A Year in Review

As I look back on the journey of this past year I am amazed at the trip it has been. The year started with me deciding to take a year off from the art fair circuit to pursue my love of beaded sculptures.

This was a risky financial decision but one I had dreamed about for quite some time. I did have one commissioned piece to create so I knew there would be money coming in. Queen Mary Cometh was completed on time and the client was thrilled.

All along I continued to volunteer with Pet Haven and Red Lake Rosie's fostering dogs. By about April I started to realize that my passion for art was waning or at least taking a backseat to rescuing homeless dogs. I kept asking myself if there was someway I could stay home with the dogs and still feed my son?

Not being one to put too much energy into money-I think that gives it too much power-I decided to start a new home business boarding dogs. In June Rescue Buddy Boarding & Beyond was officially born. Mister was already occasionally staying at the house along with sometimes three fosters dogs at once so I knew what I was getting into.

From then on many dogs have come to stay, some several times. Thank you to all who have supported this new venture. Foster dogs are always welcome too. Paden is our 28th one and she has a good applicant coming to look at her on Saturday.

This year I was able to take three trips to Red Lake Rosie's Rescue. Getting to know founder Karen Good has been inspirational and a definite highlight of my year. For all of you yet to go up north please make a date on your new calendar to do so. You will be changed forever.

My mom is even getting involved. Since July 4th she has been knitting sweaters for the dogs at Rosie's because the winters are so harsh. I think she is up to about 40 so far. She can not be stopped.

Here is Simon in the bumblebee style.

As the old year is passing my mom and I are looking forward to a new venture. We are excited to be asked to sell the sweaters in a store in downtown Minneapolis. Proceeds of course going to Karen for hiring someone to help her with the endless daily chores. Thanks to Charm a frequent visitor to Rescue Buddy Boarding and her mother who made the connection for us. Charm was shopping in this store while modeling her new sweater that "Santa" brought her when she stayed with over Christmas.

As for my artistic expressions for the new year, well I have gotten the knitting bug too. Yes I am on my first sweater. Of course I do not want to stop knitting so I think my first one will be for a snake instead of a dog.

To the two loves of my life, thank you for being so patient with all the dogs coming and going.

May the new year find you following your dreams.