It goes by so fast

My precious little brother is graduating from high school tomorrow. It feels like yesterday that I was singing James Taylor to him to try to get him to go to sleep. Now he's 6'2" and headed off to college. I am insanely proud of the person that he has become. He is smart and funny. He genuinely cares about people and is a great friend, brother, and son.

I was 20 years old when he was born...my mom waited a looooong time for that second child. Just yesterday my mom was saying that she has had a child at home for 39 years. That's crazy! But it's been cool having a brother 20 years younger than me. I think he helps keep me young and he is truly one of my very best friends.

It's about time.

I have been working very, very hard to put together this new line of jewelry. I like to think of myself as a fairly organized person but I'm not terribly patient. Typically when I make something new I am so anxious to get it "out there" that I post it to my website and move on to the next thing. Because my aesthetic is well, my aesthetic most of my work is pretty cohesive I think. But this time I really tried to restrain myself. I worked on necklaces, earrings, and bracelets and yesterday Tom and I had our own little photo shoot. If I was smart I wouldn't post these photos until I had them on my website so that you could hop on over there and buy them up - but I am too anxious to show them off and see what you think. I have posted a couple of items to my etsy shop if you'd like to go check them out. But in the mean time let me know what you think. Happy Monday.

Update on the Big Man

Well, Mr. Stinker Pants here gave us a bit of a scare last week. Anytime anything goes wrong I immediately assume the worst. But I think that's normal when you have been dealing with the big C. Turns out it was a simple kidney infection and after a day of antibiotics he was back to normal. But I tell you, we were in freak out mode for a good four hours or so. The good news: great appetite, goofy, grumpy, normal. I love normal.

my new old bathroom

I've gotta tell you, when I see those design shows where they go into those 1950's bathrooms and rip out the wall to wall tile, the matching porcelain sink, tub, and toilet, the old porcelain soap dish and tooth brush holders I just cringe! I LUV those old bathrooms. And if they are pink that's even better.

So for a few years now Tom and I have been planning the remodels of our two 1978 (not a good year for bathrooms) bathrooms. We wanted the 50's look. But I never thought I would be able to find pink vintage fixtures!!! But just a couple of weeks ago a friend called to tell us about some great pieces at a local architectural salvage place. When I saw this pink sink for $30 I nearly fainted! I wanted to sit on it until we could get it in the car for fear someone else would discover this treasure. I guess I still have not figured out that I tend to like the things that most others have rejected. While I was lusting over the sink my mom comes out to tell me they had a matching toilet. Done and done.
Tom got the project under way much quicker than I thought we would and now the vanity area is complete. My sweet pink rejected sink could not look more perfect. And my amazing husband did an unbelievable job all by himself. I would post before pictures but I'm too embarrassed.
On a recent trip to New Mexico I picked up another reject. My cousin just bought a new house and it had this awesome mirror in the dining room that he thought was just dreadful and he was more than happy for me to take it off his hands. Granted it was gold leaf, pale pink, and green when he gave it to me...but I would have hung it just like that. But for the bathroom I thought a fresh coat of white paint would make it perfect. And this precious little 50's style light came from Lowes for a whopping 12 bucks!
After a trip to Ikea we had plenty of storage with even a little spot for my cutie-pie dog pin cushion from local artist Leslie Bonnell of GlitzKrieg


...and I have been waiting for months to hang these two paintings by my friend and fellow SWT grad Stephanie Nance.

Needless to say I am in love with my bathroom. I would marry my bathroom if I could. Sometimes new and shiny is good and sometimes old with a history is better.

Smile.

It's been a difficult week. But no matter what is going on my dogs can make me smile. And when I REALLY need to smile The Business Man is my go-to guy! He is the silliest, funniest, most outrageous little dog I have ever known. I dare you not to smile when you look at these pictures.

Godspeed Lee.

Being involved in dog rescue and being the "parent" to 12 dogs of my own I am constantly asked questions like "who do you recommend for pet sitting, for vet services, trainers?" We get countless calls on the Blue Dog phone line from people who say they need to give up their dog due to a variety of reasons and we always try to encourage them to get training and keep their dog. And without fail my suggestion is always the same "Go see Lee Mannix." Now what do I say?

When Tom and I found out that Lee had died we just stood completely silent in our kitchen. I know it is always a shock when someone young dies, but the thing about Lee was his bigger than life stature, presence, and personality. My friend Robyn said it best "how does someone so big, so alive just cease to be?"

Lee was widely regarded as THE best dog trainer in Austin and I think, probably, just about anywhere. He had a way with dogs that was almost scary. It seemed like an odd combination of common sense and science. Years ago when Tom and I had just four dogs I signed up for a private session with Lee. I showed up with all four dogs in tow not really knowing what to expect but whatever, it was dog training, right? You teach them to sit, stay, no barking, etc. Umm, no. So we go into this small room that was empty but for two chairs. Lee goes in and sits in one of the chairs saying nothing to me or the dogs. Now if you know me at all you know that I am not one to start asking what he was doing - I don't like confrontation or anything uncomfortable, but I was waaaay uncomfortable! Was I supposed to sit? ask questions? keep the dogs from marking the back of his chair? But I just quietly sat down and endured the nearly 15 minutes of silence. The only thing he did was throw his hat into the middle of the room. After the 15 minutes he says to me "okay, I've got them figured out." huh? "The little one is your pack leader (Clarence), the dingo mix is your protector (Seven), the chow is a nervous wreck (Ozo), and the Great Dane couldn't care less (Preacher)." And that was it. He had them pegged to a tee. That was the beginning of my understanding my dogs.

Over the past few days I have read hundreds of posts from people who say that their dog would not be alive if it were not for Lee. Tom and I both believe that there is little point in being here on this earth if you don't try to leave it better than you found it. As Tom said "whether it's for other people, dogs, oceans, or otherwise." Lee obviously did just that.

"You gotta be more fun than f%&king dirt!"