News Flash: Rogue Squirrel Nabbed!

Our campus has had a number of squirrel emergencies over the past year or so. Because of frequent feeding by humans, the animals have become bold and brazen!! They enter buildings, demand lunch from picnickers, charge at passers-by, and terrorize staff and students alike. This particular interloper has met it's match:

"Thanks to John Gwaltney Beaumont, the squirrel residing in the Sylvania Print Center, CC 113 press room is CAPTURED! The squirrel will participate in the PCC catch and release program. Thank you everyone for your concern, advice, suggestions, and moral support during our squirrel crisis, and a special thanks to John!" (source: college email)

Luckily, we have enough talented folks around here to outsmart the little tyrants....

If you've ever worked at a college or university, you know that educated folks can get overwrought by most anything. Last year there was a whole email exchange about the "squirrel problem" - folks were actually advocating capture of the worst offenders, a squirrel relocation program, and maybe even (gasp!) humanely disposing of the furry offenders. The debate raged for awhile and then something else came along to capture people's attention. Ever since, when an absurd topic/situation comes up, it becomes known as the latest "Squirrel Crisis". It's actually quite hilarious and has given some of us a good laugh.

EP

Funny Pets

When I came home from work tonight, I found this string in the animals' water dish. This is one of Emu's favorite toys. It's the waist string from an old skirt that she drags around the house and I find it everywhere.

She has a funny habit of dropping her favorite things into the water dish. I find little toy mice or bottle caps or Q-tips in the water. For awhile, she would steal my makeup brushes every day and I'd find them in the water dish. Maybe she's part raccoon???

Then tonight I found Jack under this pile of pillows on the sofa. I'm not sure how he got under them, but I do know he did it all by himself. I was doing exercises in the living room and he and I were the only ones there.  I guess he likes to burrow.  He was so cute I had to take a photo.

EDM Challenge #111 - Draw a Bowl, Plus Jack!!

Here are my drawings for the Everyday Matters bowl challenge, #111. I used a green stoneware vegetable serving bowl from the kitchen. I made two drawings - one in pen and watercolor and one in pastels.  I thought I'd put them both up.

I have come to realize that I am a bit obsessive when it comes to color application. That doesn't work very well with watercolor, because the paint can't be messed with too much. Once it's on the paper, one can't go over it too many times - which I always want to do.

This challenge has really been a challenge!

Here's my dog Jack, in full performance mode. It was a sunny day last weekend and we went to the dog park: "Gimme That Treat Will Ya???"

Busted.....

This is my dog, Jack. Most of the time he's a well behaved, semi-obedient dog.

If you look closely, you will see little bits of kitty litter on the rug. If you happen to have both cats and dogs living in your house, you may be aware of this very nasty habit. For some reason, our Sheltie loves to eat cat poop. It's very gross. The vet says it's because cat food has more protein, which then comes out in the....er....byproduct. No matter how many times I scold Jack, he's back for more. Very bad dog.....

This week he had to go for another acupuncture treatment. He's been having acupuncture for a bum ankle since about Thanksgiving. At first it was a couple of times a week, then once a week, then every two weeks, now about every 6 weeks. He also had pills and massage therapy and heat. He had tripped in a gopher hole and was lame in one front leg. No one could find the exact problem, despite x-rays and several vet visits. Evidently, he pulled a tendon or ligament. The acupuncture has really helped him! He can bear weight on the leg and go for walks. But it ain't cheap and he doesn't like it!

EDM Challenge #110: Draw Something With a Flame

Here's my drawing of something with a flame, in ink and watercolor. It's an older candle on a pewter stand. The top edges have started to melt inward and the sides have gotten thin. The paper I used has horizontal ridges in it, so the colors wanted to blend sideways.

I'm glad that it's Friday! We had another busy week at the college. Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and we're going to a friend's house for dinner. We were told to bring beer and a good Irish verse.

The sun was out today and the sky was blue. Robins have been around. some daffodils are up. It must be spring.....

EP

Drawing Josie

I've been sketching and painting my white kitty Josie. She's a long-haired, blue-eyed, white cat with five toes on each foot. She's named after relatives (Rick's grandmother and my great grandmother were both named Josephine). She loves to sleep on the arm of the sofa, propped up against a pillow. This is my first attempt to draw her.

Here is a photo of Josie, sitting under the rocking chair. She's our second white cat - the first was Sophie, who died about five years ago (she was the inspiration for my yahoo name "whitefluff"). Josie was a stray from the Humane Society. When she first came to live with us, she acted like a prairie dog or gopher when she ate. She'd take a quick bite and then get up on her haunches to survey the area before taking another bite. She still loves to chew on plastic bags, hoping there's something tasty inside. She has also learned that the bags make a loud rustling noise..... especially early in the morning......which wakes people up......which is really ANNOYING!!

Our other cat is Emu. She's 10 years old now. She got her name because of her unusual coloring that resembles the black-beaked bird. Emu is a quirky, funny, tiny cat who is now the matriarch of the pet family. She even bosses the Sheltie around and whacks him on the nose when he enters her territory.


EP

EDM Challenge #109: Draw a Clock

The Everyday Matters Challenge this week is to draw a clock. Most of the clocks in our house are digital - on the stove, on the microwave, on the radio/alarm clock. Digital clocks have very little charm.

This little brass clock is an antique from my grandparents. It's about 5 inches tall, 3 1/2 inches wide, and very cute. Unfortunately, the hands no longer work.

Work has been really, really busy for the past two weeks. We are registering students for spring term classes and they always wait till the last minute to take care of things. Everyone needs help NOW!!

Thankfully, tomorrow is Friday!

EP

Light Bulb Challenge Redux...

I already posted a drawing for the light bulb challenge. Tonight I was messing around and painted another light bulb - a curly fluorescent type. This time I included the actual bulb in the photo.

Today was a pretty lazy Saturday. I spent the afternoon reading and napping with the animals. This morning we went to the library for more books and stopped at the Nike Outlet Store. Rick's birthday is this week, so I bought him a golf shirt.

We finally had some sun today, which was great to see! I hope it lasts! My sister, The Old Bag , lives in Minneapolis and they have had 20 inches of snow in the past two weeks. She's got some great pictures on her blog from the week. Now, that's real bad winter weather!! We lived there the winter they got 100 inches of snow and I do not miss it.

EP