Sugar at 3 months old

Sugar (a.k.a Ratzilla) at 9 months

Squeekers and Ratzilla

Me and my Rack

Mr. P. bought me a present today from the hunting store.  I think perhaps he's thinking that everyone must be looking at my cleavage.  I'm wondering what comes next after the "Quit Staring At My Rack" warning printed on my shirt.  A burqa perhaps;-)

Rats are so cute when they are babies.  They suck you into wanting one.  Six months later you have a rat half the size of your arm trying to steal food out of your mouth and eating everything in site.  3 of 4 was eating an ice cream cone with Ratzilla sitting in her lap.  Ratzilla attempted to grab the cone and make off with it.  When 3 of 4 stopped her by pulling the cone out of her reach she tried to take a piece out of her mouth instead.  Greedy little buggers (the rats not the kids.) 

1 of 4 accidentally left a body pillow within reach of their cage and they made a nest with much of the fabric and a good portion of the stuffing.  It was quite funny to see their cage absolutely stuffed to the brim with white fluff.  They had obviously had a very busy night!

Our oldest lady (Peanut) seems to have a tumor growing on her neck and isn't doing very well.  She's 2 and a half which is old for a rat.

Picture 1
Still puttering away at it.  Now that the background is completely covered I may use a solvent to be able to work the pencil already layed down like a paint.  Then go over it with a colourless blender to mix and even out the area.  I also want to do a bit more work on the hand itself.  The frog is done and hopefully with become more vibrant when the whole painting is finally fixed with a workable fixative.  This should get rid of all the wax that has risen to the surface dulling the work.

Picture 2:
"OH NO!  Don't pick up that spider it might bite you!  What if you get sick?  Can you die?" I heard from many mouths.

You can usually tell when a spider is angry.  He/she goes into a defensive stance with it's front two legs up in the air.  If it is staying around it's web it's probably female and if it's wantering around it's more likely male.  This fellow was wandering aimlessly with no web in site.  Cruisin' for chicks I presume.  I pick them up all the time and they don't ever bite.  I've held tarantulas much to my glee.  Love them.  Love them all.  Well......maybe not so much a black widow.  That I might think twice about.  You've gotta admire the gals though.

In the city that I live:
They arrested three terror suspects that they have been watching for over a year now.   I had heard rumours that they would arrest them just before they were ready to strike.  I'm glad that so far the various agencies have been able to stop each attack before it happend, but I suppose it's only a matter of time before we eventually get hit.  Canadians seem to think if they are nice enough to everyone and give everyone what they want even the wackos will love us and leave us alone.  NOT!  I'm not sure what it will take for people to realize crazy is crazy and no matter what we do they'll do what they'll do.

In the shower:
I had no less than 5 interuptions this morning when I was taking a shower.   We have two guests in the house and I'm not so sure that they weren't standing behind the various kids when they were questioning me.  (I had soap in my eyes.)  Mr P. always gives me heck for my lack of modesty (whilst walking around the house in my underwear for example.)  But I figure probably everyone in the neighbourhood knows what I look like by now anyways.  What's that you say?  Locks?  Ha!  They know how to jimmy them.

What to do:
Art classes start in another couple of weeks.  Lately I've been thinking of throwing in the towel artistically speaking for various reasons.  Time to get a real job perhaps.  We shall see.

SCREEEEEEEEAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMM!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

STAGE 1:

That branch is not turning because of the time of year.  It's too early yet.  It must have been due to the wind storm and the flash flood we had a couple of weeks ago.  It's not been cool yet even.  It been hot all summer.  Yes, hot.  Not even cool in the evenings yet.  HOT I SAY!

STAGE 2:

We didn't have summer for the two past years and finally a great, friggin' fabulous one and it's mid-August already.  Who plants maple trees on their property anyways.  They're like the angel of death standing over you holding an hour glass to remind you of how much time you have left.  Damn maple trees.

STAGE 3:

 I promise I'll start taking better care of the gardens and plant the remaining 2 flats of flowers I never planted in the Spring.  Just please!  Not yet!  Waaaaaaa!  I'm not done enjoying Summer yet.  It's too early for the signs of Fall to start!

STAGE 4:

Wake me up in the Spring, I'm not getting out of bed until then.

STAGE 5:

Screw stage 5!  There is no acceptance when it comes to the Summer ending.  I want heat.  I want sun.  I want to be sweating on my bike, cutting grass, eating watermelon and complaining about fighting children at home.  I hate stage 5.  There is no acceptance!

Okay, maybe I haven't made it past the stage 2 anger phase yet.

I should have been born a Floridian.

p.s. the newest fence on the left.

Stagnant Art

I've been working hard at least 5 minutes a week to put this puppy to bed.  The painting is taking on a chalky white powdery appearance.  Thats "wax bloom".  Wax is rising to the surface as the painting sits.  It can be gently wiped off, but more appears within a few hours.  If you wipe it too hard or often it will "burnish" and have a glossy appearance.  That you can't change.

Kurt is hiding behind my t.v.  (Not literally though.)  You may ask yourself what kind of stalker fan I am if I've tucked his pictures in behind where I can't be reminded of how far behind I am on his portrait!  Exactly!  Plus having him up where my family could see him day in and out was distrubing to them.  They don't appreciate the humour of a good portrait with a man picking his nose as much as I do apparently.

I really mean it this time when I say that I'm going to finish this painting and move on to Kurt and the other frog this week.  Well, more than I meant it last time I said it anyhow.  I suppose I'll mean it most when the kids go back to school.  How many more days until September 7th?

Happy B-Day 4 of 4....

4 of 4 just had her 8th birthday.  She's always been our most polite, most helpful and best behaved child.  They call her "Smiley" at school because she's always so happy.

After she had finished opening all of her gifts she turned to me and said,

"Can I please see all of the receipts?"

She wanted to make sure we spent as much on her as we did on her sisters on their birthdays a month ago.

I told her all of the prices and made her add the amounts up in her head.  She got it spot on.  The girl knows her money.

I hope this isn't a peek into her teenage years!

Thank you to the lovely couple and Candy who watched Hunter for us while we were away.  I have no nickname made up for them and I'm too tired to create one right now.

The Mr. and Mrs. awoke the first morning to find Hunter lying in the bed inbetween them.  (He likes to sleep on his back with his legs in the air and head on a pillow between us at home.  Candy, the golden retreiver, is not allowed on the furniture or to sleep with her people.)  Mr. turns to his wife and says, "Oh ya, I forgot to tell you......he sleeps with them." 

Happy Birthday to  Hot Chocolate and Hot Chocolates Sister!

(1 day early as I won't post tomorrow.)

Now you're older than me again;-)

Dear Candy......

I heard the human pack last night discussing vacation time.  Apparently it was decided that I would be spending mine with you instead of her.

I realize in the past that we had our differences, mainly because you found my advances offensive in some way, but I'm sure we can work something out that is agreeable to us both.  Even though I'm black buff , intact and the hottest dude you'll ever get a chance at, I will attempt to control my libido while in your home.  Well, maybe.  I'll try.  I do know, after all, how to be a good guest.  For example, when I stayed with White Mocha and Pepper, I made a point of picking up Peppers dog feces from the yard and bringing it to their patio door so she could properly dispose of it.  True, they were eating dinner at the time so the timing was unfortunate, but my intentions were good.

I'm not sure where this Toronto place is, but by the sounds of it they've come to their senses and are at least staying out of the country.  I'm not sure why I can't go with them, but the thought of a long car ride makes me queasy and one with human children even more so.  The blasted creatures take up all the room on the seats and expect me to sit on the floor.  So it appears your den is the lesser of two evils.

You are looking forward to seeing me soon I'm sure.

Yours truly,

Hunter

Dear Buddy....

Although it was great to spend the day with you yesterday, I hate the non-city.  Nasty, hot, bug infested place full of large non-dog like looking creatures that smell like hamburg and made my mouth water.  I wanted to chase them but she wouldn't let me.  She said something about a bull what ever the heck that is.  Like I couldn't handle getting myself lunch.  Huh. 

I did manage to have a lovely dirt bath and it was indeed good to see you my friend.

I go where she goes so I felt as repulsive as the non-city is I knew I needed to be there.  I heard Mr. P. saying to his brother, "guess who's dog he is...."  Like I belonged to her.  I've heard the words "love" and "devoted" used when refering to my feelings for her by people.  Heehee!  I like her best because she gives the most treats and spends a large part of her waking hours at coffee shops.  When we stop at one when on one of our walks she buys me a little something out of guilt.  I just make big puppy eyes and she's putty in my hands.  And he says I'm the one whos devoted.

It sure was good to get back home after a day on the "farm" as you called it.  I have to say, if it's takes appearing to be devoted to some human female to keep my place in the city, then I'm on it!  Air conditioning, leather couch, comfortable bed and my own bowls are worth it.  Wouldn't you give up a bit of dignity for the good life, or at least for balogna? 

Waggily Yours,

Hunter