Bella and Her Puppy
This image sums up my daughter's relationship with her dog, a Rat Terrier named Chelsea. They adore each other. In the mystic world of art creation the ironic thing is that she didn't have this dog until a year after I created the image. I've never lived with a Terrier until we brought Chelsea home 9 years ago. She's a wolf in a small dog body. As much as she loves the pack (us), she'll think for herself every chance she gets. She's honed her skills at the artful apology with barely a nod towards slavish obedience. Between heart tugging displays of contrition she digs up the garden trying to get at the chipmunk dens and settle her feud with the rodents. She'll jump stiff legged and barking towards the small herd of deer that use the trail at the edge of our yard to cross through the neighborhood. The alpha buck will watch her 18 pounds of teeth snarling display quietly, a reaction that only inflames her dignity. Despite getting frustrated with her now and then, I am inspired by her tenacity and courage.
