So the instructions are to open the sixth folder and post the sixth photo, correct?

That would be this photo capture of Annie running at the dog park in early December. I especially like the flexation in that front pastern. Look at that sucker nearly flat against the ground!

There are more photos in this series on flickr.

But that is the 6th photo in my 6th file on my hard drive. This is the 6th photo in my 6th file on my external hard drive:

This was taken last year at my open studio event. The box in the foreground? One of my favorites. I sold it at Dewey Beach. She assured me it was going to a good home. I love the glaze!

If I go 6 folders down, and choose the 6th photo I get this one. Blast from the past!

If I remember correctly, I only made 2 or 3 of these photo frames. Made from polymer clay about 1997-1998?

These were taken with my first digital camera — a Kodak with 1 megapixel. I was *so* excited about this camera. It must be stuck in a drawer now? Technology…

The 6th image in 6 folders down is this of 2 Greyhounds, Hewly Harlot and Hewly Hartling.

After that is this photo of Winchester.

This is my most viewed photo on Flickr. Someday I’ll learn how to photoshop the weed-eater of of the photo. Don’t you love his goofy face? I do.

I don’t miss the lutefisk. Or the oyster stew, but especially the lutefisk.

Here I was thinking “the holidays are over. Whew, No Lutefisk.” Alas, not so hasty, missy!

Today, my SO prepared his annual holiday lutefisk and lefse dinner.

Maybe I should back up — does everybody know what lutefisk is? Simply put it is whitefish soaked in lye. Reminds me of fish jello. And it has a peculiar smell…

And so, as he finished the preparations for his meal, the dogs began to hover around him. “They won’t eat that!” I declared as I warned the dogs away.

But Sage begged under the table.

And Annie too.

Even Winchester — the dog who will spit out ground beef - began to beg.

“They’ll eat it. See they want some” he said.

But I believe in my dogs. I know what they like and dislike. Not a chance.

NO! Sage!

And they all ate the lutefisk.

Traitors.

Aren’t they cute? I’ve been trying to get a photo of each of the dogs wearing their collars to send to Tess, but, try as I might, the photos end up looking like this:

Or this:

Or this:

See, the weather (cold) means we haven’t been to the dog park as much as usual. Even backyard running has been cut short too. I know anyone who’s had a Greyhound under, say, the age of 2 years, will understand… but we’re going a little stir crazy here.

When the pups SEE a collar and leash they know, “WE ARE GETTING OUT!”

And craziness ensues.

So even though I’m getting photos that look like this:

The puppies love their new collars! Thank you, Tess!

I make a goal list on the first page of a sketchbook, and lists for every show I prepare for.

I have one goal for 2009. Clean out the studio.

I’m afraid it might take all year.

So I thought I’d post a photo of Annie’s racing injuries.

Of course these are from racing around the yard with her littermate, Sage. No professional racetrack in sight.

I cook up a bag of rice — this time I used white, but sometimes I use brown. Then I add browned, ground turkey. To that I add leftover vegetables — mostly broccoli, carrots, or whatever else that is leftover or unwanted by the human inhabitants of this house. This batch had baked sweet potatoes which the pups love, a bag of mixed vegetables that had lived in the freezer a bit past its prime, leftover pasta, chicken stock, chicken gizzards, and some leftover turkey.

I leave out anything with onions or raisins. Things that are hot/spicy don’t make the dog slop either.

Inside the studio…

I rolled out tiles…

And watched boxes dry.

Fairly good day so far. Happy New Year.

I’m planning work in a different way this time around. In part because I’m working on the Bush Foundation’s Dakota Creative Connections grant. (The idea/grant proposal was to amass enough work for an exhibition or two…)

I’m working with this idea of a collection of work that will live, at least for a time, as one chunk. Rather than making pieces as sketchbook->studio->collector. I’m trying to hold, at least, a few of these back. Weird.

Standing next to a car

Wearing a bikini.

What was I thinking?

On a positive note, it’s nice to have proof of my once skinny thighs…

So the rules are: if you’ve already done the thing it needs to be in bold. Things I want to do are italicized and things I haven’t done/don’t want to do are in plain font.

THE 99 THINGS MEME

1. Started your own blog. (I would have to say yes to this one…)
2. Slept under the stars. (First time was girl scout camp on the shore of Gascoyne Lake)
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii. (Not high on my list of places I want to go, but I’d like to someday.)
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity. (Hello, Greyhound adoption. Doesn’t everybody involved do this?)
7. Been to Disneyland/world. (Disneyland, not Disneyworld. No big desire for Florida).
8. Climbed a mountain. (Technically mountain, but nothing really, really big).
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo. (Church choir — maybe third grade?)
11. Bungee jumped. (No thank you…)
12. Visited Paris. (Want to go back…)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea. (Nauseous on boats. I think I actually turn green).
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child. (I’ve adopted Greyhounds… does that count?)
16. Had food poisoning. (Rapid City Pizza place. Never eaten pizza in Rapid City since)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. (Never been to NYC. On my list of things to do).
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France. (Slightly disappointed about the glass)
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked. (This creeps me out).
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. (Never had a job with sick days. Doesn’t work when you are self-employed).
24. Built a snow fort. (Oh my gosh, like every winter as a child).
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon. (I’d like to have said that I’ve done it more than actually doing it…)
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice. (In spring, thank goodness!)
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. (Hasn’t everyone done this?)
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise. (see #13).
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person. (Have driven near in, but never stopped).
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. (Mostly).
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language. (does HTML count?)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person. (Pyramids in Egypt are higher on my list!)
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.
41. Sung Karaoke. (No, never.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing. (See #13).
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person. (Hot, lots of people, but amazing).
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. (Cold, lots of people, but amazing).
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. (Not big on swimming, boats, etc.)
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater. (I’m not sure about this one. There was a drive-in in Baker Montana, but I don’t remember every going).
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching. (See #13).
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. (Have lots of my toys in the attic).
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial. (Many times. Probably my favorite DC Monument).
71. Eaten Caviar. (Not my favorite).
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square. (Would like to visit NYC!)
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone. (Wrist, falling off a bicycle as a kid).
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book. (Imagine a big “Sarah Snavely” coffee table book of Greyhound sculptures).
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car. (Nah. Slightly used is fine with me).
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.