This submission for Illustration Friday's "horizon" is a diecut gift tag that doubles as a decoration. I enjoy shades of lavendar and purple for the holidays ***
I received an early holiday gift of more time with my dog Rat. On November 28 he seemed unwell. As soon as my vet heard his breathing he said Rat was experiencing heart failure. We rushed him to City of Angels Vet hospital and they told me he probably would not live. The next night my vet called and thought I should put him down. It all happened so fast that we told them we wanted him to stay one more night. The next morning, December 1st we went to visit him and he was stable and able to come home. They saved his life with Viagra! He has born with a lung disease and it caused the right side of his heart to overwork and enlarge. It's called Pulmonary Hypertension. Viagra was developed for the heart and of course a bonus side effect was discovered... but now he takes this medicine and it has given him a second chance at life and the greatest gift for us!
Hope and happiness are on the horizon... Happy Holidays everyone!
Rat and Val 12/20/2007.
Picture of Baby Rat.8/27/1995
Wow! He's cute, he makes me want top be good. Pax. Bad Dog
ReplyDeleteAwwwwwww! I'm very choked up at the moment. So glad you have more time with Rat. He looks like such a good boy!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I never thought of it, but lavendar does work really well for the holidays. Nice job!
Merry, merry Christmas to you, your family and Rat!
Truly a beautiful gift! and thanks for sharing the pictures-
ReplyDeleteAnd your illustration is sobeautiful. looks like it is a wonderful and happy home.
I like what you said "Hope and happiness are on the horizon".
I wish you a happy Christmas
and more blessings and peace in the new year.
Some gifts are so unexpected and wonderful. Merry Christmas Val!
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that now that Rat has got a new lease of life thanks to Viagra, there's no keeping him at home.
ReplyDeleteWatch out girls!
Love your festive apron.
i love those trees so much, it makes my heart skip a beat....and i'm so thankful that your little one is ok! pets are the best gifts of all!
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious dog!
ReplyDeleteLove your die cut, and by coincidince, I just posted something lavender for the holidays yesterday!
Merry Christmas!
Beautiful illustration!
ReplyDeleteRat is such a great name for a dog!
ReplyDeletewow u gave me a scare there, but then no way as big as the one u had. Glad all went well. Merry Christmas Val. Always enjoy ur wok and hope to see much more this new yr. michael dailey
ReplyDelete'love this!...and the colours are great for the holidays!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear everything turned out O.K.
Viagra for canine heart problems....who woulda thunk it?
...oh, neato apron, too.
First of all a big Merry Christmas to you Val! What a wonderful present to receive more time with the pets we love so dearly. A heartfelt hug to you and Rat.
ReplyDeleteNow I cannot let my dear husband see that apron. ha He keeps teasing me saying he is going to buy me one. I kind of get messy in the kitchen.
Your tag is lovely, beautiful colors. And what wonderful news to get for Christmas. Rat (cute name)is a lucky dog. Who knew all the benefits of Viagra!
ReplyDeletethis is what xmas is all about, what a sweet little fellow, enjoy enjoy
ReplyDeleteI don't know why you didn't draw your little dog instead of the little cat in that window.. what a cute house!!.. :)
ReplyDeleteHooray for healthy pets!
ReplyDeleteLove the illo too.
Happy Holidays.
love
Oh Val, how wonderful. That must have been the hardest night ever. It's a rebirth for Rat. How fabulous and what a gift. And modern medicine helped. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteI'm really am so happy about your dog. I just love dogs, animals in general, and know from experience their loss can be devastating. Good for Rat!!!
ReplyDeleteYour artwork is lovely as ever, Val. Love the blues and purples.
btw: You are invited for a Christmas Eve drawing on my blog. Hope to see you there! Have a very merry!
good news all around on this post: val and rat reunited, awesome gift tags, cool apron, and super cool shoes. and then, a real life smiling val in all her glory!!!
ReplyDeletehappy holidays, my friend. don't forget that 2008 could be the year.. :)
Great pieces! So happy that Rat survived! Truly a great gift!
ReplyDeleteneat illustrations, love those colors too! glad all is well. neat pictures.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely Christmassy story. Hope Rat thrives on his viagra.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Val, and thanks for your blog support over the last few months since we 'met'.
xxx
I LOVE stories that end well! Thanks for telling us! I'm happy for you. Our pets are so precious! Have a very Merry Christmas, Valerie! :)
ReplyDeleteOh Val, I'm so glad he's doing so much better!! What a wonderful gift! I love your illustration too, too beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteHello Val,
ReplyDeleteGreat !
Long life to the dog Rat !
Merry Cristmas to you Val !
You are nice !
Have a wonderfull week !
Wow! Some adventure you have with Rat. I imagine how difficult it could be to see him so sick. He looks so adorable (especially when he was a little puppy). I hope you can enjoy much more time together, Val.
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays!
That is the best gift, I can't tell you how much our kitty kids mean to us, I am so happy for you that you are able to have more time with your buddy. Love the die-cuts and cute picture of you too! Merry Christmas to you and your family
ReplyDeleteOh RAT!! I'm so glad he got hooked up with the right meds! I think that is the only med out there with a really sweet side effect for that ol' boy, eh? And look at that little white old man face...he's so sweet! Ahhh....dogs are just the best, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your big bear...AND RAT! Love those little red shoes you have on and look how BEAUTIFUL you are!
Have a safe and warm holiday Val...
xo
Dood!
Hi Valerie,
ReplyDeleteAh yes, how well us old men know about those pills your dog is taking. I hope dog Viagra is not so expensive, or perhaps Rat doesn't have to take it every day. Anyway, he looks quite healthy now.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting.
Merry Christmas!
Well, this just goes to show you learn something every day! So happy Viagra did the trick...ah, now for the big smile on your face....
ReplyDeleteThis tag has to be my very favorite illustration of yours! Ever. I love it!
ReplyDeleteAnd the picture of you and rat made me smile, and the story put a tear in my eye. I am so happy to know that Rat was with you at this Christmas time, and I hope there are many more. And I just love the photo!
It has been nice getting to discover all of your wonderful talent this year. i wish you the best in 2008, and much more time with the sweet pooch!
The gift tags are beautiful and so lovely just like you.
ReplyDeleteWhat really touched my heart was the story about RAT.
I am so glad you were able to make those in charge wait one more day. What a delightful Christmas gift.
Your Backwards submission is equally delightful. I love 'walking around' in your tiny villages and the world of Val's houses.
Have a supercalifragilistic New Year!
awww. sweet lil rat. I'm so happy he's okay!! Whadda day that was, huh? I know. My mom had surgery that same day and I spent my time there in the hospital, worrying the same way you were.
ReplyDeleteWishing Rat many, many, many years. Viagra, huh?! I love that! Well. That it has helped him. I wouldn't (blush!) know.. in a personal way.
You're in my heart, Val!
Oh I am sorry, I am late. What a difficult time it was for you but I am glad all is well. What a blessing. Happy New Year Val. You are a blessing too. Thanks.
ReplyDeletewhat a miracle!! Im very happy he is ok!! I am dropping by to say hello and also to say thank you for the christmas gifts for the christmas exchange! Thay are all sooooo pretty!! It made my day when I opened the mail!! You did such an awesome job val.. thanks a ton!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful Christmas gift!
ReplyDeletehi val, and tnx for your comments...i'm rather busy lately and have no time for blogging, sorry!
ReplyDeleteyour recent entries look wonderful and new, and the story on viagra sounds truly amazing!
:)
I never heard of Arturo Secunda, tnx for sharing...