Opps! It's been awhile. We went camping Friday and Saturday for Nate's 40th Birthday and it's taken me awhile to get caught up on everything this week. 

It was a great weekend. The weather was beautiful. We went with a couple of friends and did a little swimming and a little fishing. We ate hot dogs and had a birthday pie. Of course we also had s'mores and some drinks too. It was really great to be in the woods for a couple of days, away from phones and computers.

 I ran 10 miles around Timothy Lake. My third time running around it! My legs and ankles feel great. I had a little back pain today, but it's manageable. I can't believe I'm up to 10 miles. I really wasn't sure if I'd ever run that distance again. I'm so happy that things are going well in that department.

Chloe is also doing really well. She threw up when we first arrived at the camp site, and I was really worried the first night we were there. I think it was just the car ride because she was fine all weekend and she's been great all week. I think we're finally out of the woods with her health. For now anyway, and I'm totally embracing that.

It's been a good week. I've been painting, prepping panels for paintings and putting wholesale orders together. Life is really great right now and I'm embracing that as well.

I'm hoping to get more blogging done next week! 

What a week it's been. There's been so much heartbreak. I feel emotionally and physically drained. I don't want to be silent about how unjust it was for those two black men to be shot by cops for a routine traffic stop. I understand that my white skin affords me the privilege of never feeling afraid of being harassed, or even killed, by cops. It also allows me privileges in many other areas of my life.

I know that I must be a comrade to the African American community and I'd like to think that I am. I also know that there are things that I can work on in my life, and thought process, to become more anti-racist.

It does feel awkward to address these issues. I don't want to feel white guilt. I don't want to feel like because of my white skin I can swoop in and help people of color fight racism. I don't want to say the wrong thing.

But I do want to open up the discussion of racism. I do want people to know that I don't believe in the #AllLivesMatter movement. I do believe that Black Lives Matter and I want it to be more than just a hashtag. I do want equality and justice for everyone. I do believe in no justice no peace.

I don't want to see people killed anymore. It seems more and more like we're at war with each other. I don't have any answers or solutions, I just wanted to add my voice to the discussion and let people know where I stand.

Thanks for reading.

Imperial Red 8x10" print.

So, to help cover some of the costs of my sweet little dog, I've decided to have a print sale. All of my 8x10" and 11x14" prints are 50% off using the code PRINTSALE50 at checkout.

New holiday card is coming soon!

This is what I mostly worked on today. I wanted to do one more holiday card before I sent my holiday card image sheet to wholesale buyers and I did it!

It's been another challenging week in the Chloe Baloney department. She had something called Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis. I won't get into details because it's not the most pleasant illness. There was a lot of blood and other bodily fluids and she wasn't doing well at all. 

After day 4 I took her back to her vet and they pumped her full of fluids and antibiotics. 

She's doing much better today. I think she'll be almost 100% tomorrow.

Sometimes I feel like all her illness is my fault somehow. I know it's not, but I'm her primary caretaker and sometimes it feels like I'm the one responsible for her health, and she's just a very healthy dog.

I guess that's what happens when you love another being. When things aren't going well for them we ask ourselves what WE could be doing wrong. 

It's really hard taking care of a dog that seems to have so many issues. I care about her so much, I just want her to have the happiest, healthiest life. I wish I had a magic wand to heal all her ailments.

She's such a bright, strong little being. I'm hoping this is the last of the serious health issues for awhile. So is my bank account.