We didn’t simply click together the heels of our ruby slippers and arrive back home in our humble abode in Andover, Kansas, but we are are glad to return after a rather sweltering weekend on the art fair circuit. The weather was about as unforgiving as a bump on the end of the nose from the gloves of George Foreman. You couldn’t see it, but the humidity clung to the air like white on rice. As much as I do love participating in art fairs across the country, there are times that I miss the simple comforts of home. Yes, air conditioning comes to mind. Yet, there is something that we miss even more when both Sheryl and I leave home together for a weekend at a show. We miss our dogs. I just hate to go off and leave them at the doggy hotel no matter how many stars are behind its name.

It would be hard to describe the well-found greeting that we received early this morning when we returned from our short trip to Kansas City. Lexi and Dude acted as if we had just returned from a far flung adventure around the world. Although it had only been a few days since we were last together as a family, the dog’s joy was written across their faces. I opened the back door and Dude raced down the steps from the back deck to the lake shore some forty feet behind our house. Before I could say a word, he was frolicking and swimming circles in the middle of the lake. Lexi looked on with a grin that said it all. A few years earlier and she would have been right there in the thick of it. These days she gets about as much enjoyment watching and knowing that all is well. Life is very good at the Stephenson household. Yes, it certainly is.

About the show. Most of what I can say is that The Prairie Village Art Fair is a well run neighborhood art event in the Kansas City area. It is not a large show. The people in attendance are quite nice and I enjoy the overall friendly atmosphere. The crowds seemed a wee bit small to me, but that may be relative to some of the bigger events that I tend to frequent. I feel certain that the heat and humidity this last weekend kept people inside. I know the show’s administrator, and Donna does a ten-star performance. She, and her staff and volunteers,  would settle for nothing less. For artists unfamiliar with the Prairie Village Art Fair, it is worth the first time experience. You be the judge. The sales are there for some, not all.

The boys have long ago skipped the nest and these days we get the biggest kicks out of the dogs and cat.   Lexi and Dude are getting after it with an afternoon treat.

Okay, so I have a blog.  I am not always sure who reads any of this stuff anyway.  I guess that means that I can write about anything that I want.  Sometimes I may just be entertaining myself while having my morning coffee, or making a short note that I may want to come back to years from now.  This blog is for me.   Sure, blogs are a great marketing tool, to say the least.  Once in a while I even hook up with someone who might not have known anything about my artwork had I not taken the time to write about it on the internet.  Blogs are also a great educational tool for those ferreting out specific information, like how to paint a watercolor.  Just check out my step by step approach in one of my blogs.   But for you dog lovers out there, this one is for us.  It is my special way of recording those puppy years that come and go all too quickly. Dude and Lexi snuggle together. I cannot help but wonder about what appears as true love.  Lexi is the most patient mentor figure to ever come down the pike.  Dude is a premeditating little monster with razor sharp spiked teeth.  Yet, Lexi simply humors him and then snuggles up on his little bed instead of her own.

Lexi and Dude in the field, January 16, 2009. This day will disappear from memory too soon.  Lexi is a 60 pound female eight year old Lab.  Dude is still growing into those big paws of his.  It will not be long before he dwarfs Lexi.  This winter has been brutal.  Up until today, we still had unmelted snow drifts on the lawn that blew in Christmas eve.  For three weeks now the sun has refused to shine for any length of time.  This morning a damp fog hovered against the asphalt as we took off on a morning walk.  Dude has been walking on a leash for some time now.  We love to take Dude and Lexi up the street to an open field where they can play and exercise between a pair of lakes.  Dude will sit on the ground and track the  flights of ducks and geese with his eyes.  It is almost like he is spell bound by the sound of their wing beats as they travel closely overhead.  Waterfowl are on our lakes in great numbers during these winter months.

Sheryl keeps a watchful eye as the dogs run together in the field.  They are unleashed and running free for the moment.  Dogs have always been a big part of our family lives together, but Dude and Lexi are special.  Lexi was a gift from heaven when she was given to us by our son, Reese, seven years ago.  Reese did a wonderful job of training her.  There is absolutely no need for Lexi to ever walk on a leash other than the fact that local ordinances require all dogs to be on a leash.  In the field Lexi  is an unleashed extension of myself.  Her loving personality allows her to get along with every walk of life including other dogs.  I have never known her to fight with any animal unprovoked.   We are hoping that Lexi will be the perfect mentor for Dude.  When we found Dude through Blackfork Labs in Southeastern Oklahoma, we were looking for a litter bred for temperament.   Labs have the ability to learn quickly and can be taught to do almost anything.  A responsible Lab owner can easily train a Lab the proper behavior around people and other animals.  But it always helps to have the genes for special behavioral talents bred into the dogs through the careful eyes of a qualified breeder.  Dude comes from a championship line of Labradors on both sides of the family tree.  Most importantly the match was chosen to produce puppies of a loving nature with personalities to match.

But never be fooled into thinking that puppies will not go through the normal puppy stages while growing into adulthood.  They will always chew, and nip, and get into everything in sight.  That is simply  part of being a puppy.  Their little minds begin growing at a very early age.  Every new experience is an additional wrinkle in a brain that will someday become the dog you want to get to know.

No one can deny that he is a hand full.  But a new puppy in the family has its special moments.  Sheryl could not resist getting Dude a new coat for Christmas and the weather cooperated for that “perfect” picture.  The fact that he will grow out of that coat in no time at all, was totally lost in the moment.  Dude’s paws are already big as saucers and his jump puts him within reach of any and everything.  Thank God, he is house trained; already twelve weeks old and counting.

Love Me Love My Dog 11 x 14 inch poster image.

Years ago I had a friend, or maybe I should call him an acquaintance.   He would stop by to visit from time to time.  I will not mention names but I will say that this fellow must not have shared my love of dogs.   Whenever he came over to the house he seemed to become annoyed that we allowed an animal inside our home.  Never mind that our dogs have always been as much a part of the family as any one of the three grown boys my wife, and I raised early in our marriage.   The boys are now out on their own with dogs of their own.  Those are our granddogs and we love them the way some folks love a grandchild.  Thinking back I fail to understand this fellow’s displeasure when he chose to visit me and insulted my dog.   So, I made a poster stating my feelings on the subject.  The graphic image of my yellow lab is available in 11 x 14 inch poster format for $45.00 by emailing me at lstephenson3@cox.net.  You will not find the included poster images listed among my artwork on the web site.   I wish that I had this poster framed and hung on the wall so many years ago.  It clearly states my priorities and the company that I keep.  There is no confusion in this household.  Love me.  Love my dog.

I did a series of poster prints on quality rag watercolor paper.  These are printed in a mat finish using archival inks and sell for $45.00.  They fit a standard 11 x 14 inch frame.

Chocolate Lover 11 x 14 inch poster image.

Mellow Yellow 11 x 14 inch poster image.

Black Magic 11 x 14 inch poster image.