Above: Look who we found on our new roses! I think this guy has gathered a Texas-sized pile of flower stamens for his family dinner tonight!

Below: Some more busy bugs who live in the studio. They already ate.

So, here is how it happened. After our beloved lab of 11 years, Mocha, went to doggy heaven right before Christmas, I had promised that we could get a puppy this summer. But, I had meant something like July. Approximately 30 minutes after Margaret’s last final on May 29th, the official start of summer, I received a call from the two sisters which started like this: “Mom, now don’t say no until you hear us out.” (I should have known better that very moment!) On their way home, they had happened to stop by PetSmart where there just happened to be several puppies! So, with much pleading, promises to feed, wash, and clean up after the puppy, a picture was sent to me via cell phone–how unfair is that?! Long story short, we now have a new puppy. He is a rescue puppy and according to his rescuer, he is part border collie and part lab … but we think he is 100% cute. ( … well, except at about 3:00 in the morning, when he is so ready for a playdate!)

He also has excellent puppy breath, which smells a little bit like a coffee shop!

Lately, every time I have been taking my “get the mail” break, I have been hearing a little rustling in the leaves near our studio. Believe it or not, I thought it was our armadillo friend (really, and that’s another story), but after much searching, I spied these little fellas (or maybe it’s a loving couple) hiding in the drain pipe. It was so Beatrix Potter!

And, they reminded me of these little characters who adorned the page for Baby’s First Teeth in one of my baby books several years ago. I might have to revisit these little guys!

Ellen has started our blog, so here we go!

New Year’s Day: What better way is there to start the year than getting big kisses from Henry between bowls of good-luck black-eyed peas at our dear friend, Pat’s house. Pat is an old friend from our New York days, who has c’mon back to Texas, and Henry is her gigantic poodle. (Really, no kidding, my girls are pretty tall … He’s BIG!)

Pat is also an amazing art director.  Here is her very cool site.