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Letters to CheeBah- The day were born.

Published

I met your parents Mia and Dakotah on a cold February Sunday.  I knew instantly when your dog momma couldn’t stop putting her paw on me, letting me know she approved of me having one of her babies.  I already had the deposit check written out and gave it to the breeder, Cheryl.  She said births would happen around the end of March and the beginning of April, so I patiently waited for the call.

On April 4th, 2015, you and your siblings came into the world, and I couldn’t wait to meet you.  CheeBah you had one other sister and four brothers.  Sadly, your sister didn’t make it, and her name was Hope it was then I knew we were destined to be together as I was the only girl with two brothers and two male cousins that were my dad’s twin brother’s boys; we were all very close. 

Cheryl was awesome allowing us pawrents weekly visits (pre-pandemic) so we could bond with our furbabies.  Week 1, you were black and white with a dot on your head (that’s how you got your middle name, Dotti). Week 2, I was able to hold you and give you kisses as you can see in the pictures I took of you, nothing could stop your growth and markings started to form.  Week 3 you knew your name and got a wiggle butt going when I can to get you out of the whelping box.  You would hug my arm as I talked to you and give you more kisses, letting you know you are a good girl. 
Week 4 you were walking around with confidence not wanting to hang out in Kaos that a few of your rumbustious brothers were causing; wanting to explore the world around you.  Week 5 more of your makings developed, and your bark was growing, still loved hugging my arm.  At 7 weeks I picked you up and took you home, you loved the car ride and had no fear just an inquisitive nature to explore what was around you.  It was Memorial Day weekend, and we continued to bond over that weekend,; I introduced you to my family and friends.  Your first pup friend was Elli, and you loved him right away even though he didn’t care for you and snapped at your face.  You thought that was love and changed that old pup’s heart.

To be continued…… Dog Park Peeps the next chapter

Steamy August in Lake Country

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Hello steamy Monday morning here in the Cabin Country. Looking dreary but I still find the peace this has to offer.  I Love these images taken from Mom’s lakeside windows, look closely and you will find peace.

backstory: I snapped these images with my iPhone because the dew added a lot of texture to the landscape outside, a watercolor vibe. The dew was on the outside part of the windows.

Two new works of art added to website

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Two new works of Art ready for their forever home!  Sunset flows small commando photozaic and Presque Isle River medium commando photozaic

Sunset flows- It is the sky that makes the earth so lovely at sunrise, and so splendid at sunset.  In one it breathes over the earth the crystal-like ether, in the other the liquid gold. By Thomas Cole.  I found fitting as I named Sunset Flow at image taken at Cole Beach.  Love synchronicities like this one, it was meant for me to photograph and share with you, the viewer.

Presque Isle River –And there I marveled at the forest’s trees; my soul rooted to its deep verdant sea.  I could no more leave it, than it could walk from me. By Angie Weiland- Crosby.  A combination of the forest and water is what recharges my soul’s needs.  For me nature is nourishment for the soul, so make sure to include this in your daily routine.

MVA Gallery

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The Pleasure of Small Art

Exhibition date October 23rd through November 21st2024

Location: MVA gallery

35 E Elizabeth Ave, Suite 313

Bethlehem, PA 18018



Website: https://www.mvaartgallery.com/

Hill is alive with color

Accepted work: Hill is alive with color

Autumn is Summer’s last party celebrating a colorful season, so step outside and participate in Mother Nature’s gorgeous grand finale! For me, it’s like the trees are excited to shed the old in a colorful magical way; getting ready for their much-needed hibernation to rejuvenate and start fresh coming spring.  

Commando photoziac artwork series statement:

My award-winning Photozaics are inspired by where Van Gogh’s textures meet Ansel Adam’s simplicity near the intersection of Bob Ross’ healing vibes. This technique is a labor-intensive multi-step process and starts with my journey into nature; recording the landscapes that spark my eye whether it be rolling hills or a babbling brook.  After modifying the composition, I take the print and head to the stained-glass shop to find matching colors.  I cut the glass by hand by taking smaller shards and placing them in a rock tumbler to remove sharp edges while larger pieces are sanded by hand and assembled in the frame.  Grouting finishes the artwork allowing the detail of each cut glass shape to add texture to my art.  This series I call commando, it’s liberating to see the photo in sync with the frame no boundaries separating these two mediums from dancing: just beautiful fluid flow.

Letters to CheeBah- the Beginning

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How I decided to get you.

CheeBah I am writing these stories of our adventures and wanted to share with you how I decided to bring you into my life.  It started with Uncle Kevin bringing home Bigsley( a Bow Tie Black Great Dane), and Uncle Tommy bringing home Bandit (a mixed pup with a little bit of everything).  These were known at Aunties Boys, and I would spoil them every time we gathered and Grandma and Grandpa’s home for the holidays.  Then I realized I wanted a furbaby and started researching what kind of Pup I needed.  Due to my condo restrictions on dog size, I chose the Corgi breed.   After a lot of searching and finding the right breeder, I came across your mom Mia, and dad Dakotah.  Funny looking back on it now, but your mom picked me and knew she had the perfect baby for me.  So, I put money down before you were born and patiently waited for you to enter this world.  You got your mom’s ears, markings, and love of people; from your dad, you got his head, smile and OMG you are my best friend to anyone that came to our home.

Bandit and Bigsley- AKA Aunties Boys

CheeBah- Daddy Dakota- Mommy Mia



CheeBah your name came from a few places; I loved the movie Sand Lot my favorite phrase in the movie was, “You are killing me, smalls!”  and my love of my Boys – Bigsley was a large dog, Bandit, and a medium-sized so why not a small dog.  I googled Welsch for Small Dog and Chia Bach is the original spelling of your name, but Uncle Kevin kept calling you Chewbacca, so I changed the spelling to CheeBah making it easier for people to pronounce.  Well to my surprise CheeBah is known as a herbal that people wrap up to smoke and relax from daily stresses.  It took me six months to realize this and laughed at people’s expressions when I told them your name.  I don’t look like a herbal smoker.. LOL

To be continued………………..


a Tribute to CheeBah Dotti McGuire

Published

9-5-2024 9:45 AM

Today the sunset on CheeBah Dotti McGuire’s time with me here on Earth, she earned her angel wings, and I couldn’t be prouder!  As I write this memorial with tears streaming down my face like Niagara Falls, I reflect on our wonderful life; she’s my Soul puppy, best friend, Road trip buddy, and studio assistant I could have asked for.  It will be hard for me to start a new life without her but I know it is her time to go and I can’t hold her back from flying high to the heavens to play with Grandpa McGuire, Auntie Pat, and Geri, Bigsley, Bandit, Floyd, Stones and her finance Sarge; knowing she is going to be taken care brings some joy to my broken heart.  She loved going on adventures didn’t matter where as long as she was with me.  She loved her Dog Park friends and their Pawrents; running around playing tug of war and rolling is smelly stuff.  Lymes Disease took her body but couldn’t dim her bright light, she was a healer to those who were hurting or in pain from Cancer.

When Cheebs was just 8 weeks old I was doing an art show at Rochester Mayo and so many people came to see my art, but she was the prize- so many cancer patients were picking her up and smelling her “puppy breath” not realizing that she’s healing these souls.  The one that still sticks in my head today was a little boy in a Stroller that his dad brought him to Cheebs and he would squeal and giggle as she would sniff his little socks, giving him kisses and the little guy’s soul was laughing in pure joy, this went off on all day and at the point, I realized her talents.

CheeBah you will always be my furbaby and thank you for these wonderful 9 ½ years I only wished it was the 20 you promised me! LOL Your pawprints are forever imprinted on my heart and when it’s time for another dog to come into my life- I will know you sent them.

The Cabin Show at Dow Gallery

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The Cabin Show at Dow Gallery

Exhibition dates: august 17th through October 5th, 2024

Location: 2242 University Ave W, St. Paul, MN 55114

Website: https://www.dowartgallery.com/

The great news just keeps pouring in!  I have two more works accepted into the Cabin Art show just minutes from my home! 

Accepted works:

End of Day

Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully by Kristen Butler- Go out and be one with Mother Nature; allow her to show you we are all one with the universe.  So, fill your heart with beautiful images that keep your Soul’s light shining bright!  End of Day reminds me of a symphony, where all participants flow in harmony and my camera is the composer- one of the best gifts given to me from nature. 

Beach Life

Life is like an Ocean or in this case a Great Lake; sometimes it can be calm, rough waves, gorgeous blue waters, or jet black with white caps but at the end of the day it is always beautiful.   Simple views like this help me recharge my soul, releasing creativity like endorphins after a workout so I can share my visual art to the world.

Haven: Place of Comfort & Contemplation

Published

Exhibition Dates: August 15- September 22, 2024

282 S. High Street

Sebastopol, CA 95472

https://www.sebarts.org

Hint of Gold

Robert Frost wrote this perfectly:  Nothing Gold Can Stay.  Nature’s first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold.  Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then the leaf subsides to leaf So Eden Sank to grief, so dawn goes down today.  Nothing gold can Stay.  This view recharges my soul, I love sitting on my parent’s shoreline watching the sunsets and June didn’t disappoint. There’s no better way to reflect on a beautiful day than watching the sunset, knowing tomorrow will be just as amazing.  I enjoy my time spent with Mom especially after Dad passed away a few years back.  It’s funny how life’s perspectives change after you lose a parent.  I know that someday my time witnessing these beautiful sunsets on my parent’s shoreline will end but they will forever be locked inside my heart.

Beauty in the Ordinary

Published

Exhibition dates: August 1st-31st 2024

https://www.avacenter.org

Yellow Gerber Daisy

There’s a difference between pretty and beautiful.  When someone is pretty, they have a good appearance, but when someone is beautiful, they shine from the inside out. – by Rishikajain.