Noseypotter's Inbox

Yes they are...and Besenji is no slouch either...lol...Phoebe is a great dog for me now...she is like my personal assistant...lol..what ever she hears me tell others she enforces...and is a great cat herder..she is second in command here...lol..and reads my mind all the time...have to be careful what I am thinking around her.

Great picture, Np!

oh dear...she is being defiant..phoebe only gave me a problem once when she was young...she was let know in no uncertain terms that it was not allowed and she never tried it again...she has everyone buffaloed...they think she is smarter that them because she says so!...LOL..that is the benefit from raising one from a pup..but it is not too late...Np..what would you do about a mishandled gal like Suzi?

Cat ~ Susie is a full Sheba Inu and very stubbon which apparently is typical of the species. That's a good tip about the staying low. She does climb onto the back of the couch....mostly to look out the window but she does like to sleep up there too. I have got her to the point of not growling at me whenever I move her off the chair or couch. She still does with everyone else but not me so I'm taking that as a sign of improvement.

NP I will be glad to see your blog on the dogs you have had...if you want to share that of course you should...your gardens and dogs seem to be tied together as it were...and love your pictures you have shared with us here..so much love in their eyes for you...
Gilli...your Suzie is full Sheba Inu right? She is I am sure quite smart and knows it...Phoebe still thinks she is smarter than me and runs off instead of listening...every now and again ....having been raised by kids for the most part..I am sure your Suzi has been let to believe she is right...LOL..no wonder she is badly behaved...make her stay low...she will climb onto the back of a chair right?..none of that, this is a sign of alpha for her...you have to be higher than her.

Lovely blog NP. Your dogs are all lovely and obviously well loved. The Dog Whisperer is a great show and he works wonders with some very badly behaved dogs. I've been trying to train Susie and I think I've made a difference but the going is slow. She is actually Murray's family's dog so I inherited her with Murray!! LOL. She has been badly spoiled due to the kids and their Mother but is slowly coming around - at least with me.

Weeeellllll, it goes like this....

Won't do this as a PM as others might be interested.

You need a wooden board (the size depends on the size of your painting of course, but it must be a bit bigger than your paper) and a piece of paper (I use cartridge paper of about a minimum of 135g, which is cheap. Heavier is better, but not necessessarily best. I prefer smooth paper, but you can use textured if you like. I think for you smooth would be best because you like to do detail. I wouldn't bother with expensive 'watercolour paper' if I were you. You also need 'gum tape', which you can get cheaply from an art shop - it's brown papery stuff that comes in a little role.

Right. Run a bath. About 1 inch deep, please. And put your peice of paper in the water. Make sure it gets wet all over, turn it over in the water, etc. Don't leave it in there for any more than a minute as that will weaken the paper (the glues it contains start to disolve and you don't want that).

Lay the wet paper on your board. Try to get it reasonably smooth, but don't worry about the odd ripple.

Wet your gum tape (not too much as the water will wash off the glue) and stick it down all around the edges of the paper, making sure you overlap it with the paper at least a half inch / 2cm. You might like to just blot off excess water with a clean spong, but it's not important.

Leave the board and paper to dry FLAT.

The paper should shrink while it drys and dry nice and stretched and flat and when you paint on it it should not buckle up.

Sometimes, it dosn't work and the paper pulls the tape off the board. Don't worry - this just happens sometimes, you probably haven't done anything wrong. Just try again...

Is this all clear NP? Tell me if there's anything you're not clear about...

Sarah.

Like that you are making your yard for your dogs NP....they are some lucky dogs... :-)

So sorry, Cat, that you're having to consider new homes for your pets. As you say, you have a couple of months to make the right decisions.

I'm looking forward to NP's garden designs with dogs in mind.
Interesting that your Mum has an Alsatian. Very intelligent dogs. Jacque's dog, Summer, is lovely. :o)

I am having to give thought as to what to do with my dogs and cats since I will be leasing out my home here to tourists...I cannot really haul them all around with me..so am giving each consideration as to where and who they would be the happiest with...Phoebe and the cats have got to stay together..Sofie can go on her own to the ones I have in mind for her..they have the heart to care for her with her bad back legs and a house with no stairs to deal with like she has here..I have to carry her up and down most times to the living room..Jasper belongs to my past boarder and am not sure what will happen with him..but I will not let him go to a shelter, that is for sure...he is a love ...I have a couple more months to figure it all out...not something I like thinking about really...but ...I know the right answers will come....

I only ever used a watercolour paper Sid...hmmm...you must have another technique...sounds interesting...

Yes and they might have thought it was a fancy restaurant instead of an aquarium place x-D

If you're using watercolours, then you need stretched paper - but you can do that yourself really easily...do you know how?

lol x-D

Hi NP where would we be without our Dogs? My Summer is My Pal & i cant imagine my life without her, She is so Loveing & Careing &some how knows when i need that Lick/Cuddle :) Great 2 see all the Pics uv loaded in2 your Blog :)Hope your all well Jacx

Hello NP ~
Your dogs look very contented :o)

You are so right about garden designers not always thinking enough about any dogs which might use the garden. You've obviously considered your dogs' needs very much in the way you've built your garden.

Is the fountain a definite plan for this summer ?

My Henry is part of the family - but he is a dog and we try to meet his needs, part of which is love of course, and he gives back to us with love and devotion - and guards 'his' territory, too.

Usually, I enjoy our walks, but it's been a bit difficult in the last few days, to be honest!

Your dogs look very happy and well-cared for, Np.

Oh Nosey, they are beautiful and what a lovely set of photos. Yes you are very lucky to have the forest for them to run in. Many was the time when my children were smal, that we used to take them to Thetford forest or Brandon, my sister still lives there. We even saw a husky team being trained there once. I miss those walks..your very lucky...........

i agree np about giving dogs human attributes...they are not going to become people and it is not fair to expect it of them...the need respect for the magnificent creations that they are...i choose to try to become dog..it truly is not a bad world to live in...

Oh Np..have to say..just as well youre so busy..you will never get a seat in your house. No way are they giving up their comfort .LOL

Your dogs are lovely NP , I love the photos of them snuggled up they really look as though they love being together which i,m sure they do :o)

thats ok . i hear what your saying... :-))

i like the car diving up and down idea will give it a go when this weather improves....

your dogs are lovely. where would we be without them?

the dog whisperer and similar programes are great to watch and learn from. we live on a farm and are pretty much hermits in the winter months. our dogs dont see many people intil the summer. they are terrible for barking when someone comes. we are trying the pebbles in the bottle method they use on the programe. it has improved them a bit but theres more work ahead.

That's ok NP - you just mind those pencils you're dabbing on your tongue don't contain any nasties ha ha ha....

Lovely Photos Mr Potter You are a big softy. Your dogs look great and so happy and healthy. I need a hand with my chickens can you have a look at my last blog Thank you

Cesar Milan i am a fan of his, he talks such sense and when he explains it you think 'oh yeah of course!' my daughter is desperate for a dog but with my Menieres and her being at school not sure its practical at the moment, hubby doesn't want one!! :(

Thanks NP - I'm just learning with pastels at the mo. I love the detail in this one - especially the wing of the left-hand owl - the colour and texture look just right - very realistic! Re the watercolour pencils - I know what you mean - they are much softer and have more vivid colours than normal coloured pencils don't they. Keep up the good work :-)

It is all good...great minds at work here...from all over the world...mostly the UK...but you know what I mean...lol

The pic you've just finished Np........it's not as scary lol!

you do and I notice you have chosen your shirt to wear in this picture...LOL

He is dressed....the whole of his self seems to be a canvas...I am glad. if all he has is two pieces of clothing. that he has chosen the piece of clothing he has on!...LOL