Dog Days of Winter?

I woke up at 4 in the morning pissed at my cats for not being dogs and for probably rubbing their head up against a robbers butt as they rummaged through my jewelry box. I still can't believe that my necklace is gone and in the hands of someone that just sees it as a way to get some fast cash. Breaks my heart.

Pauline

Today has been a day. I came home stating that maybe this was one of the worst days of work that's I've ever had only to realize that someone had been in my house and gone through this jewelry box that has nothing but Girl Scout pins and bad Target jewelry. They had ripped open my wedding ring box that had nothing in it and left our computers, televisions and everything else in their proper place. I figured we'd made it out of a robbery lucky to be safe and nothing missing. I called the police to file a report and then headed to get ready to go out for the night when I thought of my grandmothers diamond necklace. I've kept it in my dresser drawer for years until I wore it on my wedding day.

I went to my dresser drawer and it's gone. I can't remember if I've ever written about her on this blog and I don't have the energy to look but she was like a third parent. I grew up in the same house that she raised my father in (the handsome guy pictured below) and she was a part of my everyday until I was 13 years old. I remember going into her bathroom and seeing the necklace hanging there and she would tell me that it would be mine one day. A few weeks before she died she wanted me to go take it. I did and I kept it put away in a safe place.

As a high school graduation present my mom got me a new chain for it and I wore it for a while but I grew worried that I would lose it so I put it away. Now it's gone. I remember putting it on the day Ben and I got married. My friend Lauren was standing in my room with me and I nearly lost it when I put it on and yelled at her not to cry or look at me!!! It was the last touch and my way to have her there. I thought of the day that I might pass that necklace on to a daughter or maybe a flamboyant son. Now it's gone. I'm so mad at myself for not putting it some place safer.

I'm sorry Pauline.

Gusto

Relaxing evening with Gusto. He has a floppy ear since he had to have surgery on it a few months ago. Now he always looks like he's inquisitive or surly.

Winter View

Usually I really like my office window view but in the winter it's just down right depressing as I'm trying to fight of the first cold I've had in FOREVER!!!

Mmmmm Pizza

I'm know I'm going to have to get a little more creative with these photos but I'm working on some sort of sore throat something that has me tired and foggy. All of this leads to a photo of our quick homemade pizza dinner. It was tasty and cheesy.

Last Night of Vacation!

One last relaxing night trying to block all of the thoughts of the store and work and life and everything! (secretly excited to start thinking about the store and work and life and everything)

New Year!

It's a new year and I've decided to take a photo a day to get me back in the habit of posting and hopefully slowing down a bit to look around. This year I'd really like to get my studio back in order and start painting more regularly so I need to gather some reference images and inspiration. 2011 was a pretty great year so I'm feeling pretty hopeful for 2012. All we have to do now is get through the winter!

This first photo is from New Year's day lunch with our good friend Dan. I love taking pictures of him holding tiny things, usually cups. In this case though, he's holding a tiny cup shaped cracker from Skyline. For Cincinnatians, finding a funky Skyline cracker is like finding a four leaf clover. Must mean good luck for the 2012!