H & K

After a little break.....we're back!

The Good in Everyone

I came across this flickr group after I saw this video "All Eddie needs is a hug" posted on YouTube. (Dont worry the video has a happy ending.)


Eldad Hagar is part of Hope For Paws, a non-profit animal rescue in California.

The rescue videos and pictures of these dogs and cats are heart breaking and heart warming.

Something I wanted to share. Good people doing good things.

Our Photoblog

My friend Helen and I have started a daily photoblog. Check it out here.

Bump it down

Here is a link to the post of our Summer session with illona and our little Grand Master B.

I occasionally call Bauer Grand Master B. Coined from Married with Children (a show RJ watched not me). However, there was a commercial that aired where the family called him everything but Grand Master B. Variations such as:

Bass Master B ~ Burgermeister B (my fav) ~ Court Jester B
Dusbuster B ~ Grand Marshall B ~ Grinchmaster B

Not really that interesting to know. This post is really for RJ who asked me when I was going to post something new to bump down the Gnomes post. I guess he's embarrassed or something. (BTW readers, he was wearing underwear just to clear that up.)

Field of Dreams

We had our second photo shoot with illona from Scruffy Dog Photography on Friday. The Summer part of the 'Winter/Summer' special. Bauer had a lot more fun this time around (no skiers!). He was still a little shy of the camera but warmed up to it when he got to play ball and frisbee and jump in and out of hay fields for treats. We wondered around after some frisbee shots looking for Queen Anne's lace that wasn't 3 feet high.
illona had a sneak peak ready for us the next day and it's one of our favorites. Bauer looks so happy with the wrinkles on his cheeks and tongue hanging out.

Can't wait to see the rest illona, I'll be stalking your blog for a while.

Your ter-ruff-ic!!

Cheese!

One....

Two....Three.........say Cheese!

My new camera has a custom timer feature that allows you to take multiple shots at pre-set time interval. (The above was 4 shots every 3 seconds) I thought I'd give it a try with our yearly Dansbury photo. We are becoming seasoned pro's at this (or I'm getting less picky) because we got it on the first try.

Not connecting

**Update** Thanks for the tip Mary, I will try a card reader. Luckily our home PC finds and reads the card. I don't want to mess with my work PC so I'll track down that reader.I'm way behind in posting because I'm having problems downloading the photos from my 2nd new camera. It's a Canon and for some reason I can't get the photos off it without installing the software. Normally the memory card acts like a flash drive when I hook it up to my computer. Not so this time. We'll at least not that I can figure out on my lunch. Maybe it's my PC maybe the software, maybe the user!!! But like Bauer, I'm a little pouty about it right now.

Weekend Update

It's been a busy week around these parts. The snow from Monday (and Tuesday) is now a distant memory however I am going to Montreal this weekend and I'm told that they still have the white stuff there. Arrgg. But the good news is I'm road tripping with my friend Jen so I'm sure to have some great 'scripts' when I get back. I'm staying with my Grandma for the weekend. I haven't seen her in a few years so it will be nice to catch up.

I got my new camera yesterday. It's on a 21 day trial period and I think this road trip with be a good test for it.

RJ will be home watching The Masters in all its HD glory. (That's a golf tournament for those of you that don't live with a golf-nut.)

Have a great Easter weekend everyone.

p.s. Some of you might be thinking "What the...? No picture of Bauer in an uncomfortable Easter get-up?". Like I said it's been busy around here. But let me direct you to Claire's Easter photos of Roux and Kinley. Aren't the sweet? If I had attempted picutes of Bauer with faux flowers RJ would have put an end to my 'Holiday Portrait' series. I know my limits.

Hurdles

I'm not getting anywhere with my camera search. Actually that's not true, I am completely confused. That is somewhere just not were I want to be. I took the weekend to review what I want from my camera and have decided that a point and shoot is probably the most functional for right now. I carry my camera with me 90% of the time so size is important and while I want to start experimenting with settings clear 'in the moment' pictures are more important. Knowing that I want a P&S is helpful but wow! there are so many choices. It's gone up exponentially since I bought the Nikon 2 years ago. This isn't going to be a 24 hour decision like last time instead I'm planning on spending my lunch hours at the camera store down the street. I may end up even more confused but knowing me, as I do, I'll probably walk out of there with a camera in 2 visits. Bauer did well with his hurdles this weekend. Now that spring is here the trees covering our paths will soon be removed so we had to get a few action shots. His flying ears remind me of Dumbo.

Barsby Flashback

I was rummaging through old photos this weekend and came across this one of Allie and I at Nic's Mom's house in the fall of 2002 (I think?)It reminded me of the this picture from last summer. July 2008 at The Farm.

Both times (Allie at 2 and 7) crawled into my lap wanting hugs.

These pictures are also proof that my hair reverts back to the same style every 5 years. Mark it on the calendar folks, August 2013, be prepared for the same look.

Although, 12 year old Allie probably won't want hugs then. *Sigh*

Our Winter Session

illona at Scruffy Dog has posted about our photo shoot on her blog. A long time coming but you can never predict when your computer is going to be taken over by viruses!! Check out Shy Boy Bauer

RJ and I have quickly looked through the proofs and are very impressed and more than happy with the way they turned out. I'll go through them more thoroughly tonight and post a few of our favorites (with permission of course!)

Scruffy Dog Photography

**Update** illona added a pic of Bauer to her Flickr account. Check it out. How great is that photo?!?! **

We spent Sunday afternoon with illona from Scruffy Dog Photography taking photos of Bauer (and some of us humans too). We had such a fun time.

First we went to Bechtel Park, where there are trails that Bauer can roam some-what leash free. Unfortunately, everyone had the same idea (warmer temps and fresh snow) and the trials were full of dog walkers and skiers. I've never seen it so busy! Bauer played with his frisbee and walked among the trees while illona snapped photos.
Then we headed back to the house to get some inside shots. Yes, Bauer is on the couch. He was allowed up there just this once. He was very fixated on the ball illona was holding, he probably didn't register where he was.

This was the first part of illona's Winter/Summer Rover special. The summer session will be scheduled later and will be entirely outside. We hope to go to Snyder's Flats to swim, to our local school yard to catch the frisbee and finally to the back deck for a few 'chill-laxin' shots. He's such a cutie when he sleeps but Bauer was pretty hyped up Sunday so the lazy sleepy shots will have to wait until the summer.

Thank you illona for such a great experience! Bauer wasn't too sure of the 'almost as large as him' camera and lens and was a bit of a scaredy-cat with all the action in the woods but I'm sure you got some great shots and we look forward to the sneak preview!!!

Week 4 in Pictures

October 22nd: The 'Bard of Avon' at Straford's Festival Theater in Stratford, ON. RJ and I had tickets for Caesar and Cleopatra. It was wonderful. Christopher Plummer was marvelous.

October 23rd: Costco is oh so bad.

October 24th: I like this sweater and don't wear it often because it sheds. But its nice soft against my skin and I like the colour. And I got my haircut!!!

October 25th: Outlet shopping in Niagara Falls, NY. A successful trip.

October 26th: Lunch and a movie (Son of Rambow) with Jen. Very good movie.

October 27th: I spent way too much time on my day off reading Twilight.

October 28th: Major loads of laundry. Later that night I had a dream that I couldn't find anything to wear.

Week 3 in Pictures

October 15th: From Buttertarts to die for. The 20 minute drive there was breathtaking with the maple trees changing colours and intertwining above the country roads. I didn't have my camera with me so a picture of the delicious buttertart (they deliver by the way) will have to do.October 16th: Middle of the month and our action packed lives have started to slow down. So tada, here are my oven mitts. On a hook. For over two year I have been placing my oven mitts on the top shelf inside the cupboard. Why I hadn't gotten around to putting a hook on the door is beyond me. It does however speaks volumes about the amount of time I spend in the kitchen.October 17th: RJ and I had tickets to 'One for the Pot' at the St. Jacobs Playhouse. We had a nice dinner out and it was a very cute play. When we got home RJ went up stairs to change and all I heard was "What happened here?" This is a small sample of the clothes that I tried on before we left. There was an equally large pile on the washing machine and ironing board.October 18th: We went the Oktoberfest car show where we found a very kind stranger to take our photo. Too bad about the shadows on our face but we needed the sun that chilly day, so I won't complain.

October 19th: I have gone through all my Kraft magazines and highlighted the recipes I want to try. One a week to start. Part of my 101 in 1001 list.

October 20th: First shot of work. Don't be jealous of the digs. The little view I get of the outside world through the adjacent office window and that 13" monitor from 1999, is totally b*tchin'.

October 21st: I had another picture planned for today but that changed when RJ told me that he thinks Bauer looks the cutest when he sits looking up at him before their walk. Ears perked up, slight head tilt, intense gaze, waiting for the magic words "Do you know what time it is?"

Week 5 in Pictures

October 29th:Winter has come and we weren't prepared as you can see by our snow covered patio set.

October 30th:

The only really lame photo for the month. But it was late and I couldn't think of anything.

October 31st: RJ is great at handing out candy. He chats up all the kids "Oh look it's Batman and Batman", "Wow Darth Vader, scary!", "No need to push kids, there is plenty candy for everyone". I love him.

I had a fun time doing this. It really made we think about what was going on and catching the everyday moments of my life. I'm looking forward to trying this for a full year. I think it will make me live more in the moment.

Week 2 Pictures

October 8th: After taking this photo I had to back away slowly from the Costco book aisle. It's quite a temptress.October 9th: Unplanned lunch date with RJ. He loved the new BBQ chicken combo.October 10th: The sunrise on my way to work.

October 11th: The ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner in the back seat of the car. 3 grocery stores and one LCBO stop. Home by 10am.
October 12th: Both sides of the family (immediate) together for dinner.October 13th: RJ was taking a photo of Bauer and I on the walking trail and after I heard the shutter I bent down to give Bauer a kiss for sitting so still and RJ caught it. I liked this picture more.October 14th: Time to vote.

Photo a Day ~ Week 1

One of my tasks in '101 in 1001' is a picture a day for 365 days. This will start January 1st, 2009, which I recently calculated as only 84 days away. And knowing me as I do I thought I needed to warm up to the daily picture taking process, so for the month of October I am going to practice. I'm pretty happy with how Week 1 went. The pics are random and a good depiction of my current life.

October 1st:The 'scrap' disaster. I've mentioned I am taking the DesignYourLife course at BigPicture and when I work, I need a lot of room. I spread out. A trait I come by honestly from my Mother.

October 2nd:The Box Office at the Princess Theater. It's very cool and retro looking. (I wish the image was sharper.) The wicket area is not normally used (we buy tickets at the concession stand) but when we walked out they had it open for a special showing of an "artsy film". We saw Bottleshock. Which was a little artsy/indie. A good movie. Alan Rickman is Oscar worthy as the 1970's wine snob. Best line "Why don't I like you?" "Because you think I'm an ass. And I'm not really. It's just that I'm British and you're not."

October 3rd:

I turned on the heat. I was sooo cold the night before I couldn't take it one minute longer.

October 4th:

I painted the main hallway. I've had the same painting pants for years. The top left pocket is the handiest area to wipe off my hand, the brush, the roller etc. These colours are mostly from painting Dansbury but there is a light yellow from the condo and a peachy colour from the Payne cottage.

October 5th:I have a really nice picture of RJ and I after our round of golf at Conestoga that I could have used but I decided to choose this one because normally I don't have a mini-pterodactyl flying 3 feet away from me. What are they feeding these herons?

October 6th:I'm intrigued by the cows down the street from my office. They roam on about 10 acres of land

between the highway and the ever expanding industrial parks our road. I like having the country nearby.

October 7th:I can't believe how long my hair is. It's becoming unmanageable, hence the pig-tails. I don't think I've had decent pig-tails since grade three. I've got to schedule a cut soon.

Waiting....

Thanks for being patient. It was a busy week but now that RJ's back from travelling I have more time to put pen to paper and get my posts, well... posted.

Because it was just me and the pup last week he became the focus of my pup-arazzi photos. I was inspired by Denver Dog Photography's picture of Roux. I love her photos of dogs, animals and people too! DDP has become a favorite site.

Later.

September is going to ROCK!

This has to be in the 'Top 5' most awesome pictures of me! Photo credit to my SIL, who was obviously more focused at the August party than I was. Summer vacation seems so long ago. Thanks for the flashback Mel, it was a great summer.

Dansbury Tradition

Every Saturday morning RJ and I eat breakfast while reading the paper. The Home insert is always a well reviewed section. We scour the listings to see if there are any houses for sale in our neighbourhood and then we compare them to our house and calculate what the value of our house would be and how much it's increased since we purchased it. I also love to check the Town and Country listings. The Cape Cod, front veranda, 3 acre lots with a hobby farm and small duck pond are wonderful to dream about. But to be honest, we love our house. I don't want to move. I have a lot of plans and ideas for this house and in 5 years I think everything will be just as we want it. Okay maybe 10.

April 26th was our 2nd house-iversary. The day we moved in my brother took a picture of us on the front porch and every year since we have done the same. Bad weather and busy weekends had prevented us from taking our picture until this past weekend. Normally the front entrance is void of vegetation in late April so this was a nice change. I will have to reconsider moving the picture to late May every year.