Every once in awhile, I decide to do one of these. I think this is the first here, though. Hm.



First up is the Maple Chipotle Sweet Potatoes.

The husband LOVES these. I can't stand them. But they do photograph nicely.




Next up would be the Sour Cream Dinner Rolls.

We love these, and I've made them nearly every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas since 1994 when I first found the recipe.


Others-


Cinnamon Raisin Ciabatta Bread Pudding


Lemon Raspberry Tea Cake


Go make something delicious!

*** FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, 50% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO AKITA RESCUE. IN HONOR OF DANTE-INU AND MY NEW RESCUE AKITA, CAENA. ***
SEE DANTE'S SPIRIT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.

Finally got around to listing the Cotton Bandanas I'd been saying I needed to list for the last month.  100% of the proceeds from each one sold goes to benefit Akita Rescue. I still have 4 more left to dye up too. So hopefully it won't take another month to do that. I'm thinking one in roses and creams, another in all greens, another in purples, and I'll figure out the last. Heh.

Also listed a new silk scarf, Northern Lights, a 100% Habotai silk scarf, done in the Arashi Shibori method. This one was one of my attempts at discharging, which didn't come out too badly, if I do say so myself.

'Witching Hour' has finally been listed now as well. Black as the deepest hour of night...

I have 4 more silk scarves in various stages of completeness, all 4 in my Dark Series. So stay tuned for those.

'Murder After Midnight' should be listed sometime this week.

'Carpe Noctum' and the as yet to be named one should be listed in the next 2-3 weeks. 'Carpe Noctum' is a very detail oriented silk scarf, and will be the most expensive of the Series, as well as the most embellished.

'BoneYard' is in the planning stages as of yet.

The first in the Dark Series was 'Murder and Mayhem' to give you an idea of what the Dark Series is like.

Then, hopefully after the holidays, I can get back to a few beadwork projects and get a few works in progress finished and listed.

*** FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, 50% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO AKITA RESCUE. IN HONOR OF DANTE-INU AND MY NEW RESCUE AKITA, CAENA. ***
SEE DANTE'S SPIRIT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.

Via Draco-Samhain-

For the actual Links, see original article at link above. Yes, I'm lazy.

The Elven Blood Art Theft Ring

I am seeking help in identifying artwork in a game that is building a reputation for art theft. My goal is to have every single uncredited artist whose work is used in Elven Blood, to be sought out and contacted. The developers post a link where you can submit work to be showcased, but it seems they favor theft over honest submissions. I don't know how many images are legitimate submissions (very few are credited, maybe 5%) and that is what I seek to find out.

Elven Blood, for those who don't know, is one of four games in the Blood Games series put out by a company calling themselves the Royal East India Trading Company. Originally debuted on Facebook, they have several thousands of players worldwide and have recently launched onto Myspace. They claim to have millions of dollars worth of support from investors. If so, why would they fall so low as to steal so much art? Thefts have not only been from individual artists, but from those creating work-for-hire pieces, which are legally owned by the company they created them for. Whether this company is real or a complete scam, I don't know yet. I do know that of the artists I have contacted and heard back from, that 100% of notifications have been confirmed thefts.

Many of you wanting to help may say that you're not a gamer or even be on Facebook or Myspace. That is perfectly fine. I have supplied screen shots of most of the 78 locations here: [link]

If you do play the game or another in the Blood series:
-I am seeking screen shots of the first few and very last few locations in Elven Blood and any of the shops. I have all locations listed here on the bottom half of the journal. I need shots for locations without an asterisk * : [link] I will add more as I can get to them.

-If anyone has played a significant amount of Blood Lust, Skies of Blood and/or City of Blood and is willing to travel around and gather screen shots, please contact me. I'm not that far in these 3. I can however, create a list of locations such as the one I made for EB.

Please reference the screen shots I've provided for the range of the shot needed. It needs to cover from the top of the location banner down as far as your screen will allow. The location links at the bottom aren't as necessary as they're thumbnails of the banner up top. If you don't want to host shots you've gathered, send me the link of where you've temporarily posted them telling me so. I will transfer them.

The compiled links:

Main project page: [link]
11.23.08 update: [link]
11.6.08 update: [link]

Elven Blood screen shots so far:
[link]

*************************************************



Found list in rough order of appearance:
These artists have already been contacted. Credit to finders will now be listed at the bottom, as some of you have found a lot. Entries without a status are ones I'm awaiting replies on.

~Alfredsson's Knight of the Temple [link] at Saint Castletown. CONFIRMED.

~jnurp's Pirate King [link] located at the Northwest passage

`Saimain's Dark Warrior [link] located at Elven Moonwoods

~kankakanka's Baby Dragon [link] located at the shop in Garden of Eden

*infraberry's Black Dragon Attack [link] located at Orc Fortress

~Dajotoy's Orc [link] located at Orc Fortress

*aaronsimscompany's Satry Concept 1 [link] located at Forgotten Chasm

*ShadowUmbre's Unleashed [link] located at Cyrene Jungles

*Raphael-Lacoste's Masyaf [link] located at Neo St. Castletown

retty-Angel's Drowning [link] located at Dream of the Past. CONFIRMED

=alexiuss's Equinox [link] located at Fourth Circle CONFIRMED

`treijim's black dragon: [link] located in the Ninth Circle. CONFIRMED

`blackeri's 7 sins... ALL CONFIRMED
Vanity [link] ...I forget the location. I just passed it though...
Avarice [link] at the Tangles of Greed.
Gluttony: [link] at Glutton's Desert.
Wrath: [link] at Peaks of Wrath.

*************************************************

Credited images:
=alexiuss's Neurotic Indisposition [link] located at Dream of Despair

*** FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, 50% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO AKITA RESCUE. IN HONOR OF DANTE-INU AND MY NEW RESCUE AKITA, CAENA. ***
SEE DANTE'S SPIRIT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.

Heading to New Jersey with Caena, Mark, sister in law, the bro in law and niece tomorrow morning.

Going up to have an early Thanksgiving with the parents in law.

Kind of hoping they have snow, so I can get pics of Caena playing in it.

Should be interesting- 4 adults, a 7 yr old and a 5 month old puppy in a Chrysler Town & Country minivan (rental, my idea) for 8 hours...

Sooo I'll be back Monday.

Next week, I have 4, possibly 5 silk scarves to photograph and list, as well as the cotton bandanas.  Thinking of running a End of year sale too, to try to clear out a bit of stock, so stay tuned for possible discounts on my silk scarves, chainmaille and beadwork.

Have a great weekend. Don't do anything I wouldn't do... which isn't much. Mosat of all, be safe out there.

*** FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, 50% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO AKITA RESCUE. IN HONOR OF DANTE-INU AND MY NEW RESCUE AKITA, CAENA. ***
SEE DANTE'S SPIRIT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.

15 years ago today, you were born.

Less than 3 months later, you were mine.  My fourlegged Best Friend and soulmate.

14.5 years we had together. Good times and rough ones.

Today, you would have been 15 years old.

5 months, 5 days ago, you decided it was time to go.



Happy Birth Day, Dante-Inu, where ever you are.





Happy 233rd Birth Day to my fellow Marines as well. Semper Fi.

*** FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, 50% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO AKITA RESCUE. IN HONOR OF DANTE-INU AND MY NEW RESCUE AKITA, CAENA. ***
SEE DANTE'S SPIRIT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.

Will have a photo in the 2009 MARS (Midwest Akita Rescue Society) Calender.


This one, to be exact.

I'm alternating between joy and sorrow right now.

Calenders will be available they say around Mid-November.

*** FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, 50% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO AKITA RESCUE. IN HONOR OF DANTE-INU AND MY NEW RESCUE AKITA, CAENA. ***
SEE DANTE'S SPIRIT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.

Happy Birth Day, Teajade!

Also known as TeaPhotography here on DA.

Stop by her page and wish her the very best of birth days!

*** FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, 50% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO AKITA RESCUE. IN HONOR OF DANTE-INU AND MY NEW RESCUE AKITA, CAENA. ***
SEE DANTE'S SPIRIT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.

5yr old black boy, weighs roughly 50lbs, 3ft tall, last seen wearing camo shirt, grey hoodie, blue jeans and black suede shoes.

Missing from Alexandria, Va.

More-
[link]

*** FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, 50% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO AKITA RESCUE. IN HONOR OF DANTE-INU AND MY NEW RESCUE AKITA, CAENA. ***
SEE DANTE'S SPIRIT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.

Uploaded photos of the 2 scarves I dyed  for the Akita Rescue Society of Florida (ARSF) online auction.

15"x60" 100% Habotai silk, hand dyed, hand stenciled.

Only available via the auction. I MAY decide to try to duplicate the rose/peach/grey one. Possibly both.

*** FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, 50% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO AKITA RESCUE. IN HONOR OF DANTE-INU AND MY NEW RESCUE AKITA, CAENA. ***
SEE DANTE'S SPIRIT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.

Took Caena over to the Inlaws' today, to pick up the sis in law. She got to meet up with their neighbor and his 6 month old Burmese Mtn Dog mix puppy, Ghengis. After initial shyness, she wanted to play. Then a gorgeous Great Dane mix named Perry, 1yr old, came by with his mom. Caena actually liked him better cause he wasn't trying to jump all over her or walk on her. LOL.

Kat and I took her down to the City Market, obstensively to meet up with Rebecca of Rebecca's Soap Deli.   There was apparently a Photography class down there on a field trip of sorts. Caena was the subject of many, many photos.} She successfully charmed many people.   I got to talk about Rescue several times while there, as many kept asking what breed she was, etc.

We then took her by Petsmart, to get cat litter, rabbit bedding and a dog tag for her. She charmed them there too. Met a 5month old German Shep. that was more scared of HER than she was shy of the GSD!   Again, got to talk about the breed and Rescue.}  Starting to think I need to print up index cards with Rescue URLs and such on them, lol.

Found out about the 'Dogtober Fest' going on tomorrow, being put on by the local St Francis Service Dogs group here.  That should be fun tomorrow. We're taking Kat and Mikayla with us.}

Then we took her down to our vet. The same vet that we take the Boys to and took Dante to. They LOVED her there. Dr Eick kept saying if I needed anything, to call her. We're going to have her tested for chrondrodysplasia when she hits 6 months, so late Dec/early Jan.  Need to remember to print out a photo of Caena for Dr Eick to put up on the wall, like she does all their patients.}

After we got home, I let her run around a bit, then kenneled her while I went to the grocery store. She was so worn out that she barely cried when I closed the kennel door.  Aries decided to come down for awhile, after I got back, while she was outside. He even came to the back door and started to go outside when Caena, sitting at the top of the hill, spotted him.  She came flying down the hill and he went right back inside and headed upstairs. Poor guy. They aren't used to a bouncy, exuberant puppy.

Naturally, she knows they are upstairs, so that's where SHE wants to go. There's a baby gate up at the bottom of the stairs, and we keep it just high enough for the cats to fit under but not Caena. Or so I thought.

I was in the kitchen when I realised that her tags weren't jingling as loudly as they should when she's in the next room. Seems the little sneak managed to squeeze UNDER the baby gate and went upstairs. Max, being in the Studio, was watching her, not hissing, snarling or rasing his fur, just watching her, from the comfort of the desk. Aries was in on the bed, the one room Caena hadn't gone in when I caught her. Of course, once she was upstairs, she didn't want to come back down. *headdesk*

Fortunately, despite Aries being startled by Caena earlier, he came back downstairs again. She did get too close that time though, and he hissed at her was well as batted at her nose.  Note to self- clip his claws before it happens again and he actually uses them.  He then stayed on the back of the couch for a few minutes before, once again, heading back upstairs.   At least he is coming down though. Max hasn't even done that.}:/


Hopefully tomorrow I'll have pics from the Dogtober Fest.}

*** FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, 50% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO AKITA RESCUE. IN HONOR OF DANTE-INU AND MY NEW RESCUE AKITA, CEANA. ***
SEE DANTE'S SPIRIT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.

It's been 14+ years since we've had either of those.

Caena Kamikaze Ryu is a 3.5 month old Rescue Akita puppy, from Heart of Dixie Akita Rescue. She was born June 15, 2008.

Calliope and her 7 pups were dumped by her owner in a shelter in Georgia when the pups were 2 days old.

This litter was so sick, that Rachel (of HoDAR) wasn't sure at times they'd make it. As a possible result, they are smaller than average Akita pups at their age. Whether this is due to their being so sick, or it being Chrondrodysplasia(a hereditary genetic disorder that affects the bone growth and joints, as well as heart and liver issues), they simply don't know.

Other than small size, no other symptoms have manifested as of YET. So, Caena and her siblings could simply be small/petite Akitas. We think she may top out at around 50lbs, 60lbs if we're lucky, although she will always be short- or as I say, small in stature, and will most likely have arthritis early on and other joint issues. Which is why we want to get her into agility classes, to help work those joints and strengthen the muscles.

She's fiesty, and a lover. HATES being alone in her kennel at night. She's just not used to being by herself. Last night was the first night without a sibling.

She's all Play!Play! with Mark and I. Very curious, wants to explore, can't figure out why the cats are bigger/as big as her and don't want to play. Loves the backhill. She's a digger too, roots out the grass, throws it around, chases leaves. Loves her puppy Kong.

Aries came down twice on his own last night, to check her out. Came down again today, was going to hang out on the couch because she was sleeping, when Caena woke up, saw him, and wanted to play. Needless to say, Aries got scared and went back upstairs.  I think within a week or two, he'll be fine.

Max on the other hand. He hasn't come downstairs on his own yet. I brought him down last night. He pointedly ignored Caena until he couldn't anymore, then hissed, snarled, fluffed up bigger than his 20lb self(at which he is 5lbs HEAVIER than Caena!), if that is possible and stalked across the back of the couch, then up the stairs. Where he has stayed since.  He will take awhile. He never really cared for Dante either though.

When we take her down for a 6 month checkup in Dec, I'm going to talk to my vet about genetic testing for the Chrondrodysplasia, as IF she does have it, we want to know what to expect. If she does, she won't live as long as Dante did, but nonetheless, she will have a very full, VERY happy, love filled life.

There's nothing like a Rescue puppy. This was definately the right choice.

Expect to be spammed with photos over the coming days, weeks, YEARS.

*** FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, 50% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO AKITA RESCUE. IN HONOR OF DANTE-INU AND MY NEW RESCUE AKITA, CEANA. ***
SEE DANTE'S SPIRIT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.

This Sunday will be 4 months.



4 long, hard months since she left me.

There are so many people, though, who, even if they never realized it, helped immensely in getting me through these past 3 months.

So this post is for them.

Mark- For being the man he is, who loves me no matter what. Your quiet strength honestly helped me more than you'll ever know, babe. Thanks for being mine.

Max and Aries, of course- For simply being the lovebugs they are.

My family- for being them. For understanding exactly what my pets mean to me.

Deanna, aka Chickenshoot on LJ, Angus and Acorn-  for Dante's Urn, and simply being quirky enough to make me smile when I needed it. I rather hope you do continue the Alphabet posts.}

Jodi of ARMAC-  For sharing tales of Gizzy, her wonderful poetry, and many emails simply 'listening' and loaning an ear. And Dante's Urn.}

Rachel,  her Inori and Faia of HODAR - For this Sunday. For sharing her experiences in losing her Akitas, namely Zen.   Remember, on Sunday- Ceana, she of small stature, quirky brows and a fearless spirit }

Joann, Kathy and Nancy of ARWNY - For welcoming me, Mark and my Inlaws at the Akita Fun Day/Picnic, even without Dante-Inu. I needed that, more than I knew.

Too many to name on the Akita Rescue email list- for letting me simply lurk most of the time. I've learned a lot from you all. Thanks for being there when Dante decided to go.

Esty BeadWeavers Street Team- For letting me go silent for several months.

The Dyehard email list- For letting me be rather inactive lately. I'm getting there, I swear.

Every Dancer from HoC on LJ-  Morlith, Atypia, Moon, Dansr, Lunah, Gemma, Aithlyn, Sylrayj, JustSonya, Ave Windwalker, Rosetiger, Saysh, Eveningscribe, Similarmistake and so many others.   I don't think I need to tell you guys what you mean to me.

Gab, Mare, Ladiefare, Rottn, Arianadii, Brujah, Stormkitty, Jo (pgh anarchist), and many others, both from LJ, IJ and Twitter- Thanks for simply listening.

Thank you. Each and every one of you and many I can not ever hope to name. Thank you for simply listening, for your sympathy, you good thoughts, and most of all, your friendships.

*** FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, 50% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO AKITA RESCUE. IN HONOR OF DANTE-INU AND MY NEW RESCUE AKITA, CEANA. ***
SEE DANTE'S SPIRIT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.

Eight Akitas were taken from a long-established puppymill in western Arkansas last week.  These Akitas are safe and currently at a temporary location until they can be transported to various Akita rescue organizations in the mid-west, northeast, east and southwestern United States.  All eight need to be spayed/neutered and seven need treatment for a tick born disease.  Six, five males and a female, will need extensive socialization, as clearly they have had little interaction with people.

Transport costs to the various rescues alone will cost $2,000.  Medical treatment and spay/neuters will add to that cost.

Please find it in your heart to donate whatever you can to assist in the overall costs.  These eight Akitas deserve a chance at a better life.

To submit a donation please visit ARMAC’s website, [link], and click on the “Donate” button.  You will also find on the webpage a link to photos of the Akitas.

Thank you so much for caring.

Sincerely,
Lisa Gray
ARMAC
[link]
ACA Rescue Committee
[link]

*** FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, 50% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO AKITA RESCUE. IN HONOR OF DANTE-INU AND MY NEW RESCUE AKITA, CEANA. ***
SEE DANTE'S SPIRIT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.