Mastodawn

One of my favorite selfies with Arwen, where her nose is in front of mine... It wasn't posed like this, she was just being silly at the right time... 🥰

This version is an AI edited one of my original picture, which can be seen here: https://flic.kr/p/2rve35o

#AIedited #NanoBanana2 #DogsOfMastodon #Arwen #Labradorable #Selfie #EyeContact

Cynni Pixy 5d ago

I've been feeling a bit emotional the last few days... I've "used" that sadness to let AI generate some edits of my original pictures into a luministic style.

This is one of those special ones... Me, kissing Arwen's nose as when was snoozing... 🥲 I miss that gall so much...

Original picture: flic.kr/p/2riEqhG

#AIedited #NanoBanana2 #DogsOfMastodon #Arwen #Labradorable

Cynni Pixy 6d ago

I was reminded by my journal app, that this day, two years ago, I took Arwen to the vet for a minor surgery. Still, at her age (she has her 11th birthday later, in July 15th), going under was always with some risks...
But,she was a champion! She was so happy when I picked her up. We slept on the couch together, she wanted the longer walkies, even with the cone and all... She took it all so brave and wonderful, and it reminds me, again, how blessed I was to have her in my life.
I still miss her so much... 🌈 🐾 💜

#Labrador #Arwen #Labradorable #DogsOfMastodon

Edit: I saw a typo in the alt text.

Editor Mar 2

Swansea community anthem ‘This Is Our City’ re-released in support of Ospreys

Swansea singer-songwriter Michael Mullan has released a new version of his song ‘This Is Our City’, a community arts project celebrating the people and shared values of Swansea.

The new version features vocals from 14-year-old Birchgrove singer Evelyn Vi and the Arwen youth performance collective from Llansamlet. It is a complete re-recording of the song originally released in 2019 to mark the 50th anniversary of Swansea’s city status, which featured vocals from ‘The Voice Kids’ singer Justine Afante.

Mr Mullan said the new version was recorded in support of the Ospreys, who are facing an uncertain future following the WRU’s proposed restructure of professional rugby in Wales. He said the video reflects the wider community groups who make Swansea the wonderful place it is.

The video, filmed across Swansea, features community groups, faith leaders, disability and inclusion partners, youth organisations and essential services. It has been shared and praised by local MPs Torsten Bell and Tonia Antoniazzi, and Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart.

Michael Mullan said: “This project has always been about people — about inclusion, creativity and the power of community. Seeing it resonate locally and then reach further has been incredibly humbling. Swansea is an amazing city, and this song is a celebration of the many voices that make it what it is.”

The official video for ‘This Is Our City’ is available to watch on YouTube. For more music and arts news from Swansea Bay, visit our dedicated section.

#Arwen #community #EvelynVi #MichaelMullan #Music #Ospreys #Swansea #ThisIsOurCity

Nick Hubble Feb 14

RE: https://toot.wales/@thehubble101/115944717837085499

The 'Age of Men' is not going well ... last few days to read my essay 'Should Galadriel have taken the Ring?' for free at Speculative Insight. If you're in the BSFA, please remember the voting deadline is 23.59 GMT on 19 February.
#tolkien #lotr #galadriel #fairyqueen #faeriemagic #fantasy #sff #bookstodon #criticism #literarycriticism #essay #bsfa #bsfa2026awards #bsfaawards #elf #elves #fairyland #hobbits #aragorn #arwen #beren #Lúthien #thesilmarillion

Cynni's Blog Jan 17

Memories captured by AI

...and some other AI creations... It's been 197 days (I have a widget on my phone... 😢) since I have had to say goodbye to my furry soulmate. A little over 28 weeks... It's been hard, as most of you following the blog will know. I am slowly starting to do better. Maybe it also helps that, in about a week or so, I may know if Gentle is pregnant, which would mean that, hopefully, at the end of February, a new brown gall will be born... One that may become my new companion. 💜 I have previously shared several AI images, that were made in Arwen's memory. Some were made with real pictures of her, some were cartoon images based on the original pictures of her. And I made a few of Arwen, together with Bas, my parent's Dachshund. I have been playing around some more with the AI image tool, and I wanted to share some of the images here. I know not everyone loves AI, and I do understand. But yeah, it helps me to cope with the grief over losing Arwen. (I will sneak in some other AI images too, but feel free to skip this post if you're not into AI, I fully understand). […]

https://cynnisblog.wordpress.com/2026/01/17/memories-captured-by-ai/

Cynni's Blog Jan 4

A lonely start

I was at my parent's place for New Years. Just after midnight, I went outside with my mum. We watched some fireworks, which was nice and all. But, as I was watching, I felt overwhelmed by a sudden feeling of loneliness. As I gathered my things to head home again, I felt like it was the saddest start of the new year I've ever experienced... I was alone in Skoosh, driving home, to be there... On my own... Arwen passed away 181 days ago, on Jan 1st that was, and when this gets shared, she will have been gone for exactly 6 months. But it still feels like yesterday when I had to say goodbye to her... 😢 This should be getitng easier, or so people say... But, my life... It resolved so much around Arwen, and her needs and wants, that I just feel like I lost my "purpose" when she passed away. If all goes well, in about 3 weeks, I will know if Gentle is pregnant, if there may be another gall coming for me... But until then... It's just lonely me, missing my gall so much... […]

https://cynnisblog.wordpress.com/2026/01/04/a-lonely-start/

Cynni's Blog Jan 2

In loving memory… 🎶

I was listening to my "emotional songs" playlist on Tidal, and it suggested some songs to add. I listened to a few of them, and one of the songs, it really got to me. I shared it on Mastodon in a Toot, but I wanted to share it here as well. There are a few other songs that I love a lot as well, even though they always bring tears to my eyes... I think I have shared some of the songs in the past, but with the new year beginning, and me remembering all the love and fun I shared with Arwen, it brought me in a mood to share some of my favorite sad/emotional/loving songs. […]

https://cynnisblog.wordpress.com/2026/01/02/in-loving-memory-%f0%9f%8e%b6/

Cynni's Blog Dec 26

Arwen – I’ll never forget you… 💜

With the holiday season happening, with al the cheerful festivities, with everyone starting to look back at 2025, and forward to 2026... Of course I am doing the same. I have already shared some things about looking forward to the new year... And how I have been using AI to make some fantasy-style images of Arwen's pictures, to remember her by. I have also been watching some video's of Arwen on my telly, which brought many emotions. Of course, there was sadness. But now, I also start to feel grateful, as I have been allowed to share my life with her for almost 12 years. I laughed when she did silly things, I felt a bit sad when it became more obvious that the arthritis was causing more discomfort (but I do think the meds helped her to enjoy her life as much as she could). So now, I want to share some older videos and pictures of Arwen... My first Christmas without her... But she'll never be forgotten. 😢 […]

https://cynnisblog.wordpress.com/2025/12/26/arwen-ill-never-forget-you-%f0%9f%92%9c/

Cynni's Blog Dec 19

Remembering Arwen…

...with some "help" from AI... I know not everyone likes AI, and I understand them. I don't use it for everything I do. Mostly for alt-texts for images, and to create the occasional images. So I know this post won't be for everyone, and some people will just hate me for even using AI for these things. And I wish that I were talented enough to write perfect alt-texts on my own. And I wish I could edit photos well, and make lovely art of pictures that I have of Arwen. But, I can't. And I don't have the money to pay anyone for this, as I am currently in a messy situation with an old ex, and it is very stressful and could end up costing me loads of money... It's very stressful, and a tad scary as well... So, in a way, distracting myself with some images can be a welcome way to forget the stressful situation for a bit. If things really go very badly, I will need to find help from the government, which will mean that I will have a very different life for three long years... But I try to keep myself a bit more relaxed by thinking that while these three years will be very hard on me, after them, it will mean that the whole situation has finally come to an end, after many years of stress, agitation, lies, and fears... So, this is a welcome distraction, and a way to keep my memory of Arwen a happy and joyful one during these hard times. […]

https://cynnisblog.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/remembering-arwen/