Morris normally doesn't get in the way of the camera, but I guess yesterday was different.
He picked a nice spot to sit down just as the 1/5 timed exposure went off.
Since he was so insistent that I take his photo, I ended up doing just that.
Doesn't he look as though he is in charge?
He loves the spring rituals such as the snow melt and run off as well as I do.
We had hours to explore and take photos, not to mention wading and jumping the creek waters.
Well I've gone back and forth between Fractal Programs now for a long time. Right now I'm trying to get more of a handle on JWildfire.
Samples above.
JWildfire had been blasted into the future with a new version that can be downloaded and is free.
Although I must say, it helps to find tutorials if you actually want to create something.
It isn't too bad being able to generate random things though and just play around.
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Yesterday, I took Morris out for shot to try and get him to 'pose' with his toys.
This was a complete failure yesterday as it got overcast and dark...and I forgot to bring his most important working tool.
The Dog Cookie.
However, I did get some nice toy shots but when I asked Morris to get on the rock and look at the toys...
well...
I got a nice shot of Morris's 'equipment' and he proceeded to sniff his toys casually and knock them down, before wandering off a ways to stare at me as if I were from another planet.
He doesn't really react much to the toys when we are in the woods.
Really Morris! You must learn to act!
I have to do another photo 'shoot' with Morris to try and get what I need.
From the weather forecast I may indeed get a chance in the next few days.
I asked Morris if he wanted to go for a walk.
Such a silly question! Of course!
He ran circles around me while I put my camera bag over my shoulder and my hiking boots on.
It was a bit warm and humid so being near the creek and getting into the rocky ravine was nice and cool.
Of course the water was nice and clear for a good drink.
Morris enjoys his 'rocky' kingdom and will spend time just nosing around or sitting with me on a rock.
I was actually pretty surprised that the bugs were not bad at all in the 'dry run'. It was nice enough to sit on a mossy rock and enjoy the sounds of the woods.
Which we did of course.
We also ate black caps and listened to a warbler. The breeze above sighed through the trees.
It was a great hike.
When we got back, I had to give Morris a bath. He also had 'spa' day. I trimmed his nails and groomed him. He loves being brushed with an equine curry comb. I must say, it does a great job too.
I decided to give Dixie an outdoor bath. First we trimmed toe nails and she was very good about it.
Then came the bath.
I got wet, she got wet. But being the happy hound dog that she is, she took it all in stride and acted happy about it.
I brushed her until she was dry then decided it would be nice to take a walk with her and let her run in the hay field on the ridge.
I thought I'd need a 'choke' collar as it had been a while since we practiced on a leash.
But I was wrong, she never pulled or got silly.
Belle, the spooky dog, followed us to the ridge so when I let Dixie off leash and told her to run and play.
She did.
Belle didn't know what to make of it at first.
But I think she enjoyed it.
After a proper amount of play time, we headed back home and Belle followed close on our heels...just out of human touch.
I feel badly for her knowing someone must have really beat the heck out of her for her to have such a fear of people, yet she is getting closer and closer.
She is my shadow most of the time.
After supper I went out and waited at the mule gate. Siera came trotting up along with Fred.
I put Fred in an area with nice grass and took Siera out for a 'spin' bareback while hubby did chores.
Then I spent some time with her, letting her graze while I groomed her...as the sun set.
My day really had been complete. Hikes, dogs, grooming, baths ... all fun with animals.
Here is my cohort and fellow berry picking buddy.
Morris.
He loves picking wild raspberries, black caps, black raspberries....he even occasionally helps himself.
I have a love-hate relationship with wild berries. They are prickly to pick and usually the bugs are very annoying.
It is usually hot and muggy too.
Yet I like picking them and love eating them.
I freeze them on a cookie sheet then drop them into a container for winter eating.
There is something quite exotic about eating a fresh bowl of berries in the midst of winter.
This year I'm pretty lucky. The berries along the driveway have really burst forth with big fat luscious black berries and the picking is pretty easy. I don't have to hike far and if I time it right I can pick them while they are in the shade.
Plus I can pick until I am tired and then go back later, refreshed and get more.
Fresh berries for dessert.
Fresh lettuce and beet greens from the garden!
What more could a person want?
It was really a bit cold for Morris to come along on my last snow shoe hike, but he is a determined JRT.
He doesn't believe in not being able to do something and he has a huge heart.
He is 10 this year and for the most part hasn't shown his age much except for the greying face and...well, he seems a bit more tired when we arrive home from any hike.
He found out quickly that the snow had a thick crust that would once in a while break with his weight and he'd go down buried...except for his head.
He took the wise course and followed our blown in trail from the last time we hiked towards the creek.
While I set the camera up on a min tripod, Morris kept and eye and ear out for things. The bottom of of the creek bed is littered with frozen tracks of raccoon, coyote, deer, and 'possum. I can only wonder what he smells and hears.
The 'shooting' didn't go as well as I expected. I spent more time carrying Morris when his feet got cold or he started shaking.
The reasons for his shaking could have been he was cold or coyotes were not far off. It is the season for coyote mating and they are all around the woods during the day.
I didn't mind at all.
We did manage to find a few sunny spots out of the wind. And I got some time to mess around looking for rocks, looking at ice formations, and exploring the creek bottom.
I did find another round iron concretion which I stuck in my pocket to take home.
The ice formations along the bank were pretty neat and hard to photograph while squatting in snow shoes with one foot in the water and balancing a light weight cheapo tripod.
But I enjoyed getting these formations.
The water seems to float right under the ice. I just find it fascinating.
Back at the 'ice wall' I got another shot. I was hoping for some real drama in the ice fall but that may have to wait until we have warmer days and cold nights. The rain and snow melted covering the rocks in a huge lump except for one section.
With wind chills in the -28 and below range I doubt I'll get back down to the creek today.
I wanted to go along the western side of the creek and in our deep shadowed bottom. It is out of the wind and full of interseting rocks.
But I had to leave that for another day.
The temps began to fall and the winds began to get stronger.
Morris and I headed home.
He spent the rest of the day snuggled into a sweatshirt of mine on the couch.
He had gotten worn out.
SHE sometimes gets her long johns in a bundle when I dig and look for mices to chew up or rabbit pellets to eat.
We went out on Thursday...um, that is what SHE calls it.
I call it 'day'.
In a dog's life there is day and night. There is sleep and play.
There is eat and potty.
But when there is hike you can eat, play, and potty all at the same time.
So people owners listen up.
Take your owners hiking.
Especially if you like to hear your owner screech 'Icky Icky!'
'No NO, don't eat deer/rabbit poop!'
Owners have no sense of delicious taste. Pretty obvious by the fact that they never stick their faces in the snow and grab a mouse nest and chew on them.
SHE says NO NO Morris, don't eat that.
SHE has been saying this for all my doggy life.
And I have been ignoring her for all of that time. I actually delight in horrifying her.
But...
I don't think I horrify her anymore. I mean I doubt I even shock her anymore.
Some days it is very hard to get HER really grossed out.
SHE is a pretty faithful person. SHE will follow me when I find a good deer trail. And I am a good dog too, because I will come right to her when she calls my name.
And then when my feet get cold and I start shivering, SHE is kind enough to sit in the snow and let me climb up on her legs.
Sometimes SHE half stuffs me in her coveralls to warm me up.
And SHE is always pointing that camera at me. I know.
I am handsome as a model.
I can strike the best poses.
But when all is said and done.
Mices are fun to chew on, rabbit pellets are tasty, but there is NO place like a nice couch and a comfy place to rest.
