Strut Your Mutt- #13

Well, yesterday I completed my first item on my The 13 Project list....

Of course, it was #13 on the list, but heck, who said that I had to complete them in order?

Best Friends Animal Society

Guess what their mission is?

"EVERY DAY, more than 9,000 pets are unnecessarily killed in America's shelters simply because they don't have a home. Each one an individual. Each one a valued life worth saving. 9,000.
That number should be zero. And it can be. Best Friends Animal Society and our No More Homeless Pets Network Partners are joining together to bring that number to zero."
Crazy huh?! 9,000 pets!!
To get involved or learn more about the work of Best Friends Animal Society,

please visit http://www.bestfriends.org/index.htm

Looks like someone I know...

Murphy loves to strut his stuff around town...

Well, kind of...groups make him nervous,

but his best furry friend was there to make his worries diminish.

Miss IO makes him really happy and a more confident dog.

Look of bliss...

There were so many interesting things to look at,

that they needed a little focus to help me snap a picture of both of them...

...a cookie. 

It works every time. :0)

Okay...here we go Murph!

Before we started walking, he became anxious...

Murphy doesn't understand why people are just waiting around. 

He likes to move!

As soon as we started moving,

his tail went up and he had a purpose again.

What's he purpose?

Strutting of course!

Oh, and to keep everyone else moving in the right direction too.

Keep on strutting Murphy. 

Strut for the pets that don't have homes yet.

Together, we can help to make homeless pets a thing of the past. :0)

 

P.S. It was an exciting day for many reasons, but I hope that Murphy's sweet face can help their campaign. Murphy had a special photo session at the walk because he looked so much like their mascot.  They also asked me to sign a waiver to allow them to use his pictures in the future for advertisements.  Wouldn't that be cool?! My rescue boy helping others?  It would be an honor. :0)

See the resemblance?



The 13 Project

 Thanks to one of my favorite blogs,
Pretty Fluffy, for such a fabulous idea!

What a better way to end 2012,

than creating 13 goals for the 13 weeks left in the year

to help my favorite creatures on the planet.

You know what those creatures are, right?!

Now do you remember?

My best furry friends....Dogs.

I can't imagine my life without a dog and thankfully I've never had to. 
When one best friend goes to heaven, God sends me another...

Oh man!  I can't wait to get to heaven and see them all again.  That is going to be an amazing day!

 

This is Murphy's girl-friend, IO. 

We just LOVE HER!

Just another amazing example of the kind of love waiting at a shelter to be adopted. 

IO was given a second-chance home,

and Murphy and I are so lucky that she was adopted into our neighborhood!

Unfortunately, not every furry friend is as lucky as Murphy and IO.

So this is how I'm going to help throughout 2013.
 

1. Promote animal projects and events in my classroom to build awareness and involvement with my students.

2.Volunteer to help at a local fundraiser with DoveLewis Animal Hospital. 

3. Organize a craft night with my friends to cut and sew dog beds for Fences for Fidos.

4. Donate monthly to Charlie Fund, helping abused animals get the care and treatment that they deserve.  Abuse should never, never happen...but if it does we can help them heal.

5. Create an animal events board in my classroom.

6. Sew dog toys and make dog rope toys to donate to a local animal shelter.

7. Purchase a 2013 DoveLewis Calendar- all proceeds go to the DoveLewis Blood Bank.
8. Write one blog post about animal advocacy, events or organization each month.
9. Walk my neighborhood and pick up animal waste, especially in the park. Not everyone picks up the poop.
10.  Leave extra dog waste bags at the park to encourage others to pick up the poop.
(Most do...but some don't.)

11. Use Pinterest to show amazing animals that need homes in my area.
12. Instead of Christmas gifts, encourage friends to bring a bag of dog or cat food to donate to The Pongo Fund.
13. Strut our stuff at Strut Your Mutt walk for the Best Friends Animal Society.

This list makes me so happy!!! I'm not going to wait to get started...Murphy and I walk everyday so today is better than ever to get started in my park. :0)

Don't you want to awake your soul?

Join me and Pretty Fluffy in The 13 Project.

Maybe you can create your own list, or help with mine...

                            W

 

Wagging tails and big hearts will thank you!

Recipe for Friendship

Time is a funny thing.
I know that I'm mid-thirties now, but there are certain people that make me feel 20 again.
Looking across the table at them, I feel like it could be 1995, '96, '97, or any year around then.

The difference is, that it's not...
...but it feels that way.
Of course, we used to talk about silly things...boys, classes, funny things about neighbors...
oh wait, we still talk about silly things...
Now it's silly things that their kids do, or say...things that my students do, or say...and boys...
Time has changed, but I still feel the same. 
Especially about my dear friends.
Nothing provides comfort like them.
I love that they know my past and my present.
If only they could see the future too.
But somehow, I kind of think that they can see my future.
They know that everything is going to be fabulous.
They encourage...listen...care...and love.
Mostly, they make my sparkle brighter.
Last week I felt my sparkle dull.
I really fought hard against the muck, but somehow, I felt it cling to my shine.
After dinner with my two roomies, I felt sparklier than I had all week.
Everyone should be so lucky to have friends like that.
I know how lucky I am.

So here is my recipe for friendship if you feel your sparkle beginning to dull...

...set up a dinner date with a couple a dear friends.

Soon, your sparkle will be back and brighter than ever.

Oh, and a really good restaurant with delicious food and wine doesn't hurt either.
I suggest a local spot, known for those things and a laid-back atmosphere that encourages guests to chat the evening hours away.

And that's just what we did...



Recipe
503.487.6853
115 N. Washington St.
Newberg, OR 97132reservations@recipeaneighborhoodkitchen.com
Hours:
Tues - Thurs 11:30am - 9pm
Fri - Sat 11:30am -10pm

 

Painting My Pet

As soon as I saw pictures of the previous class, I knew that I had to sign up for the next one.
I had to paint a Murphy picture.
It was difficult to choose one picture, so I sent the teacher three...
I made her choose, and I think she made a good choice.

This is a silly photo, but definitely represents all of his unique personality and physical traits.
-goofy grin
-ex-large tongue
-sparkling eyes
and...
-HUGE fangs.



I was nervous...How do I capture all of those traits in a painting?
Thank goodness I had someone to help me, thanks Jenny, and my mom to encourage me.
Vine Gogh makes this process easier to handle.

Border Collies group together...the couple next to me had a pair of them.  It seemed appropriate to paint next to each other too.

Look who's on the other side...sweet Roy.

 

 My mom is intently working on Roy's background...solid raspberry for Roy

...Goofy circles for Murphy.

 He is starting to look less like a cartoon...

 

...and more like my sweet dog. Now I just need to add a few highlights to his fur, and with the help of our teacher Jenny, my painting looked like my Murphy.  He didn't even know what to think of it!  I think that he was looking for the dogs' tush, so that he could see if it was a real dog.

 I think it turned out pretty well...if I do say so myself.


If you're looking for a fun class and a way to capture the personality of your furry best friend, I would highly recommend this class. :0)

Vine Gogh
Vine Gogh Artist Bar & Studio
7956 SE 13th Ave Portland OR, 97202 -
PH: (971)266-8983
Email: vinegoghpdx@gmail.com

Sassy Boots

I've got my sassy boots on...
...so watch out world, these boots are kickin' booty!

This week has been kicking me down,

but today I'm taking it all back.

I'm climbing back up,

and nothing is going to stand in my way,

'cause my sassy boots are on.

Walking around today, I pictured myself like this...

...but instead of sassy pants, I've got on my sassy boots.
click, click, click...
My sassy boots...














Today really changed things for me...
No, the students weren't any different.
I still had many challenges...
I mean, it was still a Friday with hundreds of middle school students,
but somehow it was different.
Oh, yeah...I felt sassy...
...and nothin' in the world was going to stand in my way today.

I smiled bigger, strutted a little more, and clicked my way through the day.
With each click of my heel, I pictured myself as the sassy-pants kid.

At least now I know how to change things around.
Sure, I might still have a bad day...even with my boots on...
...but at least with the boots, my attitude will be sassy.

So, this is my advice...
If you need to change the way your week is going,
go ahead, put on something sassy...
Sassy pants, sassy boots, and a sassy attitude will do wonders.
And watch out world,
when we've all got our sassy on, there is nothing we can't do.

Now go! Get out and strut around in your sassy pants!

Happiness = My Dog

Today was a rough day.
The school year is in full-swing, and I'm sure that you know this, but in case you didn't...
Class sizes are HUGE! We're creeping up very, very close to 40 students per class.
I really love teaching, but some days are rough.
Today was one of those days...





Don't get me wrong...I love the sun,
But it makes classroom life a bit, well, challenging.
Oregon students know how to deal with the rain. 
Heck, they're experts at dealing with mud puddles and walking into sideways rain.
The problem is that the students are still in summer mode.
They see the beautiful sun and want to run, jump, and play with their friends. 
I don't blame them...that sure sounds like fun to me too.
The problem is that I'm in teaching mode. 
I want to help them discover, listen, discuss, and think.
They want to play. Sigh.

So...Today was challenging.
The sun was beaming into my classroom, beckoning the kids outside...
...it was a problem.
This was not the only challenge today, but just one more to add to the list.

All in all...it... was... rough.
But all of the little things that challenge me during my day,
                                                            drift away when I open my front door.

My Murphy is waiting for me.

He's been waiting all day and it shows.
Murphy may not know this, but I've been waiting to see him too.
(Though, I think he does know.)
We have a silly little routine the moment I get home.
I won't describe it, 'cause it's a little silly. 
Let's just say that it involves jumping, hugs, happy cries and even a little dancing around the kitchen.

Like I said...silly.
But I wouldn't change a thing.


After that...
Somehow the world makes sense again.
And our little dance of joy helps to take away any rough spots in my day.

Today I needed a little more Murphy hugs.


I watched him run around in the sun.  I smile and giggle at this silly, silly dog.

We play.
...and soon enough I'm ready to face the challenges that tomorrow will bring.
I will help my students discover, listen, discuss, and think.
But Mr. Sunshine...could you tone it down a little?
Don't go away completely,
               but can you wait until after my last English class?  Please?!
Fine...never mind.
Good thing Murphy listens to me...
...well, most of the time, even when Mr. Sunshine won't.