Calla, as seen through the side door window. This is what we come home to every night. What can I say, she’s a little exuberant.

Calla surveying the beach, ink and watercolor, 2012. I posted a few work-in-progress Instagram photos of this during my mini-honeymoon, but never shared the final scanned-in piece. Watching the beach from her perch on the porch was Calla’s favorite activity that week. I’m not sure if it was the view or the smells or the sound of the ocean that intrigued her most, but she was mesmerized. Makes me wish we had a porch at home.

It’s a Callalantern! Or a Callantern? Or Calla-a-lantern? You know—a pumpkin with Calla’s silhouette carved into it. Happy Halloween!

So… in lieu of productivity on this fine fall afternoon, I went ahead and discovered an awesome drawing app for my iPad that promises to suck the life out of my free time from now until eternity. It’s called Paper and it is pretty amazing. I now very desperately want a stylus.

Calla running on the beach, felt-tip pen, 2012.

I am officially married! Which means the dogs are officially sisters. =) We spent a lovely few days in Cannon Beach after the wedding. The dogs loved it: a beach practically all to themselves, just a two-minute walk from the house. For Martin and I, it was a much-needed respite from the craziness leading up to the wedding—and it gave me lots and lots of time to draw.

Martin took this photo during one of our walks on the beach. I loved it immediately because it captures Calla at the height of her signature “crazy run”—when she goes into a full-on, high-speed, unstoppable sprint, usually caused by her paws touching water or sand or gravel or wood chips or some other incredibly exciting surface.

I decided to forego the watercolors for this one and stick just to my favorite felt-tip artist pen. The silhouette almost reminds me of one of those intricate pumpkin-carving designs. Maybe if I get ambitious this year for Halloween I’ll attempt to give this one a whirl.

Work in progress. Calla’s new favorite activity is watching the ocean. #watercolor #Calla #dogs (Taken with Instagram)

Calla, pen and watercolor, 2012. I drew this for our favorite vet, who is leaving the practice after many years. She’s been my vet since I moved to Portland in 2005, caring for my beloved elderly dog, Chelsea. She was there when Chelsea took her last breath, and she was there when I brought in a trembling, underfed, anxious shelter dog for her first check-up. Years later, Calla is now happy, calm(er) and well-adjusted, thanks to the care, love and encouragement we’ve received from our vet over the years. We will miss her dearly, and wish her the best of luck with her new adventure!

Calla doodle, 2012. Ink on watercolor paper.

Calla, River and Huxley, ink and watercolor, 2012. This past weekend was our combined bachelor/bachelorette party—an awesome weekend in the woods with some of our favorite people and dogs. I spent most of my time relaxing around the campfire with a beer in one hand and my sketchbook in the other. The dogs, exhausted from a day of tromping in the woods and pouncing through the creek, snoozed long enough for me to sketch them (though even when dogs are sleeping they move A LOT). I never managed to draw the ever-energetic Zorro, a cattle dog mix who I have never, ever seen tired, even after hours of jumping five feet in the air in pursuit of an out-of-reach tree branch.

Calla, 2012. Our wedding photographer took this. Soon to be a dog doodle, if I ever find the time to draw again! Photo credit: Bryan Rupp Photography

“We like snugglin’. Also, can you give us some chicken? Fanks.”

Calla in Forest Park. A good friend and I went for a bit of a hike in Forest Park this afternoon. We left River at home with her dad (she’s still on bed rest from her broken toe). It was hard to leave River behind, but I think Calla enjoyed having some alone time with her mama. And she didn’t bark at a single hiker we encountered along the way. This is serious improvement.

River and Calla, 2012. Ink and watercolor on drawing paper. As you might have noticed, I haven’t been doing much doodling lately. This is mostly related to the fact that wedding planning has consumed the vast majority of my free time. I did, however, do a little dog doodle to use as the front of our save-the-date postcards. Now I just need to get them printed and dropped in the mail, but it might be a while. This whole wedding planning thing… it is HARD.

We discovered a new (to us) HUGE dog park. Calla was so excited she drooled all over her face.

A walk in the park on Black Friday. Leaves were 75% off.

Happy Thanksgiving!