Posted on December 31, 2011 in Landscape, Lensbaby, Nature, Winter
Many of us have had a tough time in 2011 and are looking forward to the start of a new year. It’s a chance to begin fresh, with an optimistic outlook, and high hopes for good things to come. I’m thinking that the sunbeams I saw today are an indication that we are being blessed with light and hope as we end one year and begin a new one. Best wishes to all for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.
Posted on December 30, 2011 in Animals, Pet Photography
Whoo hoo…..a wand toy that’s shiny…..what more could a cat want?! Different cats react to different types of toys. It’s interesting to watch and see what motivates cats to play. One may love a certain type of toy and another can be be completely disinterested in it. This cat seems to like the wand toy with the shiny strings dangling in front of him. My cat Sebastian would love this toy. He likes anything that is shiny…..strings, balls, you-name-it. My other cats had different preferences. Socrates was a furry-toy type of guy. He loved any toy made from real fur…..maybe he was a frustrated mouser, I’m not sure. He only ever encountered a real live mouse once in his life and he chased it around the house and played with it instead of doing what he was supposed to do. Tara liked wand toys, just like Sebastian. She didn’t have a preference though for shiny or not-shiny….any wand toy that she could try and catch would keep her entertained for quite a while. They all seemed to like interactive toys that required someone [a.k.a. me] to play with them. Sebastian is pretty happy these days since Santa Paws brought him a new catnip toy for Christmas. Yum…..catnip! What is your pet’s favorite toy?
Posted on December 29, 2011 in Animals, Pet Photography
If you thought Ibizan Hound, then you are correct!! This breed is a member of the Hound Group and is a native of Spain. It is believed that sea-traders carried hounds with curled tails from Egypt to Ibiza [an island off the coast of Spain] and used them to hunt rabbits. This breed has the ability to jump very high – even five foot fences are not too high for them! Ibizan Hounds are elegant and agile and are said to have a deer-like look with large ears and amber eyes. Such a pretty dog! This pooch is keeping warm with a pink blanket to match the handler’s pink boots [see yesterday’s post!].
Posted on December 28, 2011 in Animals, People, Pet Photography
Dog handlers can usually expect the unexpected where weather is concerned at an outdoor dog show. There can be cold weather, high winds that threaten to blow down the tents, muddy show rings, and torrential downpours. A pair of brightly colored rain boots is not an unusual sight. On this day it was sunny and warm and then all of a sudden, whamo …. the sky darkened and the rain came. Afterward, the field was muddy and despite the return of sunshine, boots became the footwear of choice! I’ve yet to see any dogs wearing boots at a show, but I guess it could happen! Can you name the breed of dog in this photo? I’ll post the answer tomorrow!
Posted on December 27, 2011 in Animals, Pet Photography
This is one of my favorite breeds – the Tibetan Spaniel – Tibbies for short! Tibbies are members of the Non-Sporting Group and ideally weigh about 15 pounds. They were found in Eastern art dating as far back as 1100 BC and they were prized as pets and companions in Tibetan Monasteries. They were referred to as “little lions” and would sit on monastery walls and keep watch over the countryside below, barking to alert the monastery inhabitants of any impending trouble. Tibbies are a very intelligent breed, but can be aloof around strangers. I think they are simply adorable!