Tag: Pet Photography

Lens-Artist Challenge #261 Work in progress

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.

Drink Moxie. It even had a fun song.

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.

Ordered her first collar from Collars by Woofus. Her tag is from Red Dingo

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.

Snuggle Puppy
Moxie takes care of Snuggles

Puppy first comes home

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!
Bed
Down. 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 ball
Moxie watches Puppy Bowl
This 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 shopping
First long distance trip to So Cal
Mom’s away, and I get to play
First winter rains
Sporting a new rain coat
Waiting at
Old Towne Animal Hospital
Me and my shadow
The shadow follows

Photo Shoots for the holidays and celebrations

Spidery Halloween
Gobble Gobble
Eight Days of Celebrating
Love is in the air
First Birthday
Birthday #2
Forth 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!”

Lens-Artists Challenge #135 A Glimpse into Your World

Over the past year, I followed many photographers as they shared amazing images. I decided that for me to grow I would need to open myself up to this experience. So this week I accepted Sheetal’s challenge to, “Show us the things you love that make your world spin or things about your world that make you delirious with joy.”

  • Ginger & Ace
  • In the oven.
  • Well done Ginger!
  • Pile o puppies
  • Ginger with Lime Boy and Green Boy
  • Lime Boy @ 1 week
  • Lime Boy(aka Charlie)
  • Gotcha day 7 week old.
All of these photos are curtesy of Jo UbinaSmith at Serenity Labradoodles. Such a good breeder, such a nice person!

Charlie has captured my heart. My Australian Labradoodle just celebrated his first birthday. My life has revolved around this boy, and the bond is strong. The day starts when he says it does. He quietly calls out to me that he is awake. With his collar on, we head to his round bed where we snuggle for a time. Then out for our short walk in our court. Six houses and I take in the changes from day to day. Occasionally, we greet a neighbor or see a jogger. Then home to have breakfast. With no plans for the day, we settle on the couch, catch up on emails and take a morning nap together. I am the person who trains and cares for Charlie’s needs. We take a walk and play fetch. We have one training session a day, one game of “Find It!”, and one grooming session after dinner. Some indoor fetch and he settles while my husband and I watch television. Charlie has found a place in my husband’s heart. When I am away, Charlie keeps him company. Charlie is a people magnet. I just hope that he soon becomes more relaxed being out and about with me and my camera.

Charlie has us wrapped around his paws. Discovering each other, training together, and becoming part of the family.

  • Still small enough to fit!
  • Relaxed
  • My friend Anne captures us together
  • Before his haircut
  • First haircut
  • Visiting with Sactown Doodles in Rocklin
  • Backyard pool experience.
The first 6 months together! Love his expressive eyes. Love his head tilt!
  • Head tilt!
  • At the Doodle Romp
  • Tongue Out!
  • Charlie loves to play fetch
The second half of Charlie’s first year!
This litter of 10 adorable Australian Labradoodles is 1 year old (put together by Jo)

Camera in hand, looking out at the world makes me happy. What I capture in the frame just depends on what catches my eye at the time. Small objects, funny signs, colors or shapes, patterns, contradictory images, animal and people expressions, and the people busy doing things. I don’t see myself stuck on one subject. My only limits are what kind of lens I can carry, and I usually only carry two. My camera has an added value in my life by connecting me to wonderful photo friends.

The Natural World

Amusing signs

  • Graduation 2020 style!
  • A helping hand
  • Creating rolls of handmade ice cream
People all around.

The pandemic has slowed down life, and I try and appreciate this new pace of life. One day, one goal. Thinking back over the decades I now wonder how I kept up that frenetic pace. I am home with my husband that I have known now for 54 years. We take turns arguing with the television over the news coverage. We share opinions on how to fix the world, if only they would listen. We read the newspaper and find books to read on our iPads. We play Scrabble, and figure out what we want to eat for dinner. It is a serene existence. We talk about what we want to do after “the pandemic”, and when will life return to normal. Actually, we also discuss what that normal will look like. Hopefully, eating out, traveling both near and far, and feeling less restricted to be around people. I look forward to new adventures with my husband and my Charlie.

I am taking the first step in sharing with the Lens-Artists. This is my new challenge, and I hope that I will be able to meet it!