Remember How Cute Is She ?

And Bailey Keeps Growing

She has grown fast!  As a puppy she is learning a lot everyday.  And she  thinks anything tangible is her personal chew toy....

But most of all Bailey LOVES 

Hugs, Kisses and anything Fetch!  

I am constantly reminding myself of just how cute she is... Especially when I find this!






Our solution is:  Keep her mind as tired as her body!


Did you know that a dog gets dehydrated when using their "thinker".  And they use more energy than going for a run!

Hide her toys!   Make her Think!   Play Hide and Seek with People!  This is one of Baileys all time favorites!  She is getting really fast at finding us.  No matter if we are in the closet or under the sink (little bodies).


We hide her food and she has to do tricks to earn her treats.  Hide treats under little cups and make her find which one it's under.  



We buy raw bones from our butcher and that has stopped the chewing on our walls and window sills!  
 

I read an article Don't Shoot the Dog!  It is awesome!  Remember if you have a puppy... Be Patient!  It's ok to let the puppy be a puppy--- We buy raw bones from our butcher and that has stopped the chewing on our walls and window sills! 

Art- The Start of My Woman

Who is this Woman?  

What will I call her when she is finished?

I set out on a challenge.  A challenge to create a piece of art that I have had in my mind for a very long time.

  She will be constructed in several stages.  

This is the first stage.  

I wanted to experiment with the colors and the 

flowers that I will be using in the final project. 

 For a long time after my accident,

 I saw most of life in very dull, grey hues.  

Over time, I began to find small amounts of peace.  

With the realization of peace, 

came an appreciation for the color 

that was slowly coming back 

into my perspective.

Nerves - The Story behind the Art

The Story behind -  Nerves

When you live in physical pain on a daily basis, 

you have a choice.

You can either dwell on the loss and un-comfortability 

or you can find the blessings of the moment.

  I believe that it is very normal to vasalite between the stark difference of emotions.  WE are physical beings.  It is up to us to become in-tune with the meaning of our experiences.  

I was extremely physically active prior to my accident.  I worked to achieve an "almost free from mortality" existence during each workout.  Following the accident, for a very long time, all I could feel was 

physical limitations and pain. 

The Brachial Plexus is a group of nerves that come from the spinal cord in the neck and travel down the arm.  These nerves control the muscles of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, as well as provide feeling in the arm. 

 A brachial plexus injury occurs when these nerves are stretched, compressed, or in the most serious cases, ripped apart or torn away from the spinal cord.

Severe brachial plexus injuries can leave your arm paralyzed, with a loss of function and sensation.

Due to the severity of the impact of collision, 

my brachial plexus was greatly damaged.  

This left me with a loss of feeling, control and pain.  

 Essentially Nerves are the resident electricians of the body.  Unfortunatly they stink at repair jobs. The nerves that make up the brachial plexus, try as hard as they can to heal themselves.   Still, this results in constant nerve twitches and uncontrolled lack of use, often at very spariatic times. 

I fought my reality for a long time.

However, once I accepted and began practicing 

 living in a way I call,  "RAW" 

I have begun to see some of the most 

amazing gifts this world has to offer.  

Before my accident, I was always in a rush. 

 I appreciated the beauty around me 

that the world shared, but I never took time to 

truly listen to the lessons the Earth had to teach.

Living raw means we have no expectations.

 We do not live to control. 

We live to be guided by a power greater than us. 

Nerves

raw stripped away

by physical pain

left exposed

vulnerable

an apparent 

right of passage

for focused feeling.

grasping thin air

damage inhibits success

succumbed to

reality of weakness

gives way for new light.

- Laura Carnagie

Video - New Leash on life

New Leash on Life

Just what is A New Leash on Life......

Watch the video to learn more.

Bailey's Training New Leash on Life

A New Leash on Life

visit their site

A foundation that gives freedom to their clients.  

A New Leash on Life, Inc.  improves people’s lives by utilizing the special abilities of dogs. New Leash trains Assistance Dogs for people with disabilities; 

Therapy Dogs to cheer the elderly and motivate children learning to read or in therapy; 

and Companion Dogs for adoption from unwanted shelter dogs through an inmate training program at a local correctional facility.

Bailey's   2 1/2 years of training was done by A New Leash on Life!

Learn More at  A New Leash on Life