The Annual Shearing of the Dog...

So we have two dogs. A Beagle named Crash and a Cockapoo named Coker. Crash's fur is a constant thing. He sheds but it will only grow to a certain length so caring for his coat is fairly easy. Coker's coat is an entirely different thing though. It just keeps growing. And we don't really trim it over the winter as he needs that extra protection - not that they spend a lot of time outside in the winter, but still. Unfortunately, he also doesn't get brushed nearly enough so by the time spring rolls around he's got long fluffy hair and he is terribly matted everywhere.

So every year in the spring, he gets shaved. By yours truly. Because finding a groomer in this town that has openings is HARD.

Now, we've had nothing but snow for the last two days (and yes, I'm traumatized by that because it's April 21st, for the love of God!) so it's not the best time to shave him but it needs to be done (desperately because he's stinky!) and I need hubby home to look after the little man so it can get done. So, snow or no snow, today was shave day.

So.... here's how our boy started off his afternoon.


Note the matted wave of his coat. The fluffy body. He looks "fatter" than he really is because of all that hair (five inches long... I measured) and it took a very long time to shave and cut. A little more than two hours, actually, because I had to work through the matted parts.

So, after two hours of long-suffering work - Coker because he doesn't enjoy this and me because Coker keeps trying to hide in the tub where there's no place to hide and Crash spends the better part of the time crying because he's locked away from the festivities or trying to climb into the tub with Coker... argh - this is what I had in the tub...

I think there's enough hair there to make another dog.

So, after all that work, Coker is shaved.

Here, ladies and gents, is our end product.

My poor... poor... pitiful... puppy.

~just leans back and laughs herself silly~

Did I say Spring was Springing?

Yeah. Right. Spring. THIS is spring?

God help me, what hell am I living in? Seriously. I'm a Vancouver girl (yes, even though I've been up here for this many years, I'm still a Vancouver girl at heart) and this is just obscene.

People, it is April 20th! MAKE IT STOP!

Anyone want some snow? I've got a fair bit to share right now.

The dogs aren't exactly loving it either!

Spring is finally springing!!

And one of the things that the beginning of spring means is that it's time to slash and burn.

Yup, they've been out and about this week, burning underbrush and getting rid of the dead stuff. Which, of course, causes a good bit of smoke around the various areas of town.


I was amazed that the remains of this tree was still standing, look how much of it is eaten out by the fire. I kind of wonder how long it took for it to finally give up the fight.


And to some people, spring means something else entirely....


I think there's a truck somewhere under all that mud! LOL

Oh my god, he's 4 months old!!

I know, I know. I did a post today already. But I had to post some pics of my little man since he turned a whopping 4 months old today.

Wow, I can't believe it's already been that long. Amazing. He was in a great mood today too so taking the pictures were lots of fun with a lot of smiles...


It's amazing how much more active he is now, reaching out to grab the dog rather than leaving it sitting there beside him. His frequent attempts to eat either his hands or the stuffed dog often obscured the smiles...

He seemed surprised by the camera... though I can't imagine why. It's not like I haven't taken... well... a lot of pictures of him. Let's not try to put a number on it. A lot will suffice!


And there were moments when I really really wished I could know what he was thinking....


Still, we had a lot of fun with the cameras today....


Even though, as always, we did experience some technical difficulties...


I still can't believe it's been four months. I'm so in love with my little man. But hey, who could possibly resist this face??

Washing Machine Circles...

Again with the circular theme, I was looking for things to take pictures of when my husband suggested the washer and dryer. Which made me go "Hey, great idea!" And he didn't even laugh at me. He'd suggested it because he knew I'd do it. LOL

So, here are some of the circles that are part and parcel of my washing machine!

Circular "gems"

So, keeping in mind the "circles theme this week, I dug into my crafts box to see what else I might have that was circular and came up with these colourful little fake "jewels". God only knows what project I bought them for but I'm sure there was a purpose to them once upon a time.

Now, they're just another thing to use when I take pictures.

I do find that I'm really into the macro shots of late. Which is fine, the macro lens is fun to play with. I just find it funny that lately I'm all about the macro.

Circular reflections...

The theme for this weeks contest is circles. So on Saturday afternoon, I went into my craft supplies bucket and pulled out these little circular mirrors and took them outside. The goal was to catch the reflection of the sky without having anything of myself in them.

I mostly succeeded. At the far edge of each circle, you can see the reflection of my red shirt. Curses! LOL

I do like the little glare on the near side of each of those little mirrors though and the way they're reflecting off the leather.

Not sure yet if I'll use this one or find something else but, overall, I'm pleased with how this turned out.

Red..

Yesterday, I was playing with the camera and caught how the last sun of the day caught the edge of my candleholder. It's cloth under glass and I thought it made for a really interesting texture. I took shots at a few different angles but this is the one that appealed to me the most!

and yay! I took a picture that wasn't of my son! This is progress...

Okay, I took a few pics of him too but still!

Repose...

Whenever I think I'm at the end of my rope, I watch him sleep and everything's right with the world again.

I'm frustrated with myself because even if I can't post everyday, I want to post more than I am right now. But the days keep slipping away and while I enjoy almost every minute of it (hey, he's teething... who enjoys teething?) I still want to do my pictures too.

So... once again I'm going to take some time for me to get a picture that I want to post and to get it posted at least three times a week.

And hopefully of some subjects other than my amazing little man. I mean, I'll still post some of him but other subjects too.

He is gorgeous though, isn't he? ~winks~