Splash

Can you tell I like Splash? 

Splash once more

 

Splash again

 

Another of Splash

 

SPLASH!!

Introducing my new Betta, Splash. I've had him about two weeks ago. A friend bought him for me. Isn't he pretty? 

Splash

I got a new Betta!! I think I'm Betta crazy. Here he is but these pics are so small you can barely see him. If you want to see bigger pics, email me. :)
 

Peewee again

 

Another view of Peewee's home

 

Peewee's New Home

This is one view of his new home. It is a 5.5 gallon tank. He should be able to stay in there for a few years anyway. 

Peewee

I haven't taken pictures of Peewee for awhile. Here is an up close one in his new home. Please ignore the ugly wires behind the tank. I need to put something pretty behind there. More pics to come. 

This is hard to see, but it's Peewee's new tank. I finally got it set up. You can barely see him on the left side. 

Old MacDonald's in my mind

This is my vision of a little farm. I giggle every time I look at it. It's so primitive. That's all for now. I don't want to bore you too much.
Hey! You out there! Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving! 

ALL SAFE

I'm pretty proud of this picture. It won Honorable Mention at my college art gallery. It is titled ALL SAFE because it made me feel like everyone was at home, warm, fed and safe. 

My Beanie

 
Ok, so I had to interrupt the art for a minute. I saw this picture of Beanie (my Bean) and it is so representative of her I had to post it. 

Beautiful Flowers

 
This is, as you can see, another Reader's Digest back. They really used to put some awesome pictures on the back. I don't like pastel colors. I like vivid, bright and deep colors. Colors that can move your soul. This is one such picture. 

House in country

 
This one is just one from my imagination. I've always loved the country and the rustic, plain houses and I love, love, love snow. This is just a house I wouldn't mind having. 

My Cat, Luke

 
Before my birds were dogs and cats. Luke was a favorite. He would wear dresses without losing his macho facade. I miss him... 

Reader's Digest

 
I got this off the back of the Reader's Digest magazine. Later, I painted it. I'll take a pic of that later and post it. 

Outside a Dentist's Office

 
I was so proud of this picture. I love trees and the trees looked really nice... until some water splashed and made the ink run. 

Muffy Sue Myers

 
This is a rough draft of a favorite cat I had. She was such a good girl. She was pure white. I loved her. 1988 

Some of my Art

 
Time to show you a bit of my art. As I've said, I love the fine Arts. Until I was about 35 I thought the only artists in my family were my two brothers. Then I went to a free art class at the library. Surprise! I'm more creative than I knew. Oh, I'm no Rembrandt, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, or anything close. But I'm not terrible. Here is a drawing I did of my stair case back in 1988. I don't draw well so I like the few I have that came out well. I will be posting more. 

My little hero, Pokey - his story - finally

 
Once again, here is my little hero, Pokey. He's the one on the left having a visit from a friend of his named Frankie.

Finally, I'm going to tell you why this little guy is my hero.

I was diagnosed with Secondary Progressive MS in January of 1998. I became very ill very fast. I went from being a relatively healthy woman who walked and exercised and danced every day to someone who could barely stay awake from the excruciating fatigue and weakness and pain of the onslaught of the MS.

I was depressed and felt sorry for myself. I had reached a point where I pretty much stayed upstairs in my bed. Going up and down the stairs was too much for me.

And then somewhere in that time frame (about 8 years ago now), Pokey came into my life.
His "mom" wrote in on one of my bird email groups I am on looking for a replacement mirror for him. I wrote and asked her what type of mirror she wanted.

She wrote back and told me of his story. Pokey is an old Cockatiel. He's had a bit of a rough life until he got back together with his original mom. He has arthritic and deformed little feet. He had a right to give up and just die if he wanted. But no. You see, Pokey had this mirror he used. Not just any mirror. It was just perfect for what he needed it for. It was surrounded with yellow plastic and had just enough of a "lip" on it that Pokey could climb up on it and stand. He would use his beak to push the mirror around his cage floor and it took him awhile but once he got it to where he wanted to go, then he would climb up on it and stand and watch the world.

His mom, Sherry, tell this story far better than I do. But suffice it to say as I was reading her story about Pokey and his courage, tenacity, and will to live, it struck me like a bolt of lightning.

Suddenly I felt humility and shame. How could *I* give up so easily and not try to go on and make the best of things in my life when this little trooper in feathers was conducting his life proudly, bravely and succesfully on top of a 4x4 piece of glass and plastic?

Well, needless to say, we all did some scouting around and found Pokey a new mirror. And me? I decided that day that I was going to dig deep within myself and become known for being resourceful and for having the attitude as Oprah used to say , "Keep on Keeping On".

We all have our crosses to bear in this life. Some more than others, some sooner than later, but at some point we all face our foes.

Pokey made me realize that as long as you have breath in you, you can't just lay down and give up. There were people dying of cancer and other illnesses. All I had was MS. I just had to find *my* "mirror".

Pokey is obviously much older today and I am happy to say is still with us at age 26. I say with "us" because there are some of us who have adopted him into our hearts. I'm one.

Pokey gave me courage and a new attitude by his example when nothing or no one else had been able to. He was sent by God, of that I am certain.

But then, I believe that Cockatiels are angels hidden in feathers, so there you are.

Pokey, you will always be my hero.... 

Victoria's Mental Pad

Victoria's Mental Pad
November 17, 2006
I went to get weighed again today as I do every three weeks. I haven't lost anymore, but thank God I haven't gained any either. I have really been struggling the last three weeks so I was really worried about a weight gain. I'm relieved but need to put the "pedal to the medal" which I will do. I will make it through Thanksgiving AND will lose 10-12 pounds by the next time I get weighed. Just watch me and see! :)

Victoria's Mental Pad

Victoria's Mental Pad
November 15th. 2006
A friend of mine was making fun of the name of my blog, so I just thought I would explain the name of my blog.

Victoria's Mental Pad.

No, it doesn't mean that I think I'm "mental" although some out there might disagree.

It is simple, really.

Mental *PAD*. What is a *PAD*? (1.) A place you live. I live in my head a lot.

(2.) A place to write - a writing *PAD*.

See? I told you. Simple really. Or as one might say, "Elementary, my dear Watson..."

Christmas Kiwi

 
This is Kiwi's debut as a Christmas Card. Isn't he cute? 

My Special Christmas ornament

 
Simply put, this is a home made ornament that my friend, Sandy made for me 2 years ago that has all of my babies' names on it. Isn't it pretty? 

Christmas and the Christmas bird

 
Ok. I know Thanksgiving isn't even here yet, but I can't help it. I LOVE Christmas! I'm like a little kid. I love giving gifts and of course, I also love getting gifts, but for me it isn't so much about whether or not a gift is expensive - it doesn't have to be at all. It's the wrapping paper! Well, in the mix of things, it's more the paper than the amount of money. I love everything about Christmas! I love the pine smell of the trees and wreaths, the Christmas movies (even and especially the Charlie Brown Christmas), the music, the lights, the colors (did I say colors? I LOVE the bright and vivid colors!), the unique and pretty Christmas cookies and the Turkey and ham in the oven and the snow and the crisp, clean air. Ok, I guess I've gotten a bit carried away here, but I can't help it - I LOVE Christmas!! And here is a picture of my baby Chicklet in my tiny little "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree. He's not a partridge, but he's prettier.