Is There Anybody Out There ?

You might well ask that of me. I'm afraid I've been MIA from blogland for quite some time ... a couple of seasons and a lot of water under the bridge in that time. It was never my intent to update this only once a quarter but you know how sometimes life gets in the way ...

I was wondering which photos to post since my camera hasn't been MIA and I've clicked the shutter quite a number of times since I last posted. I decided to share a few of our new furry best friend who joined our family last August. We took her to a doggy beach and we learned that she's definitely not a water dog - you'll see ...

I hope everyone's new year is off to a good start. I didn't make a resolution to come here on a more regular basis, but I will try ...

What I Did On My Summer Vacation or Post #700

Has it really been several months since I was last here ? There have been fleeting moments when it crossed my mind that I hadn't posted anything on my blog but then the busyness of the day prevailed and the thought was swept away. A quote in a photography newsletter lead me to a blog which reminded me of my neglected blog ... and here I am. (And this so happens to be my 700th post).

No I won't bore you with details of the past few months, but I have been fortunate enough to do some work for several clients (one of which featured a number of my photos here). One of the major occurrences during this time was the addition of a new member to our family. Some of you may remember the loss of our beloved Sasha late last year. Through what can only be described as divine intervention, Keera entered our lives in August (after being abandoned on a busy city street, brought into the veterinarian used by the dog rescue run by 2 of our daughters - Finding Them Homes, and a fruitless month-long search for her owner). Through her microchip we discovered that she turns 5 years old this month - we're looking forward to many happy years with her.

So let me introduce Keera to you - as you can see, she is already fitting in very well. (Oh, and I will do my best not to leave such a time gap before I pay a visit to you, and return here).

The Saddest Decision ...

I'm writing this early because I won't be able to later ...

After over 13 years of love, loyalty, and companionship, the time has come for us to say goodbye to our beloved Sasha. I've been caught in a struggle between my head, which is telling me it's the right thing to do, and my heart which says we can keep looking after her for a while yet. We've known this day would be coming but I haven't been able to acknowledge it.

Sasha's spirit is still willing (and her 'attitude' is as apparent as ever) but her physical ailments have significantly impacted her quality of life. When I see her struggle to get up or hobble along for even a short distance or groan with pain when we have to roll her over to sleep, I know the time has come. When she looks at me trustingly with her big soft brown eyes or tucks her head under my chin when I sit beside her on the floor, my conviction wavers.

The wheels have been set in motion, however, and I have to keep telling myself it's the right decision. And yet ...

Come celebrate her life ... (I had earlier written 'commiserate with me' but I think it's more appropriate to remember how she's enriched our lives):

A dog's life

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace." (Milan Kundera)

"My dog is usually pleased with what I do, because she is not infected with the concept of what I "should" be doing." (Lonzo Idolswine)

You're all familiar with Pavlov's conditioning experiments with dogs. It seems I've been unconsciously conditioning Sasha as well - as soon as I zip up the camera bag, she jumps to her feet, even from a deep sleep, and she's ready to go out with me. She never complains about where we go, or how long I take, or what postures I adopt to make a shot - as long as she gets to go. Here she is enjoying herself on a recent shoot in our front yard.

(10-22mm  f11  1/10 sec  ISO100)

(70-200mm  f11  1/20 sec  ISO100)

(Day 324) Contentment

Dogs are pretty simple creatures. It doesn't take a whole lot to make or keep a dog happy:

 - they like to know that someone's in charge
 - they appreciate being fed. and watered. regularly
 - they respond well to being spoken to and treated kindly
 - they like to have a place to call home
 - occasionally they like to be scratched in those hard-to-reach places

 - they don't care if they get the same food every day, although a treat every now and then is nice
 - they greet you with great enthusiasm whether you've been gone 5 minutes or 5 days
 - they don't need to be entertained with the latest toys, in fact, a stick or ball, or simply going for a walk is lots of fun
 - they don't worry
 - they have patience. usually
 - they have a pretty good work/life balance - tilted a little towards life

I think we could learn a lot from our dogs.

(10-22mm  f7.1  5 sec  ISO200)

(Day 232) Those lazy days of summer

I think everybody has their own definition of what makes for one of those unforgettable summer days - and that likely changes with age. I remember as a kid I could hardly wait for those final school days in June to be over - then the endless summer would begin! Warm days of going down to the creek, building a (rather leaky) dam with rocks that would raise the water from 2 feet to perhaps 3 feet deep, eating lunch outdoors, and some years even going on vacation for a week ! It seemed September and a return to school was eons away !

Now we're happy with a day when it doesn't rain and isn't too hot, and we can find a cool spot in the shade to dig into a book long neglected. Today was a day like that, minus the book part. Sasha was following me around to see if I was up to something interesting (she's the ONLY one who finds going on a photo shoot with me interesting - or at least she doesn't let on otherwise). It's been a while since she's made it on my blog, so I had her lie down and look interested (in case you're wondering what the command for that is, it goes like this - "Sasha, LOOK!", click). I deliberately underexposed a bit so she and the clouds would stand out a little more.

(10-22mm  f8  1/640 sec  ISO200)

(Day 54) To sleep, perchance to dream

It's been a long day, for humans and dogs. Here our Samoyed, Sasha, is in her favourite position - prone, on the cool ceramic floor, oblivious to the sounds and lights around her, as was evident by her snoring. That's a position I soon hope to be in, albeit not on the ceramic floor.

(60mm  f11 15sec  ISO800)

(Day 38) 'Cool' dog

Our dog Sasha has been a real trooper. She accompanied us on our long journey, without complaint and has adjusted well to her new, temporary home. But the brilliant sun today was too much even for her and she had to don a pair of shades. (photo credit: my wife)

(18-55mm f14 1/250 sec ISO200)

(Day 31) A girl's best friend

No matter where you are, no matter how you're feeling, whether you've had a good day or not ... you can always count on your four-legged friend to walk beside you and lend an attentive ear to whatever you say, without interrupting. After all, that's why they were put on this earth.

(18-55mm @ f5.6 1/400 sec ISO200)

Built for the weather

This is Sasha, our Samoyed. Unlike me, our dog loves the cold winter weather. I can endure it, provided I've bundled up properly, but she is in her element. In fact, in spring, when the sun has almost finished its task of clearing away the last remnants of snow, Sasha will find that last little bit that has survived somewhere in the shade and claim it as her own.

As we're nearing the end of 2009, I'm having to think of my commitment to the 365 photo project for 2010. I'm leaning towards going for it - although I've only run this trial for less than 2 weeks so far. I think the challenge will be in finding subject(s) to photograph on a daily basis, Perhaps I'll choose a theme from time to time and try to explore it. Decision deadline will be Thursday night. Hopefully I'll get a few followers who will provide encouragement.