Saturday, January 30, 2010

New Blogger To Visit......

......Let me be the first to publicly mortify my dear friend Jan Brattain, and introduce you to her reasonably new blog, Laughing Dog Arts. No, I did not tell her I was doing this post, so I am sliding on the ice with no drawers on!!! LOL!!!

(this IS the Laughing Dog!!! it's not just a studio or blog name!)

There's substance here, folks.

A little backstory; Jan and I have known each other through the internet for years. I believe we met via the Fabric Forum at eQuilter and casually struck up conversation after conversation. (a disclaimer: with my *anesthetic-head* of late, we could have met on Mars and I would not know the difference! yes, it could have been extra-terrestrial contact....but I don't think so....) A friendship built, we quit commenting on the Forum, as we gradually moved our fiber posts to Yahoo Groups, as both of us became Fiber Pirates, and we still kept in contact via e-mail.
During this communication, Jan would describe where she lived in the deep and old woods of Oregon, and occasionally send pictures. I was smitten. Not only did we share a love of fiber art and art in general (and music) but of the outdoors and I have to admit that more than once I was envious of the exceptional area that she called home.
Old growth forests are pretty much a thing of the past in my neck of the woods---pun intended!---and the gentle and sometimes frantic pace of her life tied in with the seasons made me remember halcyon days spent on my grandfather's farm; where life was dictated by the rising and setting of the sun, and the time of year. I miss that......so much.
I often commented in letters how the way of life she led daily was something that was disappearing at a rapid rate, and for me, how incredible it was to peer into it. Things that were routine for her were triggering all types of wonderful memories for me, and an urge to find a way to pare down this life of mine that was running out of control. Jan's letters put everything into perspective.
I still have a file folder in the computer of photos she had sent; birds, dogs, flowers, Mr. Mel the Peacock, etc. My little glimpse of Oregon.
I once casually suggested a blog but hey, you have to feel that in your bones and know the time is right to start one. I did it on a whim (my normal status for important, time consuming life decisions!) and was happy with how it turned out. But it's work......at least for obsessive/compulsive ME. LOL!!! If I don't post frequently, I am sure my head will explode....
Seriously, it's okay. Laugh!
At any rate, I was feeling in the dumps the other day and get a letter from Jan saying to check a link to cheer me up.
She had started a blog!!! And not told me!!!
I found, illustrated, some of the things we shared in conversations; beautiful nature pictures, fiber art, her group she meets with weekly for art and sewing related items.....it was all there!
So, at the risk of having my friendship skewered onto a lightening rod, I would like to request all who read this to go visit Jan's blog by clicking the link at the top of this post, and it would be very nice if you chose to follow too, because we all have been through that first part of blogdom where each day you're peeking to see if there is a new follower.
Heck, I still do and am still as excited as the first day when someone new signs up to follow!
You will find a gentle and delightful read, exquisite photos of wildlife and the hawk pictures alone are worth the trip over.
And now that she officially has a blog, it is with great delight that I can present her with an award made specifically for a friend like her, a sister friend, a long time, long-suffering being my friend award:

"Friendship isn't about who you have known the longest,
but who came and never left your side."

Because Jan came, and has never left my side. And I am grateful. So please post this to your sidebar proudly!
You are an exceptional friend Jan......and I hope your internet is back up to read this!!! (or maybe not.....LOL!!!)
Now, gentle readers, go make a new friend, and enjoy a wonderful pastoral blog that will calm you from the bedlam of the everyday ruckus we call life.
Jan, are we still friends????   :-D   We are....right? RIGHT???

Pax.

30 comments:

Bunny said...

How nice of you sounds like you have a nice friendship going on here. I too have made several friends in cyber world and on Yahoo sewing groups. I am on my way to check out her blog. Have a wonderful day.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Bunny!

I didn't realize till I wrote this post how long Jan and I have known each other! It's been a long time! (of course I can't remember how long....LOL!!!)
It is nice when you meet good people through the internet....always a big perk in life!
Hope you enjoy her pics!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Tristan Robin said...

I know Jan, too, from Fiber Pirates - but, of course, nowhere near as well as you do.

I'm off to her blog right now!

Stay warm!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I'm staying warm and trying to get feeling better.
I think it's officially A BUG.
Pfffft. >:(

XXOO!!
Anne

Tristan Robin said...

argh

tell Jan she has the dreaded drop-down i.d. menu for comments.

if she wants the quick easy fix - so that most mac users can comment - have her contact me.

yoborobo said...

Hi Anne! Let's hear it for friends that stick with us! YAY!!!!! I will go visit her blog just as soon as this second cup of coffee kicks in. xoxox

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Will pass it on Tristan!

XXOO!!
anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Pam...HA!!! I'm to the iced tea stage....nothing is kicking in today...still not up to par.

XXOO!!
Anne

April said...

Oh, Anne, what a sweet friend you are to advertise for Jan with her new blog. I had no idea (at least I don't mentally remember hearing anything about it - you'd think I'd have remembered that.) And it's such a great blog, too. You are a good and dear friend. (And, uh, yeah...I hope she doesn't kill you!)

Anonymous said...

Now I just have to go see her blog.... So sweet of you to give her a good review!!
Hope you are feeling better. Frigid cold here today...below zero this a.m. but no snow. We completely missed the storm!!
Have a Wonderful Weekend!
Love,
Marilyn
xxoo

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi April...

Yep....she's gonna kill me.
So you all can come from Oregon (you S&B girls) and fight over the massive fabric stash!!! LOL!!!
Oh dear, there's INCENTIVE to kill me! :D
I still don't think Jan realizes how beautiful and rare some of the things she sees and interacts with daily are......it is wonderful flora and fauna, and should be shared.

XXOO!!
Anne.....hoping you'll tell her NOT to kill me!!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Marilyn,

Same here----FRIGID COLD!!! I'm not going out!
Hope you enjoy Jan's blog; she gets some great pics!
I'm baking cookies and will be by you blog on the next pan! LOL!

XXOO!!
Anne

Deborah said...

Anne you are so funny! Just a giggle a minute. Please come for drinks this evening at Mr. B's Cantina, just off my patio.
**blows kisses** Deb

Marie S said...

Beautifully said Anne I am off to have a look-see.
Get better fast. Even though you are under the weather, your form is great! ;-D
Have a cozy and warm weekend.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Deb, believe me....IF I COULD.....I would soooooo be there!!!! LOL!!! You might kick me out after the first drink, but it would be fun while it lasted! :D
I'm off to the knitting and trying to find a shirt...running around in the underpinnings is not wise on a day like today! Not pretty either.....oy.

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Marie!

hey, I may feel like CRAP, but the sense of humor has not been too affected yet.
Well, the grey matter has, so maybe I'm not as funny as I think I am! LOL!!!
I'll swing by when I feel like sitting longer---the leg is obviously *coming back to life*....ahem!

XXOO!!
Anne

Jan said...

I've been outed! I am honored by your post, Anne, and blushing from your kind words. We have been writing to each other for nine years now! Hard to believe but true. I don't have a lot of friends but the ones I have are absolutely the best and I count you as one of them. I've been limping along on the blog, not knowing what I am doing but now I am going to have to figure out how to post that Friend Award to my sidebar. That's Anne for you, always helping me to learn new things, push out of the box. Thank you, my friend.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Jan, I still--for the most part--don't know what I'm doing. I just wing it! I try things (actually, I set up a *practise blog* only I can view to make my mistake THERE!) and if I don't like them, out they go!
I was clueless when I started mine, I just looked at other blogs, read on Blogger, asked questions......
These can be a lot of fun even when you do NOT know HTML, as in my case!
Nine years....geez....how they have flown! I can't believe it was that long, and on the other hand, it seems we have been friends forever! :)

XXOO!!
Anne

Ces Adorio said...

A huge welcome to lovely dog owner! Hahahah! You make me laugh. Yes, dearest Anne! You are now President of the AA - Artsandcraftsaholic Anonymous! We need more members! I am in charge of the music!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL!!! Ces, I'll have to have ear plugs! I'm kinda of a bit later along the rock era....more in the Ramones and Sex Pistols.
Maybe this means I need an I-pod or whatever that thing is...I am sooo out of touch!!!
And should NOT have been inhaling E-6000 with the way I feel!
Yes, I think I am the prez....OY! LOL!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Ces Adorio said...

No way! You will love Pink Floyd. Pink Floyd is mellow! I will definitely accommodate the Ramones and plenty of Sex. e will even play Hector's (Belioz, that is) Symphonie fantastique to weed out the phonies and pretenders. We are die-hards "ics"

Anonymous said...

Oh Anne be happy for you when you feel better. I have snow everywhere today. 4 inches and still coming. I am going over to check out your friend. Make you a HOT TODDY.
QMM

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Ces----LOL!!!
Yes, I am a Hard-Core "ic"!!!!
That sums it up my dear!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi QMM!

I think you'll enjoy Jan's blog---very relaxing and nice with good pics! And she'll enjoy the company!
Thanks!

XXOO!!
Anne....*toddy-less* at present

Anonymous said...

Ah, Anne..that was so sweet of you this morning..to feature Jan's new blog!...I went directly there and forgot to come back here and comment!..geeze...wheres my brain? lol!
I've been stuck in too, cause of the zero temps lately.. luckily , no snow to speak of here tho!
I hope that "bug" decides to leave soon for you...
xoxo, gypsy

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Gypsy,

Your brains and my brains took a vacation...obviously! Mine feel shaken AND stirred! LOL!!!
The cold no doubt. Good day to snooze and do nothing! Which I have accomplished, very well.
Hope you're doing okay....stay warm!

XXOO!!
Anne

audrey said...

Anne, I have been following Jan's blog for a while now and loving it. Didn't know she was a friend of yours. Small world, this blogland!! How sweet of you to give her a "shout out".
You really are starting to sound like your old self. This is good!!
lol!
I STILL haven't slept, Anne. I am almost afraid to go to bed for fear I won't go to sleep. I really don't know how I managed to function today.
Eeeek!
♥ audrey

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Audrey,

Glad you *found* Jan's blog, even before I did!
Going no sleep is awful--I have lived with insomnia for a long time and the best cure I have found is a Rx for Rozeram. It just resets your melatonin receptors, nonaddictive, different class of drug than most sleeping pills.
And you dream again. I went for years without reaching deep enough sleep to dream.......and boy, that messes you up!
Take care!

XXOO!!
Anne

Leslie said...

Well, then you made me cry and expressed very well how I feel about you!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Thank you Leslie!!! (not for crying.....the other part!) Same back atch!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

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