Animals
Soon, Annie and Oakley...or Annie Oakley as they have become...
- Even Turkeys Recognize True Beauty
Yesterday morning I found the turkeys outside their houseat the far end of their yard...staring at the horizon.Literally...staring! I turned and faced the horizon myself... "Well, no wonder, Tom and Chuck...that is one magnificent sunrise!" Sadly,...
- Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This....
Most days come and go with a peaceful sense of contentment.And then, just once in a great while,a day comes along that turns my world on its side. I should have known what I was in for early yesterday morning.I should have gone back to bed.Or hid my...
- On Dressing Dogs
With Winter's early arrival,I have had to start putting dog coats on the dogs in the morning for chore time. Oakley and Sam are used to this routine. Oakley was oblivious... Sam, mildly annoyed... Annie, spastic (at first)... It took a half hour...
- Reform School For Annie
Our Annie has left the puppy stageand made the transition to adolescence. And (if you have had dogs then you know this all too well) with adolescencecomes a whole new set of "problems". Our Annie has been causing a few problems around the neighborhood,as...
- I Wish I Had A Dollar For Every Time I Posted This Story....
You may remember me telling you last week that Annie-Oakley got skunked.Well, one week later it has happened again...only, this time it was only Oakley. For some reason, yesterday morning Oakley left Annie at home and went on a mission.I think he decided...
Animals
A Tender Story
This is a little tale about Annie Oakley...
Every morning, the dogs and I go out "to work."
Every morning, the dogs and I go out "to work."
Just announcing that it's time for work puts everyone into a tailspin of excitement.
Oh, how they love to run!
I head to the barn and the dogs run ahead of me.
disappear.
With 140+ acres of woods and fields, there is much room
for canine adventuring...and this pair takes full advantage of the acreage.
Sam, on the other hand, prefers to hang with me...
knowing that there are cat food cans which will need cleaning,
and piles of fresh manure to inspect,
not to mention a couple of cats to bother.
I have wondered how these adventure runs of Annie and Oakley proceed.
You might remember that when Annie first came to us,
Oakley was terribly jealous and a little depressed.
He stopped eating for a couple of days and I had to entice him with
chicken and bison meat, etc.
But, as time went along, he learned to tolerate her presence and with each passing day
returned to his old self.
We named Annie for Little Orphan Annie...
since she was found abandoned in a shack in the woods.
since she was found abandoned in a shack in the woods.
But in my mind I saw the Annie Oakley connection.
It wasn't until Dr. Becky shared a tale with me yesterday that I truly understood
how deep that connection had become.
It seems that Annie and Oakley (having disappeared from morning chores as usual)
were off in our 88 acre woods near our outdoor arena.
These are great woods for hunting adventures and are crisscrossed with lots of trails.
Apparently, Dr. Becky was riding Sid in the outdoor arena,
when all of a sudden Annie came out of the woods heading straight for them.
She stopped in her tracks and turned on her tail running, scared, back into the woods.
Oakley, who had been at her side continued on for a second.
Feeling something amiss, he stopped and looked over each shoulder.
Feeling something amiss, he stopped and looked over each shoulder.
Then, realizing that Annie was not with him,
turned around and went to find her.
She was still within Dr. Becky's line of vision.
Oakley went and got Annie and took her another way around the arena,
giving the arena wide berth.
You see, Oakley looks after Annie...takes care of her...
keeps her safe and secure from the scary things of the world,
just like a big brother should.
I am so proud of this strong, silent man...
this Oakley dog of unknown origin, unknown past, unknown age...
who has the capacity to love and care and nurture.
He is the best of what we all should be...
holding each other's hands when the going gets scary.
Dr. Becky commented that in all her years as a veterinarian,
and a lifetime dog owner...
she has never seen a more tender scene between two dogs.
Don't let anyone try to tell you that dogs are not capable of complex emotion
and critical thinking.
***************************
On occasion, I get comments about my photography.
Let me tell you, first... I am a complete novice.
I have a very good camera and a great lens.
And always beware of photo-bombers!!
Silly cat.
Dr. Becky commented that in all her years as a veterinarian,
and a lifetime dog owner...
she has never seen a more tender scene between two dogs.
Don't let anyone try to tell you that dogs are not capable of complex emotion
and critical thinking.
***************************
On occasion, I get comments about my photography.
Let me tell you, first... I am a complete novice.
I have a very good camera and a great lens.
I thought I would share a few tips with you for improving your photography...
just a few things I learned along the way.
#1 When you wish to take a photo up close, use a zoom lens and stand further away.
This is how you get a clear, crisp subject with everything else blurry.
#2 Don't be afraid to get down on the level of your subject.
You will notice that the photo below is much more engaging than the photo above.
Get down and get dirty!
Many of my photos are taken with me lying on the ground!
And always beware of photo-bombers!!
Silly cat.
- Even Turkeys Recognize True Beauty
Yesterday morning I found the turkeys outside their houseat the far end of their yard...staring at the horizon.Literally...staring! I turned and faced the horizon myself... "Well, no wonder, Tom and Chuck...that is one magnificent sunrise!" Sadly,...
- Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This....
Most days come and go with a peaceful sense of contentment.And then, just once in a great while,a day comes along that turns my world on its side. I should have known what I was in for early yesterday morning.I should have gone back to bed.Or hid my...
- On Dressing Dogs
With Winter's early arrival,I have had to start putting dog coats on the dogs in the morning for chore time. Oakley and Sam are used to this routine. Oakley was oblivious... Sam, mildly annoyed... Annie, spastic (at first)... It took a half hour...
- Reform School For Annie
Our Annie has left the puppy stageand made the transition to adolescence. And (if you have had dogs then you know this all too well) with adolescencecomes a whole new set of "problems". Our Annie has been causing a few problems around the neighborhood,as...
- I Wish I Had A Dollar For Every Time I Posted This Story....
You may remember me telling you last week that Annie-Oakley got skunked.Well, one week later it has happened again...only, this time it was only Oakley. For some reason, yesterday morning Oakley left Annie at home and went on a mission.I think he decided...