Gimme Gimme

I have probably taken a 1000 photos of the kids playing with a stick. I have gotten few good ones. I like this one. Blanca cares little about sticks or balls, she just wants to torture Choco and get them away from him. She drops them as soon as she gets them. Chocolate is used to it. 
Today was cold. Not as bad as advertised, but it kept people away. We saw very few dogs or people on Norm's, so we default to photographs of the beautiful American Shepherds.

B&W No People No Comments

I accepted this photo challenge on Face Book, I have no idea who started it or why. 

B&W  No People No Comments.  I have been seeing many people participate.  I originally said: "no way" but I like my challenger so I said Ok.

I am actually enjoying it.  For several years I have been thinking to take up the challenge posted by Mike Johnston on the On Line Photographer, One Year One Camera One Lens.  But I am not the greatest stick to it kinda fella, so I thought it foolish to ignore my basic tendencies and start.

Day 6

Day 5 already.  My Nina Blanca

Number 4. Mikes favorite tree.

This was my number 3 attempt, the South Hills of Billings with the South Billings Boulevard bridge. And some clouds.  

The Three Crows was challenge response number 2. So far I have added for myself the added restriction that the photos all be taken at Norm Schoenthal Island, this is where I met my challenger Gerry, Norms is the subject of this blog (along with Dogs) so Hey!

This is Norm's.  Admittedly it is stretching it because it is not on the Island but in the parking lot.  I am going with it.  I was attracted to this for many reasons.  It is SHINY.  The fella parked it perfectly to be photographed (doubt that was his motivation). My best friend in my wayward youth had a, I believe it was a 1968 Road Runner.  His was yellow.  This one is Black and White.  Ha Ha, no, it is fire hydrant red. I figured that would translate to B&W really swell.  This was my first Challenge response.

My Sentries

I Love this photo. It was really windy this morning, so we found a sheltered spot and I got low by a log and kept out of the wind. The sun was on me. Choco and Blanca doing their American Shepherd thing and keeping an eye out so I can relax and soak up the sun. I also love this time of the year.  The air is cool but the sun is wonderfully warm.  The sun being out most of the time is one of the good positive things about living in Billings Montana

Skye

Puppy.  We have been seeing Skye quite regularly lately.  She is still shy of other dogs, but people not at all.  This is difficult, a solid black dog with the sun to her back.  But we were able to pull it off with help from the Nik filter detail extractor, which I have been using often as of late on Blanca.  I see it works quite well on black also.  I tried to pull the black up without using a filter first but I was not as successful. My version caused the black to go much flatter.  Disappointing they have discontinued these filters.  

I am not sure how old Skye is.  She walks with her peep Jenny, I hope I am getting both names correct.  For years we have been seeing Skye's sibling at Norm's, but she has reached the age where walking at Norm's is too much, so Skye has taken over the job.  Skye is a pleasure to see.

B&W in Colour Crows at Norm Schoenthal Island

I let myself get talked into accepting this current 7 day challenge on Facebook.  This is my day two photo, before conversion to B&W.  I was at first resistant, naw I ain't gonna do this, but I went ahead and started because I like Gerry, my challenger.  But now that I have started I think I am enjoying it.  I have often thought I would like to accept the challenge that Michael Johnston puts out on his blog The Online Photographer; One Lens One Camera One Year.  That would be a prime lens. This is shorter and simpler, so I am going for it. Thanks Gerry.

A day for the birds.  These two woodpeckers flew around me for several minutes playing.  It may have been coincidence, but I felt honored anyway.  I took a lot of photos but this is my favorite.  My lens is not long enough nor sharp enough to do them justice.  In this photo they were maybe 10 feet away.

Puppy Puppy Puppy

Puppy! Cute enough for 3 puppies.
I am gonna have to get back to you with a name.  We meet her at Norm's this morning, walking with her peep that we see regularly. I will have to get back to you on her name too.  I need to get a new notebook and then use it, regularly.  My phone would work too if I thought to inquire.

Papa.  Ha! Not hardly.  I was proud of Choco for being gentle with him.  When Choco was a pup, around this size, he used to constantly tag along after a Tricolor with markings like this girl.

Safety

I love this grass. It has read and orange streaks.  Did not quite catch it, but I still like this.

Susan and Moxie

Two of my favorite people.  Susan and Moxie.  If it were not for Choco Blanca I would call Moxie the coolest dog in the world.  She is trying to get Susan to throw the stick.  It is a full time occupation once one lets it begin.

The Fall Portrait

The weather has been unbelievable.  Today was 80 degrees. We have been roaming about on Norm's all week.  Today we ventured into areas I have not been to in years.  This time of year is great because you can venture into areas that in warmer parts of the year would be tick infested.  Not now, we can wallow in old dead leaves and sit on old rotten logs and wander through the thickest foliage, no problem.  We can lay on our backs, well me anyway, in the tall grass and watch the clouds or like today the blue.
This photo was found.  I did not pose them as I usually do. I was sitting on the banks of the dry pond behind Dog Beach and I turned around and Choco Blanca were sitting in the shade watching me.  I got this pic.  So this will be the Official ChocoBlanca Fall 2017 Portrait.

I got it again.  Much heavier frost this time, and the sun was out.  My previous attempt was taken in overcast conditions.

  This was Tuesday morning I do believe.  This morning, Thursday, it was 45 by the time I got to this spot, so no frost. 

I have been taking a lot of pictures lately, which is good.  I need to get more processed and displayed. 

Moxie, the Wonder Tree Climbing Dog

The wonderful fall days continue at Norm's. Today we have a pic of the Wonder Tree Climbing Dog Moxie.

Moxie walks Norm's and many other locales with her peep Susan Stone

 

All Norm's regulars know this tree. I have probably photographed it 50 times. This is as good as any. Guess I need to bring more creativity to it. It is a REALLY big and beautiful tree. This is the tree Moxie is climbing on, on the right side there, along with many dogs and about half the kids that pass by.

Big Frost On Indigenous Peoples Day

Big Frost. It was not our first frost, but I do think it was our first big one. Of course it may also be the first one I noticed. 
I was at Norm's early, it was 32 degrees when I left my house. I was able to catch this beautiful frost display on Dogwood leaves.
This was yesterday, October 9, Indigenous Peoples Day.

One Year Old Photo

This photo is one year old.  My friend Pat took it with her iphone, so my ability to modify it, lighten my face, is limited.  But we love it.  It is called ecstasy, because of the look on Choco's face.

I post this so my new facebook friend Tam can see my family.

Blanca's Favorite Place

In the backyard.  She likes to keep the sun off her eyes.  The table is kinda like a hat for her. It was overcast when I took the picture, but the sky was bright.  Love my beautiful girl.

Eight Years Old

I took this photo last Friday, September 29, which was Chocolate and Nina Blanca's 8th Birthday.   it took until today to get it posted.  We have been walking at Norm's pretty regular, as the weather has been beautiful, even when it was cold and rainy.  You must excuse Choco, he is taking the still moment to practice his mindfulness meditation.  

Moxie and Susan were walking with us, and Sharon and Bentley.  Moxie is a great poser.  

The sky was an amazing deep blue. No polarizer on this (wouldn't work anyway, they need to be at 90 degrees)  I did push the blue up in photoshop. Some, not much.  This is how I saw it.

Choco and Bentley are pretty impressed too, I would say.  Sorry, the word producing part of me is not working, but I wanted to get these photos up.  I take so many photos that never make it out of the computer . . . .

I LOVE Norm Schoenthal Island.  Thanks Norm.  Norms helps me keep my sanity in this crazy, and getting crazier world.