REINCARNATION

Do you believe in reincarnation? That someone has lived a life before? This is my Jimmy. Jimmy Chew.
He is always crawling and wiggling across the grass on his belly! Just inch by inch.
I think he was in war time in his prior life. Wiggling under the wires in the battlefields.

Or maybe he was a SPY!?  Like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible, snaking his way under the light beams.

He doesn't do this just once in awhile.

He does it all the time.

More times than not, he's crawling on his belly.
The other dogs can't figure him out.

Ralphie is like - What's up with him? Why doesn't he get up and RUN!

Blue thinks it's best just to ignore him.

"BEFORE and AFTER"

HEY! I LOVE  a good *BEFORE and AFTER* and here's one!
The photo below is of BLUE at his all time high - 174 lbs.

He and I have been working on getting his weight down.

We had gotten it to 161 lbs. and then hit a plateau.

The scale wouldn't budge.

But as of yesterday, Blue is down to 158 lbs!!!

16 pounds!

SIXTEEN!

Here's another view, you can see he's starting to "dent" in where he used to "round" out!

WaaHoo!!! WE ARE SO HAPPY!!!

(Too bad his "Mom" hasn't had the same luck!)

A Lovely Blog Award

I received this Lovely Award from Nita at Living the Mod Vintage Life. Just one look at her badge and you all probably can tell what drew me to her blog! LOL! I loved the title but then I saw her adorable fur-babies and I was hooked!

She included me in her list of blogs that inspire her!? I have no idea how I inspire her but Hey, that's Cool! I love it! and now I'm supposed to list 7 things about myself....I've done this several times before and I'm afraid that I'm running out of details about myself that aren't just downright boring but, I'll try...Hmmm let's see.
1. I love CLEAN, WHITE and ORGANIZED. That is my DREAM!

2. But my REALITY is CLUTTERED. I collect all these cool vintage items to use or resell and I live in a SMALL house.

3. I have DOGS. A lot of SMALL dogs and one HUGE one. I can NOT adopt/rescue anymore!
(But they are so hard to resist!)

4. I sometimes feel like OCTOMOM!
Ya know, it seemed like a good idea at the time...and what can I do?
They might have fur but they are still MY babies. I can't get rid of anyone.

5. Some people think that I'm like GLINDA the GOOD WITCH. They say that I'm kind, considerate, caring and helpful.

6.Some people think that I'm like the WICKED WITCH . I can be sarcastic and impatient. As I've gotten older I find it harder to put up with fools. Usually this involves the care or should I say lack of care to animals. I don't worry about people's feelings if an animal is suffering.

7. I think that I am actually more like DOROTHY. I can be naive but wise. Trusting but skeptical. Bored but scared of going outside of my comfort zone. Searching for happiness when I already have it. And basically...It's ALL about the DOG.

Now I hope that Nita doesn't get mad at me, but I'm not passing along the award to anyone specific because I've already passed along so many awards to my favorite blogs and I don't want them to get mad at me either! And besides EVERYONE I follow INSPIRES me. I adore you all!!!

 XOXO - Cindi

Wednesday Helpful Pet Tip ...or VIDEO!

OK, I REALLY didn't mean to LIE when last week I PROMISED to have a PET TIP!
I just once again ran out of time! So, I'm going to change my posts on Wednesdays to a TIP or a VIDEO.
This is one of my FAVORITES from YouTube because it makes me smile!

MOCA stands for

                   Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance

My Aunt Di passed away from ovarian cancer more than a year ago and her daughter Jill is raising money for this great cause, in memory of her mom, Diana Chrz.
On Saturday, September 11th, MOCA will be holding their 11th Annual Silent No More Walk/Run for Ovarian Cancer. In hopes of helping her raise money for a cause that is close to her heart, I have created this little black cat holding onto a teal butterfly.

Teal is the color used to represent Ovarian Cancer and my Aunt Diana loved butterflies. Butterflies and ELVIS PRESLEY.  I am listing this little painted muslin cat on EBay in hopes of helping her with a donation. I will donate the entire amount of the winning bid to MOCA.

This kitty is painted in acrylics on muslin. She is in wearing a white ruffled dress and holding a teal butterfly.
She is weighted on the bottom and stands on her own. She would be nice on a shelf or next to your computer, watching over you. It costs nothing to feed her and there's no need for a litter box. She is honored to be able to help with such a great cause.

She measures approximately 2 inches wide, 3 inches across at her ears and about 4 1/2 inches tall. She is happy to ride around in your pocket. She is a piece of art. Not a toy. And she doesn't like to be chewed on. Please give her a good home and help the Ovarian Cancer Alliance Cause. She is currently listed on EBay.

Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance has awarded $2.6 million dollars in the last 10 years to over 35 research projects aimed at early detection, better treatment and a cure for ovarian cancer. This support has given women across the state and country, access to cutting edge treatments developed in Minnesota.

KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER
•Bloating
•Pelvic or abdominal pain
•Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
•Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

TAKE ACTION if any symptoms occur almost daily for more than a few weeks. Experts suggest a combination pelvic/rectal exam, a transvaginal ultrasound, and a CA125 blood test.

If ovarian cancer is suspected, consult a gynecologic oncologist.
For more information contact 612-822-0500 Or visit www.OVARYACT.com

I'M TAKING A POLL, WHICH DO YOU PREFER?

I've had a few different people tell me that I should make prints of some of my photos and try selling them on Etsy.
So I'm thinking about it. Here is one photo in FOUR different tones.
Which one do you prefer?
A. The actual coloring

B. Black & White with a Blue Tone

C. Black & White with a Sienna Tone

or

D. Black & White

Thanks for any and all input!

Wednesdays Pet Tip #17

Once again, NO PET TIP! But next week I promise! I've got a very important one in mind.
But this is pet related....sort of.
It's about this amazing dog rescuer and artist:
Denise and her blog!
http://onthevergeofsnapping.blogspot.com/
She found my blog and left a comment and became a follower. So I went to her blog and after visiting, I became a follower of hers! Have you ever just met someone and feel like you have known them for a very long time? We joke that we might have been separated at birth because we have SO much in common. In fact it's kinda spooky how many similarities there are. I won't go into detail except to say that the number one thing is ... of course, DOGS.
She rescues and I (LOL!) adopt.
The photo at the top of the post is Lucy. Lucy BEFORE her eye surgery.
And this is Lucy AFTER her eye surgery.

The story is amazing and heartwarming and I'm not going to tell you! You have to go to her blog and read about Denise and Lucy! And all her other rescues!
Then there's Denise the artist. Check out what she can do to a toilet seat! Isn't that awesome!

Who knew that a toilet seat could look so elegant!

And then there's Denise the collector and seller of vintage treasures. She and I both have limited storage space and we really have to rein ourselves in on "collecting" all the cool stuff there is to be found! She's been doing much better than I. She's trying to confine it to fabric. Beautiful fabric that if it doesn't find a home, she can create something else beautiful out of it. Unlike me, with a basement full of FINDS and still nothing listed!
Stop by her Etsy shop and see if there's something you can't live without but didn't realize it because you hadn't seen it.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/denisesvintage

Of course, there's a couple of things that we don't have in common. Apparently she likes to camp. Not outside in a tent, Thank Goodness! I couldn't stand the thought of a bear getting her or maybe EEKS! a snake. But still...I think it involves roughing it and I like a swimming pool and magically made beds.
AND I think she likes to be healthy and cook and bake.....and make yogurt.
I toast my bread for my un-grilled cheese so that I don't have to dirty a pan . And well. chocolate and vodka is probably not THAT healthy.
But I ADORE her and you should check out her rescue/creations/recipes/ funny stories and rants blog.
(Stupid people who are rude drive her crazy too!)
ANYWAY, I've said it before and I will say it again...I am so grateful to have discovered this Blogger world and make all the FABULOUS  friends that I now have!
Everyone is so talented and unique, I'm honored to know you all!
 XOXO- Cindi

DARK! SCARY! SPOOKY!!!!

                   IT"S A ZOMBIE!

OK, He's kinda little to be TOO SCARY...

and I guess he's not really SPOOKY...

He IS dark, but not DARK in the way I meant....

He's my first HALLOWEEN creation.

 Made entirely of Paperclay.

In the past I've always used muslin fabric.

My Work Situation AND Wednesdays Helpful Pet Tip #16

Well, to be honest, I feel like a walking Zombie. I'm working overtime because I've lost my summer help...She's gone back to school. The temps have a heat index of over 100 degrees and I'm in a constant state of dripping sweat. I'm exhausted and tired and I'm seriously thinking of changing professions. I have so much to do at home, and my garden is looking pretty tragic. After being in the heat all day, I just can't bear to drag myself outside again and do more work. I come home and take care of MY critters and then find myself nodding off at the computer. I tried to leave some comments but find myself unable to put two words together. So, I'm reading everyone's posts...I think, or maybe I just dreamed that I did!
Please bear with me until it gets cooler and/or I get some help.
Now for my tip!....I ain't got no tip.
but here's a video of something I saw a while back on the Sunday Morning Show.
Get your Kleenex out.
(I wish that people could be more like this...sigh.)

Doing The HAPPY DANCE!!!!

Some of you are probably wondering! What the H@#*!
But most of you know why I'm DANCING!

(image from www.mentalpictures.co.uk/)

My neighbor just cut his GRASS is is now weed-whacking!

WaaHoo!!!

If you missed this post http://oldblackcatboo.blogspot.com/2010/04/garden-dilemma.html

it will explain my garden dilemna!

Oh! Wait, he's stopped.

Well, at least he's cut the front lawn and weed-whacked along the first half of my driveway.

The hedge will kinda block my view of his side yard....

Yeah, my neighbor and I are nothing alike.

He sees how high he can grow his weeds and I pull mine and plant these in the cracks of the pavement.