Pet People Talk

Pet Lovers News and Animal Views

An Artist’s advice on Kids and Creativity

By Leave a Comment

Now that it’s cooler weather in most places, the kids may want to stay inside and keep warm.

In my humble opinion, please keep them away from video games, TV and internet surfing.

Instead, gather up some colored paper, crayons, pencils, junk that may be lying around, glue, glitter, boxes you can pick up from a crafts store to decorate and so on and let them go to town! I may not be your typical parent, but my kids were raised without TV or internet. For entertainment, they drew, made up skits and songs and concocted stuff out of my left-over polymer clay.

When my son was 12 he finally beat me into submission and we bought him a “game boy.” So we weren’t total purists. And we did go to see a movie on the weekends fairly often. But even that was after a long hike in the woods!

Drawing by 15 year old Cedar

Drawing by 15 year old Cedar

I still have tons of my two kids’ early art, and one especially glorious water color of a city street scene that my daughter Cedar painted at age 6 hangs in my upstairs bathroom in our New Mexico home. They were artists. My son still is an artist. We lost Cedar at age 20 due to a congenital heart condition. But up to her passing, she wrote, danced, drew beautifully and was a sensitive and profoundly talented actress.

This is one of the things I feel most passionate about…that we are all artists to one degree or another, and should be allowed and encouraged to create starting in very young childhood.

Encourage your kids and grand kids to expand those butterfly wings and experience the joy that comes from building something out of nothing. A blank sheet of paper can become a stunning line drawing, a young girl can learn to use her body to perform graceful arabesques, thoughts become poems become songs.

With purpose and encouragement, our kids and grand kids can become whatever it is they set their own sights on.

As an added suggestion, please keep your kids away from mental labeling (ADD, ADHD, OCD, and the psychiatric drugging that is most often part and parcel of these diagnoses) I myself would have been most definitely labeled hyperactive were I born in a later decade. I am so lucky I was not.

For whatever my advice may be worth, I encourage you to listen to your heart. Give your kids hugs, good meals, encouragement and things to make stuff with.

And indulge your inner artist! Who has created something recently they were especially proud of? Please tell me about it here!

Coyotes in New Mexico: The Magic Zoo’s Magic Window

By 10 Comments

I have a kitchen window that seems to be THE window onto my local wildlife. Yesterday when making breakfast I locked eyes with what thought was a wolf and her youngster, maybe 50 feet away. “ED!” I yelled, and he actually made it in time to see the back end of the younger one as Mama and pup loped into the junipers off to the side.

But Ed convinced me they were just good sized coyotes. (The size of the tail is what threw me) He reminded me that at several Native American dances we’ve attended the men wore coyote tails that were indeed pretty darn big. Then I checked online and no reports of wolves in our county. At any rate, they were a pair of large, healthy coyotes.

Coyote printsI took a photo of their paw prints a little later, and found they trailed a set of deer prints. Apparently there are reports of coyote actually hunting deer, but mostly in areas where deer are slowed down a bit by snow. We did have an inch or 2 of snow a couple weeks ago, but the first New Mexico blazing sunny day took care of that. Just muddy clay soil left, perfect for making animal prints.

I would prefer the coyotes would roam elsewhere, only because of our outdoorsy kitties. We keep them in at night and whenever we’re not on the property, but they are true country cats and go stir crazy being kept inside.

For both days this weekend our family has had things to do in Albuquerque. But since I also found coyote prints just outside the cabin door, I figured for their own good the cats better hang around inside.

Firework, the fluffy one who doesn’t mind eating kitty kibble and napping all day was pretty mellow about it. But athletic Willow stared at me longingly then hopped up and tried to turn the doorknob with her kitty paws. It was kind of endearing, and I found my self explaining to her about the coyotes.

Speaking of local wild life, I still have one lone hummingbird hanging around. All his compadres have moved off to points south, but this little guy seems not to have gotten the memo. My hummingbird feeders froze a few days ago, and once they thawed I was ready to clean them and put them away for spring.

Two days ago, they thawed and I saw this little fellow dipping his beak in for a frosty sip. I told him it was time to move on, but he ignored me.

Do you talk to animals, even when you know they can’t hear or understand you? I grew up with a mom who always communicated with turtles, cats, birds, dogs and even bugs. So I guess it’s an old habit. Comment below and let me know if you share this idiosyncrasy!

Ravens are Amazing

By 2 Comments

Ravens are AmazingA couple days ago I was standing around admiring the foliage, the smells and the mountain breezes on our property. I heard a leathery “swish swish” above my head and looked up in time to see two enormous ravens lazily beating wings as they passed overhead.

I hear their laid-back caws from time to time and always stop to see where they are and where they’re heading. Mostly they float around with a friend or two and seem in no great hurry.

A local ranger with way too many chicken eggs saves some of them for the ravens, and a nearby neighbor leaves his deceased mice (from traps) on a tall pole so the ravens can take them away.

People around here seem to appreciate ravens.

I did a little of my own research on these beautiful and brilliant birds.

Here are some interesting raven facts:

  • A group of ravens is known as a “murder”
  • Ravens are playful! They surf on updrafts, sometimes fly upside down and even turn midair somersaults
  • Young ones sometimes play a game of dropping a stick in flight, then swooping down to catch it before it hits the ground
  • Ravens can make over a hundred different vocalizations. Their voices are deep, and they can imitated human speech and singing
  • They sometimes work together as a pair to acquire food, even luring a parent bird from its nest so the other raven can swoop in and eat the eggs or nestlings
  • They’ve been known to call and lead wolves to a carcass so the tough hide can be torn, allowing the ravens to dine on the soft insides of the carcass
  • Ravens are omnivores, dining on eggs, seeds and berries. They sometimes store extra food in secret hiding places. BUT if another raven is watching, it will pretend to hide it in one place then actually put it somewhere else!

Did you know I recently added to my line of raven jewelry? Yes, The Magic Zoo now has its own “murder!” I have a large raven pendant I created years ago on my website, but last summer I designed and added a smaller raven pendant, a charm and a pair of earrings in sterling silver and gold. And these new ones are in flight, which reminds me of the ravens that soar overhead on our New Mexico property.

Do you see ravens where you live? Tell me about your raven experiences!

Travels to Phoenix and The Petrified Forest

By 6 Comments

It was a long drive to Phoenix, especially sitting in a back seat of our van. Ed and I communicated loudly, shouting over the engine noise.

My regular duties of feeding him food as he drove were relegated to preparations (cheese, apples, nuts and so on) passed carefully into the hand he stretched approximately in my rear direction. We became proficient at this new method.

Why the back seat?

My recovering hip does not enjoy a set position for long, which would be unavoidable in the front’s non-adjustable seat. So we moved all Merry operations to the back. Pleasantly, I discovered my backseat driver abilities to be unhampered. “Ed, did you see that guy on the bike?” In a big city like Phoenix, it definitely takes two to get safely around. In my estimation.

Brand New Magic Zoo Fans

Merry in The Magic Zoo Booth in PhoenixThe show had its rewards, consisting mostly of meeting veterinarians brand-new to The Magic Zoo. Since many of these vets specialized in farm animals, I made sure to have a goodly supply of bovine, goat and sheep jewelry on hand. That was a smart move.

That first time a new group of people discover my work is always a thrill. And there are usually some really interesting characters amongst a crowd of veterinarians. Like the lanky gentleman from the Netherlands who ended up talking to us about his life in the university town of Ann Arbor with his red-headed American wife (she is also a vet). After a long harangue about his mother who has an addiction for entering sweepstakes and buying lottery tickets, he chose a pair of green butterfly earrings for his wife. I insisted on the color – my personal fav for redheads.

A Fascinating Ride Home

The vet convention was only 2 days long, so Ed and I took a detour through the Petrified Forest on the way back to New Mexico. Neither of us had been there, and it was a great excuse to prowl easy-to-navigate trails, ahhing over giant cypress trees turned crystalline.

And I learned something amazing that I probabably should’ve learned in 4th grade science:

When present day Arizona was a swamp teeming with giant alligator-like creatures, flying reptiles and huge amphibians, it was located near what is today Costa Rica, on the land mass known as Pangea. It moved North over time, away from that equatorial clime, and the land mass raised in altitude.

Maybe it takes an adult mind to grapple with how astonishing that is. Is anyone else floored by that, or were you paying attention in grade school?

And I don’t just go crazy over extant animal species; I’ve always been completely fascinated by those that walked the earth, soared through the sky and swam the oceans before our time.

Who thinks I should start an “extinct animal” line of jewelry? (I’m only a little bit kidding) Given enough interest, I would love to do just that!

The Magic Zoo is Ready for Autumn!

By 14 Comments

Merry and WillowNow that I am back in the Magic Zoo saddle, I wanted to reassure everyone that I am fully operational and ready for the coming months! I can walk like a normal person (look Ma, no cane!) and every day my leg gets stronger and stronger. It’s amazing what physical therapy, a healthy diet and an impatient attitude can do. (I’m afraid I didn’t make a very good invalid.)

New Jewelry from The Magic Zoo!

I just got some more of my new designs back from the casters (wait till you see what I’ve been up to!) and they will be appearing on our website in just a couple weeks.

I would have them available sooner, but I have a veterinary convention (where The Magic Zoo is exhibiting) in Phoenix next weekend, so I’ll be a bit busy for a while with that. This is our wild and woolly season coming up, and I’m getting fixed up just in time to get with that flow!

The Rains are Here

Speaking of flows, it is now the monsoon season in New Mexico, so we have had our share of dramatic rainstorms accompanied by hail and some strong gusty winds. The roof of our house is steel, so when it rains (or especially when it hails) it can be so loud that you have to shout if someone is not standing in the same room with you. No, I am not kidding. Just ask anyone with a metal roof!

But due to all the rain, our entire 20 acres is a profusion of purple morning glories, little orange wild flowers and pink flowers of undetermined origin that the hummingbirds adore. Our prowling grandkitties, Firework and Willow, still stare longingly at the flock of hummers, but even these intrepid hunters are not fast enough to grab a hummingbird from the air. (Believe me, they have tried.)

Enjoy Those Fall Leaves

Do you live where the changing seasons are part of your life? For 18 years we made our home in Florida, where I’d have to literally stop and remember what season we were in. Every holiday had the same basic weather pattern…Easter, Independece Day, New Year’s Day. It made no difference!

Now I’m like a little kid on Christmas morning…I can’t wait till Mother Nature paints those cottonwood leaves golden yellow again. And the thrill of seeing a bright red maple! (Yes, there are some here in New Mexico, believe it or not) And although most of our property is covered by juniper, pinon and ponderosa pine, I do have my very own deciduous tree in the backyard with leaves that turn a yummy lemon yellow come October.

I have so much to look forward to and be thankful for. And that includes you, my very special and wonderful customer!

So tell me what you look forward to as summer glides into fall!

Walk with a Cane, Spot a Cougar

By 8 Comments

Spot a CougarThere have been at least two Magic Zoo milestones this week. Graduating from an “old lady walker” to a cane happened practically overnight, and made me feel like a dare-devil. Ed hovered protectively for a while, but has since gotten used to the tap tap tap of (what sounds like) a pirate with a wooden leg on our flagstone and tile floors as I meander from room to room.

I’m getting used to this new hip thing, do my exercises religiously, and (like my surgeon instructed me) I walk, walk, walk.

But mostly this takes place inside, because almost every afternoon has brought thunder and often a real downpour. Our backyard profusion of wildflowers, native grasses and flowering vines now reminds me more of Florida than New Mexico.

The Hummingbird Horde

Instead of subtropical butterfly swarms, I have over 50 hummingbirds draining 6 feeders daily. (And no, I am not exaggerating.) Some of my friends observe this flock jealously, complaining they haven’t been able to attract more than one or two hummers to their feeders.

Our secret? My husband and I are suckers. We keep them in sugar water, provide nesting trees and welcomed them back from their long migration north again in April. I don’t know where it will end, because I suspect the newly fledged birds will travel south in October, then return ready to make their own babies next spring. There might be a little attrition, but overall I imagine things will only get worse (or better, depending on your viewpoint)

The Other Milestone, if you can call it that

On Saturday, Ed and I were sitting in the kitchen going over our day’s doings. Something outside the window caught my eye and I looked up just in time to see the back half of a really, really big cat slink behind a juniper tree about 50 yards away.

Here is how I computed this surprising event within ¾ of a second. “Oh, a deer. Right color. But a deer doesn’t have a long tail like that and is much, much taller. It couldn’t be Firework or Willow, because we put them inside 20 minutes ago, plus our cats are definitely not that big.” However, like I said the thoughts were in a ¾ second jumble, not laid out nicely like this.

Basically, I was quickly trying to make sense out of something that seemed impossible. Why impossible? I don’t know, I live at the base of a mountain range home to cougar, bear, elk, deer, bobcat, coyote and lots more. But I just never expected to see a cougar outside my kitchen window. Just like the time I saw the bear by our propane tank. Never expected that either.

I called one of my neighbors who lives about 3 miles away. “Have you ever seen a cougar on your property?” She said no, but they had seen big cat prints in the snow one year. She and her husband have a cabin at a bit higher altitude than where we are, so it wasn’t surprising.

Why this big cat came to visit I don’t know for sure. But we aren’t going to leave cat food outside at night anymore. Do big cats enjoy a meal of kitty kibble? Maybe. But I’m not going to test that theory.

What wildlife do you have in your neck of the woods? You might be surprised. When I lived in Florida I spotted bald eagles and coyotes on the golf course across the street, so even if you don’t live at 7,000 feet, you might be surprised!

The Magic Zoo’s Very Strange August

By 63 Comments

Merry with flowers and walkerTwo weeks ago I learned firsthand how everything can change in a split second. One minute I was jogging down the dirt road in front of our property, the next minute I turned ever-so-slightly to answer my tagging-along grandson’s question and the following instant I was on the ground with a broken hip. (I didn’t know it was broken at the time, but I suspected something was more wrong than just a bruised ego, which I also had.)

I yelled for little Cassidy and his sister Annabelle to go get Granddaddy, then waited in a singularly uncomfortable position, while a few enterprising mosquitoes took advantage of my inability to swat them away (I was holding myself up with both hands).

Ed came to the rescue, called 911 and thus began a saga whereby I learned to appreciate in a completely new way those who help in emergency situations.

A Very Long Wait for Help

Since we live in the boonies, it took about an hour and a half for an ambulance to reach me. My darling husband (talk about living those marriage vows) made me as comfortable as he could and held me up with his back against mine, swatting away the bugs and being a reassuring presence. When the ambulance arrived to take me to the hospital in Albuquerque (another hour and a half away) I was relieved and admittedly scared. (I am NOT a big fan of pain.) The transference from the dirt road to the gurney was excruciating, and I probably sent some coyotes and birds scattering with my yells.

Saved!

Finally, I was on my way. I made small talk with the paramedic seated next to me in the back of the ambulance ( a sweet, quiet young man named Sean) as he took my vital signs and typed on his laptop while we zoomed along at 80 mph. I made sure that Ed was following (he was, barely) and finally got to UNM (University of New Mexico Hospital) where they did all those things they do with a patient who has foolishly injured herself while trying to get healthy while jogging. One of the nurses assured me it was not the most ridiculous story she’d heard of a self-created accident, and for the first time since my fall I laughed.

X-rays were taken, the break was confirmed and the next day I was in surgery being fitted with a brand new hip. (What?! I swear I never intended to have a hip replacement. I was proud of my strong bones and joints, which were apparently no match for our rock-hard dirt road)

My New Heroes

The day after surgery, the powers that be (my surgeon) decided I could go home! I rolled out of the hospital in a wheelchair feeling so grateful to every doctor, nurse and aide who took care of me during my incredibly brief stay, and wished I knew what their favorite animals were so I could shower Magic Zoo gifts down upon them all. (Wouldn’t that be a surprise? None of them ever knew what I did for a living, nor would that have made a bit of difference. These beautiful people do what they do because their calling is to help others.) What a rich life they must have!

It has been two weeks since I broke my hip, and every day is so much better than the last. I’m been off all pain medication for many days (so good to eliminate that accompanying mental fog!) and I’m getting back to getting around on my own (though I still rely on a walker). So if you have possibly wondered why you haven’t had any news from me for a while, that’s because The Magic Zoo’s very strange August has been one of a kind.

Now, tell me what your August has been like! (I hope it’s been more fun than mine!)

Your Animal Loving Artist,

Merry

Making your Favorite Pet into Wearable Art

By 2 Comments

wearable art pug necklaceWearable art…that is what inspired me to be a jewelry artist! I had a hunch that people might like to have their favorite pet as a pin or pair of earrings, and what do you know? I was right.

There’s nothing so inspiring to me as using a photograph of a beloved pet to create something memorable for the human companion. And I am picky about the finished design! It has to be loved by the recipient. It has to have the personality of the cat, dog, bird, reptile etc. whose photograph I worked from.

Otherwise, I just haven’t done my job!

There is nothing so precious to me as hearing back from the customer who is pleased with the result. Those comments mean the world to me, more than money ever could. Here’s one of my favorite testimonials:

“I just bought my second and third set of custom polymer earrings for my wife. The first set was of my wife’s first dog and the latest pairs were of our beautiful Malamute, one set as a puppy and the other as an adult. Everyone has been astounded at how closely they match pictures sent in as models. My wife could not be happier with them. The work is beautiful and the quality is top notch. The first pair is about 10 years old and they look now exactly as they did when she received them. She even was able to replicate one earring after the original was misplaced. Especially considering they are custom work, you just can’t beat the prices either. I look forward to buying from Merry again in future, when that second Malamute joins the clan!” – Jim from Louisville

It doesn’t matter what kind of animal you have as a pal…I have made everything from sugar gliders to iguanas. Of course, most custom orders involve cats and dogs, but I get my fair share of exotic pets as well.

The other good thing about the custom pieces is that I will repair any damage they may suffer if they get a bit of rough treatment throughout the years. (Just to let you know, the polymer clay I make them out of is extremely durable, and most likely they won’t suffer a bit of damage with normal wear. Here is what Mary had to say about her ferret jewelry that needed a bit of fixing up after 10 years of wear:

“Merry made a pin of 2 of my ferrets many years ago and it is wonderful. After many years of being on my purse (and not treated as gently as it should- what can I say I loved it and wanted everyone to see it) it got some mild damage. I contacted Merry to see if I could pay her to fix it. Not only did she fix it good as new, she fixed it for free!! And this was more than 10 years after I bought it. That is the best customer service I have ever received. I have several pieces from Merry that I have had even longer and they are all still in perfect shape, but it is so nice to know if something does happen she will stand behind her work and repair an item, even a decade later!!” – Mary (long time customer)

Do you have a very special animal you would like memorialized in a one-of-a-kind polymer clay design? I can’t wait to see YOUR pet!

Embarrassed by My Website – An Artist’s Confession

By 12 Comments

Well, this past week has been humbling.

It started off great! We “remodeled” our website, with bigger photographs of my jewelry, some lovely photographs of models, easier ways to get around, and so on.

But…(and this was a rather LARGE “But”)

Our site had trouble loading photographs and in some cases, made it next to impossible to make a purchase. We didn’t realize the trouble until we had a recent sale, and then all heck broke loose.

YIKES!

I’m not used to frustrated customers. I pride myself on NOT having frustrated customers, as a matter of fact. So when I started getting calls and emails from people who wanted to buy and couldn’t, it made for some sleepless nights, apologetic emails and red faces. (which my customers couldn’t see, but trust me, I blushed a lot in private)

To say we felt foolish is to put it quite mildly. The worst part was that our developer couldn’t seem to figure out what the problem was, and it seemed to go on day after day, despite desperate emails, chats and phone calls. To put it mildly, we felt terrible.

So Now What?

Meanwhile, our website developer kept digging for the source of the problem And guess what??? He finally FOUND IT! Now it just had to be fixed. And he even promised to do it while we slept. (They are in a vastly different time zone)

Ed was up at 4AM this morning to see the results of his efforts. I couldn’t sleep anyway, so I joined Ed in our upstairs studio. I was afraid to ask the question, so I put it euphemistically.

“Anything new?”

“They fixed it.”

“WHAT??!!!”

“They actually fixed it.”

I felt like cheering and crying at the same time. But since that was a little too energetic before the sun even rose, I responded, “Oh wow.”

I sat down at my computer and immediately “ordered” something just to see for myself. It worked. Big sigh, lots of grateful thoughts, then we both went back to bed and slept till 7:30.

To my Wonderful Customers

I want to say, you are the very, very best. Most of you were so patient and kind throughout this ordeal. Many of you have been my customers for over 20 years, and you know how much I care about you, and do not take it lightly when something on our end goes wrong. For those of you who are newer customers, I want to apologize sincerely for any frustration.

And to all my customers, please contact me anytime, with anything you want to say to me, either through this website blog, or by emailing me through my website. I truly, really care about you, and want your experience with The Magic Zoo to be a good one. And I do answer every email.

Your animal loving artist,

Merry

Why I designed Pit Bull Jewelry with Cropped Ears

By 6 Comments

Pit bull jewelryYes, I finally designed some pit bull jewelry with cropped ears!

I’ve noticed that a lot of the sweetest pit bull rescues have cropped ears. So, that means a lot of gentle dogs that have nothing to do with fighting (at least in their current lives) have cropped ears.

I recently saw the cutest video of a pit bull with cropped ears and the biggest grin you can imagine. It is a perpetual grin, so I suspect it’s just her natural, genetic look. But still, how adorable!

I’ve met many pit bulls over the years, and every one of them was a gentleman or lady. Well, maybe except for the one that attacked me with excessive tail wags and sloppy kisses while I was on a jog in Florida!

As an artist, what should I do?

As an animal loving artist, I feel that pit bulls’ human companions deserve a jewelry design that reflects what their dog actually looks like. For years I’ve made pit bulls with the natural ears, which I find incredibly adorable. But I also have become aware that the pitties with cropped ears do exist, and why should they be left out?

Over the years, many people have told me they love how I design my pit bull jewelry with natural ears. And I appreciate that! As an animal lover, I personally wouldn’t want to crop any dog’s tail or ears. Designing a dog with cropped ears wasn’t because I particularly approve of the practice. But as long as there are pit bulls with cropped ears, why not reflect that in a piece of art, even a piece of jewelry?

And I am so happy with my two new pit bull designs. I think they still reflect the sweet nature of this breed, which is really what I was going for. Tell me what you think of them!

Tell me About your Dog!

Do you have a pit bull? I would love to know a little bit about him or her. What does she like to do for fun? What is his name? Was your dog a rescue? Add your comment to this post! I read every one, and answer them all, too.

I am constantly adding new designs to my collection, and always have my ears and eyes open to new possibilities. If pit bull jewelry is not your thing, tell me what your dog breed of choice is. You never know, your favorite may appear in my collection some day!

Verified by MonsterInsights