....

You probably know what these are! A new bunch of naughty kitties. These guys have left the house and gone outside and captured different "friends". I'm trying paperclay on one of them, we'll see how THAT turns out! and then there's Ralphie-

YES! That's the same dog as the one in the tree!

I shaved him down for summer.

I took him into work and they gave him a shot of a sedative that was supposed to make him very groggy, so that I could shave him. WELL, it had NO effect on him! So I had to wrestle him down on the surgery table while they "gassed" him down and knocked him completely out! Then my friend Amber and I quickly shaved him down! I truly think he likes it. It has to be cooler and it was getting matted because he wouldn't let anyone touch him to brush out his tangles.

I have taken a new approach to my situation with him. I think what really brought it to a head was when I read about Abi's (http://abimonroe.blogspot.com/) little dog Mouse passing away. His little face really reminded me of my Ralphie. When I read about his passing, I just burst into tears. If you haven't been to Abi's blog, you really need to check it out! She is a fabulous Doll Maker and probably one of the sweetest people you could meet. She just raised a HUGE amount of cash for her local dog rescue all because of her own generosity. I saw that photo of Mouse and realized that Abi probably had her share of battles with that little guy when he was young, seeings how all terriers are terrors in their youth. And here she was 16 years later.... OK, I'm tearing up again.

SO, My new approach is to stay as calm as I can when Ralph drives me to the brink. He probably feeds off of all that bad energy when I'm yelling at him like Mel Gibson. I need to stay calm and patient. I've started cradling him (he HATES that) and I make him be submissive. I rub his tummy and give him kisses. (I hold his mouth closed as I do this, I'm NOT stupid) and I gently rub my hand on his face and tell him what a good boy he is. I still plan on giving him lots of outside exercise time with Jimmy, to wear off all that hyper-energy. But we will get through this. Thank you my friends, for listening to my rants and frustration. Ralphie must be going through his teenage years. (My sister is dealing with the same problems with HER teenager!)

but I'm lucky because I can kennel mine over night and not get arrested! LOL!