| "By
popular request, Lizzie returns to roll on her back as my model
for "Sweet Roll." After thinking for several years about
how to create another rolling sculpture of Lizzie, I noticed that
every day she has an endearing way of cleaning her face first thing
in the morning; she lifts her front feet and sort of quickly brushes
over her eyes to eliminate any "sleep." Finally, I knew
exactly what this new sculpture would be! Then, a friend happened
to email a photo of her dachshund doing exactly what I started to
do with my sculpture and I knew I was on the right track."
"The sculpture "Sweet Roll" did not come easily.
In early 2005, we were in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where I
noticed Lizzie "cleaning her face" and decided I finally
had come up with a pose that I liked. I started the sculpture but,
meanwhile, poor Lizzie contracted hookworms and was very sick and
VERY skinny -- probably just 16 pounds. After two weeks of shots
given by Dr. Ricardo Lopez, a caring vet who makes house calls,
Lizzie and Edgar, who also had to take the shots, were pronounced
parasite free! From late January to about mid-April, Lizzie luxuriously
consumed three meals a day until she regained weight. Now she is
a happy 20 pounds and doing pretty well for a sweet old girl of
fifteen-and-a-half!"
"I am forever grateful to Judge Weldon B. Long without whose
early coaching in Dachshund Anatomy 101, I could not have created
this piece with accuracy so close to the standard. Enjoy!"
- Joy Kroeger Beckner |
