The first week of 2024 is over. I look at this year with goals in mind, and wonder how to fit everything in everything. Starting with a positive attitude, I will continue to meet each week’s photo challenges. Capturing new images with my photo friends. When the computer screen gets too tiring for my eyes, I switch to my new endeavor – quilting. Back at the computer, my genealogy quest has surprised me. I connected with relatives living near Tel Aviv, Israel, London, England, and New Hampshire, U.S.A.
New York City
One World Trade Center Memorial
The MetThe LucerneKatz’sZabarsDefinitely, not TrumpHighlights from our trip back to New York City in March
I have passed this Banksy many times, but just now I discovered the background history.
Banksy on West 79th Street
Yolo County
A short drive down I 80 brings my photo friends to Yolo County and plenty of picture-taking opportunities. We visited various farms on Yolo Arts & Ag Days. A real treasure we waited for was our visit to Glashoff Sculpture Ranch. Amazing! Certainly will try and revisit it!
Glashoff Sculpture GardenGlashoff Sculpture GardenGetting in the photo
Sacramento Zoo and Local Critters
Family Outings
Ogden Alpaca Farm in Orangevale with my four grandsons
Roseville Big Trucks with my youngest grandson
Out and about with my photo friends
Traveling east to Placerville
Store Front reminds me of my librarian days
Some portraits of shopkeepers in Placerville
Just having fun being out with friends in Old Sacramento, Bushnell Nursery, Crocker Art Museum, Folsom Farmer’s Market, and a nighttime
My friend AnneCrocker Art MuseumTea is served
Me and my Moxie Love
Walking around Oak Park in Orangevale
Moxie is waiting to see what the new year holds for us.
The sun is shining! The day is quiet, and all is relatively ok. I’m home in my happy place with my dog Moxie and my husband.
Lately I have been happy to stay home. Avoid the shopping crowds. Avoid the traffic issues. But after many years wearing my comfortable shoes, I decided to venture out and shop for a replacement. In keeping with not wanting to work through the holiday shoppers, I ordered 5 pairs of shoes in my size to be delivered to a nearby store. Usually, I like a style, but my size is not there. Also, looking for my size often presents a vision issue. So this was my way to solve both problems. Tried the shoes on at the store and went home with a possible 2. But at home they just were not right. The next day I went back to the store and returned them.
Still I wanted new shoes to start the year off right. There is some positivity in play here. Next stop was Macy’s shoe department. Needed to get on the line to ask for my size. Scans the barcode, and tells me to wait in a chair. That works for me. I actually have a problem standing for a long time. 45 minutes and I need to sit. My back surgery a couple of years ago did not fix my damaged nerves. Another story.
So many shoes on display. None of which I would ever wear. But I have my iphone handy and can’t resist. And oh they were so photogenic.
Crowd pleaser
If your feeling patriotic, buy all three!
If only I had the right outfit!
Well, no I wasn’t waiting for any of these fashion statements. I went home with Easy Spirit Explorer. The box says, “Comfort out of the box.” My style!
Dark Chocolate colored clogs
My dog Moxie has idiopathic epilepsy. Epilepsy with an unknown origin. The first medication did not affect her personality, but it didn’t stop the seizures either. For the past week she is on Phenobarbital. And this has sedated her and her gait is off. Vet appointment this week. But there have been no seizures with this medication. So, we shall see.
Moxie loves her squeaky ball.
So how did I ring in the New Year.
Dinner served at home, and a movie from our collection. A New Years tradition. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally. One of my favorite movies. It has a great musical score and I love New York!
Shrimp Scampi, Bang Bang Cauliflower, Salad by David, Key Lime Pie and Prosecco
And no New Year’s Eve baby yet. Did I mention that in 2024 I will gain the title of Great Grandmother. My granddaughter is due any day.
If you think about it, everything is a work in progress, isn’t it? So, this should be a challenge open to endless possibilities –Anne-Christine can’t wait to see what I think when I hear this phrase.
Warning super cute Golden Retriever alert! My In-laws had an antique sign up in their kitchen for the Original Elixir Moxie. This is how we decided on her name.
Moxie is a work in progress, and I am fully devoted to her. Each and every day I think about ways to keep her mind stimulated, and her body strong and relaxed. Moxie, my Golden Retriever is “Golden”.
We met at 5 weeks, and I was ready for puppy time. I had 3 weeks to get ready.
Moxie has outgrown her collar, but the tag now adorns another. My next purchase was her Snuggle Puppy with a heartbeat. Moxie loves this puppy, and to this day carries it from her crate in the morning, and returns to her crate after first locating and carrying Snuggles back every night.
Shark teeth. I wore these when playing with my pup.
Mom Phoebe and Dad Bailey live across the street, so there was no long car ride home. Now Phoebe and Bailey have Alfie, Moxie’s 10 month old brother. She visited them when I went to Pacific Grove a few weeks ago. She may have been surprised to encounter 9 four week old siblings, and 2 cats also. Moxie was gentle with the cats who are very used to Goldens, and accepted her as part of the pack.
Training Days
Up!BedDown. Leave It!Moxie Rings the bells when she needs (or wants) to go out! Good Girl!
Fun Time
At the dog park, Moxie is fully focused on retrieving. She selects the ball of the day, and won’t be deterred. If another dog gets to her ball first, she will bide her time until the dog gets bored. Then back to “her” ball. I catch her watching television, especially if there is dog action. Food is formost in her mind. Not a picky eater, but she does have a sensitive stomach. I carefully watch what she eats. She loves peanuts. A frozen Kong occupies her time.
Loves this ballMoxie watches Puppy BowlThis teddy bear didn’t last long
Moxie’s sleeping positions
After playing and trainiing hard, Moxie needs her rest time.
Moxie and I head out to explore the world
I am still working on Moxie remaining calm when we are out and about. This is a serious work in progress since I want to be able to have her with me when I travel. She is calm in the car, but trucks and motorcycles make her anxious.
First shopping trip. Pet store shoppingFirst long distance trip to So CalMom’s away, and I get to playFirst winter rainsSporting a new rain coatWaiting at Old Towne Animal HospitalMe and my shadowThe shadow follows
Photo Shoots for the holidays and celebrations
Spidery HalloweenGobble GobbleEight Days of CelebratingLove is in the airFirst BirthdayBirthday #2Forth of July. No problem!Summer is here
Moxie’s many facial expressions
Moxie thinks she is a lap dog, but this summer it is too hot to sit in my lap.
Me and My Moxie
I continue to have fun with my Moxie. I am always finding new ways to spend time together. We play “Find it”, a game where she sniffs out treats. Grooming takes place every other day on a grooming table. She learned to settle down in my room while I am on the computer, and she will tell me when it’s dinner time. Five o’clock! And later today I have arranged for Rosie, a Golden friend, to visit Moxie.
One thing you can learn from this post is that owning a dog is a lifetime commitment that gives me lots of pleasure. It does take a lot of effort and is always a “work in progress!”
Anne-Christine tells me that “backlighting is a great way to create stunning, eye-catching effects. Here are a handful of specific images you can make with backlighting: Street and portrait silhouettes, bird-in-flight silhouettes, portraits, and macros with beautiful background bokeh, landscape silhouettes, and sunset/sunrise landscapes.”
Glass
I always enjoy looking at glass objects. I found some of these images in stores, in windows, and in displays.
I first saw an example of Chihuly glass at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. The first and third photographs are examples displayed at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento.
Black puppies are particularly hard to photograph. Lighting is key. Libby was an English Black Labrador Retriever and my very first dog. I waited 40 years for her! It has been 4 years ago this month that we parted.
This is Liberty Love at 8 weeks.
Here is Moxie! Backlit.
Lots of images benefit from backlit lighting. I hope that you may be inspired to look at the world from a new perspective. Positive, beautiful and peaceful.
A Photo's Worth 