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OUTDOOR WATER TOYS FOR KIDS. SMYTHS TOYS STORE Outdoor Water Toys For Kids
Happy boy Trooper asked that I share with everyone in Flickrland, the progress he has made in the 8 days he has been my foster. He came to me after being held at a pound, for 2 months - after not being adopted the shelter, they allowed the Humane Society to take him to be fostered as he wasn't coping well behind bars. Prior to that he wandered the streets for who knows how long, and before that he was thought to be an outdoor dog with little to no socialization with humans or dogs. When he came to me, he was scared, not knowing what to do. I could see the sweetness in his heart, and a spark in those frightened eyes, that despite whatever he had gone through, he was ready to move on, and get a life that he deserves. Trooper has learned 4 commands: sit, hug, shake a paw and down which he can do consistently indoors. We are also working on stay with some good progress. When it is time to go for a walk, he sits to have his leash put on, then will sit at the door, and await my command to go through. Prior to this he would bark, yelp, whine and jump at my face during this progress. He also hasn't had an accident in the house since Thursday. He has gone all week with only 2 accidents (one when my dad came over at lunch to walk the dogs, and left the bathroom door open, giving Trooper plenty of water to drink, ant the other was his first full day left alone without an afternoon walk). He is socializing well with other dogs, and humans in the dog park. He likes to play with little dogs, and is gentle with them. And he approaches humans (including kids) in an appropriate fashion, which gets paid off with some lovely head pats. He has also learned that chomping Buster in the head is not an appropriate response to Buster looking at a toy he has. Major areas of work are around walking on a leash, and how he reacts to people/dogs on a leash. I am so proud of Trooper, and when the time is right, I know he will find a fantastic forever home. And he doesn't know this yet - but he will be getting neutered on Thursday....shhhh. The Irwin Toy Factory in Toronto, Ontario
One of my favorite outdoor sketches is the Irwin Toy Factory in Toronto. I believe that it is now a historical landmark and being renovated for condominiums. I was not the only visiter attracted to this interesting looking building on this day. I remember a photographer busy photographing the toy factory. Old and forgotten, as I began to draw out this lonely building, my mind began to wander and think about this factory when it was operating. I had been studying business at York University at the time so naturally many key ideas came out during this sketch. I began to think naturally of christmas, and how busy the factory was during these periods of time. I also thought of the children who would receive christmas presents manufactured by this company. My mind then wandered further and I began to think of the employees who once worked there and their families, and neighbouring industries and businesses whose livelihoods depended on this factory. You can almost hear the hustle and bustle of the factory during its operation at christmas time. After a while, it was like the building was speaking to me. Like an old man or woman, it needed to tell its story to me, wanting to be heard and appreciated once again, about its importance during a forgotten period of time. It was a "christmas story" from a factory's perspective. I am really glad I had this opportunity to paint the factory and a chance to reflect on the employees who once worked there and the happiness they brought to many kids at christmas.......including possibly myself as a child. japanese pokemon toys john deere collectible toys wooden toys waldorf micro mini cars toys hot toys ironman hot toys terminator t 600 2011 new toys |