Luk's First Bike Ride

SUCCESS!!!! Luk and I went on our first bike ride together!!! He did sooo good;)))) We ran into another dog and he just kept going;)))) ...all the way around the neighborhood! Poor thing is dead tired;)

How to quickly train your dog not to bark

Luk, my Doberman mix, happens to be quite the vocal puppy when he wants something, like to go outside, again, and again, for no good reason.  Why? because he'll come back two seconds after; he just likes to make rounds on his squirrel territory.

It's become quite a pesky thing, this thing he does.

One day I decided to borrow a trick out of "Mom's Book of Tricks" and put my index finger up in the air saying "ONE".
Then, after he barked again, "TWO"
and again: "THREE"
At which point Luk was grabbed by the collar and calmly walked over to the guest bathroom.

After he came down, he was let back out.

After several trips to the bathroom he put two and two together:

bark = finger in the air
three fingers in the air = time out


Now, I only count to ONE
TWO tops:)
Okay, okay, once in a while THREE is used as well:)

The Advocate Magazine Fun Bit

A funny thing happened this weekend; I get a message from Travis: "was just at the gym doing cardio reading the advocate...saw your quote about Amy Acker:-)"

I was like what???

Turns out, it's actually there... LOL
What a blast!

The Squirrel Incident

Well, Luk finally did it.
He was chasing the squirrels all this time and he finally got one.
The poor thing was pinned to the ground when Laimis and I ran outside to rescue it.
Luk's damages: bleeding from squirrel bites.
Squirrel's damages: freaked the hell out and slobbered on.
The little squirrel finally got up enough courage to move and made it for a tree, but was barely holding onto the bark from breathing so hard and being so shaken by the ordeal. Slowly it went up the tree, barking at me; I made sure it wasn't hurt otherwise. So glad Luk was just "playing" with it like a lion playing with a mouse to show the kids how it's done... I just don't think I could handle a squirrel death by mauling.

I guess it's true what they say about rescue dogs...

I guess it's true what they say about rescue dogs...

I adopted Luk from the SPCA.  The owners had surrendered him; he was an "issue" dog.
The minute he got here, he turned the house up-side-down! ...destroyed 5 pairs of shoes, ate my graphic pen, even nibbled on my couch.  God help those holding the leash if he saw a dog, cat, or squirrel... oh boy... an arm out of socket, a leash pulling kind of dog. Worst of all, a never look you in the eye kind of dog.
 ...with lots of potential.

We have been going on walks, out jogging, to the lake, we learned how to play fetch and learned the meaning of STAY.  Jogs became a pleasure, walks became relaxed, Luk became a companion... a buddy everyone wants.

Today, we went for a jog on a 30' lead; I didn't even have to say 'stay' when he got to the street... he just stopped and waited, I picked up the leash and simply said 'Heel.'  Most importantly though, I can now look him in they eyes and he won't tear away; he'll look right back.

He had so much pinned up energy, he didn't know how to play; he was hurting everyone around him and now he can play... with a two year old... gently.

So yea... I guess it is true what they say about rescue dogs; they really are great.

Can't wait to see what two more months will bring:)

Back from the lake...

"I'm not happy with you right now... I specifically told you that I wasn't ready to go home yet."

Whimsy Dragonfly Wrought Iron Walk Gates

I have always loved designing organic pieces of ornamental metalwork and lighting, especially of the whimsy variety; just because it's so much fun! ...so when my White Rock Elementary School Teacher, alongside her landscape designer Alison M. Betz, waltzed in through our doors asking for two little organic style walk gates, I was over the moon!  (for all the reasons mentioned above, and more)
I have not seen her in sooo many years, yet she recognized me right away... I was shocked!  It was one of the most memorable moments ever!

We looked through our books and she pointed to a design she really liked.  I took the components she was absolutely in love with and designed exactly what she was looking for.  In the creation of the design, I had to keep in mind that her two adorable powder puffs (she has two beautiful Bichon Frisé girls) could't practice at their escape artist ways, so I added plenty of scrolls toward the bottoms of the gates.  The bushes will actually grow taller and cable wire will be stretched between the two gates so that the pups can't escape.   We then decided that a dragonfly would be a perfect addition to the wrought iron gate design, and she asked if the wings could be made of glass.  I also added a cute little bug wondering around one of the stems.

And voilà!  A whimsy design full of organic wonder was born!

written by:  Izabela Wojcik

Your personal ornamental metalwork and lighting designer

at Potter Art Metal Studios in Dallas, TX.