Our dog is growing. Okay, this is an understatement. The ball of fuzz we brought home in the beginning of August was 9 pounds and as of the middle of last week, he weighed 65 pounds.

Picture me bringing home a new bathroom scale. Next, picture me hopping on the cheap piece of junk, coaxing Koda over, picking him up and waiting 9 long seconds as the digital scale proceeds to blink over and over while it's apparently got a "I'm thinking about what your total weight might be... almost got it... okay, just a few more seconds and theeen I'll have your weight for you..." feature built in. (Note to self: the maximum weight you can carry in both hands while hunched over and teetering on a bathroom scale is 65 pounds)

Koda's breed is good if you've got a flock of sheep and want to keep them on your land. In lieu of a hilltop and flock of sheep, Koda's got our staircase that overlooks our picturesque living room and three crazy roomates that sometimes run around in circles out in the backyard together simply to make him feel like the working dog he was meant to be.

Koda's favorite spot is this staircase, which was great back on October 13 when he was 25 pounds and could fit his fluffy butt and legs on the stairs. Now fast-forward 3.5 months, and he's more than doubled in size and has to utilize a crazy 45 degree angle leg maneuvar to prop himself up as he literally spills over one stair to the other. We don't have the heart to break it to him that it is entirely possible that he will have 45+ more pounds to contend with. Maybe my dad can help me build a jumbo staircase that we can wheel in from the garage every morning so Koda can eternally enjoy his favorite spot.

ah, the nostalgia

After several hours of doing internet research on art fairs, I have grown weary of the task and must amuse myself through providing incriminating photos.

These are from Brandon's last birthday. It was one of my favorite nights ever.


Here the ladies offer up our best 1993 dance moves.

Brandon, Dan (Justin's brother), Cara and Justin having the time of their lives, Dirty Dancing style.


A little something I like to do after shouting, "SISTER WORM!" in unison with my sister.

Ow-- my head hurts. I should have been in bed at 9:00 p.m., but anyone who knows me knows that I will stay up and be a night owl no matter how I'm feeling or what my body is telling me. How silly is that?

I made cupcakes tonight. There were 12, and now I am afraid there are only 7 left. And there are just 2 of us home tonight. Oops. Sometimes having too many cupcakes is good for the soul, right? That's what I heard on Oprah last week.

I am delirious, so must hit the sheets.

Everyone's blogs have been so quiet lately! I haven't had much energy for anything other than posting dog pictures lately. It's rough- not sure if it's a post-holiday thing or what. How's everyone else been? Bored, tired, busy?

Sometimes I make a grid and draw like my dad. Okay, so I never usually draw a grid and draw using the intricate detail my dad uses, with the exception of an art class that I can barely admit I took well over 6 years ago. Here's a drawing of my dog that I started tonight- a work-in-progress for sure. I think I'm going to choose a palette of 3 or 4 bright colors and paint a portrait of Koda. I was inspired after seeing some amazing pet watercolor paintings from an artist on eBay. Wishing I could have something commissioned, but seriously lacking the money to spend on such a thing, it suddenly dawned on me that although I'm pretty sure my first attempt may not be a "10," I own all the supplies needed to give it a shot.

When I first started drawing, it looked as though I had drawn one fuzzy oval with 4 small freckles inside. A bit of patience and about 200 pencil strokes later- wait- it almost resembles a dog! I don't think it's very Koda-like right now, but that's the beauty of art-- you just keep on keeping on until you are finally satisfied with the end result. I think a lot of art is just being patient and persistent, and learning how to keep going until that awkward feeling goes away. I probably only spent about a half hour on this drawing, and frankly, it looks a tad like I'm drawing the grownup Simba from Lion King I- but I shall continue working through it.

Koda, snoozing on one of my many art messes. I'm pretty sure that watching me make stuff all night tires the little guy out, as he thinks to himself, "Wow- a full-time day job and art on the side? I live with a virtual Wonder Woman!" Either that, or it bores him to tears.

Yeah, pretty sure it's the second option... :)

I hope this works! This is my entertainment this evening.

http://www.moonwaterdesigns.com/blogimages/100_3761.MOV

Busy! Tagged and packaged 30 charms to send to Archival Elements in Sioux Falls. Included a Paris-themed necklace with the Eiffel Tower and the text "bonjour" on a sterling silver link chain with neat silver rustic-looking beads. I most often can part with the things I create- something about sending them off into the world just feels right, but had a hard time with this one. If I was the "maybe I'll keep it" type of artist, this one definitely would have been a keeper. But alas, some lovely soul in Sioux Falls will hopefully give it a good home.

I have a few new shops interested in my things, but have been too busy to follow up with them. Also been too busy for sleep, which explains why I've been horribly cranky lately. And on that note- I have to get to bed before midnight tonight. I promised myself.

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
~ Mary Oliver

I think we all have dreams and goals- some are deep-seeded things we don't allow to surface while others are more apparent or outward. Came across this great site tonight that helps individuals build a Mission Statement. Anytime you can discover a better understanding of yourself in 10 minutes is something worth checking out.

Want to check it out? Visit the Mission Builder. I just did the exercises, which are fairly quick and painless, and it's like a light bulb just went off- what a great exercise! Although I'm not a big "new year's resolutions" person, I do like to reflect on the direction my life is taking at least two times a year- after January 1st and on my birthday.

Happy new year, everyone!

Brandon and I had the most low key New Year's Eve ever. I was tired at 10 p.m., but forced myself to stay up to stay up until midnight. Was the Regis Philbin NYE special the worst thing you've ever seen? Unfortunately we have only two channels and it was either Regis or the show Cheaters. We chose Rege and his wife and the annoying NFL woman. It's pretty bad when you go in expecting a show like that to be full of cheese and it far exceeds the nonexistant expectations.