It's good to have a pet cow

Can you lift a 150 lb dog?

I knew that Golden Retrievers come in jumbo size sometimes, but I groomed one the size of a Shetland pony yesterday. OMG! He was bigger than the Bernese Mountain dog, Sullivan, I've groomed twice. When it's time to get on the table, Sullivan puts his paws on there and holds steady while go around the back and boost his rear end up. But the Golden Retriever and I took our bath together and then I had to figure out how to get him on the grooming table. He is the sweetest most patient dog I've groomed yet, but he's too long to pick up by putting one arm around his chest and one somewhere under the back end. He wouldn't leave his front paws on the table. There was no one around to help. Remember—we're both dripping wet. Suffice it to say; I would be the next YouTube sensation if someone could have caught it on video. And for all you wimpy athletes out there working on six pack abs—I'm working on a seven pack. Owweeeeee!

Happy New Year!

Christmas and New Years Eve were so relaxing this year. I didn't make any plans and ended up strolling through three parties on xmas eve and two on xmas day. A wild new years eve was spent with my neighbor having Bailey's and taking turns using the foot massager she got for xmas. Bet you wish you were there. That's how to spend a holiday.

To everyone's surprise my dog grooming business is growing FAST. I knew it in my gut. I actually felt like the location needed a little 'community' service biz right next to the town grocery store. When it's slow, I make little felted dogs that I sell in the shop or think of inventions to hold dogs comfortably, store supplies, filter dog fur out of water—and air, portable shower curtains. We have an old display case that some past tenant left in the building. I use a lot of recycled hardware and grommets. I find grommets truly inspirational.

I knew I'd love the work. Every new dog is an individual and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one. I love it that I'm starting to know them and what each one needs to be patient for their grooming. I'm taking pictures of all of them. Their first stop is the tub and we spray the dirt off and then you've got a sweet smelling dog to hug. I could use some foul weather gear though. There may not be a way to wash a dog without getting soaked that doesn't include hip boots, a full jacket and a hat. Oh yeah, probably goggles too.

Everyone is happy to see their transformed dogs and I feel accomplishment and reward and I can go home tired and happy to paint at night without worrying about money.

I wish everyone I know could feel this way. All of you with careers that have faded away, pick something you'd really love to do and GO FOR IT! When I decided to do this, a friend had to teach me how to groom dogs. When I saw the location I wanted I didn't have bill money. I cancelled some house repair plans I had and did some house painting for other people to buy the equipment. I'm still using borrowed scissors. The furniture came out of my house. There are a few piles of stuff at home that used to have furniture or shelves under them and blank spots where chairs are missing. I painted my signs on old barn board my neighbor gave me. Then I sat in the shop, wondering what else I should be doing to advertise and how scary is this going to get?

I love it!

Thank you to Deb and John for helping and encouraging me, helping me plan, carpet moving, linoleum moving and installation, quasi plumbing and for putting Kyla through dog grooming school! Thanks Kyla for helping me plan, teaching me how to groom dogs and hanging out with me when there were no dogs in sight. Thanks Ernie for not repairing my house and Ellen for being my bank so I wouldn't spend the equipment money on dumb things like food and bills. Thanks to Jeannie for being one of the select few to get excited with me and the one who said; "I know it's going to work." Thanks to Sandy for hiring me to do house painting so I could earn money for equipment when she knew she could hire someone else to do it in half the time. I noticed.

Back to basics

Sitting in the shop

I got up too early today because of the time change and I'm sitting in my little grooming shop. While I'm here, when it's not busy, I can do my computer work, or paint or work on the things I sell. Then I started thinking about that. How many different things I do. I opened the shop so I could have a rest—hang out with dogs and have a day job. Something odd about opening a shop to get a rest. When I go home I'm done. I can even leave all my projects here. Not the painting though; I like to paint by the fire at night. Plus—do I really need dog hair texture in my paintings?

All I have to do for my shop is show up and try to outsmart dogs. They're so sweet. Some of them are trusting and happy. Some of them are scared and need a hug and reassurance. Even the growly biting ones have a soft spot and will love you if you find it.

Puppy v.s. soap and scissors

Go to the Wellspring Pet Grooming site and see our latest customer!

http://wellspringgrooming.blogspot.com

Another new business!

Being an oil painter has required a day job lately. Trying to think of something you really want to do isn't always easy. I have a theory that if you decide what you want to do and go after it, whether it's impossible, unlikely, foolhardy or really hard, is the secret to happiness. That's why I'm an oil painter.

But I also like having enough money, so I'm creating a day job. The self-employment thing has been one of the conditions of my life. I just can't go someplace at a certain time and work for somebody else. How do people who do that ever get to the gym or the post office? How do they ever stay up really late? I just don't get it. So here's what I did.







I did give it some little clubhouse touches so I'll like being there. It's only been open for eight days. We get giddy every time someone comes in or calls. I think it's going to be fun. I love dogs and cats and I think when I go home after work I'll have a clear head from looking into all those soulful eyes and I'll be able to light a fire and paint. That would make me very happy.