Meanwhile

I woke up Monday to a dreary dreary day with an ice watch-warning. When I stepped outside to do the chores what looked wet was just pure ice.

The bird feeders were iced, the grass, the gravel driveway...all ice. Enough so, that I returned to the house and put on my Yak Traks. 

Hello winter weather.

After breakfast, Charlie and I decided to take a woods walk and get the mail on the ridge so we could check the gravel road.

I put on his bow tie so he'd be fancy while we walked. Of course he got it dirty and I had to wash it!

The ice was evident in most places and as I neared the ridge, it started dripping off the trees above us.

Some drops of ice/water reflected the trees above the branches.

We got to the mailbox and I met my new neighbor Cybil coming back from getting groceries. She told me that the gravel road was a bit slippery but the main roads were good.

I still opted out of going to the gym. I felt grumpy [so I should have gone!] and didn't want to share my grumpiness.

Charlie's bow tie gave me an idea.

He is getting much better at sitting down when I place him. He was such a good dog to let me do this to him....

The light was terrible, the setting was terrible, the white balance was awful and Charlie started to yawn as if he were too bored.

He was much more cooperative than he has been in all the past years though. 

I got creative with a puck light to try and light him up. He followed the light as I moved it around.

I don't have a flash on this camera and I learned quickly that Charlie would not look at the camera with a flash mounted on it.

Charlie: This is 
beneath me. Unless
cookies are involved.

What was I thinking?

Nope, I won't

look. 

I want
to get out of this 
embarrassing situation.

In the end, it was fun and I decided there was too much busy-ness around him for it to be a 'good' series of shots. I may try again. Or I may not.

I like his shots from the past years and it has always been fun. It is something I started when we had Morris. Morris sat and stared intently at me camera or no camera. He was Mr. High Energy.

Charlie is Mr. Chill.

If we get a better day for some light, I may try it again.

Meanwhile,....

back to the grind 

and kicking Grumpy out of my head.

Charlie nails it...sorta

Charlie doesn't like to pose much. I could tell Morris to sit and he would sit and stare at me with an intensity that only Jack Russell's could muster up.

Morris his last Christmas pose:

Charlie...

Nah mom...just nah...

and the next year.... nope, won't look at you....

Finally this year I just winged it.

I'm sure Charlie could care less. No stupid sweater, no garlands, just a ribbon this year. It was a grab and shoot and I think I will keep it.

Such a look of ultimate unconcern on his face.

I may try another one with him. But truthfully? He is happiest while hiking or holding down the couch with his Dad-human.