Saturday, December 20, 2008

Dangers of Having a Tail

Taggie has a very happy tail and it wags most of the day. He doesn't really know how to control it very well and it has a mind of its own. So, when he gets close to the coffee table, his tail usually knocks off everything on the edge. Its pretty entertaining because he will look back after he has knocked something off like "Who did that?". Every time! Funny :)

This morning, I was drinking my coffee on the couch and eating my cheerios. I thought it would be a nice to have the holiday cinnamon candle burning. (Dan and I love the smell of cinnamon around the holiday.) Taggie can't resist a yummy cheerio in the morning...so, he followed me to the couch in hopes I would "drop" one. Well, in his quest for a cheerio, the dangers of having a tail became very apparent.....
As you can see, he almost had a few less hairs on his tail because of the candle. But, thankfully, no Taggies were harmed in the taking of this photo :)

Thursday, December 18, 2008

My Interesting Day Off

I took the car in to get an oil change after lunch. (Dan and I had lunch together today...Yummy sushi, creamy wontons and a bento box!) Since I had the time, I decided to take my knitting and wait in the waiting room. Usually when I go to a place like that, I try to avoid eye contact with others in the waiting room in an effort to avoid small talk and learning to much info about people I will never meet again. Also, growing up you were always taught not to talk to strangers...so maybe my waiting room anti-social ways stems from that. Or maybe I'm just weird. Anyways, I pulled out my knitting and that was an open invitation for the guy sitting across from me tell me about how he hasn't seen anyone "do that" in a really long time. I was like, "okay". He then proceeded to tell me all about his grandmother and how she used to "do that" all the time. His grandmother also had about 100,000 things of yarn. I was like "wow, that's alot of yarn". I also learned about how his grandmother dipped, gave him dip when he was only 10 years old and how they would use the snuff cans as cups (odd). I then learned about the garden he made for his daughter this year. In which he proceeded to tell me about how when he was growing up they used to sit around and shell peas ALL day. WOW...way to much info! Thank goodness for cell phones because someone called him. Before he could come back to the waiting room my car was done. Hallelujah!!!

Thanks to the waiting room guy, I didn't get much accomplished on my knitting project. Here is what I am trying to make...some house slipper/bootie things. I found them at victoria secret for $50 (way to expensive) and thought I could probably make them. I will need some help from Memaw to finish them but I think I can do it.Later that day, Dan was on break from studying. We were just talking and playing with Tag. Someone came to the door, so I answered. It was an old lady. She was a little out of breath...(the driveway and stairs to our front door are pretty steep)...She forgot something...(at this time I have no clue who grandma is)...So, she turned around and went back to the car. Grandpa gave her whatever she forgot and she slowly walked back up the stairs. Even more out of breath she said "I have a check for your mother for the two bottles of juice and milk".......okay, I have no clue what she is talking about.......I was like "I think you have the wrong house". She asked "Is this (insert address here)?" I said "Yes." I quickly thought..."Who are you looking for?" It ended up being our sweet neighbor across the street she was looking for. Glad I could help and I'm very glad she didn't fall going up and down the stairs.

Finally, I will end with my favorite subject...Tag. He has found a new favorite spot. Not sure why he likes it here, but when we are in the kitchen, this is where he lays.

Isn't he sweet???

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Christmas Gifts...Handmade by ME!


I love making things! Here is my latest little project that I actually completed. I made everything you see. I made the santa hats, bones (in pottery) and letters!


FYI...Taggie didn't want me to post the gifts he is giving his friends...BUT, I was to excited about finishing not to share :)

Monday, December 15, 2008

Movies

I'd like to dedicate this blog entry to my grandpa. "Where is your grandpa?" the announcer ask. "He's in the trunk of my car."

So, I know I'm probably the last person on earth to see these two movies...but I highly recommend them as must sees:

1. Juno
2. Little Miss Sunshine

My all time favorite move is Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken....in case you were wondering :)

Saturday, December 13, 2008

More Pottery and a Dream

Here is some more pottery. I hope you enjoy! If you see anything you like, let me know.

A blue green serving platter I hand built:
From left to right; a mug, a pitcher and a jar with a lid:Close up of jar with lid:
Red razorback dish:Mugs. The mug on the right is red and green on the outside with blue and purple on the inside. The mug on the left is turquoise with brown spots:
Bowl with yellow, black and a hint of purple:
Mini creamer:
This is a doggie food scoop:
Its made up of little doggie bones. I'm still perfecting the design...but this is the beginning of a dream I have always had. I have always wanted to start my own business. And I figured, I love my Taggie so much, why not have a business revolving around dogs! So, maybe one day my dream will come true. Keep a look out for.... Taggie's: A Doggie Boutique ;)

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Meet Bill...Mystery Solved

So, I think we identified the mystery person tearing up and eating everything around the house....

Meet Bill. Taggie claims Bill is the one causing all the trouble!
In case you can't tell, its really Taggart. We refer to Tag as Bill after he gets a short hair cut. Your probably thinking...Why did you get his hair cut short? Its cold outside. Well, I wanted it trimmed. This is the groomers interpretation of trimmed. Also, hes an inside dog...he should be fine. We also cuddle alot...I got it covered ;)

I just got some more pottery in yesterday! So, I will post more soon. Gotta take some pictures first. I hope to get a DSLR soon too...please santa, I've been good this year...so, hopefully the pics will be more clear.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Pottery by J Parrish

The first pottery class I took was called "Hand Building". We took a big mound of clay (aka mud) and made it into something. I mainly made practical things as opposed to the more "artsy" stuff.

Here is a big purple and light blue pot. Fun Story about this pot: I took this class with my mom. When I got this piece back, mom made a suggestion as to what it should be...she said "You could use it as a trash can!". She was so proud of her idea. I was like "Thanks mom"....sarcastically....I know she meant well, but its never good when people suggest using your art as a trash can!!!I REALLY wanted to make a drinking pitcher the entire class. But we never did...we were supposed to make a box with a specific technique....and I turned it into a pitcher...This is probably my most artsy piece. (The mug in the pic I made in wheel throwing class.)
Here was our last project...a casserole dish. I have yet to bake anything in it. But I think it came out nice. The glazes (the color) are so unpredictable....this one glaze comes out either light blue or red...kinda crazy. I got mainly red and the little dots came out light blue.

Last pot for the night. I made this in my wheel throwing class. Its a pretty small pot. But this technique is called a horse hair pot. I used actual horse hair to make the black squiggles on the pot. Its a pretty cool technique.Well, like I said...I have TONs of pottery...I will post more another time :)

Taggie was feeling left out...so here is his portrait...this was my first doggie painting

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Art by J Parrish

So, my journey in art began about 2 years ago at the Arkansas Art Center with a Watercolor class. Right now I am in a wheel throwing pottery class. Here is a little taste of my pottery with a Taggie bowl. (I try to incorporate Tag in all my art and Taggie is starting to become a wonderful model! Check out the way he is working the camera!!!)
Lets start from the beginning of my journey...

I would like to give a HUGE thanks to Cara for getting me started at the Art Center...Our boys were busy with school and we were looking for something to keep us busy. Cara took pottery while I took watercolor in the next room. And since then I just keep going back each semester to learn something new :)

So, I started out with a watercolor class because it fit into my workout schedule and I thought painting would be fun. I was told that watercolor was supposedly "the hardest to learn". Well, its wasn't to hard and it turned out to be a ton of fun! Here are a couple of my paintings:
This is my very first still life.
Here is my first running water...this picture doesn't do justice....looks much better in person. (In my opinion...also, this is one of my favs!)
This one of the bird seems to be the favorite of all my friends. They think it's neat they way I did the birds nest.This one is Dan's favorite. Not sure why...I personally don't think its my best...but I'm my own worst critic.And this one is my first landscape...not the best but I figured all the deer hunters out there would like it :)Well, I think thats enough for now. I'll put my pottery up next. There is a TON of that! I really like pottery...and I think I enjoy it more then painting. I like painting, don't get me wrong, but pottery seems to hit the spot!

I have a couple of ideas up my sleeve and I really hope they pan out! My class starts back January 5th...One of my first goals is a chip and dip bowl :)

Thursday, December 4, 2008

40 Pound Fatty

Here he is...my 40 pound fatty! I was just hanging out on the couch and someone decided to pay me a visit...not next to me but on my lap. Out of all the seats in the house, Taggie chooses my lap! He is my #1 cuddle monster and I love him so much.
Here is another fun pic...We were the only ones home and this is the best I could do ;) And if your wondering, Taggies eyes aren't red...they are blue. Its just every pic I take they come out that way!TV Side Notes: I'm really tired of Izzy and Denny...Izzy he's DEAD!!! Alex loves you and I'm starting to like Alex...He's still a jerk but a kinda sweet jerk...Izzy, please stop sleeping with the dead guy and pick Alex! Yes, I cried when Matty proposed to his girlfriend. He had a ring and everything. I'm not sure why I cried, but I thought it was really sweet. And happy cries always feel good to me :) Finally, I'm still really bummed about Dallas and Toni. They were my fav...All sons should take note and love their mama's as much as he loved his.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Boring Tag...Meet Chad

So, Tags been a little boring lately...go figure! Here's Tag and his boring face:

Anyways, this gives me an opportunity to talk about some other stuff. Back in October, I met Chad. Many people might not know who Chad is...but he is the SUPER cute Alltel spokes person. He is even cuter in person and he seems like a cool guy...that is my assessment after about 30 seconds of meeting him ;) Here we are (Chad is the blond guy in the middle):

Sunday, November 30, 2008

I'm Ready To Go...

Thanksgiving morning Dan and I were getting ready to head to Nanny's house...then Taggie decided he wanted to go too. He bolted past us and made a mad dash to the garage. When I got down the stairs this is what I found...A Taggie waiting for someone to open the car door so he can jump in and come with us. (He stayed there long enough for me to go upstairs, get the camera and then come back down.) He was very sad when we told him he had to stay at the house. We finally got him back upstairs and we headed to Nanny's. We had a wonderful thanksgiving and it was great to see all the family!

Recipe: So, I made some yummy jalapeno poppers and took them to Nanny's house. I wasn't sure if anyone would like them but they turned out to be a big hit. Here is the recipe if you are interested:

Jalapeno Poppers
1 lb sausage
8 oz cream cheese
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
22 jalapenos, halved and gutted (if you use big jalapenos, you will probably need less)
ranch dressing for dipping

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Cook sausage in skillet and drain grease. Mix cream cheese and parmesan cheese in bowl. Once mixed, add sausage to cheese mixture. Stuff jalapenos with meat/cheese mixture and lay jalapenos side by side in a cooking dish. (They tend to fall over while cooking if not side by side). Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until brown on top. Serve with ranch dressing for dipping. Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Pepper

Meet Pepper. This is Taggies Aunt. Pepper is about 10 years old and lives with my parents. She was my best little buddy through middle school and high school. She has a younger stud of a husband named Cocoa. (I'll introduce him later) They argue alot but I think its all in the name of love.

I painted this picture Spring 2008 with acrylics. I hope you like it. Its one of my first doggie portraits. My very first one was of Taggie...of course :)

Monday, November 24, 2008

Sleepy Tag

So, how can you call Taggie a dog. Do dogs know how to sleep on a pillow???
I get a little confused myself sometimes. In case you were wondering, this Taggie look is saying..."Turn off the lights, I'm trying to sleep!"...or what we like to refer to around the house as "Stink Eye".

You can find the Tag most days keeping papas pillow warm...

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Clues...

So the mystery continues...

Dan and I left for about 1 hour to go workout at approximately 1:30 pm. When we came back, we opened the door to the garage and found this....
Gasp...Dan knows exactly where the mystery person found these granolas...in the office. (Today is cleaning day and the trash was left on the floor.) We rush to the office and what do we find???? MORE CLUES

WOW...they ate all of them...These things always seem to happen when we aren't around. So, how do you figure out who did it? Well, the only one in the house was Taggie and he said he didn't see anything. But he sure is scared that we think its him...interesting
But in an effort to prove his innocence, he wanted to help out in the search for who did it. So, in his search for who did it, he "found" another clue upstairs in the bedroom...he thinks we should talk to Razorback about what he saw...But I'm thinking Taggie sure looks guilty...
We seem to have come to an end on the search this time and we still don't know who did it. Looks like we have to wait until it happens again. But as I sit hear and think, Taggie comes to visit and I find the last clue....

I asked Taggie, "How did that piece of granola get on your fur?". Taggie says, "I must have picked it up in the search for who really did it..." Well, Tag would never lie so we sit and wait. Hopefully next time we will catch the mystery person in action. Deep down inside I have a feeling the answer is right in front of us... ;)

Saturday, November 22, 2008

The Tissue Mystery


So, this happens alot in our house. Torn tissues in the middle of the floor, missing oatmeal cookies that were left on the coffee table and various wrappers licked clean. I can't quite figure out how it happens. For the longest time I thought Dan was the culprit...but he claims he's not. Taggie was my second thought but he's to cute to do something like this and he also promises that he didn't do it...so, the mystery continues.

A little to the left....














Taggie helping out...or supervising...whichever :)

Art Sale

Mom and I went to the Arkansas Art Center art sale today. Got some great ideas for next years sale. We are planning on being in the sale....we'll see how that pans out. Here is the cool mug I bought!