Cliffy's Mom's Blog

Splash!

2011-07-12T13:34:00.000-04:00

Clifford is enjoying another summer up on Drummond Island. Here is his "oops" moment where he rolled too close to the water's edge when enjoying a sand bath. Cliffy is on tour this summer visiting libraries. He goes right in the library and is a big hit with the kids. He's promoting our summer reading program, "Horse Tales From Around the World". We are teaching a little bit about the history of the horse and kicking some ideas around about how to make the world a better place. You can see Clifford's tour schedule on my website.

Today's Project - Elephants

2011-05-20T11:00:00.002-04:00

Wouldn't it be nice if all families cared for and honored each other like this? "Family Columns" a pastel on charcoal paper, about 9x12". I wanted to show the bond between a baby elephant and the adults in the group. I love elephants and have had a couple of interesting interactions with them over the years. It would be cool to see them in the wild. I expect they are getting lots of attention now that "Water for Elephants" is in theatres -- which by the way is a film definitely worth seeing, especially if you love animals.

Today's Equine Art - Zenyatta

2011-04-10T12:07:00.002-04:00

When I started researching Zenyatta I was struck by the length and beauty of her neck. I decided to portray her with neck arched as if during warmup. This is oil pencil, 9 x 12". She is listed in my Etsy shop.

Today's Project - Weimeraner

2011-04-05T13:42:00.003-04:00

Beau is a sweet rescued Weimeraner who lives in Tennessee. His mom Dana is a wonderful mosaic artist. I was lucky enough to trade one of her beautiful plates for this portrait of Beau. This piece is 9 x 12", pastel.

Today's Equine Art

2011-03-20T16:26:00.003-04:00

Here's an Andalusian concentrating hard on what is probably a sidepass. I like the colors in this; subtle shades of blue, yellow and rust. Oil pencil and conte on black. I listed it on eBay.

Today's Equine Art

2011-01-19T22:05:00.002-05:00

Clifford inspires yet another new piece. This is oil pencil and conte, about 12 x 12". It is listed on eBay.

Today's Project: Horses

2011-01-13T23:07:00.003-05:00

Dad took one look at this and started laughing. I'd tried to disguise him by changing the blaze, but couldn't. Here are two Cliffords! I did this to donate to the Michigan Morgan Horse Futurity Gala silent auction fund raiser. This is oil pencil, approx 9x12"

A Whole New Year

2011-01-02T21:31:00.006-05:00

We welcome 2011 after bidding a sad farewell to my Mom who passed away on New Year's Eve. Clifford managed to make her last days memorable by not only performing for the nursing home, but by visiting her in her room on Christmas Eve! I will never forget these moments and will always be grateful to Clifford for such a unique and wonderful memory.

Today's Equine Art - Secretariat

2010-10-22T18:38:00.003-04:00

I break out of an artistic hiatus with another portrait of Secretariat, the big red horse who, even years after his death, still continues to inspire the masses. I was eleven years old when I watched him win the Belmont Stakes. It still gives me goosebumps. I'm so glad I got to see it happen live.

This is oil pencil, approximately 9 x 12".

Today's Project - Dolphins

2010-06-24T17:34:00.004-04:00

More victims of the Gulf oil spill -- I think this is my subconscious attempt to make them okay.

This piece is oil pencil and pastel on grey charcoal paper, about 10 x 13". It is on eBay. As the ad explains, the scan doesn't do justice to the myriad of colors in this piece -- there are blues, purples, yellow and other hues blending to add depth and movement to the scene.

Clifford Rearing

2010-06-18T22:55:00.003-04:00

Clifford is doing really well on his new trick, now learning to use and "strike out" with his front feet a little. We will work on a little longer "up" time as his muscles strengthen. He really enjoys doing this trick! Here are a couple of funny shots his Aunt Vickie snapped today.

Today's Project - Brown Pelican

2010-06-16T22:03:00.003-04:00

Feeling pretty sad today about the situation in the Gulf -- so I drew this pelican as a sort of prayer for the birds and other wildlife. This is about 11x15", oil pencil, called, "To Blue Water".

Today's Project - Raven

2010-06-13T22:08:00.002-04:00

This was a commission for someone's dad who likes to feed eggs to a raven friend. She asked for a collage and I wanted to make it sort of mystical, due to all the lore associated with the raven. This is 11x15", pastel on grey charcoal paper.

Learning to Rear on Cue

2010-06-13T22:05:00.002-04:00

His rearing trick is coming along well!

Today's Project - Palomino

2010-06-07T14:23:00.001-04:00

Here's a Palomino who's just a tetch excitable. This piece is listed on eBay.

Clifford Walks for Autism

2010-06-07T14:04:00.003-04:00

My Morgan is a kid magnet! He enjoyed the attention of a crowd at the Flushing Michigan Walk for Autism on Saturday. Clifford performed with the Classic K9 Dog Show and did his tricks for an enthusiastic audience. He spent the rest of the afternoon posing for pictures like this!

Targeting

2010-05-20T21:53:00.006-04:00

Clifford is working with a new target stick -- a modified longe whip. Even after years of longeing, in just a few minutes, Clifford figured out that he needed to follow the stick instead of moving away from it. Surprised the heck out of me! He was trotting BEHIND it instead of AHEAD of it, following it over little jumps and everything! Is this just using another part of the brain, or what? Hoodathunk he could still have such a bag of tricks after all these years.

Clifford's Book Signing Debut

2010-05-10T10:01:00.009-04:00

I was a little concerned when I woke up to raging winds on the day of Clifford's debut at Borders Books. It was blowing so hard that some of the young trees were bending over and the rain was flying sideways. The forecast called for 40 mph winds all day, along with temperatures dropping to 40 degrees.

Great.

I called Jon Sheldon, my friend who had volunteered to bring his truck, hitch up Wheelzebub and haul Clifford to Brighton for the show. Jon had a prior engagement later that morning. "I don't want to put Clifford through this," I said. "You go ahead and go to your other thing, and we can wait and see if the weather clears."

Over the course of the morning I discussed weather et al with Clifford's publicity consultant, Ken Scarnegie and we decided to cancel the event. We knew that no press would show up and probably not much public either. Besides, we wouldn't be able to set up the tent in this wind. I knew the layout of the Borders store and couldn't think of a spot that would be dry and safe for Clifford to sign books. We asked, but even though Clifford is basically housebroken, they were not going to let him inside the store.

Several minutes after the decision was reached, I got a call back from Ken. "We have another problem here," he said. "The Borders manager just told me they have corporate people coming."

"You know what? I'm going over there. I'm going to just see what the weather is like in Brighton and get an idea of the situation."

My friend Vickie Sheathelm showed up from Roscommon about that time and we drove to Brighton together. We were greeted by a very enthusiastic Borders staff. They had a table set up with fifty or so books on it. I placed Clifford's painting on an easel behind the table and sat down to do the signing by myself.

The local store manager, Dan, came out and introduced himself and said, "We can have Clifford back in the loading dock. It's protected from the wind."

He walked me back behind the store and showed me the enormous three-sided loading dock with high brick walls. I really wanted Clifford to be there. I decided if worse came to worst, this would work.

I called Ken. "You know what? We're going to do this. When you get here, we'll take your truck and go get Clifford."

Ken arrived and we drove back to the farm in Gregory and hauled Wheelzebub with a big white truck that has, "K9 Classic" on the sides of it.

I showed him the loading dock and Ken said, "No. We didn't go through all this to have Clifford behind the store. Does Vickie know Clifford well enough to unload and handle him while you go inside and sign books?"

"She does, but I have to stay with Clifford," I said.

I unloaded Cliffy and we walked right up to the front door of Borders and we stayed there all afternoon. It was cold, but there was a small lee from the wind there. People came. They had heard my radio interview the day before, or, they happened to be driving by and spotted a horse, and stopped to look.

Clifford was in his element. Out in the parking lot, the wind swirled and blew icy rain, but in our little corner, Clifford greeted people and posed for photos like the pro that he is.

His book signing efforts were sporadic events. He managed to get paint all over his nose, and all over me, but he was more interested in checking out the people who showed up, especially the little kids, and looking at himself in the window.

I didn't recognize the corporate manager of Borders, who stood watching the proceedings for a long time, while Clifford did his tricks and greeted people and made them laugh.

"I can't get over how calm he is," he told Ken, later. "Nothing scares him. And the bond between him and his owner is so obvious. This is amazing."

I answered questions about Clifford all that day, and told them that this is the trademark of the Morgan horse; their gregarious nature, their acceptance and curiosity in new situations.

I said to Ken, "Do you understand now why I have to stay with Clifford?"

"Oh yes," he said. "Absolutely."

Borders sold a stack of books that day; I am not sure how many exactly. We had offered to buy back the remaining few, but they said no, they were keeping them! By the end of the afternoon, it was settled. Clifford's new job is to sell books. We're going on tour.

3 New Clifford Paintings

2010-05-03T16:17:00.006-04:00

Countdown to Clifford's book signing debut: 5 days! Just took him for a little ride. He was in rare form, playing around a lot, and then he blasted up the hill like a contender for the Kentucky Derby.

After the ride, we worked on some new paintings. In his enthusiasm, Clifford got paint all over everything today, including himself and me.

"Still Life", 11x15" I like the way he "grounded" this with the horizontal lines of color at the bottom.

"Apple Tree," I love this! The sweeping feel of it, and the flashes of color. This is his smallest piece so far, being only 9x12".

"Forsythia," 11x15", bright and bold!

Clifford's Book Signing at Borders Bookstore

2010-04-16T16:27:00.003-04:00

It's not every day you get the chance to have a book about a horse signed -- by the horse! Clifford will be making his debut appearance to sign his own books -- and his first time at a real bookstore! Borders in Brighton Michigan is hosting a big birthday bash for Clifford (who turns 19 this month) on May 8th, from 2-4 pm. Stop by and wish him a happy birthday, and pick up a copy of his trilogy, "Clifford of Drummond Island", "Return to Manitou", and "Clifford's Bay."

Drummond Island Wildlife Print

2010-04-12T19:02:00.003-04:00

I did this pen and ink drawing several years ago and it's the first time I ever had people standing in line to buy something from me. Although I prefer this in the original black and white version, everyone seemed to want theirs hand-colored, so I sat there coloring away while they waited patiently.

I have left out a few significant residents on the Island; including some that are special to me like the broad-winged hawk and kingfisher, and timber wolf. But there are always opportunities for future versions.

This is on eBay.

First Ride of Spring

2010-04-11T21:22:00.006-04:00

Clifford was in rare form today, eager to hit the road. I had a lot of preliminary work to do, pulling the burrs from his mane, forelock and tail. It took over an hour. He endured it all pretty patiently, but when he saw me getting books and watercolors out, he started getting excited. I can think of few things this horse likes better than painting. At any rate, he was able to vent his artistic urges on six or seven books. I gave him a couple of peppermints and then said, "Come on," and he followed me back into the stall. When I went out, he turned around and tried to follow me back out. I slid the door shut and he pinned his ears! Man, he was mad! He just wanted to keep signing books. I took some pictures of a few of our pages and listed one on eBay. I may list more.

I went and got the saddle and put it on him. He was so fidgety and excited from all this attention that he could barely stand still. When I pulled out the camera, he did manage to stand still just for a moment, to strike a pose.

We went down the road. I've been a little concerned about his knee this year, but have started dosing him with StemEquine. He did feel a little stiff in the beginning, but as we went along I felt him loosening up. We walked a couple of miles, and sure enough, by the time we got back to the bottom of the big hill, he was ready to rock and roll. He at first tried to gallop up across the neighbor's groomed lawn, to their hilltop. I pulled him back and kept him on track until we got to our driveway. He was dancing around and started rolling his head. I was cracking up! "You are behaving so badly!" I said. But I had a twinge -- that twinge of complete happiness known as the peak experience. It has been a long while since I've felt that.

"Oh, all right." I let him go. We blasted up that hill. The arthritis, the winter fat, the years fell away from both of us, for those windblown, galloping moments.

Being together for seventeen years causes you to know someone so well, but there is still so much joy in these routines. I am grateful to have a long term friend like Clifford.

Today's Equine Art - Morgan Horses

2010-02-20T14:43:00.004-05:00

I sometimes wonder if Clifford and Trudy know they are brother and sister. They are best buddies. Here they pause in a brief moment of mutual grooming. This rough sketch captures the movement and life in the portrait.

EBay link.

More "Color Horse" art, a Palomino Morgan in pastel on black, about 9x12".

Today's Equine Art

2010-02-06T11:29:00.003-05:00

This piece will be framed and sold tonight (hopefully) at the Michigan Morgan Futurity Gala. If it no-sales tonight, it will go up on eBay tomorrow. This is pastel, 10 x 13" on black charcoal paper.

Blue Heron Watercolor

2010-02-05T21:57:00.002-05:00

One of my favorites. Those of us who frequent shorelines and wetlands have certainly heard the familiar croak of this enormous bird. I've seen herons all over the country, from the rivers in Arizona to the rocky shores of my own Drummond Island Michigan. Natives and lovers of Drummond might be able to see the shape of the island camoflauged in the wing feathers -- to others it is just a nice watercolor of a big wading bird.

Ebay Link

Old Kitty Art

2010-02-02T09:01:00.004-05:00

Last night while looking for some charcoal paper I came across a pad that still had this drawing in it -- from 1995! It's a portrait of red and ruddy Somali kittens. I drew this during my period of temporary insanity (when I was still married and showing cats.) I am not sure what I was going to do with this piece, but it's on eBay now.

eBay link

Today's Equine Art - The Color Horse

2010-01-30T22:51:00.002-05:00

He started out as a Friesian, but just became more and more colorful the longer I worked on him. Now he resembles a sculpture or carousel horse.

Pastel on black charcoal paper, approx 11 x 15".

Ebay Link

The Horse Who Signs His Own Biography

2010-01-30T17:02:00.007-05:00

Clifford cracks me up. He and Trudy came running in for dinner this afternoon. I had this proof copy of the new book, "Clifford's Bay", which I decided to put up on eBay today. I told Clifford I had peppermints. I set the book on the barn aisle floor, propping it open with horseshoes as usual while he watched from his stall. I had a sponge all ready with color on it and laid it on the open facing page.

I slid his stall door open and he walked out and went directly to the book, and began pushing the sponge around. "Good boy!" I said. I gave him a peppermint, and then he started painting again. He earned two more peppermints and then I decided that was enough. I said, "Come on," and I went back toward his stall. He turned around as if to follow me, but when he saw where I was going, he just stopped and stood there looking at me.

"Come on," I said. "Come in here. Don't you want another mint?"

I even showed him the mint, and he actually turned around and went back to the book and started painting again! He wanted to keep working!

Forsaking candy for the creative endeavor? I guess he really is a true artist. I wish I had more books for him to sign.

Ebay link.

Today's Equine Art - Colors

2010-01-29T08:50:00.002-05:00

Here is something a little different - a Friesian on black. I like the life and flow in this piece, with the soft mix of colors. On black charcoal paper, approx. 9 x 12"

Ebay Link

Today's Dog Art - Newfoundland

2010-01-27T20:34:00.002-05:00

I still love painting Newfs after having lived with one for 11 years. From a distance this appears to be a black dog on black, but up close you can see that there are primary colors used for highlights and shading. This is approx. 9 x 12" on black charcoal paper.

This piece is on eBay for one day only.

Ms. Rip Update

2010-01-27T20:29:00.004-05:00

Several people thought that after our episode yesterday, Ms. Rip would want to stay away from the horses. Not so! Today she was eager to be back at work, keeping an eye on them as always. I did, however, leave Trudy penned up and Clifford was the only one to come out. He will roll a dog with his nose, but he never kicks at them.

Ms. Rip appears to be none the worse for wear, although I am keeping an eye on her and watching for any signs of seizure. So far so good. I think we got lucky.

Ouch!

Ms. Rip

2010-01-26T22:56:00.003-05:00

It was a traumatic evening for Ms. Rip and me. I had let the horses out on the lawn while I cleaned stalls. The snow is almost gone due to the past four days of rain, and they were eager to take advantage of the winter smorgasboard. Rip as always was keeping close watch on both of them. The temp had dropped, and Trudy was feeling a little frisky. She kicked up her heels -- and connected with the side of Rip's skull. I heard a "klunk" and looked up to see Rip lying in an unnatural position, belly-up. She lay there and started to bark. She was at the top of the hill, a bit of distance from me. Clifford and Trudy were quite surprised at her condition, standing side by side, stretching their necks out, sniffing at her as she lay there barking.

"Rip!" I said, and at the sound of my voice, she jumped up. She ran in a large circle, once, twice around the back yard, and then disappeared in front of the house.

I called her again and she came running, scooting up to me. I looked her over and couldn't see anything wrong.

"Boy, are you ever lucky!" I said.

I finished the stalls and put the horses away. Rip followed me into the house and I went to the cookie jar to get her a biscuit. When I looked down, I noticed sometihng strange about her eyes. In the dim indoor light, only one was dialated.

Off we went to Kern Road Veterinary Hospital. Rip's pupils, though not matching, were reactive, and Dr. Surch thought that was a good sign. She gave her an IV anti inflammatory and antibiotic. Rippy is home now so I can keep her under close watch for the night, in case she seizes again. Her eyes are looking better all the time, so I am optimistic.

The sweetest part of this story involves something that happened in the waiting room, before we were called in for the exam. I was sitting on the bench talking to the receptionist, and Rip was lying at my feet. A man came out of one of the exam rooms. He was carrying a rolled-up blanket under one arm. He didn't look at us or say anything, but Rip jumped up and tried to run to him. She wasn't on a leash, and I had to grab her and physically restrain her from going to this man. Rip is friendly, but this insistent behavior was completely out of character for her. Even after I had a hold of her collar, she still kept lunging and trying to get to him.

Intuitively, I knew exactly why, and Dr. Surch later confirmed this.

The man had just had his dog euthanized. Rip, even with what must have been a slamming headache, was moved to do the job she was born for. She is the "Sympathy Dog," acquired for the sake of comforting Cajun and me after Scorch died. She was so driven to attend to this man that it was all I could do to hold her back.

I was so touched by her generosity, as well as her single-mindedness. Rip truly has a magnificent heart.

Today's Project - Barn Owl

2010-01-26T11:42:00.005-05:00

The "monkey face" is the most glamorous of owls, and always interesting subject matter. This piece is 9 x 12" on charcoal paper, in pastel and conte. I like this one and hate selling it, but duty calls.

Ebay link

Today's Project - Barn Swallows

2010-01-21T00:17:00.001-05:00

My friend Vickie photographed this group of baby barn swallows last spring, and she kindly gave me permission to paint them. This is pastel and oil pencil, about 8 x 12".

This piece is on eBay.

How to Immortalize Your Horse

2010-01-20T12:16:00.001-05:00

I currently have 2 openings for February commissioned portraits, and I am trying to get them filled today. If you can pay today, I can offer you a hefty 50% off these commissions.

Normal prices are:

Size approx 9 x 12" - $200.00

Size approx 11 x 15" - $350.00

This would put you at $100 for 9 x 12" and $175 for 11 x 15". Sorry, this offer is good for immediate Paypal payments only.

Feel free to contact me at justkeeptyping@gmail.com with questions.

Nancy

Chapter One - Clifford's Bay

2010-01-19T11:15:00.003-05:00

For today only, I am offering a $2.00 discount on the new Clifford book: "Clifford's Bay - An Island, a Dog, and a Morgan Horse". Click this link to the page. When you order, use discount code RHNFTP66.

Following is Chapter One. Enjoy!

“Scorch! What a great name! How did he get it?” The young veterinary technician smiled, directing her gaze to the dog sitting at my feet.

I shrugged and grinned. “Well, just look at him!”

He was a mutt. He was half Australian shepherd, half mystery dog. He was sitting on the scrubbed tile floor, his reddish brown paws pointing carefully straight ahead so he didn’t start to slip. His coat was mostly black, streaked with a mixture of ashy burnt splotches here and there. His ears were up and they tipped over in an alert flop, and his brown eyes snapped with intelligence. He was, as always, watching my face. With every word I spoke, his head tilted this way and that. He had greeted the tech politely, but now ignored her as if she did not exist. He knew we were in the vet clinic. He didn’t mind seeing the vet. He had walked in through the lobby, off leash, and hopped on the scale without bidding. He weighed 40 lbs. He’d had a cough for a couple of days and was not acting right. I was thinking maybe he needed antibiotics.

The tech was standing with a clipboard. “Okay, if you want to just wait here in the exam room, Dr. Woody will be right in.”

She left the room. I noticed a canister of semi-moist liver treats on the counter, and pulled off the lid. Scorch’s eyes brightened and he stood up and started panting happily.

“Give me a big smile,” I whispered. His nose wrinkled, lips peeling back to reveal rows of bright teeth, baring a huge ugly grin. I tossed him a treat, which he caught deftly.

Everyone asked me why he was called Scorch. But from the first time I saw him in 1996, with his black coat and sooty grey markings, I knew his name. For nine years, he had shadowed me, always watchful. If I glanced down he was generally just a few feet away, and usually staring at me. I often wondered what it was about me that he found so interesting. But it was perhaps this vigilance that has created our effective communication. I might speak a few soft words, and he would go and immediately do as I asked. “Lie down.” “Get your Kong.” “Go tell Cajun it’s time to go.”

He did silly things to make me laugh. The more sophisticated the humor, the harder I laughed. He liked it that I got the joke, and he was constantly trying to upstage himself. He could pull my socks off, gently nibbling around my toes to grasp an edge, and then he pulled. If they were knee socks, or the especially clingy type, he braced himself and tugged full force. He never damaged the sock. When it finally peeled off my foot, he would carry it over and present it to me. He loved pulling socks off so much that sometimes he had to be dissuaded from doing it to others.

He humored his “brother”, my German shepherd, Cajun. He was no match for the big dog’s power and stamina, but took pleasure in tormenting him. We played a game I called, “Ball off the deck,” in which I threw a ball from the deck and it bounced across the lawn. The dogs loved to run down the deck steps to chase the ball. They would take turns if necessary, but I often sent them together.

When I threw the ball, Cajun would shriek and leap after it, but Scorch stood and watched where it fell before running down the steps. Because of this, Scorch usually would be first to find the ball. He had learned that Cajun would bully him if he tried to carry it anywhere, so he didn’t try to bring the ball back. He would pick it up and stand there, holding it while Cajun ran around the yard looking for it. Finally, Cajun would notice, and he’d pounce. Scorch would drop the ball, and when Cajun grabbed it, Scorch would quickly mount him from behind and start humping him ferociously.

Cajun had his mouth full, and he’d stand there snarling and growling. He couldn’t bring the ball back, because then he’d be running away from Scorch, and not “man enough” to face up to this humiliation. He’d have liked to turn around and bite Scorch, but to do that, he’d have to drop the ball. He was not about to drop the ball. Cajun was stuck. Scorch knew this. So he locked on while Cajun snarled guttural, useless threats through his mouthful, just blissfully humping away.

Scorch especially loved doing this when we had company. When this happened in front of an audience, people were mortified. They immediately started yelling at Scorch, “Stop it! What’s he DOING? Isn’t he NEUTERED?”

I would be leaning on the deck rail, gasping for air, wiping away the tears. It killed me every time. “Yes!” I’d gasp, “He’s neutered, he’s been neutered for eight years.” I realized that my hysterical laughter was only egging Scorch on, but I couldn’t help it.

Scorch liked agility class, but he was not a jock. He liked to learn new stuff, but usually in the form of tricks or some type of problem that engaged his mind. He loved Kong toys and Buster Cubes. He was the master of the Kong, the hollow rubber toy that I filled with cheese and bits of liver. I would cram the Kong with biscuits and then pack every nook with smaller bits of bacon or jerky. Scorch could extricate any treat from the Kong, no matter how tightly it fit. If Cajun eventually gave up and left something rattling around in his Kong, Scorch would furtively steal it and clean it out. He was a problem solver.

He didn’t want to fraternize with other dogs. He scorned them, always looking to me instead, to see what our next project might be.

“He’s not like any other dog,” our agility instructor told me, time and again. “Scorch is just not like any other dog.”

Now he sat in the veterinarian’s exam room, enthusiastically grimacing, baring his teeth, sneezing, waving his paw and going through various other acts in his attempt to prompt me to toss him another treat.

The door opened and Dr. Woody came in. She was a serious-faced kid, her red hair pulled back in a no-nonsense pony tail. But when she saw Scorch, she smiled and bent down to pet him. “Hello there.”

“He’s been coughing,” I explained. It was our first time at Kern Road Clinic, which is just a few miles from our house. I didn’t think it was anything serious, and Scorch didn’t like to ride in the car, so I didn’t haul him all the way back to Ann Arbor. It’s an hour from the farm.

“He sure is tuned in to you,” Dr. Woody said.

“I’m thinking about getting a T shirt that says, ‘Scorch TV’,” I quipped.

She laughed.

She ran her hands over Scorch’s throat, and immediately her face became very serious. “I don’t like this. His lymph nodes are swelling.”

She stood up. “I want to do some bloodwork on him. But this isn’t good. I can tell you right now that he has cancer.”

The words came at me like a hammer. I stood there silently, while Dr. Woody explained that they would schedule surgery to remove one of the swollen nodes and confirm the diagnosis. It was a flood of confusing information: Lymphoma. Biopsy. Surgery. Alternatives. Chemotherapy. Life expectancy. Scorch watched me carefully. As I nodded my head while Dr. Woody spoke, Scorch nodded his head too, so vigorously that his ears flipped.

“I’ll take him in back and we’ll do an X ray.” Dr. Woody took a leash that hung on the wall and draped it around his neck. Scorch continued to watch me.

“Go ahead,” I told him. He turned immediately and followed Dr. Woody out of the exam room.

As soon as he was gone, I felt myself beginning to panic. I was breathing hard. I grasped the cold metal edge of the exam table and stood there, hyperventilating. This news was totally unexpected. If he saw me like this, he would feel it too. I had to get this under control. I walked out of the exam room into the main lobby. It was large, sterile and empty, except for one receptionist behind the desk around the corner. There was a basket of dog toys by the window, and some benches lining the wall, and a movie playing on the TV.

I saw that the movie was "Babe", the sheep-herding pig story. It was one of my favorites, so I decided it would be a good idea to distract myself by watching for a moment.

That was a big mistake.

It was near the end, where the farmer and pig are finishing up the sheep herding trial and Babe goes and sits by his side. The farmer has that understated little grin, and soft praise, "That'll do, Pig. That'll do." And the look passes between them.

I was nearing total meltdown. I ran out to the truck, where Cajun waited, and let him out. I brought him into the clinic so he could wait with me.

All my anxiety transferred to him instantly. I was much calmer, but he whimpered and whined, sniffing Scorch all over when they brought him back. And then, when they took Scorch out again for yet more x rays, Cajun lay with his nose by the bottom of the door and started to wail.

"He's coming back," I said calmly. Cajun looked up at me, and then he relaxed.

And so did I. I had a few more emotional breakdowns over the next few days, but never in front of Scorch. The week that followed was all about Cancer. I couldn't think about anything else, and I am sure anyone who tried to talk to me was getting a vacant response, if any. By this time, I’d been divorced for four years. It was just me and the critters. Scorch had many friends, mostly through the internet, thanks to the relative notoriety of his “brother”, Clifford the Morgan horse. I appreciated their support and empathetic comments about the diagnosis.

Scorch tested positive for lymphoma at Michigan State University the following Wednesday and had his first chemotherapy treatment. They kept him overnight for observation, just to be sure he wasn't going to have a bad reaction.

I opted for an aggressive form of treatment and he would be receiving chemotherapy over the next five months. Statistically there is a 95% success rate of remission. The tricky part is, they can’t predict how long the remission will last.

The treatment was horrendously expensive, but I decided early on that money was not going to be an object. Scorch was nine years old, and that is way too young to lose a dog, especially a mixed breed dog that is supposed to have hybrid vigor. I began thinking about how to raise funds for his treatment. I opened an online store in Scorch’s name, with products featuring my art work, thinking it might help.

I once had a friend tell me that for someone who has so much bad luck, I have really good luck. And in this case, it was true. Scorch came through his chemo with flying colors and was back home again the next day. He ate a big dinner. He was only too happy to come out and help me feed the horses. It was dark and the snow was falling softly. Scorch gobbled up huge bites of snow, just like always, and Cajun looked for sticks.

It was so good to have him back, behaving like his old self! My friend Debi Boies had suggested that I give him lots of encouraging pats and praise, just to show him I was okay with everything. I agreed with her, and I took it a step further. I threw my hands up in the air and started jumping up and down, shouting, "We did it! WE DID IT! We're ALIVE!! YAAAYYY!!!!" and the dogs jumped around too and bark excitedly. We all spent a few minutes together that evening, dancing and cavorting in the snow.

The New Clifford Book is Live!

2010-01-18T15:01:00.005-05:00

Presenting Book 3 in the Clifford series, Clifford's Bay!

Four years in the making and beautifully illustrated by the author, the adventures of Clifford continue. It begins when Nancy's trick dog Scorch is diagnosed with lymphoma. Her Morgan horses Clifford and Trudy carry her through the days that follow, as she faces crisis after another. This is an inspiring look at how animals can help us on our life's journey, providing spiritual guidance, and even making us laugh along the way.

I am offering a $3.00 discount to those who contact me directly, justkeeptyping@gmail.com and can paypal me the funds for a signed copy today. As a special offer for our first day, Clifford will sign copies for $20.00, plus $6.00 shipping.

Here is a link to order:
https://www.createspace.com/3425793

Here is a link to a preview:
https://www.createspace.com/Preview/1064632

Thank you for all your support!

Clifford Signs His Own Book

2010-01-15T12:50:00.005-05:00

Well, this may be a first in the horse world. Clifford is signing his own life's story, in watercolor.

I was asked to donate something to the Michgan Morgan Futurity Gala in February, so I thought maybe a signed Clifford book might be just the thing. Or, even better if he signed it himself.

I weighed the book down in the barn aisle with a couple of horse shoes so it would stay open while he worked. I put a little color on the sponge and laid it on the title page.

He's so seasoned now with the sponge, that the minute he saw it he didn't even hesitate. He walked right over and started shoving it around with his nose.

This one is up on eBay. I am thinking this might be nice for upcoming events where he can be present and sign his own books for people.

Next he has to learn to type, and then he can write them, too.

Today's Project - Book Illustration

2010-01-11T11:17:00.002-05:00

Here is a colored pencil drawing of Cajun and Scorch, which is the illustration for Chapter 1 of my new book, "Clifford's Bay." This will be Book 3 of my Clifford Horse Stories.

Today's Equine Art - Greys

2009-12-09T21:46:00.003-05:00

Here are a couple of individual portraits of the grey sparring studs I did the other day. These are oil pencil on 11 x 15" pastel board.

Today's Equine Art - Sport Morgan

2009-12-07T10:11:00.003-05:00

Morgans are great sport horses, known for their versatility. Plus, they are pretty! Here's Silly, a dressage star. This is oil pencil with conte, 8 x 10" on green charcoal paper.

"Clifford of Drummond Island," Second Edition, Is Live!

2009-12-04T19:06:00.007-05:00

Clifford is back again in a new edition with new art work! I'm so pleased with these copies. Image quality is great. Order today for Christmas and get a $2.00 discount with this code: AEVPU8V5

And don't forget the sequel, Return to Manitou, my favorite of all my books. Order today and get $2.00 off with this code: 2F26LXX4

Today's Equine Art - Morgan and Welsh Cob

2009-11-30T19:49:00.002-05:00

A couple of young bachelors square off in a friendly sparring match. This piece is a mix of oil pencil, pastel and conte crayon, size 18 x 24" on pastel board. A Christmas commission. Shhhhh........

Clifford at the Beach - Sept 2009

2009-11-28T19:38:00.000-05:00

Clifford at the Beach from Nancy Bailey on Vimeo.

Clifford and Trudy spend a day romping at the beach on Drummond Island, with Rip and Aunt Vickie and me. Clifford enjoys the sun, sand and the beach grasses, but not nearly as much as he enjoys mugging for the camera!

Today's Dog Art - German Shepherd

2009-11-28T19:08:00.002-05:00

Here's a sable German shepherd in pastel, approximately 9 x 12". This was a Christmas commission.

Today's Equine Art

2009-11-25T14:34:00.007-05:00

I was commissioned to do Paula's ancient Tennessee Walker, King. He is a black horse with a little star and snip, and a very kind, expressive face. It's always fun to watch the work progress, so I took photos as I went along. This is oil pencil on black, 11 x 15".

Here's the outline.

Blocking in some highlights.

Now adding some more color details and highlights.

The finished painting. You can really see the soul in this old man.

Clifford's Audition for "Late Night"

2009-11-20T00:19:00.002-05:00

Clifford's Late Night Audition from Nancy Bailey on Vimeo.

On Nov 14, 2009, my horse Clifford auditioned for Late Night's "Stupid Pet Tricks" by painting a portrait of Dave. Clifford is an abstract artist specializing in watercolor. The casting agency did send the portrait to the the Late Night studio. If nothing else, we hope Dave was flattered by Clifford's vision of him... Even if Clifford doesn't think he is funny.

Cliffy's Audition on the News from Nancy Bailey on Vimeo.

Clifford auditioned for "Stupid Pet Tricks" and Channel 6 sent me the news clip. When I approached the casting agent after the audition, I held up the portrait Clifford had painted, and asked, "Do you think Dave would want this?" She said they would send it to his studio along with the tapes. The guy who chewed the top off of the aluminum can overheard this. He came over, held up the mangled can, and asked, "Do you think Dave would want this?" She said, "No, I don't think so."

Clifford's In the Lansing State Journal!

2009-11-15T11:15:00.002-05:00

Cliffy and his "Late Night" audition made it into today's Lansing State Journal. They published this photo of us!

Clifford Auditions for David Letterman's "Stupid Pet Tricks"

2009-11-14T23:23:00.015-05:00

Aunt Vickie found out that Channel 6 in Lansing was holding auditions for "Late Night With David Letterman". We immediately realized that as a budding artist, Clifford needed to try out by painting Dave's portrait. We hauled him back downstate yesterday and today, we gave him a bath, with the help of Vickie's niece, Ellie. Ellie washed his feet, and he obligingly lifted his tootsies so she could get the bottoms too.

After his bath, Aunt Vickie boosted Ellie aboard for a photo opp...

"Cliffy's Angels"

Brushing out his tail was a group effort.

When we arrived at the auditions, I spent a little time warming Clifford up. He was acting like he didn't really feel like painting. I urged him to find his muse.

I decided to put him to work, making him concentrate on other things besides his art. We did some walking in the parking lot and even some longeing.

He was earning some clicks and apples but his efforts were pretty half-hearted.

He just wasn't into his tricks like he normally is. I was a little worried that he might not paint at all.

Then, just before we were to go on, I realized what was missing: He wanted praise! I started scratching him and hugging him and telling him how great he was, and he perked right up. Then he really got into it.

We had set up the table with Dave's portrait in a frame. When the crew started filming, Clifford marched right over to the table with me, grabbed the sponges and did a quick painting of Dave.

He painted a blue circle, then a red stripe for the tie. Then he did a fleshy spot in the circle for the face. He finished it off with some grey hair at the top.

This is the photo he worked from.

Quite a striking likeness! We wonder if Dave will call.

New Equine Art Calendar for 2010

2009-11-10T22:59:00.006-05:00

I designed this 15 month calendar today, thinking there was no way I'd have enough art to fill it. I surprised myself! I was able to crop a lot of my vertical designs to make them fit into a horizontal format. The resulting effect was actually kind of cool. Some of my favorite paintings are in this one, including a drawing of Clifford that I love, and the cover Percheron.

CH Lynn-Lee's Christmas Pepper

2009-11-06T15:35:00.003-05:00

Nearly seventeen years ago I was adopted by a very special red Somali girl. Pepper went on to be the calmest and most reliable of all show cats. My little sister Amanda handled her. I remember one occasion where, on the way up to a ring, Amanda dropped her. She just stood there, until I scooped her up (I was carrying another cat, probably Etee) and plunked her back into Amanda's arms. Pepper just wasn't rattled by anything.

She was an excellent mother. Her own mother was named, "Lynn-Lee's Thanksgiving Parade", and Pepper continued the holiday tradition. Her daughter, Foxbrush Holiday Rush, now lives with my friend Kari Selinger, and her granddaughter, Foxbrush Lacy Valentine, lives with my friend Cindy.

The cat showing and breeding world was an interesting one. It was really the only common interest shared by my ex husband, and I stayed with it a lot longer than I wanted to, for his sake. A good thing did come out of it though, in the way of a book called, "My Best Cat." It's disguised as, "A Furry Murder Mystery", but is really a character study on the personalities that frequent cat shows.

Pepper died today as she had lived, peacefully and with great dignity. She is the last of my cats, and her passing marks the end of an era. She will be missed.

Clifford's New Watercolors - More Real "Equine Art"!

2009-10-25T21:26:00.006-04:00

It took some coaxing to get him to work today. He just didn't have the muse. I think it was due in part to the humongous new round bale he has had his head jammed in since last night.

The textures on this one are from a new type of sponge, which Cliffy didn't seem to fancy. He did better when we reverted to the old, smaller square type. Anyway, I think this one looks rather springlike.

"Bear Foot" -- this is one of my favs.

This is the first and only painting (so far) where Clifford has used his hoof to move paint. Part of this was done with a sponge, but you can see the swipe marks from his hoof. I was going to offer this one for sale, but Dad pointed out that this looks like a horse! I can clearly see the head profile and flowing mane. So now, I have to keep it.

Clifford and the Haunting of Wellington

2009-10-24T23:48:00.007-04:00

Clifford and I were asked to play the Headless Horseman for The Haunting of Wellington Park in Grayling. Aunt Vickie dressed me up in a black leather coat and ski mask and gloves. Clifford was waiting very impatiently tied to the trailer, and I came out in my Horseman garb, jumping around, shaking my fists at him and trying to look like the boogeyman. He wasn't scared. He was, however, interested and thinking something exciting was about to happen.

When we arrived at Wellington he remembered the place from last summer. He was feeling so good he even did his nice collected canter. He used to be able to canter almost in place, springing off his hindquarters like an upper level dressage horse. However, he has not been doing that over the past few years due to his knee problems.

I wasn't sure how I was going to carry a pumpkin successfully, as I have enough trouble just staying on. Anyway, Clifford as usual served up a couple of his vintage surprises, including rolling a Jack-O-Lantern. He was clearly having the time of his life. The Haunting didn't begin until nightfall. We had one small section of road to blast along and try to scare people who were walking through the woods.

To my surprise, once it got dark, Clifford refused to run at top speed. There were deep water puddles in the road, and it was overcast and dark, and I couldn't see. I knew he could. However, for once in his eighteen years, pragmatism took over and he just decided that it was safer to stay at a nice steady trot, despite my hysterical laughter and yelling like a banshee. With various groups of families coming toward us including little kids, I have to admit he was right.

Today's Project - Keeshonden

2009-10-23T11:38:00.003-04:00

These lovely dogs were quite a pair. They belong to a friend of mine, Laurie, who also has Morgans. She wasn't sure about this photo as something to work from, but I just loved it. It is very natural and so unlike the "posed" photos so often used.

This is pastel, conte and oil pencil, 11 x 15", on black charcoal paper.

Today's Project - Bald Eagle

2009-10-19T21:36:00.002-04:00

Bald eagle in pastel; this is also available as a giclee print in my online gallery.

Today's Equine Art - Laddie the Morgan

2009-10-18T22:06:00.004-04:00

This is Laddie, a Morgan gelding with a fun personality. I took photos as this piece progressed so you can watch it grow.

Today's Watercolor - German Shepherd and Westie

2009-10-15T12:29:00.003-04:00

Dutchess and Becky in the morning glories; 12 x 15". To see a demo of my painting technique, visit my shop at http://www.e-junkie.com/cliffysmom

Equine Watercolor Workshop

2009-10-08T23:37:00.002-04:00

I'm trying something new! Here is a video I took while painting one of my commissions, a watercolor of Comanche. I turned it into an art lesson, revealing some of my secret watercolor techniques. If you like to paint, or just like watching the creative process, this might be for you.

New eBook About Dating

2009-10-05T20:19:00.002-04:00

I finally finished my ebook. The Mental Obstacle Course - Dating a Narcissist “When your dog is less self centered than the man in your life.” This is a dog trainer’s perspective, explained as an amature behaviorist would view it. There are helpful hints for recovering from the painful experience of being with a narcissist.

I know there is plenty of good information online about narcissism, free of charge. I strongly encourage you to learn all you can about the disorder. Since part of this ebook is my own personal story, and I have been in a financial crisis due in part to a narcissist in my life, I will try to recoup some of what I have lost by sharing it.

I wish you peace, healthy relationships and happy tails. ~Nancy

New Clifford Ebook!

2009-09-29T22:06:00.002-04:00

"Clifford: The Horse Who Carries Me" is a 30 page ebook about the new adventures of Clifford, available for only $3.00. I offer this with the common knowledge that unfortunately, Clifford’s family has fallen upon hard times. Clifford and Trudy have been displaced, and are in the care of some of my trusted friends. For the first time since we came together, I will not be living with my horses.

I think of Clifford as, “The horse who carries me,” in more than just the physical sense. Over the years, he has been a source of constant inspiration, comfort and hilarity. I have been truly blessed to have him in my life. These stories are a compilation of what was to be included in the third part in the series of Clifford books. They feature recent photos, including pictures of the watercolors that Clifford created. I’ve decided to publish what I have as an ebook, in hopes that the future will hold more opportunities for many Clifford stories.

For more information, visit http://www.e-junkie.com/cliffysmom

Today's Dog Art

2009-09-27T17:03:00.002-04:00

Now I haven't done any dog art in awhile, since I ran my "heart horse" special. I am trying to catch up on some commissions before I run my up and coming Christmas special offer.

This is Jolee, a corgi... One of my favorite breeds! About 9 x 12"

Today's Equine Art - Thoroughbred

2009-09-26T11:43:00.001-04:00

This is a rescued race horse -- "Kind of a Goofus," his owner says. This is conte, with just a touch of purple oil pencil. 11 x 15".

Heart Horse Art - Warmblood Mare and Foal

2009-09-23T20:17:00.002-04:00

My friend Rita owns this mare, Caricature, and her foal, Cartoon. This is oil pencil and conte, about 11 x 15".

A Couple of Last Precious Days with the Horses on the Island

2009-09-19T19:21:00.004-04:00

Today's Equine Art - Morgan

2009-09-16T18:30:00.001-04:00

Xena, a seven year old Morgan mare, died this year from colic. Her owner commissioned this portrait as a memorial to her. This is oil pencil/conte, about 11 x 15".

Movie Trick Horses!

2009-09-09T21:19:00.001-04:00

Last week I hung out with Rex Peterson while he worked with the horses on the Secretariat film. Here he is with T, the horse who starred in "Dreamer" with Dakota Fanning. T currently has an abcess on his withers and may not be used in the film, but Rex still keeps him exercising.

Here's a YouTube video of Rex working with T.

Today's Equine Art - Buckskin

2009-09-09T00:01:00.004-04:00

I'd been hanging out with Rex Peterson near Nashville, while he trains a whole string of Secretariats for the upcoming Disney movie. The head wrangler, Rusty Hendrickson is a big gruff mountain man from Montana, and a veteran of many films including Seabiscuit. He showed up with this cute buckskin named Top, to play Secretariat's lead pony. Top was learning how to bow.

Rusty now has this painting, which is 11 x 15", oil pencil and conte.

Today's Equine Art - Olympus Way To Go

2009-08-26T20:57:00.003-04:00

Murphy is a sport Morgan stallion owned by Kathleen Reiman. This portrait in oil pencil is 12 x 15". I hope it does some justice to his memory.

Cliffy's a Star!

2009-08-14T21:31:00.002-04:00

Kris Tabor, aka @belladaze on Twitter, has mentioned Cliffy in her blog ! Clifford's painting made it to the front page of Wordpress. Pretty darn neat!

Hair

2009-08-14T11:24:00.005-04:00

A regular social event for Mom and Dad and Amanda is a trip to the hair salon. The salon owner’s dog, Abbey, has known Dad since a puppy and now the minute he walks in the door she starts hitting on him. She wants him to play ball with her. Abbey is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever with a voracious play drive. Dad takes the ball and takes her outside and throws it for her. He also takes Peggy Sue, the Jack Russell, out for a potty break and sweeps up the floor!

Trudy the Imp!

2009-08-14T11:18:00.004-04:00

Last night we rode out to Reva’s Lake. It was Airatude’s turn to run loose and as she trotted along with us, I remembered a trick she had pulled on Dad just a couple of days prior.

The horses love Dad. He lets them out of the corral to roam at will together, and they are good about staying around. That morning, however, Trudy took off down the road. Dad yelled and hollered. “Trudy! You get back here!” He walked down the road after her and picked up a branch, shaking it. Trudy came back and did three full circles around the camp in a mad gallop.

“You settle down now!” he scolded.

She ran down the road again and disappeared.

Dad began to mutter under his breath as he set off after her. From my vantage point out the camper window, I could see Trudy, standing among the cedars right in front of his pickup truck. Because she is so dark, she was nearly invisible. She didn’t move. She was watching him with her ears up and it was perfectly clear that she was hiding on him. His eyes are still keen though, and with a hard look that way he spotted her. He started laughing. “Why you little devil!”

She was busted. She came out, head down, resigned, and walked up to him.

I often wonder how animals seem to understand camouflage so well.

Back on Drummond

2009-08-13T15:04:00.004-04:00

I walked Ripple down to my shore lot yesterday. It was the first time I’ve been down there since the fourth of July. I walk and walk two miles to get there and then there is always a certain white rock that I sit on, which is right by the water. It has a smooth top and even a little shelf where I can rest my camera. I can put my feet in the water if I want to. The rock, of course, has been there since the beginning of time. It’s about the size of a large footstool.

Anyway, yesterday, I came down, and….. NO ROCK!!!!

I thought I might be losing my mind at first. I looked around just in case I had come to the wrong spot. But after 16 years of walking down here and sitting on this thing, well. …. I know where it was.

I think Vickie and I sat on it. I will have to check my Facebook page.

Anyway it had to be quite an effort to get it out of there. Of course, I am livid! Whoever took it came onto private property, and this is theft.

Drummond is loaded with rocks. But there is nothing close to this one that would really serve as a replacement.

Rode Trudy to the beach yesterday too. I will try to post photos to my blog later. That was another disturbing thing – I haven’t been there in four years, since before Scorch died. They have dredged it out or something, and all that wonderful hard, clean sand has been replaced by muck and swamp grass.

People are idiots!!!! I could scream.

The horses, however, had fun anyway.

Heart Dog Art

2009-08-02T13:30:00.003-04:00

With dogs on the brain, I compiled a video of some of my favorite dog paintings. Some of these dogs are old friends of mine; others are from commissions. Some of the dogs in the video are still alive and happy.

I'm running a special on dog portraits; 50% off through August. Feel free to email me for a price quote.

Thanks to all for taking time to look at my work.

Stewie

2009-08-01T17:08:00.004-04:00

Well, this is going to be a difficult post to write. The topic is just sickening to me. Stewie was killed by a car on Monday morning. He ran off when I neglected to watch him closely. He just never went anywhere, so I had become complacent. My house sits a good half mile back from the road. He ran a couple of miles down the road and I was about fifteen minutes behind him, but despite walking all the way to the end of the road with Rip, I couldn't find the little guy. I asked all the neighbors and someone had seen him running, but for some reason I was not able to locate him. I did call him, but since he doesn't negotiate sound very well, it may not have helped. He may have picked up my track, because he found his way all the way back before he was struck right in front of my mailbox.

At least it was quick, and he didn't suffer. He's buried by the big rock in my front yard, right by the burning bush and the crabapple tree.

I've had a tough time dealing with this, because not only did I love the dog, but he had a most comical way about him and managed to make me laugh during one of the most difficult times in my life. I feel that losing him is just very bad timing. It's extremely depressing.

He had many funny habits. He used to attack his food, snarling and growling and throwing it around. Even though I tried to desensitize him by dropping bits of chicken into his bowl, that only excited him more. He never offered to bite me -- he would step away if I tried to handle the food. He just wanted to kill it before eating it. So I finally gave up. It was hysterical to watch him.

He had toys that he would savage the same way. The bigger and heavier the toy was, the more he liked it.

When he walked on a leash he would grab the nearest part he could reach, and tug on it, then swing around and flip like a fish on a line.

He was so feisty and yet such a good boy. He came when I called, and tried hard to do everything I asked of him. When I picked him up he would grunt and snort while trying hard to lick my face.

He was only eight months old. He was born with a disability but he was bright and it didn't slow him down a bit. He had a mighty spirit. He brought me much joy during the five short months I had him.

Here is a link to his YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o40yad5PNgc

What a great little guy he was. I've been crying for days -- I wish that his story had a happier ending.

Rex Peterson is Coming to Michigan!

2009-07-20T23:17:00.001-04:00

I'm so excited. My friend Rex, the Hollywood horse trainer, (pictured above with Miley Cyrus), is giving a clinic in Dundee, Michigan, August 22-23.

For more information:

http://www.colorfulicelandics.com/clinics.html

This is Rex's first time teaching in the Great Lake State! Spaces are
limited, so reserve early!

Impromptu Radio Interview - And It's a Small, Small World!

2009-07-20T19:07:00.001-04:00

Here's a small world story.

As of this year, I am an avid Twitterer. I noticed one of my twitter
followers was promoting a radio show called, "Dresser After Dark".
The host was listed as Michael Ray Dresser.

Back in the day, I had known a Michael Dresser in Fairbanks, Alaska.
I worked for the Humane Society and I was on his show to promote
adoption efforts. Michael actually came to the shelter and adopted a
dog from me -- one I was considering keeping for myself! She was
very special, a black Chihuahua I named Cricket that someone had
thrown over the fence and left there. She was about 6-8 months old
then.

Michael fell in love with Cricket and adopted her. I moved away from
Fairbanks after that and didn't hear more from him.

Yesterday I looked on the website, saw his picture and thought, "That
HAS to be the same guy!"

Looked up his bio and sure enough! It's the Mike Dresser from back in
the 80's! He answered my email and said Cricket lived to be 12 years
old and he still misses her!

I'm going on his show tomorrow night! Tune in at 8:30 pm EST Tuesday and you can
hear me talk about Morgan Horses and CLifford.

http://www.dresserafterdark.com/

Today's Equine Art - Palomino Morgan

2009-07-17T14:04:00.002-04:00

This is Roadie, a palomino Morgan. This is part of my "Heart Horse" series, commissioned in June of this year. This piece is conte and oil pencil on light green charcoal paper, about 10 x 12".

Today's Equine Art

2009-07-15T20:01:00.001-04:00

Thistle is a chestnut Morgan stallion. This is another in my series of "Heart Horse" portraits. 11 x 15", pastel/conte/charcoal.

Today's Equine Art

2009-07-13T20:03:00.000-04:00

Tanek, a black Morgan stallion. This is another piece in my "Heart Horse" series. This is 11 x 15", oil pencil and conte.

Today's Watercolor - Stargazer Lily

2009-07-13T15:19:00.000-04:00

I couldn't get the colors in this to reproduce very well. This is watercolor and oil pencil on stretched canvas, about 4 x 4". Watercolor tends to roll right off the canvas so there were some logistical problems with getting the color to adhere. It was a gift for a friend's 40th birthday.

Today's Equine Art

2009-07-12T22:12:00.000-04:00

This is Paladin, a Morgan stallion, part of my "Heart Horse" series of commissions. This is 11 x 15", oil pencil on black charcoal paper.

Giclee Prints of My Equine Art!

2009-07-10T15:58:00.000-04:00

It turns out that Quasar has fans, and he is in demand as a print! This online gallery is really neat, because the giclee prints are great quality, very reasonably priced and you can pick the matte and frame online…. Or not! They have a wide selection of frames, including barnwood, etc, and all kinds of matte textures and colors. Here is a sample matte and frame I chose for Quasar. I also played around with framing my Percheron, below.

Here’s a link to the site!

Thanks again to all horse folks who have supported my equine art endeavor. There are more portraits to come… Stay tuned…

Clifford in the 4th of July Parade

2009-07-08T14:46:00.000-04:00

It's been 4 years since I rode Clifford in the Drummond Island parade, but he never forgets. I trailered him down to a spot close to the starting point, where the floats and crowds were gathering along the roadside. There were plenty of horse-eating monsters there, including lots of balloons and banners and streamers galore. We expected to meet our cousins, Tess and Allen and the usual group of equines.

When I arrived at the spot, I realized I had grabbed Trudy's bridle by mistake. There is no way that will fit Clifford, at least not without a lot of oil to get the buckle unhooked and readjusted. I had my English saddle, a nice Ortho-flex that has a blue pad. But I had no bridle, so had to ride him with just his purple halter and a too-short lead rope. I decided to skip the saddle too.

I climbed on bareback and we were off. Clifford happily trotted down the road between all the horse-eating floats, eagerly looking forward to our rendezvous with horsey friends that he hasn't seen in years.

But we got to the grassy spot along the water's edge where the equine parade members usually gather, and nobody was there. "Looks like it's you and me this year, buddy," I said. I gave him a pat on the neck.

Traditionally, horses go along in front of the ambulance, and I tried to put Clifford there. But he immediately fell in behind a Charlie Brown float that was playing the "Linus and Lucy" theme song. I wondered if he remembered this tune. It was our theme song during a couple of his performances at the Novi Expo, years ago.

There were some little kids in line behind us that were carrying a sign and some balloons. When the parade started, they decided to run and shout, dashing up right near Clifford's tail. This proved too much for him and he startled. They didn't seem to notice and just kept coming! Finally I called back to them, "Hey you guys, you're scaring my horse!"

They slowed down to a walk then, but still wanted to be right on top of us. I said, "Can you stay back a little? This parade just moves really slowly."

They did fall back then and gave us plenty of room. I just didn't want anyone to get under his feet by accident, or even get whacked by his tail.

He seemed very happy to just walk along behind that float in time to the piano music. He was doing so well that I reached down to attempt to untie the lead rope from his halter. Every time I reached for it he would playfully turn his head and lip at my fingers.

Finally I ended up just dropping the lead rope and scratching his withers as we walked along. A couple of girls cried out to me, "Wow! Is he bullet proof, or what?"

"I guess as much as any horse can be bullet proof," I replied.

When we got to the end, I turned to the kids behind me and said, "Thanks, guys. You did a great job."

They smiled proudly.

I remembered my first year in the parade, some fifteen years ago, when Clifford was still a youngster. Allen Hoey was riding Barney, his grey Arabian, bareback. I thought I would never see the day when I'd be riding any horse in a parade with no saddle. It just goes to show that you can achieve the unexpected. If you persevere, one day you may surprise yourself.

Today's Equine Art

2009-07-01T10:23:00.000-04:00

This is Quasar, a Morgan stallion, the first in my series of "Heart Horse" commissions. This is pastel, about 11 x 15"

Michael Jackson

2009-06-30T15:40:00.000-04:00

I went into a cafe today for lunch and all around me his name emerged, coming up through the crowd buzz. A voice behind me said, "He was one weird dude."

I remembered when someone had emailed me the news of his death. I immediately got online to try to learn what had happened. All I found were sites where he was ridiculed, jokes, photos with derogatory comments. It was so soon after his death that there wasn't even a news blog yet.

A friend even emailed me a joke about him.

As someone who has been exploited quite blatantly throughout my life, most recently on a scale that could well have impacted me in terms of millions of dollars, I have a pretty good idea exactly why Michael Jackson was, "One weird dude."

My own experiences are horrendous enough. I can't imagine what it must have been like for someone so incredibly gifted, to try to exist in some kind of normalcy while surrounded by the sharks that inevitably ride the crest of the wave of such gifts.

There is no doubt in my mind that the accusations against him were an avenue for someone to profit from his wealth and fame.

The poor guy was such an easy target throughout his life. He began as a thing of utter beauty, dancing at the pinnacle of his creative genius, and then we all watched as he gradually disintegrated before our eyes. His overt attempts to shield himself from the barrage of public onslaught were manifested in ways that only set him up for further attack.

I hope that somewhere along in his journey, he was able to find a true friend. If he ever did, my heart goes out to that person today.

I continue to be boggled by the sheer number of narcissists in the world. They are literally everywhere, swarming to feed on the tender hearted, and the gifted who are brave enough to pursue their dreams. This world is a virtual blood bath of takers and users.

I apologize to those among my blog followers who are accustomed to a sunny post about art or animals. I'm not gifted in anywhere close to the same scale, but nonetheless I am identifying with Michael Jackson. I hope that in some ways, these wounds have carved me deeply enough to have a true perception of others who are wounded. I hope I can recover enough to be an example to those who have to overcome obstacles like this. Michael Jackson sought his refuge in the attempt to keep children as his peers; to, "never grow up". I seek mine in a similar innocence; the world of animals and nature and those who love them.

I hope that, in a few months, when I google Michael Jackson, what comes up in the search will be primarily his music, his performances, his amazing dancing. He was an incomparable icon, a cultural enigma. I hope this is the part of him that lives on. I hope this will mean that the world has come to a realization about him: This is our loss.

Perry the Parvo Pup

2009-06-29T18:12:00.000-04:00

Today I got to visit Perry, my former "parvo puppy". He is a rescue, a Lab/Australian shepherd mix, a Parvo survivor, who I raised for a year and then found a home for. Perry wanted to go to a home with kids, and he now lives with Jake and Jackie, thirteen year old twins, and Buster, his Boston Bull buddy. Perry goes on daily runs with his mom. He actually grew to be a much bigger dog than I'd anticipated.

Perry's system was pretty ravaged by the virus for awhile. I couldn't get him to make a solid stool until I put him on Life's Abundance, a holistic food that is delivered fresh right to the door.

Now he is the picture of health, and his coat is wonderful! It just glows. Perry has one eye with some blue in it. He "woo-woo's" when he sees me, the same as Rip does! It was pretty funny. It's nice to know he remembers his foster mom.

Clifford of Drummond Island

2009-06-22T08:21:00.000-04:00

It's been four years since Clifford and Trudy have visited the Drummond camp. This is temporary home for them until I find a more permanent solution to their displacement. Yesterday upon arrival they took a moment to look around before stepping out of the trailer.

Upon being released from the trailer, they both march directly into the corral.

They walk around checking things out, and then immediately they each drop and roll.

Their obvious comfort is a comfort to me.

So we returned to my mother land; the land of deep forests...

...of varied wildlife...

...of wooded islands...

...of tiny flowers...

...of ancient mariners...

...of rock and cedar.

The animals and I face the future, but we don't know what lies ahead.

Photos courtesy of Vickie Sheathelm.

Dairy Days

2009-06-21T08:53:00.001-04:00

Despite her timely garb, Carolyn decided she'd like to try out a little bareback riding! Cliffy was the special guest star at this homey event yesterday at Wellington Farm in Grayling. We enjoyed a shady day in the company of my friend Vickie and the nice folks who run the farm. It's designed to recreate the 1930's and the folks there dress accordingly.

A touch of Appalachia? Nope! Northern Lower Michigan! Cliff and Trudy chill out in front of Jennie's Kitchen.

In Jennie's kitchen they make whipping cream, butter and fresh biscuits. And delicious homemade ice cream!

Trudy made herself at home.

Clifford painted Vickie's portrait. I think he has an eye for capturing the spirit of the individual!

Stewie had a (little bit scary) guinea hen encounter.

We are perhaps in a bit of denial as we head up to Drummond today. We have left our farm, which goes up for auction July 1. I couldn't recover from the derailed book project. So Clifford and Trudy may well be offically homeless. Things have been very bleak this year. But I hope this is just a bump in the road for us, which will lead to bigger and better things.

Stewie

2009-06-18T22:39:00.000-04:00

For the second time, tonight he jammed himself between the slats in the table legs. He can't get out of this by himself. He just sits there and waits to be rescued. I laughed my head off at him last night, and I think that's why he repeated the performance.

Hosing Around

2009-06-18T22:20:00.000-04:00

Today was bath day -- the first one of the year. We finally had nice warm temps and the horses, both being pros, stood for it pretty well. Trudy was first.

Clifford was annoyed with me because he gets to eat grass while he is being bathed. He didn't think he should have to stand and pose with his head up to have his picture taken, soaking wet like this. It took a few minutes before he would put his ears forward. Finally, he gave in and then it was back to grazing.

Friday's Ride

2009-06-13T21:41:00.001-04:00

It was Trudy's turn to run freely yesterday, but it didn't exactly work out. She is the one most in need of conditioning, as her tendency toward obesity has led to problems already this year. She has separation anxiety, so she never lets Cliffy get out of sight.

However, yesterday she lollygagged, uncharacteristically gorging on grass as Clifford and I trotted down the road. Clifford was feeling great; trotting along without hesitation and even looking suspiciously at things and snorting as we passed. We got farther and farther away from the chubby mare, who seemed completely unconcerned that we were disappearing. I suddenly realized that she was content enough to stay by the neighbor horses across the road. She was snubbing Cliffy for the tall roadside grass, safely in the company of the three pasture pals up the hill.

Cliffy and I turned around and trotted back. I attempted to motivate Trudy by chasing her. Clifford was into that! He broke into a canter, cutting horse style. I yelled and hollered. "Git moving mare! Yaahhhh! Get up!"

She would jerk her head irritably, run in a circle, and then go right back to grazing. I started remembering what my friend, Hollywood horse trainer Rex Peterson, had said about why he never uses mares on a movie set.

To her credit, though, she did stand quietly while I got off Clifford, removed his saddle and bridle, and put them on her. I climbed aboard and rode her at a trot toward home.

Clifford had dropped his head to graze. I called back to him. "Come on, Cliffy! You want to run up the hill?" Suddenly liberated, Clifford was giddy! He jumped straight up into the air, kicking and snorting and bucking, and came running after us with his tail up. He went galloping up the hill toward home.

If there is anything more beautiful than a horse running and playing with its tail up, rolling its eyes and shaking its mane, I can't think of what that could be. And the joy it carries is contagious.

Cliffy Signs His Own Book!

2009-06-11T11:10:00.001-04:00

We all knew it would happen someday.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180367756902

Today's Ride

2009-06-07T18:19:00.000-04:00

Anyone with any history with horses is probably privy to their aptitude as therapists. If anything in life is wrong, go spend time with your horse. You'll feel better. Really.

Clifford's painting stints of late have been pretty hysterically funny, interesting and loads of fun all at the same time. However, I have gotten preoccupied with "real life" issues and haven't done anything artistic with Clifford in several days. Today I decided to ride.

I've been pretty spoiled with spending summers up on Drummond. What can compare with turning one horse loose to run on the beach while you ride the other? It makes riding anywhere else fall short by comparison.

I thought I might be able to capture some of that old elation by trying the same thing at home. Reva Ridge Farm is a secluded place. There are dirt roads, but my horses are in their teens and seasoned enough not to do anything stupid (hopefully) in traffic.

I saddled up Trudy and turned Clifford loose. Cliffy wandered out into the backyard and started hoovering up clover. I swung aboard little Trude and we trotted up the hill to the driveway. Ripple followed along. I looked back at Clifford who was still busy grazing. "Hey, Clifford! Come on!"

He raised his head, still chewing, looked at me, and then dropped his head again.

"I guess he doesn't want to go," I said to Trudy.

We walked down the hill. Unlike her adventurous brother, Trudy is never thrilled to go by herself. She did not call out, but swung her head this way and that, trying to see if he might be catching up.

"Oh, forget him," I said. "He's missing out."

I had read somewhere that the best way to get a horse in shape is to trot a long, straight line. So that's what I asked her for. Trudy is little but a trotting machine. Clifford, though nearly a hand taller, has to run to keep up with her. We headed down the road. The neighbor's horses came running across the field up to the fence, three of them standing in a row, looking at us wide-eyed and snorting. Trudy wavered, trotting sideways in their direction.

"Knock it off," I said. "Quit yer flirting."

The three pasture mates spun into action and ran along the fence with us as we clipped briskly down the road. Rippy followed us, keeping a close eye on the neighbor horses, making sure they weren't going to interfere.

We crossed the neighbor's back field to come up behind the barn. Trudy was really flying now. She had been good, and not called out, but she was anxious to get back to her brother. We came round the front of the barn. No Clifford.

"Where'd he go?"

We looked around. I thought maybe he by now was running up the road after us. But just then I heard a noise. I looked into the barn and was surprised to see him standing in the aisle. He had forsaken his clover.

He had his head down and was nosing through the box of watercolors, flipping the sponges, rifling through the tubes of paint!

"Well, what's this! You want to make some more pictures?!"

I was so thrilled. I felt like the art teacher whose student had just asked for an extra credit project. Clifford turned and went over to the tack box on the wall. I had left a small sandwich bag of grain there, which I had been using as a reward for his painting efforts. He began mouthing the bag and crackling the plastic. AHA! The truth was out.

"You need to sell something. Then we'll talk. You think in these economic times, we do art just for FUN? Think again, buddy!"

I opened the stall door and he went in. But, he was right. The painting was a fun thing we did together. Maybe we'll be back at it tomorrow.

Today's Equine Art - Seabiscuit

2009-06-06T10:58:00.000-04:00

I confess I didn't know much about Seabiscuit before Laura Hillenbrand's book came out. When I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I was completely taken up in this wonderful story. When the movie came out, I saw it in the theatre no less than six times! I chose to do this portrait in sepia tones, to reflect on the time in history that Seabiscuit raced.

This is watercolor, 11 x 15", listed on eBay.

Today's Equine Art - Appaloosa

2009-06-04T20:17:00.000-04:00

This is SS Shock N Awe, a leopard Appy colt bred by "Seeing Spots Farm", who graciously granted me permission to paint him. The watercolor is 11 x 15", and is listed on eBay.

Race Horse Note Cards on eBay

2009-06-03T12:52:00.001-04:00

In honor of the upcoming Belmont Stakes, my portraits of Secretariat, Barbaro, Ruffian and Rachel Alexandra are featured on note cards. I am contemplating Mine That Bird!

The cards are on eBay.

Today's Equine Art - Belgian Draft Horse

2009-06-03T12:39:00.000-04:00

This is a sweet little mini pastel, about 4 x 6". I did it to fit in a barnwood frame to take to Walking Horse Gallery, but since I won't get up there this week, I've decided to sell it on eBay.

Today's Watercolor - Sheltie

2009-06-03T09:58:00.001-04:00

I did this piece in a sort of painterly style, with strokes reminiscent of an oil base paint. I like the effect of the dog's fur, as if it is blowing around. It's about 11 x 15". It's on eBay.

Sheltie Note Cards

2009-06-01T11:35:00.000-04:00

This piece is one of my favorites among my dog art. It is so characteristic of a Sheltie's behavior. (Of course, this is apart from the dogs who would opt to eat the duck!)

It's on eBay.

Horse Note Cards

2009-06-01T11:15:00.000-04:00

Peddling note cards again on eBay!