Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays all! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Channukah, the Solstice or Festivus!



I also need to catch you up on 52 weeks shots!

That one was SOOC, and I didn't put a lot of effort... I was super sick that week!

So the next week, I put a lot more effort into it. Planned all the way, from the shot to the edit. I was quite happy with it, and it explored.


The next week I took Lola to my campus, and got a shot I have been wanting to do for a year.


And that brings us to last week-



I will try to update weekly after this. I did another photo shoot I want to blog, but that will be in a separate post.

Catch up!

Wahhh! I didn't mean to, I swear! I got sick, and then better and then VERY sick! I didn't go quite a month, but it was a close one. I will not do it again, I swear. Hmmm... what to update you on, My Flickr stream is a good place to start. Last thing I did was tell you about Weebles, so onward from there!

 

I carved a Poodle Pumpkin! Isn't it cute!

 Lola also won her Halloween Contest. We won tons of stuff, and had fun!

This is week forty three's shot. I really need to get a kick in my photographical rear.  I will work on it this week maybe.


 I think that has you caught up, photography wise. More updates coming!

I have an excuse!

I swear, I swear, there is a reason I have been away for so long! It has feathers, and is multicoloured!

She is a female Jenday conure. Two years old and quite full of herself. She is a rescue! Should I change the blog title to Foolishness, Fluff & Feathers? (That is a joke, I am not changing it, you can't make me!)

Cupcake!

I forgot to update on Monday! I suck, I know. So, to make up to you I am doing an extra long post. I was asked, in a comment on the last post, How I do the needlefelting. This is a post to show you/

I start with one smiley poodle, some roving (mostly wool, but the pink is an aplaca blend) a needlefelting tool that holds three needles and some styrafoam(not shown).

I then start to form the cupcake base. I decided to make this yellow cake, but I originally wanted to do chocolate, hence the brown above. Anyway, I stab the wool and sculpt it until I have something roughly cupcake shaped.

Sort of like this... Then I keep going until I make it harder and more firm.

In the picture below, I have firmed the bottom and added the dome.

A critical part of this process is a dog snuggling on your knee.

 Next, add the top layer, once again poking with the barbed needles.

 And TADA! All done! Isn't it cute?



Crafty Friday!

Yeah... I just made that up. But TODAY is Crafty Friday! Does Crafty Friday have a theme song? I don't think so. Bonus points if you some up with one. Anyway, my crafts be here:






Aren't they cute?

Monday, Wednesday, and sometimes Friday...

So... I did the BEDA thing right? and after that I was like a high school student on Spring break. FREEEEDOMMMMMMMMMMMM! Unfortunately, my blog was left behind on this Commitment Free Month... though I am never completely commitment free, I am still doing the 52 Weeks project. So I VOW to update this blog on Mondays, Wednesdays, and I am going to try for Fridays as well. I SAID try! If I don't feel free to come up with some punishment. Seriously, feel free.

Last weekend Lola had an Agility trial. It was her firs AKC trial and she Q'ed in Standard. Woot! Here is the obligatory Ribbon Pic



I also got her 52 weeks picture that at the trial


I also met a fellow dogster there, which was cool. She was really nice and had a sweet little merle sheltie!

I also have a video of our Q run, I will post that when I find my video camera. I have some other pics to post, but I will let this one stand as a trial post.


See you Friday!

Week 38 and an Agility Trial

Those are my toes, and of course Lola's. I think it is something different, an I rather like it. That is week 38.

This weekend we have a trial in Alpharetta, GA. Wish us luck!

Updates

So I have been majorly neglecting the blog, and that has to stop. Sorry! I can pretty much chronicle what has been going on through pictures, so here we go!

First off, my Week 37 picture.

I have wanted to do an eye picture for a while, and this is an interesting one I think. You can see me, my camera, and my house in Lola's eye. There are some things that could have been better, but overall I liked it. If you can't tell, her eye is actually the only thing left in colour in this shot. I used selective colour to highlight her eye. Did it work?
Next up,  In one of my poodle groups we have a monthly challenge. This month is "Urban Spoo". I don't really live in an urban area, more of a small town. So I attempted some on campus shots, none of which did I submit to the contest. I really like this one though:

In more exciting news, My dear knitting pals (who USED to have sheep, used to being the operative word) gave me a TON of mutton! So exciting! At the risk of sounding dirty, I love free meat! So do Lola and Boomer!

 Isn't it funny how she spreads her legs out to keep them clean? Smart dog! Good girl!



Back to the Urban Spoo contest... I tried again and I got some interesting results.

 

 Interesting indeed...

Did I mention that I went hiking and camping last Sunday/Monday? I did, and it was tons of fun!

First, we went camping. It was COLD! It is not supposed to get cold in Alabama in September! Weird!

This is Lola, guarding the tent from... possums?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday Morning we got up early and hiked to the bottom of Little River Canyon. Eberhart trail was TOUGH, but fun. Week 36 was the view from the top, gorgeous, no?

Another overlook!

  When we got to the bottom there was this awesome swimming spot!

Isn't the water clear!

Very clear indeed!

Of course, Lola doesn't swim alone! I had to get in with her, as things usually go!

She could totally stand up, she just likes clinging to me.

Then she ditched me.

Anyway, fun fun fun all the way around!

Did you miss me?

Hullo hullo! I have two Fifty two weeks shots to post!

Week 36

Week 35

BEDA is over...

Today is the last day of BEDA and I sort of got it done... I mean, I sorta almost kinda missed one day, but only by ten minutes so I choose not to count that. You can now officially expect to never see me again. Just kidding, I will still be updating just not everyday. Betcha had enough of me by now! I will of course continue to post 52 weeks pictrures!

Agility Class

Monday is Agility night, as you know. Lola is doing really well, but we need to work on the chute. We haven't gotten it out in a while and she was a little freaked. I hope to clear that up by Oct. 1.

I have been thinking about my AKC decision and I cannot, for the life of me, remember WHY I am trialing AKC. More expensive, less runs, farther away. Anyone want to give me hints? I LOVE USDAA, why am I not entering those trials? I guess I will try AKC, and see where I go...

Tired Kamie is tired...

So  only a picture for you!

Explore, and other image news...

The pic I posted yesterday made explore. Woot! Actually, explore is less exciting for me these days. I don't really know why. What is REALLY exciting for me is that I was asked permission for it to be in a magazine. Exciting, yes? I think so!

Hey I promised a picture...

And may the odds be EVER in your favor...

Have you ever read a book, that from the moment you read the first chapter has so captured your attention that you can't put it down? That expression is so cliched, "can't put it down" but it was true for me and Mockingjay. This book is one that I would call life altering. It is ultimately, despite they YA classification, a novel on war. It is of course the third in the Hunger Games series and should leave anyone reading it asking...Real or not Real? Honestly, I am still trying to process and it is hard. Today has been a LONG day, and this book made me cry a lot. I promise pictures tomorrow!

It's all the same if the fizzy drinks are nice.

I finally got Mockingjay. This is a big deal, because I have been waiting for it FOREVER. I plan to start it as soon as I finish the blog. When I went to the dreaded Wal-Mart to buy Mockingjay ( bonus fact, it was only twelve dollars) I was in line behind what were possibly the most confusing/exciting people ever. Their were these two very nerdy boys buying arrows (no bow), Sobe water, and shop mats... They were talking very animatedly about the people in their guild. I am going to assume this was their WoW guild, because they are not in my knitting guild. Are their other sorts of guilds in Jacksonville?

My classes were nice, that is all you need to know.

Lola is all registered for trials, but doing it online was one of the most confusing things I have ever done.

OMIGAWDMOCKINGJAYTIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

School, and back to trialing...

School tomorrow. Woot?  I will certainly miss my friends, they understand the weird...

That's not important, what is really important is that I am writing out a training and trialing plan for this fall. I am going to actually start trialing in some AKC agility, which should be interesting. I have only ever done USDAA and NADAC. AKC will be a different, more expensive, experiment. The trial I sent off my entry for today is the Chattahoochee English Springer Spaniel Club show in Atlanta. Anybody else headed that way?

I can't wait, Lola was a friggin' speed demon at Agility last night, so it should be worth it!

Inside shots...

I fail. I fail, HARD at taking inside pictures. I just don't practice enough so that is what I did today. I practiced... and I practiced... and I practiced. The results?

Look at that little tongue! Isn't it cute!

I am coming along, methinks!

Hibiscus Tea!

I really enjoy hibiscus tea, and I decided to make my own! I have had hibiscus tea before (and it is VERY good!) and we do have hibiscus flowers here at home. The Cupcake Project blogged on the tea. Let's face it though, I am not going to find hibiscus tea in Jacksonville Alabama. I am also looking forward to the candied flowers!

Recipe? Why of course!

4 cups water
1/2 cup dried jamaica flowers
1/2 cup sugar

Another 3 cups of cold water
More sugar to taste
1 lime, thinly sliced

If you prefer, you can sweeten with any natural sweetener of your choice including honey in place of granulated sugar).
First off, pick out a pot that won't stain. Hibiscus has the potential to stain just about anything it comes in contact with including your countertop, cookware, wooden spoons, favorite jeans, etc. So keep this in mind.
Bring the 4 cups of water to a boil. Remove water from heat and add the dried flowers and sugar. Place a lid over the pot and steep for 10 minutes, stirring once or twice along the way to break down the sugar granules.
Pour the infusion through a strainer into a pitcher or jug (this is usually where something gets stained). You are going to want to add about 3 more cups of cold water to the pitcher. Taste and adjust based on your personal preference. You can add a bit more sugar if you think you need it, or more water if you feel like the jamaica is too overpowering. This is usually just about right for my taste.
Cool completely and serve with plenty of ice in glasses garnished with a slice of lime.
Serves 8.

That recipe is from here: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/000172.html

We passed crazy a looong time ago...

You know, I have absolutely nothing to say today. Sooo... I am going to post the top five things I use on the interenet, why I use them, and my account there. Here we go:

1. Flickr: I started on Flickr for the photo storage. Then I found Standard Poodle-Caniche Royale group. I don't use SPCR much anymore, but Flickr has given me the interest in photography I have today. I have also made some great friends with whom I meet every year. My photostream is here.

2. Dogster: I started back on dogster when I was but a wee lass. I am fairly certain that the main reason it exists in my life today is to piss me off on a regular basis. There was a megathread about a year ago that I came off of with several friends that I talk to just about daily. Otherwise, I just shout obscenity in my head at the idiocy of the mass public. This is Lola's page.


3. Facebook: I am pretty sure that I use facebook for the same reason that everyone else uses facebook.
My profile

4. Last.fm. I like to listen to music, I like to learn other music to listen too. Therefore, I use Last.fm

5.  Twitter, I use Twitter to keep up with people... and Jesus. I exist here.


Soooo... friend me, contact me, follow me, send me dirty pawmails. Whatever.

Look, it is your daily dose of Lola!

And he was so filled with Joy...

My dear friendlys just left. Did I mention they are leaving for the year soon? Sad. BUT, that is not something I want to think about.
After we ate dinner, Ellen, Alison and I started watching these videos of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. That band HAPPENS to be in my top five bands of all time, so you should listen here:  Their Youtube Channel. I like to watch the videos, not just for the music ( which is amazing), but just so I can watch the band members. There are between ten and twelve at all times, so things are interesting.  Where am I going with this? Watching those videos led me to this guy :Dance of pure joy! Do you think he is on drugs? I think so too, but I would rather he was just dancing because he was so uninhibited. Isn't that a much more pleasant idea?

That was a non dog post, so I give you this picture of Lola's fresh shaved feeties to make up for it.

Melancholia...

You know, that sounds like a disease. Weird. Today was a very melancholy day. Boredom, combined with that oh so upsetting feeling one feels when [real life] crashes in. It sucks that I have to be an adult soon...  I don't want to be. It is so very easy to ignore real life when one is not working and it is summer. My friends leave for college on Wednesday, and I hate that I am stuck here. I honestly do. It's not that I am unhappy with my University, I just don't want to be in Jacksonville anymore.

Jeez, I sound like a whiny ass bitch. Call me Bella Swan and give me a friggin vampire to make out with.

This is what happens when Bella whines one too many times...
Real vampires pop out of his head.

On another note, I have officially signed up for classes that will end up with me having a major in photography. Wonder how that will go? Talk to me in a few years.
On the bright side, when I went to sign up for classes today there was a very attractive British Tennis player. Have I mentioned that I went there once? Twas lovely and very green.That would be Great Britain, not the british tennis player. He was quite pale.

I need to go bathe Lola tomorrow, there is a "petfest" on Saturday that I want to go to.


BTW, I spent like an hour on that in Photoshop. This is sad.

Sort of Wordless Wednesday...

Things that make me happy...

Pictures that make Explore:

and buying Lightroom!

How to go take pictures in places you aren't REALLY supposed to be...

I took Lola back to the fort today. I like to do this... but I am not really supposed too. SO, I have formed a guide to



Taking Your Dog's Picture Where BOTH of You Don't Belong*:

Step 1: Prep yourself before going. Find out the lay of the land. Dress casually, but not too casually. Running shoes are probably a good idea. Ya know, just in case. Bring a small note book or clipboard

Step 2: Look really expert at whatever you are doing. Stand erect, look at people that drive by as if THEY shouldn't be there. If you have some sort of badge, wear it. It will make you look more official.

Step 3: Dress your dog in stealth mode. I always take off Lola's fancy collar and put on a plain black one. If your dog has a ninja costume, that may come in handy.

In  case you get caught:

            Near a building: When someone is walking up, tell your dog to "Search" in an authoritative voice.                  When the dog stares at you blankly, nod your head and say "I do agree Watson, that building is     

              affected with deadly black mold, Good detection" Then write something down in your notebook 

              and look official again. If you have glasses, now is a good time to look over them officially.Take

             pictures of the building and mutter about accounting being unhappy with the price to fix.

           Not near a building: Pretend that you have never seen the dog. Take lots of landscape photos. To 

           be really convincing you may have to tell the dog to shoo. This will cause the person questioning your  

            right to be there think that the dog is a stray, and you are but an innocent landscape photographer, 

            hired by the government no less (this is where the badge comes in, feel free to brandish the badge at 

            the dog, while exclaiming that your are a government official.

                         And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I do it. Week 33 went something like this

*these instructions are by no means meant to keep you out of jail. If you do end up in jail, the author is not responsible for your bail.

I took Lola darlin' to the park today. She enjoyed it, I think. I took some pictures, my main goal was to get a good black and white shot for and new group I am in. Group Learning for Photography. This was my main choice:

                                                                  Heavy editing, but I like it.

While at the park, Lola did some squirreling in the mullberry trees.

We also worked on some obedience while at the park. It seemed to be the day for dog aggressive dogs to be at the park. I had Lola offleash, taking the above rock pictures, and some man came over and asked if she would bother another dog because his dog "bit hard". Ok...

After going to the park I had to go get some gas. I pulled in, rolled down the windows and walked in to pay. I was gone for approximately one minute, and in that time Lola barked twice (I could see her the whole time) and when I came out the man (I say man, he was younger than me. Between 16-17) in the car beside me told me I needed to "Shut my f-ing dog up". I said that I am sorry, but she was just wanting me to come back outside. He then said that my "f-ing dog was to f-ing loud and that he would shut her up" and started to walk towards me. I unhooked Lola's seatbelt and got her out of the car, because I had to pump fifty dollars of gas and felt threatened. He continued to approach until Lola "stacked up" in front of me and begin a deep, low growl. He muttered something else about a "f-ing bitch" and walked back to his car. Wonder which one of us was the bitch?

Not gonna attempt to explain this one...

 

That is all I have. I had a post started about designer breeds, but it was just plain bitchy.