LINDA GOYMER "PAIR OF RED SQUIRRELS"

Linda Goymer is a well known photographer about town - in fact, she's taking pictures of pets with Santa this Saturday at Pet Valu! She obviously likes red squirrels, because she donated a few photos of the cheery little rodents, including this matching set! Just the thing for a room in your house that needs some happiness - your kid's room, the family room - heck, I'd put 'em in the bathroom because sometimes you need cheering up in there! For more info, visit Linda's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LCGimages/

LINDA GOYMER "HAPPIEST SQUIRREL EVER"

I chuckle every time I see this photo. I mean, come ON. Isn't this the happiest squirrel you've ever SEEN? Maybe it's the happiest face, period. Happier than Shirley Temple with a sugar overdose. Obviously this squirrel has nuts! Why else would be be so happy? I think you should buy this happy squirrel photo by Linda Goymer, and hang it somewhere you'll see it many times a day - and every time you see it, you'll just have to grin back. Hard to be grumpy with this happy dude around! By the way, Linda is taking photos of pets with Santa this Saturday at Pet Valu. If you have a squirrel, by all means, bring him! For more info, visit Linda's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LCGimages/

LINDA GOYMER "DEW ON LEAF PHOTO"

Darn it all, I find it practically impossible to take photos of art behind glass because the light in the shelter stinks! Actually, I'm sharing my space with a big litter of pooping kittens, so, yeah, it also literally stinks in here. But I digress. What I'm trying to say is I had a hard time taking a photo of Linda Goymer's brilliant close-up of a leaf with dew droplets on it. Honestly, it's a magnificent photo - especially when you're not seeing me in the reflection!! You'll have to trust me that the photo is beautiful. Cause it is. Thanks for the donations, Linda! For more info, visit Linda's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LCGimages/

LINDA GOYMER'S "DINNER FOR TWO"

This photo by Linda Goymer is so lovely! It features two birds sharing lunch. I don't want to say what kind of birds they are, but I suspect they're some kind of swallows. As for lunch, whatever it was looked very colourful! A beautiful close-up photo, framed and ready to hang in a place of honour. Thanks, Linda! For more info, visit Linda's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LCGimages/

ORBITING TRENDS "RUSSIAN COLLECTOR PLATE"

OK, so, have you ever tried to explain what the Kama Sutra is to a teenager? I don't recommend it, cause now my face is the same colour as the red tablecloth I've been using as a photo backdrop. (Cause I'm all professional.) Anyway, one of the teenagers at the shelter came in to the room I was working and picked up a collector plate donated to us by Orbiting Trends. "What's this?" she asked. Innocently. I explained that they were collectors plates which are plates that are so fancy, you can't eat off them. So really, why are they plates? "No, no, what's the picture?" she asked. I hadn't really looked at them yet, but a quick glance reminded me of the drawings in the classic book from India, the Kama Sutra. She didn't know what that was. "It's a book," I began, "with drawing of every se.... every sexual ... um... you know ... position." She was appalled, more because there's an actual paper book of such things, when there's the Internet, but also I'm an old person, basically a strange old person, talking about you know what. I think I was more embarrassed than she was. Which brings me to this plate, which has absolutely NOTHING to do with the Kama Sutra, because it was painted in Russia by Russian artists, who are all dressed with nothing wonky going on. It's a plate. with a woman, and some rabbits, and it's from The Bradford Exchange and comes with a certificate of authenticity. But the description is all in Russian, so I honestly don't know what it's about. But it's cute. And it's PG. So buy it! :) Also, it comes with a $20 gift card to shop at Orbiting Trends. For more info, visit Orbiting Trends Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/orbitingtrends/

ORBITING TRENDS "MATCHING RUSSIAN COLLECTOR PLATE"

This plate goes with the plate I just posted. This one also has nothing to do with the Kama Sutra, but it has some English, so there's that. Also, there's a $20 gift card to shop at Orbiting Trends! https://www.facebook.com/orbitingtrends/

NICOLE MBANEFO & MARK FITZSIMONS "FRAMED BUTTERFLY PRINT"

Nicole and Mark teamed up to create this donation (and one almost like it). Nicole ordered a vintage scientific print featuring the world's butterflies, and her husband Mark created a frame for it using repurposed pallets, varnished in a warm mahogany shade. The frame is beautiful, and so is the artwork - you and the kids will have fun identifying what butterflies they've seen, and what ones they'd like to see! Thanks Nicole and Mark!