you KNOW it's hot...

when he comes in from outside and even his bed directly under the AC vent isn't cool enough! He's decided he's now lounging on the wood floor because it's just that much cooler than his bed:

i heart faces photography: week 26 - pet photo challenge

I've decided to enter one of my favourite photos of our younger Dobe, Milo, for the photo challenge at i heart faces this week... since the boys are my primary photo subjects, I have hundreds thousands plenty to choose from, but this one is a favourite:

Yes, he has slobber on his ear from his recent romp with his 'brother', and no, he's not looking at the camera, but this is Milo.  Milo is quite laid back & easy going, and he just likes to chill with his stick (as long as someone is watching him chill - he HAS to be with us!). He has beautiful brown eyes and is such a loving addition to our family... we are so lucky to have found him!

Don't forget to head on over to i heart faces to check out the gallery of submissions for this challenge - so much cuteness in one place!!

a not-so-quiet Sunday afternoon:

a sunny day...

happened this weekend, so we took the boys out for a nice long walk along the waterfront. I think Kelowna is one of the most beautiful places in the world - I love living here!

As you may remember, I am taking The Photographer's Workshop with Karen Russell... it is only the end of Week 1 and I feel that I have already learned a ton, both from Karen's lessons as well as from interaction with other students on the message boards.  (Not that I think the KR will ever read my little ol' blog, but Thanks Karen - this class is $$ well spent!)  Anyhow, now, more than ever, I take my camera with me everywhere.  I bought a new-to-me 50mm f1.4 lens this past summer, and Karen said that would be the perfect lens to use for the class and then, after I better understand my wants / needs & how I will primarily be shooting, I can look at what other lens(es) I may wish to purchase.  This week was all about understanding, experimenting and playing with the rules of composition (Rule of Thirds, leading lines, framing etc).

I can't say that any of these are stellar examples of anything I've learned, but liked them, & I loved hanging out at the beach with my boys on a gorgeous mid-winter day! (I also love that Milo will actually come when called, unlike a certain older dog of mine!)

 

 

this made me LOL...

Dog in Swing - watch more funny videos

a little peek into life with Harley & Milo...

(turn your volume on!)



Milo 'talks' to Harley all the time... sometimes Harley 'talks' back (mostly he just leaves!)... I'm trying to get a good one of the two of them when they really get going in unison, but they're on to me!

I love my dog...

I love my dog... I really LOVE my dog (& won't send him back!)... Ahh, the fun of puppyhood!

I had forgotten about this...

until someone left a comment today! Silly Harley!

exploring the 'new' yard...

exploring the 'new yard' (grass & 'facilities')...


Milo in his chewing trance...




Harley enjoying a little back scratch... notice not much can break the chewing trance!




well, except maybe when you nearly get rolled over by an overly-enthusiastic back scratcher!

a walk in the park...

took the boys down to City Park for a little walk today... we forgot the camera (now that we have a 'pocket camera', we never remember to bring it!), but Shawn had his phone and was trying to get a picture of the 3 of us:


Harley was as cooperative as usual...

Milo was more interested in duck watching...

Harley's always leery of the possible hug...

Finally, one decent picture out of the whole bunch... I love snuggly Milo!

a little lookie out the window...

at Milo playing in the yard this morning...



for those of you who wonder why we have no vegetation in the back yard!

check it out...

we spent part of the beautiful sunny afternoon on Saturday with Andrea (the fabulous photographer who is going to shoot our wedding!) & the boys at the dog beach - check out the sampling of pics she posted! I cannot wait to see them all! Thanks Andrea - the boys had a great time and Shawn and I think your work is fantastic!

happy birthday...

to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Milo... Happy Birthday to you!

Milo is 1 today (or so we decided, not knowing when his exact birthday was). We got a cute 'cake' from Bone Appetite:


It was, apparently, lip-smackin' good...

There's a bit of a cake story, but I have to run. I will post the full details later!

"Just A Dog"

From time to time people tell me, ”Lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or, “That’s a lot of money for just a dog.”

They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent or the costs involved for “just a dog.”

Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.” Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,” but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog,” and, in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day. If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you will probably understand phases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.”

“Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person. Because of “just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me, and folks like me, it’s not “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past and the pure joy of the moment. “Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a dog” but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a human.”

So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog.” just smile….because they “just don’t understand.”

- Anonymous

I found this on my friend Andrea's blog. She's our wedding photographer - you should check out her fantastic gallery on her website.

it's a ruff life...

(sorry for the poor lighting and exposed 'boy parts'!) ... my dogs have it rough, eh?

(another) snow day...

these were actually taken the other day at the dog park, but you wouldn't really be able to tell - it looks like this every day now!









They're not wonderful pics, but they're not bad considering they're from Shawn's cell phone camera in the middle of a blizzard!

just another 'quiet' evening...

'relaxing' at home with the boys:


(excuse 'crazy-dog-possessed-eyes' - I was just trying to capture the moment!)




180+lbs of dog crashing around our tiny living room... relaxing!

Milo: I'm just gonna lay down here, right beside my brother... chew my bone (well, OK, maybe his too)...

Harley: Can he PLEASE not be near me?????

at the dog park...

Kelli brought her camera to the park today so she got a couple of pics of me and M... this is about the best one as he isn't really into looking at the camera!


and a couple of us with our boys (who are both interested in more important things!)...


*** I know I may seem like a 'bad mom,' bringing just M. to the park, but I swear I hear an audible sigh (of relief!) when we leave H. in peace every now and then!

ELF'd

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Found this on Cathy's site... HA!