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Friday's Special Moment of Gratitude

6/14/2012

23 Comments

 
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It's Friday!  One of my favorite days of the week.  This week I again worked in soft pastels. I really love the medium and I am so glad that I was reintroduced to it by a great teacher.  The first time I used them I did not enjoy the experience at all but now I love using them.  This picture is almost complete but I do think I should do something to the trees to make them look a more realistic.

On Friday I always post what I am most grateful to have experienced that week.  I had planned to write about how much I appreciate how people are always willing to share what they know and help when it is needed. I didn't realize how timely that subject was until I took my dogs for a walk this afternoon.

  Before, I sat down to write I decided to take my two dogs for a walk.  I have a five year old poodle that is calm, reliable, and sweet.  I also have a two year old Bichon that is very very different.  She has been "strange" since we got her and nothing seems to change her.  Most people believe she is a rescue dog because of how she acts but she's not.  She came from a loving home and she has been truly loved and spoiled since we got her.  But she is still afraid of everything and wants to do everything on her terms. For example, she will not let you pet her and runs if you try to.  Well, today on our walk she slipped out of her collar and began running into the street in a frenzy. Of course it was during rush hour when everyone was coming home from work.  Cars stopped, people got out and tried to help, and it was a circus and very scary for everyone.  The more everyone tried to help, the more frazzled Chloe became.  People quickly realized that they were not going to be of any assistance so after making sure I was ok they left. For some reason she decided to follow me home on her own. We ran sided by side as though she was on an invisible leash.  Once I realized she would run with me we made it home without too many incidents but it was really a frightening walk. 

 This week I want to acknowledge how grateful I am to so many people.  Some are people I know well. Some are people I have never met yet who are willing to stop and offer a hand.  We often hear so many negative things about the people in our world but today was just another small, but important to me, example of how wonderful and caring and helpful people can be.  And for that I am very grateful.

PS  If you have every had a dog like Chloe and have any suggestions, I would love to hear them.  She went through group training which was a disaster and then we had a trainer come to the house which helped a little.  She can be very sweet. The most important thing to me is that I keep her safe and happy. 
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23 Comments
pasy paterno link
6/14/2012 03:03:02 pm

It's always a good idea to be grateful and to count our blessings! It's a pity that so many wanted to help but they were not able to! patsy

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Tracey Fletcher King link
6/14/2012 03:03:30 pm

That sounds so very stressful... our fur baby was so scared of everything as well... the vet suggested we treat him like a baby and swaddle him so he feels safe and take him outside with us... sounds silly, but even now when he is feeling stressed he wants to be wrapped up in a blanket and he settles right down...and we used to take him for walks which consisted of him being carried most of the way... we got him a body harness thing that his lead clips onto and he seemed to feel more secure, and he hated things around his neck, so he likes the body harness... and we used to spend time sitting at the park and things with him on our lap and give him treats when he did well... eventually he gained more confidence but it did take a while... he now runs around the block and is now very confident... good luck and hope you find your magic formula for helping her...xx
and great pastel by the way... love the reflections in the water

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lynn
6/14/2012 04:23:59 pm

pastels have another world feel to them too....this painting takes me there/away. HPPF.

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Annette G
6/14/2012 06:05:03 pm

Liking the misty look of your art. Am sure you will find a way to get your beautiful dog to behave the way you want. Happy PPF, Annette x

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Susan
6/14/2012 09:23:17 pm

Your painting positively glows! It has such a misty ethereal look.
Harley is our Bichon. After English bulldogs, a Bichon is quite a jolt. He seems better in a routine as surprises really set him off. He is only a year so we are hoping he will become calmer. He is such a clown we have really enjoyed his antics.

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pointypix link
6/14/2012 10:30:38 pm

such a lovely calming pastel - makes me long for the summer we currently are definitely not having here in Ireland!
I'm sorry to hear of the fright you had with Chloe.

Like Tracey, I would recommend a harness PUPPIA do great ones for small dogs that are very soft and don't bother them at all - we always use them with our two westies as I don't like pulling them by the neck with a leash on a collar.


She is certainly behaving as if she has had some mistreatment from humans as the fact that she won't let anyone touch her would seem to suggest- did the other owners have her from a puppy because if so it is strange that she wouldn't have gotten used to being handled from an early age? still, dogs have their own personalities just like us so maybe she is just one of those that doesn't care for folk getting in her personal space! Hope you don't get another fright like that though1

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Carol link
6/14/2012 10:54:57 pm

Your paintings get better and better ~ Wonderful!namaste, ^_^ (A Creative Harbor)
As for your little doggie ~ I have a Yorkie and have always used a harness and that seems to work ~ She definitely has a mind of her own ~ I agree with you ~ keeping her safe is the most important ~ and you as well ~

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Stephanie Corder link
6/14/2012 11:25:23 pm

I'm so glad you and your puppy were OK! People never fail to amaze me in their willingness to be good Samaritans.

And I LOVE your pastel- that used to be my favorite medium- now you've got me wanting to go back to it!
Happy PPF,
Stephanie

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carlarey link
6/14/2012 11:32:17 pm

I love the softness of this pastel landscape, it's very peaceful considering your scare.
I agree with the others about the harness, it can make a tremendous difference in how a dog acts on a walk, and the added bonus is that they can't slip out it like a collar.

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Lucy link
6/14/2012 11:49:36 pm

Thanks for sharing your post. Hope your dog trouble does not happen again.

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Alicia link
6/15/2012 01:18:13 am

gratitude is a great thing - working on the habit as well :D i definitely am grateful, though, to see this fabulous pastel drawing! So soft & ephemeral... charming

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Julie link
6/15/2012 01:44:31 am

I'm so glad your dog is ok and that people were kind and helped you. I really love this painting, it glows.

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Kristin link
6/15/2012 02:16:39 am

This painting is so pretty, the colors stand out even though they are kinda blurred together. Great work! So sorry about your experience, that would be so scary. I have a Mini Aussie and I would be freakin' out if she ran into traffic. She does have a couple weird things tho and I've been talking to a dog behaviorist at Petsmart to figure them out. Maybe Petsmart could help a bit? Good luck!

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Alexandra link
6/15/2012 04:57:47 am

Your pastel is wonderful. Alot of movement and feeling. Well done. I've never figured out pastels and the blending process, so stay away. haha :)

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gina link
6/15/2012 07:14:43 am

What an adventure -- so glad your dog is safe! She is adorable! Love how you're trying all these new things, Ginny. Lovely pastel. Have a great weekend!

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Belinda link
6/15/2012 10:56:50 am

Love the dreamy feel the pastels make! Beautiful!! I love that you mention being grateful for strangers that are willing to stop and help when someone is in distress. You are so right- we always hear the negative and there is so much more positive out there!! I hear you!! As for your sweet little Chloe, I know every dog is different and they all have their own personality. We had a yellow lab that had that sort of temperament. We had to keep a regular routine for her and take her on walks where we knew there wouldn't be an abundance of distractions that would upset her. I have a son who is autistic and we kind of have to do the same for him! Best of luck with your baby!!

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EVA link
6/15/2012 12:51:48 pm

I'm glad you both made it home safely. I had a cat kind of like that - no advice I'm afraid. I just accepted it and she never left the house.

Beautiful painting!

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giggles link
6/15/2012 06:11:37 pm

Oh my goodness I had the male version of Chloe and seriously I believe it's the breed!! They are independent little monkeys!! He even looked like her! He punished me by tearing up rolls of toilet paper, ran out the door onto the road every chance he got, nipped at people ankles...I think mainly because they are herders by nature! We adored him for the 14 years we had him, but what a rebel..such a stressful dog...but we loved him to bits from birth to death! Didn't matter what we did he was not well behaved unless he wanted to be! He even growled at the female lhasa apso we had! I once caught him on my kitchen counter looking out the window!! I have no idea how he jumped up there with his short little legs and no chair near by! I gasped in shock and he jumped down...he knew what he was doing...that dog was a thinker. He would wander the house at night and stand by my daughters bed just staring at her...she awoke frightened!! So I know exactly what you are dealing with. My neighbor had a female that did her business in his favorite baseball cap...lol Yes I knew the moment I heard the breed it was just like my little guy!!

Very pretty art piece by the way!! Sorry I got side tracked...wish someone understood what my life was like with my Bichon! Chloe will settle down a bit soon!! I hope...lol

Hugs Giggles

Hugs Giggles

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Mary C. Nasser link
6/15/2012 11:44:51 pm

So glad that you and Chloe are okay.
Very pretty and sweet pastel landscape.
♥♥♥
Happy PPF!!
Mary

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Kokopelli link
6/16/2012 06:53:31 pm

Gratitude is a thing we forget about so easy. Thank you for reminding me!
Chloe came home with you without any leash. So it seems like she knows where she belongs. But no further ideas to deal with her being afraid of anything.

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Ritu Dua link
6/16/2012 10:09:28 pm

This looks amazing!

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Kat link
6/21/2012 07:02:48 am

Ginny I've just managed to get here today, I love your Friday paintings and this one is so peaceful, I love the trees as they are, kind of hazy and dreamy, beautiful! I also enjoyed reading your little story about your walk, it is so good to see how many people out there do care!

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Sheila Roth
6/24/2012 12:58:50 am

I LOVE your pastel painting! I would leave the trees just as they are. The more I paint the more I like things not so realistic. It makes the painting more interesting and creative to me. That's just me though.

Chloe has looking cute going for her:)

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