Day 39: Ask your father

February 10 2011 . . . the answer to "Mommy, where do puppies come from?"

Gotta big day tomorrow and the pup needs to look his best.  This is what was in the brush after I used the furminator.  But now, the dog is so very soft and fluffy; he has a beautiful coat. 

And there's a dog hair floating in my coffee. sigh.

Day 38: Isn't it ironic, doncha think?

February 9 2011 . . . A moose dog named Micron and a black dog named Red. Two CCI pups team retrieving a hapless Canada goose.

I hate, hate, hate using the flash indoors. Stupid glowing eyes and flat shadows.  What should be a cute pic is otherwise rather demonic looking.

But trying to take a picture of two dogs playing indoors without using the flash?  'Tis even worse.

Day 37: Just messin' with your head

February 8 2011 . . . Two CCI pups, Karsen and Micron, showing self-control by ignoring those dog biscuits on their paws. Look at those faces; they're not stressed, worried or even drooling.  This is just not a big deal.

Good dogs.

Day 36: Oh. I thought you said codpiece.

February 7 2011 . . . What's for dinner?  That would be cod.  One of my least favorite of the finned animal, but is also one of the least fattiest. Hence, the no taste factor that is its hallmark.  Part of my it's-not-a-diet-it's-a-lifestyle change.

I can't make it taste much better no matter what I throw on it. And so it seems, it even makes a rather bland photo. sigh.

Day 35: I haz ball. Is perfect day.

February 6 2011 . . . Home to unwind after a long day in the office.  Time for a robust game of chase the tennis ball, which gives poor Jager a break from being chewed on by the yeller feller.





Day 34: I hear they're good eats

February 5 2011 . . . I kinda feel badly for the tree rats in the wintertime. I wonder where they find enough to eat and hope the legends are true about storing food for hard times.  Here's a scurvy little guy eating the seeds from the honey locust tree.

I used to put out bird feeders. I'd have bird seed in the feeders and leave corn at ground level for the tree rats. But after these rodents starting not just knocking down the feeders, but actually stealing them, I had to stop.

Day 33: Side trip on the way to wine country

February 4 2011 . . .Another Friday evening, but a better week than the one before.  Regardless, I still have no intention to cook tonight. 

The kid was using my cell phone once and mentioned that I have more restaurants in my contact list than people. Nuh-uh, I said. Yeah huh, he replies.

I look and darn it, he's right. But only people are on speed dial, so it's not so bad, really. 

And yep, my car's a mess. It's an extension of my purse. And file cabinet.

Day 32: They don't taste like chicken

February 3 2011 . . .Today's photo is a cautionary tale.

If you keep dog biscuits on your desk, so they're handy when you want to treat your dog, then don't pour out a snack bag of pretzels next to them. The dog wouldn't mind the switch, but you might.

Just sayin'.

Day 31: Winter gets purty

February 2 2011 . . .The snow today has a sheet of ice over it. So walking in the yard is actually rather hard on the joints. It's that step-crunch, step-crunch walk. You know, when you put your weight onto your foot and it punches violently through the ice layer and down through about four inches of snow. Miserable stuff.

But I venture out to get some photos, because I'm taking a photo a day, dammit. So I get some bleak, gray photos and go back inside.  Take my boots off, fire up the computer and look out the window.

What's this? The sun's out? It comes out now, after I've already risked my delicate ankles out there?

Well, sh**.  As any photographer knows, it's all about the light, right? I have to go back out, no choice.  Cowgirl up and back out there. Step-crunch, step-crunch to the backyard.

It's late afternoon, the sun is out and a cool blue sky. The limbs of the trees are enclosed in ice and in the light of the sun it appears as everything is made of crystal. Well worth the trip back out there, I think.

This is the buckeye tree shining in the winter sun.  Kinda purty.

Day 30: Glazed over

February 1 2011 . . .What is this, like the third photo of the school bell in a month?

It's not like I have some weird bell obsession going on.  But a huge storm is coming through and everything is completely snotted with ice.  I can't get any further from the backdoor without busting my tail, so this is it.

And believe it or not, this is not a black & white photo. Look closely and you may be able to see the red rust on the clanger thingy inside the bell. 

Yes, it's that bleak in southwestern Ohio today.

Day 29: I love you, man

January 31 2011 . . . Best of buddies, these two are tight friends. Micron and Karsen say that, why yes, there is room for both us in here.

Day 28: Sycamore

January 30 2011 . . . Sunday evening late afternoon. The sun is going all nova behind the sycamore in the backyard.

And snow.

Day 27: Christine's second cousin

January 29 2011 . . . Recall Stephen King's book, Christine?  About the 50's car that had a mind of its own (as any middle-aged woman should.)

This is a mini pedal car from the Husband's collection. It kinda looks like it could be a country cousin to Christine. I'm thinking his name is Clyde and he's from Dry Ridge, Kentucky. And right now, he could be in that creepy junkyard just waiting for you.

I like how the flash brought out the dust spots, too. Makes it look more authentic, maybe.  I find dusting these little cars a little labor intensive and not very rewarding.  And so, I pretty much ignore them.

Day 26: You know where to find me

Jan 28 2011 . . . It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wearing milkbone underwear - Norm Peterson (Cheers)

It's Friday evening and the end to a rather icky week. If anyone's looking for me, you may want to wait until tomorrow.

Day 25: Roll Dog has a birthday

Jan 27 2011 . . . Yep, it's a dog made from a dinner roll and pipe cleaners. It's proudly displayed on the bookshelf above my desk. Looks like something a kid would make at church camp, but no, I made the thing. It even won first place in a contest at work. The was at the December holiday party.

In 2009.

The rules were sketchy then and I've totally forgotten the intent of this thing. But as I get overly excited about anything that I win, I've kept Roll Dog. It'd be a guess that he's pretty hard and crusty now, but really, I'm a little afraid to touch it. It may crumble to just a powdery memory. 

We're near the end though, Roll Dog and me. I'm pretty sure he won't make it to the move to the new office in April. 

But it's ok. I still have my plaque from winning the Chili Cookoff. In 2008.

Day 24: G force

Jan 26 2011 . . .Snowy play session in the backyard. This fella's not allowed to stick his head out the car window, so what's a guy to do for fun? How 'bout run at full speed until you feel the wind whip your hair and your lips are pulled back by the g force of it all.

If it were warmer out, he'd have a moth or something stuck in his teeth.

Day 23: Dudley nose

Jan 25 2011 . . .Did you know that the color of a dog's nose is a matter of genetics? That yellow labs could have either black pigmenation or brown that affects the color of what could be referred to a dog lips?

I could go on and on explaining about dog color genetics, but it would be obvious that I'm just making stuff up. Other than that first paragraph, I really have no idea.

Micron's nose started as a plump little black button. A wet, squishy adorable thing. As he's matured, it's now a Dudley nose that has turned a bit liver in color. Many of the yellow CCI dogs go dudley. 

For these guys, it's a sign of intelligence and a strong work ethic.

And adorable, too.

Day 22: It's good to have goals

Jan 24 2011 . . . I always say, it's good to have goals in life.  Although when I say that, it's usually sarcasm in response to something stupid that I've done. Like making it to a level 23 druid in Diablo or something like that.

But not this goal. Literacy is a big deal for me. To be well read, I believe, is the basic groundwork for a successful and happy life. It can also put big words into your vocabulary so you can talk real good to people. So I can say words like pretentious and superfluous, you know. My big goal each year is to read a minimum of thirty books. Any size, any genre, but I want it to total a score plus ten.

Why choose thirty? Because not only is it a stretch, it also can be done. I somehow seem to manage it year after year.

Here's book number one for 2011.  My favorite author, Michael Chabon. This one was pretty darn good and I may read through it a second time. But if I do, does it count as one or two books? A personal moral dilemma to struggle with.

A note about the photo; I did photoshop to create a glow with the while lettering cuz I think it looks cool.

Day 21: Getting a leg up on the ice

Jan 23 2011 . . . Yet another cold winter's day. The sun is warming the dinner bell enough to create icicles, but then the wind catches the dripping water.  Here's a shot of nature being weird by making an ice scupture leg.

Day 20: Spotted dog

Jan 22 2011 . . . The vet techs at the clinic refer to Jager as the Skinny Head Syndrome.  We all feel pretty comfortable making fun of him because he has been enjoying good health over the past few years.

When we adopted this freaky little dog, we knew he had been diagnosed with dermatomyositis. Feel free to pronounce that any way you want.  I've said it at least three different ways to various vets and have yet to be corrected. Dermatomyositis is just not very common in dogs, it seems. Especially those that have survived it past puppyhood. 

The atrophied muscle about Jager's head, as well as the scarring on his muzzle, is his hallmark. Just part of the equation that makes him such a unique little fellow.

But Jager has perhaps outgrown this condition. Or is in remission.  It's just a guess, so we watch his health closely.

So the strange little growth on his shoulder had me feeling a little uneasy. Toss the little guy in the car and off to the clinic.

Turns out it's a papilloma. A doggie wart, if you will.  A diagnosis that would have had us somewhat freaked out on any other dog, brought instead just a sigh of relief. Is that all? Well, ok then. Let's go home and get your dinner, you little funny looking thing.