Am I a Bird-Dog?

I love my new Woodstock doll. My friend Nancy from Cincinnati, OH sent it to me for the winter holiday. I like to carry it around with me at night and make my humans throw it around so I can pretend it is flying. Then I catch it, bring it back and make them do it over and over and over. After a while, I hide the doll for a while. Sometimes for weeks. Not even my humans can find it. When I miss it, I take it back out and play with it again. I see lots of birds outside the window and I wish I could play with them like I play with Woodstock. My human says the birds wouldn't like that game. I can't wait to go outside and give it a try anyway!

 Lots of licks,
Lian

Dreaming of Spring

This first winter in central New York state has been very challenging for a little half-naked chi-chi like me! Most of my winter has been spent sleeping on heating pads and snuggling in blankets. But I came out of hibernation to tell you that spring is on its way. I know this because yesterday the sun came through the window and I could feel it in the warmth of the sun's rays.

Ah Spring! Soon I will be able to run around outside and paint! Since my studio is not heated, my painting has had to be restricted to warmer weather. I am certain paintings will be bursting out of me like the spring blossoms on the trees!

Below is a little teaser painting, just to remind you that even though it might be cold and snowy outside, rest assured that sunny warm days are coming.

Lots of licks,
Lian

Entertaining is Hard Work!

Having two holidays so close together is really difficult! We had lots of family and friends visiting over the last two weeks. It was my job to bark when people came to the door, so my family knew someone had arrived. Then it was my job to show everyone all the gifts I received as well as clean up any crumbs and food that was dropped on the floor. There was a lot of licking of faces and hands to be done too! By the end of the night was so tired, but since no one else was going to bed, I felt like I had to stay up too. But as you can see, I would sneak naps in here and there, even if I was standing up on top of grandma!

Lots of Licks!
Lian

Happy Howldays!

I am spending the howldays with my whole family! My human is finally back home. I have a month of cuddle times and countless licks to catch up on. And look at all these gifts. I am certain one or two are even for my family.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with your family, friends, and the people and fuzzies that warm your insides. Remember to be grateful for the little things because there are too many poor animals and humans who are alone and have no homes. If you get a little extra money or gifts you don't need this holiday, think about giving something to those who need a little more.

Even though we wear different kind of furs, we are all just one big family!

Lots of licks,
Lian

All By Myself

My human is going away. He received a special honor where he can paint undisturbed for four weeks, but for some reason they don't allow assistants. Well, assistants that are not human anyway. So we will be apart for four long cold weeks. It is a good opportunity for my human, but it will be hard to not have him around.

Fortunately I will have my human family to help me get by. My human will be all alone. I hope he will be okay.

Because my human does all the transcription for this blog, posting will be light for the next four weeks. He will try to relay any news I might have now and then, but I hope you will be patient for our reunion in December when we will be back to a regular posting schedule!

Until then, I hope you think of me and my human while we are many million paw steps away from each other.

Lots of (sad) licks,
Lian

Hello? Anyone in there?

So I have noticed that my human has been spending a lot of time facing this screen, sometimes even talking to it. I thought he was looking at my paintings and helping me create new items for my online store.

But the other day I heard the screen talk back! And then it started calling my name! How did it do that? Who is in there? Is it you?

Anyway, if it is you, maybe you will like my new t-shirt. I am still peddling my fall designs...I am not thrilled about the winter time coming, so I'm holding on as long as I can. This shirt is made with organic cotton fabric...isn't that cool?

Lots of Licks,
Lian

Rainy Days are Sleepy Days

 Today is dark and rainy. On days like this, I like to sleep, preferably on a comfy pillow and a heating pad!


Lots of licks,
Lian

Happy Hallowe'en!

I decided to dress as a bee this year to honor the hard work the bees do all year to help provide us with food! I make a cute bee don't I? My human calls me a barking bee, because I bark at all the monsters that have been showing up around the house this week. He tells me that tonight several monsters are going to come to the door and demand sweets! I thought that was my job every day!

I hope you have a very happy Hallowe'en! Don't forget to thank the bees!

Lots of licks,
Lian

Prints and Greeting Cards!

click on the image to purchase prints

I may not have a public studio any more, but you can still get my paintings and greeting cards! Please visit my on line store and take a look at the greeting cards and prints available. I just added the card above to the store. New designs will be added over the next few weeks so keep checking back.

I hope you enjoy my designs!

Lots of licks,

Lian

Sweater Season

Well, it's that time of year, when sweaters are fashionable again! Fall is the perfect time of year for sweaters because it is cool in the morning, cool at night and (usually) comfortable in the daytime. You can put a sweater on when its chilly and slip it off when it warms up, then back on again when the sun dips behind a cloud or goes to bed at night.

I have been enjoying chasing leaves outside as they blow from the trees and across the yard. I was chasing a yellow birch leaf when my human took this picture. I am wearing my new sweater hand knitted by my human. Isn't it pretty, just like the fall trees!

Below is my painting Harvest Paws...inspired by the beautiful colors of the Fall season.

Lots of Licks!
Lian

Snuggly Buggly, but Worried!

I am snuggling into these blankets because I am nervous!
My ability to create artwork, buy my food and pay my vet bills are being threatened by the Orphan Works Bill.

Some senators have decided it is time for non-artists to control the use and distribution of art. You can read about what the bill is about here.

But, you can help me out. You can go to this link and get samples of letters to write and send to those senators and other people who make the rules. (I am not quite sure how you humans runs things). I don't know how to write, so I need your help!

Use these templates to send out a letter to your representatives:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/

It is best to copy and paste the letter template into a hard copy and mail the letter out. I was told that if you just send an email it is never opened. The best way to help me out is by sending a letter and addressing the envelope by hand. Gosh, thumbs are great. You are lucky.

Here is the Orphan Acts Bill as proposed:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.5439:

Please don't let this become law! Thanks for your help!

Gigantic, sloppy licks,
Lian

Happy Harvest Time!

Yesterday, I went apple picking with my human family. Actually they went picking, I just enjoyed smelling all the fallen apples. I even got to eat some apple...I do love apples! This is a good time of year, when all the yummy food gets collected and I get to try lots of new things! I wonder what will you be harvesting?


Below is one of my early fall paintings, doesn't it look like yummy apples hanging among the green leaves of an apple tree?


Lots of Licks,
Lian

Not a Prince

I found a toad in the backyard! I tried to get it to play, but it was more interested in squishing down in the grass and pretending to be a rock. Not even a kiss made it move, neither did it turn into a cute Chihuahua prince! or is it a frog that turns into a prince? I will have to find a frog and let you know.

My human put the toad in the garden, because he said it eats bugs. I will get to see it next time I visit the garden, maybe it will play with me then!

I will not be posting for a few days...my human is leaving to teach in Vermont this weekend, so I get a little vacation. See you next week!

Lots of licks,
Lian

I wanna play with the fuzzy!

I discovered that there was a fuzzy creature that lives in the bathroom upstairs. No one told me about it, but one I heard it and went to check it out. Unfortunately, it must have done something wrong, because it is in jail.

Now I visit it regularly and wish I could let it out to play. It is the same color as me, but much much smaller. I didn't know there could be fuzzies smaller than me. Sometimes the humans here let it have exercise time and it runs around in clear ball. It must have done something really bad to never be free from some kind of prison.

It hasn't told me what it did yet, actually it doesn't talk at all. I mostly sleeps actually. But, if you were in jail all the time, wouldn't you sleep all the time too?

It makes me appreciate the freedoms I have, because I could be locked in a cage or forced to run around inside a clear ball! Never take anything for granted!

Lots of licks,
Lian

Adirondack Blue!

Last weekend I went swimming for the first time! I have to admit, I was a little bit afraid at first. But my human put a life jacket on me and I got lots of yummy treats for giving it a try. I didn't like the actual swimming part so much, however, I really enjoyed riding around the pool on the floating chair! Next year my human said he wants to take me on a real boat to go riding on a lake, which he tells me is kind of like a giant swimming pool. If it is anything like riding on this comfy chair, I am all for it!

Lots of licks,
Lian