Libby

Dreaming In Color

- robin

Last night, I woke up in the night, then went back to sleep. In that time, when I went back to sleep I had a dream. It is weighing heavy on my heart this morning. I have not even shared it with Larry.

In the dream, I had boxed up all of Libby’s (Libby was my beloved dog) things and took them to storage. Libby died April 2017. I know that it is time to do this, is something wrong with me? Why am I having so much trouble with this?

Above Photo: Libby’s things in my work room. The green toy on top was with her when she crossed.
Above Photo: Libby’s portrait was painted by Suzi Reil

I still miss her very much and suppose I will keep her things here in my studio. When the time is right, I will know it…. right?

PS: I dream in color, do you?

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Happy Halloween!

- robin

Happy Halloween! I have always loved Halloween. It marks the beginning of Autumn for me and it is a time of whimsy and joyful moments As the middle of three daughters, I wore many hand me down costumes and even now, looking back as an adult I did not care. It was always so much fun.

In 2005, Larry was very busy with his work. Opening up the North Texas district was his job and starting an op-co for his company was always a number one goal.

I was also busy, teaching ART classes for the city and creating ART was my joy.

The first of October, 2005, I stared a new project. A costume for my pug dog and then, Libby became Pink Unicorn Pug. On October 13, 2005, I had a photo shoot with her at the local greenhouse and now, fifteen years later, Libby in that costume still makes me smile. The photo went viral as there are 1 .5 million hits on her pink unicorn video and the greeting cards using the photo are still being sold, even though my contract with the card company has run out.

Photo: Photo and costume By Robin PINK UNICORN PUG

Pink Unicorn Pug is my all time favorite costume. Libby loved it too. (Libby passed away in 2017)

I do not dress for Halloween any longer but I adore being part of celebrations, parties and Tricks and Treats.

Have a happy Halloween. Be safe and know that the spirit of The Pink Unicorn Pug is smiling on us all…..

Love you beyond the moon and stars.

Me

In Honor Of Our Country: Elizabeth’s Stormy Liberty

- robin

On September 11th, 2001 Larry had just left for meetings in Tyler Texas when the first airplane hit the Twin Towers. No one knew exactly what was happening. I was watching Good Morning America and Charlie Gibson was stoic.

Air traffic stopped, TV reports were all over the place and we all were in a state of shock.

The hate that created this event is beyond my scope of understanding. Even today, all these years later. My heart hurts for the victims, their familys and for our country.

The summer before 9/11, I had been talking about Pug dogs. A lot. Larry said no. Jami said she wanted a Golden Retriever and Lauren said, just get a dog.

It happened exactly one week after the devestating attack on our country. We { Larry, Lauren, Jami and I all went} met the man I had been talking to, who had a litter of 7 pugs {from the same litter} ready for adoption.

That is the night we met Libby and brought her home. I held her on my lap when awful storms started. Bad, nasty, Texas storms. We did not have anything at the house for a puppy…and in the rain, we took our new family member to the pet store.

Our Community was still in shock after the 9/11 attacks and all they needed was to see was a pug puppy walking around the store. Libby was popular that night. While it rained outside and our country mourned.

That evening in the car {in the rain}, we named our pug girl.

Her AKC name is Elizabeth’s Stormy Liberty. Libby for short. In honor of our counrty and the stormy night that she came home to the cottage. I held her in my lap all evening and she slept on our bed that night.

All was well.

Photo: My first photo shoot with Libby

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Weekend Reflections

- robin

The weekend was filled with migraines and side effects of the head aches. I was not 100% but not sick enough to go to bed.

Yesterday, Sunday we skipped church to watch the Women’s World Cup Soccer match. It was wonderful. The soccer, not skipping church.

After world cup, we had to do a few chores and ended up buying plants for the patio. I am ashamed to tell you that since Libby’s death, we have neglected the patio very badly. She would sit out there and watch the world go by. { I would love to sit with her out there} Yesterday, I picked out plants and Larry planted them. It was super hot and utterly miserable and it felt so good!

Photo: Patio
Photo: Container arrangement. Coleus , Inpatients and creeping Jenny

After planting the containers, we had Sunday dinner and a movie. Larry grilled out rib eye steaks and I made scalloped potatoes and asparagus. For dessert we made sundaes out of left over brownies and ice cream.

Photo: Steak, potato and asparagus
Photo: Sundae desserts

In honor of Doris Day, we watched another one of her movies…..

Photo: Sunday Dinner and Movie

The Man Who Knew Too Much is Larry’s favorite…I think Rear Window is mine. Do you have a favorite Alfred Hitchcock movie?

It is now Monday morning. We walked our miles at the lake early. 6:30 am. Larry is sequestered in his office working on a restaurant contract and I am doing laundry while I write. After I post this, I will get out my sewing machine and start making a linen dress. Sounds ambitious doesn’t it? Well, its really not. I want to go back to bed and read. I am reading the sweetest book that was given to me on my birthday…

Oh well. Happy happy Monday!

Love you beyond the mooon.

Me

It Is Wonderful

- robin
Photo: Libby and Paris Caf’e

I have been missing Libby very much this week. Perhaps it is because I have been struggling with a migraine. Whatever the reason….it always puts me in a thankful mood to have had Libby in my life and to just be me. How blessed have I been?

Blessings come in so many ways. Good and bad. Being thankful for them all, helps me stay centered.

I am also thankful to have the ability to journal like this daily. A BLOG. Who would have thought of this 50 years ago? It is wonderful.

Love you.

Me

A Joyeux Anniversaire

- robin

Photo: Anniversary gift arrived, wrapped by the ARTist.

It is hard for me to fathom,

that in a few weeks,

Larry and I will have been married 41 years.

We decided on a gift weeks ago…trusting our “gut”

as we commissioned a painting

by just seeing a  painting that a fellow blogger

{Thank you Stephanie Nielson}

had commissioned by the same ARTist.

I am so picky about things like this….but it felt right.

 

Do you want to see that paining first or know the ARTist?

 

The ARTist is Suzi Reil. {links below}

ARTist Suzi Reil l website ink

Suzi Reil Etsy Store link

{we commissioned her through her ETSY Shop}

Suzi is a California  ARTist, who has a special knack capturing

the complete expression of a beloved pet or family member .

She is wonderful to work with and is very concerned

about capturing your subject  perfectly.

I cried when I opened the portrait last evening….

and

had so much to tell Suzi about my feelings as I looked at the painting.

But that can wait.

Photo: Libby Portrait. Will be framed in a few weeks…for now I just want to look at her eyes.

Happy Anniversary Larry.

Libby’s portrait is priceless.

I love you beyond the moon.

Me.

Bright and Cool

- robin

 It is 8:30 am and I am sitting at my work table

trying to plan tomorrow’s dinner and movie.

I know….messy……

BUT.

I can feel the change in weather.

Autumn is upon us

and

although I have things to do, places to be, people to see…

I am missing my Pug Girl today.

Goodness she loved this time of year.

The mornings bright and cool,

the nights cuddling on the big bed.

I know that life goes on,

but merde, it is difficult sometimes.

{but how blessed am I to have had such a wonderful life?}

Dear ones,

Have a happy Saturday.

Enjoy your moments and smile when you remember

special moments from the past.

Love you more than candy.

Me

Picky, Picky….

- robin

 

I found this photo today in my camera.

It was taken months ago and I do not remember it.

Toward the end of Libby’s life, she was picky.

She ate her dinner on a  china plate,

with a  paper towel under it.

She was such a great dog…I am missing her very much this week.

{Larry is out of town and I am quite alone}

Finding these photos are killing me….

Love you.

Me

Libby’s Lei

- robin

Larry and I have a tradition that upon losing a family member,

we have a ceremony for them while at the beach.

At a special spot near the cottage, we dedicate a lei to our loved one and then to the ocean.

The Lords Prayer and  the hymn Simple Gifts are recited

and

the lei is shared with the ocean.

In June, we dedicated a lei to Libby Pug Dog.

I am glad that I am posting this story here because I still cry .

After Larry shared the lei….tossing it far to the ocean….it kept coming back to us,

It would lie lazily on the rocks….for about 15 minutes.

Larry Looked at me and frowned. I cried.

At one point, the lei formed a figure 8.

Libby used to run very fast and run in figure 8s.

We smiled.

This went on for awhile. We watched the lei stay close to us

and then in an instant……

Libby’s lei was gone.

We did not see it surface at all again.

It was amazing and sad.

I am still missing my girl…..

but Larry says the grief is getting better every day.

Lets hope so.

Love you.

Me

 

 

 

 

And This Too…..

- robin

Good morning.

It is early Friday morning,

I am heart broken  and missing my dog.

 Eating and sleeping is out of the question.

I was not going to post on the blog today,

until good friends commented about Libby’s best friend.

Ajax.

Libby and Ajax were very close

and

they loved to terrorize the neighborhood cat.

Ajax is on the left, Libby is on the right

and

Garfield the mean cat is teasing them.

Bobbie, Ajax’s mother wrote reminding me

that all three of these characters are together in heaven now.

Some things just comfort a soul beyond words.

I am tired.

I am sad

and

I have amazing moments that border on a crying jag.

This too shall pass….oui?

Love you.

Me.