We’re having a heatwave in Pennsylvania right now. Which means that Trooper and I (and the kitties) can be found trotting around the farm with our tongues hanging out….it’s that hot!
It’s so hot in fact, that our wrestling/play matches have mellowed greatly. Normally Trooper would give me this look and I’d make a B-line for his ankles – you know, to take him down for giving me dirty looks.
Instead I’ve had to resort to name calling, because wrestling in this heat just isn’t going to happen. Nana-a-boo-boo, stick you’re head in doo-doo!
P.S. a word to the wise, don’t resort to name calling unless you are fast as lightning like me – or it could end very very badly.
I don’t know about you, but at my house, the couch is mine! I like to watch my shows on there in the evening, there seems to me no shortage of warm laps to share, and it’s where I snuggle up in blankets for the night. So I figure since it’s MINE, I should probably get to decorate it however I like. That’s why I picked out these fun pet pillows for today’s Friday Fetch.
As part of an exclusive collaboration with west elm, noted pet portraitist Scott Lifshutz created a series of new paintings, including a happy pack of four-legged friends, a hound, and a horse, which are printed in artful watercolor-style silhouette on cotton pillow covers using a special technique to capture and preserve all of the painterly details and nuances of Scott’s originals.
He also designed a series of fun appetizer plates featuring some furry four-legged friends. You can check them out here.
You can fetch Scott’s designs at West Elm for $19 – $29
Today I thought I’d share a few images from my evening on the farm – shot yesterday. Everyday is an adventure, and there is no shortage of things to do on the farm in the Summer. Arguably it’s not your average farm, especially when it’s run by a bunch of Super Heroes with an active imagination. You’re never to old to play dress-up, catch bugs, or in my case – build underground forts. I don’t plan on ever growing up. How about you?
When you spend your time with a bunch of famous ponies, sometimes you are required to spend long hours on the road with them. It’s not the best situation (IE – where is my pillow and my favorite toys?), but there are lots of things you can do to make it your home away from home. Here are a few things I just can’t live without when I’m traveling with the ponies…
Number 1: If you must be tied up, make sure you have access to a nice sunning spot. Grass is preferred, but I’ve been known to compromise.
Number 2: a nice comfy dog bed out of the sun (for when it just gets too hot to bare) is a must. I of course use my designer dog bed from Molly Mutt tucked away in my little corner in the trailer tack room.
Number 3: A fan! Mom hooked me up with this battery powered fan, and let me tell you, it-is-heaven on a hot day!
Number 4: ONLY travel with ponies who make you look good! I tell my ponies that they better bring home the BLUE ribbon – or else no kisses from me!
Remember how my friend Baxter the Dachshund told me that Wednesday was Unicorn Appreciation Day? And remember how I set out to catch my own Unicorn with some glitter? Well, now that it’s Wednesday, I bet you are all wondering if I was able to catch my Unicorn friend?
I had to wait a really really really long time with my glitter bait.
Even Cricket got bored of waiting – she thought maybe if she played dead the Unicorn would come to save her. It didn’t work out like she planned (don’t worry, she didn’t really die).
But then, after waiting for DAYS, I heard something off in the distance.
“Are you my Unicorn?” – Me
“Why yes, I came because I smelled your glitter” – Unicorn
“But how do I know you are a Unicorn” – Me
And then I looked up and it was GLORIOUS!
My Unicorn had come at last, and he was more spectacular than I imagined!
I gave him lots and lots of kisses and told him I was happy he came to the Unicorn Appreciation Day. I wished he could stay forever, but he said he had to get back to the magical forest.
Although he did leave some magical Unicorn poop behind for me as a souvenir. I’m soooo lucky!
My pal Baxter the Dachshund says that it’s Unicorn Appreciation Day on Wednesday. Baxter has already started trying to catch his Unicorn in his backyard to bring to the Appreciation Day. He’s super smart, so I’m sure he’ll have no problem catching one, he even thought up some really cool bait to catch his Unicorn with – like Watermelon, Glitter, and even Beans.
Since Baxter looked like he was having so much fun trying to catch his Unicorn, I told my mom I wanted to catch my own for Unicorn Appreciation Day too.
Luckily the Painting Ponies had a stash of glitter on hand at the farm. Gotta love a pony that keeps glitter in their locker.
I spread out some of my glitter by some pretty flowers on the farm. I figured if Unicorns like glitter, then they probably like flowers too.
Now comes the hard part, waiting for my Unicorn to show up….
Just in case I also started digging a Unicorn hole – you know – should Unicorns live underground. Hey, you never know!
Secretly I have been working on a little project for the past few weeks. Yes, it’s true, Super Dogs sometimes have to go into their super bat caves and work on new projects. But now I’m ready to reveal it!
You might remember that I spend a lot of my time with a couple of famous Painting Ponies. The ponies have sold artwork all over the World, and I have to admit I’m a little bit jealous of their painting skills, especially my pal Minnow.
In my family, everyone is an artist. The ponies paint using acrylics, my dad is a graphic designer, and my mom is an artist and picture framer. Me? Well I started making scratch art last May. Using my paws I scratch Dachshund shapes and other fun things onto specially created boards. And while I love making scratch art – which has sold all around the World – it’s not really painting. How am I supposed to be an honorary member of Painting Pony when I don’t paint?
So I decided it was high time I started working on my own painted masterpieces. Now you all know I like to be a little different. How many Super Hero Dachshunds do you know? So I couldn’t just pick up a paint brush and start making paintings – I gotta stand out from my Painting Pony friends.
So with the help of my mom I made my very first watercolor painting on June 10th 2011!
My first painting, titled, “My Sunshine”
My mom helps me by putting watercolor onto the paper and then the rest is up to me. Digging, Scratching, even dancing – I mix those paints into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece!
I think it’s probably safe to say that I’m the World’s First Dachshund Watercolor Artist – beat that ponies!
Now with this great talent comes great responsibility (hehe had to throw in the Super Hero Reference there) – so with the sale of every one of my paintings I am donating 5% to some of my favorite charities. (Main Line Animal Rescue, Coast-to-Coast Dachshund Rescue, SPCA). My Painting Pony Friends also donate money to their favorite charities with the sale of their work – and over the years we have donated hundreds of dollars to animal rescue groups. Yeah for helping animals in need, because that’s what Super Heroes do!
Right now I only have one available work for sale. After all, you can’t rush perfection – and I like to take my time in creating my one-of-a-kind paintings. But don’t worry, there will be more in the future – and I’m also totally game for custom commissions!
“Backyard Bliss” by Ammo the Dachshund, June 18, 2011. Available for purchase here. One of a kind!
To see more of my art work as it becomes available check out my online shop that I share with the Painting Ponies. I’ll also be sure to let all my fans know whenever I have a new painting available for sale on the blog!
And in case you don’t believe me that I’m a REAL painter, here’s a video that my mom helped me make.
Now if you’ll excuse me, this super hero has some painting to do!
The Painting Ponies that I live with are a special breed (according to my mom). They are all Chincoteague Ponies, which means they were either born wild on Assateague Island in Virginia or they are related to the wild ponies from the island. My best pony friend Minnow was born wild on Assateague 18 years ago – how cool is that – technically I’m friends with a wild animal! Mom says Boomerang and Blitz are not directly from the island, but their parents are.
Since I learned that to get off the island, Minnow had to join in on the annual Pony Swim, I decided that Blitz and Boomerang should probably learn to swim too. It was time for initiation!
I of course watched safely from the sidelines.
Blitz and Boomerang are on the left, and my other pony friend Jet is on the right. Jet is not a Chincoteague Pony so she was exempt from initiation, but chose to participate – well, because she’s an overachiever.
The ponies we’re just taking too long to get to the swimming part, so I had to send in my assistant to get them moving.
It’s Super Trooper, assistant swim coach!
I like to make Trooper think he’s important.
And we have a swimmer! Boomerang has passed initiation! Now he can call himself a real Chincoteague Pony. I’m like the best swim coach ever!
Being a horse show dog is a VERY tough job. We don’t get the glory of winning the fancy ribbons and trophies like the ponies do, instead we are behind the scenes taking over the jobs that no one else wants to do.
Take my job for example. I’m usually on patrol duty, in charge of guarding all of the tack and the trailer.
The hours are long, and usually it’s hot. But someone has to keep away the chickens….
…and the cows!
Stop giving me the stink eye cow! I’m watching you!
It could be worse though, I could be stuck on ribbon rack duty like my pal Trooper.
I don’t know about you, but at my house, the couch is mine! I like to watch my shows on there in the evening, there seems to me no shortage of warm laps to share, and it’s where I snuggle up in blankets for the night. So I figure since it’s MINE, I should probably get to decorate it however I like. That’s why I picked out these fun pet pillows for today’s Friday Fetch.
