Saturday, September 11, 2010

Sassy in Bluebonnets - Original Pastel - NFS

Sassy in Bluebonnets
8" x 8" on Velour
Not For Sale

This is my most beloved and adorable Cairn Terrier, Sassy.  I adopted her probably about 8 years ago now.  She is smart, loyal, loving and "sassy" - hence her name.  She will not hesitate to me "tell" what she is thinking or what I should do about something.  I'm always amazed at how much she understands.  I talk to her as if I were talking to a human, in the same tone, and she understands. She will be sitting on my lap and I tell her to "faint" and she falls backwards in my arms.  She doesn't hesitate to let me know when she is unhappy with me - like when I get my pastels out to paint - she will invariably ask to be let out just as soon as I settle in to paint and then when she comes in and sees that I am actually going to paint after all, she will "huff" and stomp off to to the bedroom pouting and grumbling all the way. The funny thing is usually when I get ready to paint she is snoozing in her chair - totally unconcerned with what I'm doing up to that point.  Go figure! 

She is also my rat and snake killer too which has come in handy more than I care to think about, however, Sassy is scared of rabbits.  One year, it was almost dark and we went to go feed my horse.  She took out chasing a rabbit that was in the yard and hit, head on, a shepherd's hook that I had placed in the yard to hold hanging plants.  It threw her about 10 feet backwards through the air when she hit it and she was screaming all the while.  She hit is so hard she bent the metal pole and threw the potted plants off the pole.  Scared me really bad.  I took her into the barn to see if she had broken anything - thankfully she seemed fine but I had the vet check her out the next day just to be on the safe side.  Ever since though when she sees a rabbit she freezes and almost becomes a part of me as we walk to the barn to feed or turns to insist to go back in the house.  I make her walk with me though and talk to her the entire time telling her the "killer" rabbit isn't going to hurt her that I will protect her.  Not long ago I actually encouraged her to "get" the rabbit to see what she would do - she looked at me and took out after it half heartedly, but she did - now that is loyalty!  Oh - not to worry the rabbit got away. Also I moved the shepherd's hook so that won't happen again.

Needless to say I love Sassy very much - she is great company, one of the best dogs that I have ever had, and brings so much joy to my life!


1 Corinthians 13:13 (New International Version)
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem - Original Pastel

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem
5" x7" Original Pastel on Velour Paper

My girlfriend visited Israel several years ago and recently shared this reference picture with me.  I think now more than ever Israel needs our prayers.  I don't think there has ever been a time when Israel has been so alone.  I never thought that the United States government would take the stand that they have appeared to regarding Israel.  As a nation, we have always been supporters of Israel - I think the majority of people of the United States still are - regardless how badly our governmental leaders have acted.

Today, more than ever, with the threat of a nuclear Iran, Israel needs our prayers.  Israel is the apple of God's eye and He warns us not to go against Israel.  We need to take heed of that warning.  While I believe we are living in the last days, now is not a time to stop praying for peace.  We should be praying that our governmental leaders wake up and turn to God the Father for He will surely have the last word.  So, as you say your prayers tonight, bless the people of Israel and Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.

Genesis 12:3
"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."