We All Went to Missoula

Here Blanca poses in front of my friends Chuck and Beth Kaparich's new home in Missoula.  Chuck built the Carousel for Missoula, and his mind and immense energy is always looking for creative outlets, so he built this wonderful new home.  The right side is a 2700 square foot shop, and the left side and the silo is the living quarters.  Bedrooms are upstairs.  It is really beautiful.  Chuck built this himself with the help of one other person.  Chuck has more energy the first hour of each day than I have had in my whole life.  That is Linda's car in front of the stone silo. 
We had a wonderful time visiting my old friends.  I lived in Missoula from 1989 until 1997. 

 Another view, this from the street looking northwest, I think.  The window on the end where the hay lifter upper (anyone know the real name, I am from Cleveland) usually would be is a bedroom.  Chuck tried to make it look as authentic barn looking as he could and still have it be a habitable home.  I think he did a great job.  Next he is going to build an old time looking farm house for his sister Donna to live in.

Wine & Whiskers

Last evening was the 3rd Rimrock Humane Societies Wine & Whiskers.  It a great time was had by all, seemed to me.  Linda and I certainly had a great great time.  Thank you Sandy Church and the Rimrock Humane Society board, you throw a heck of a party.
I took pictures, and handed out cards.  I have posted the result, a selection, on my website; kenjamesphotography
Take a look.  If anyone wants prints email me and I will get you details.  All proceeds from print sales of course would go to the Rimrock Humane Society.

First Snow and Finnegan

The Little Big Man, Finnegan.  This was Thursday, and we had a very nice snow fall while we were walking at Norm's.  Finny is curious why I am squatting down, and at first I thought that he was ruining my photo, but luckily I recovered and saw that he made the photograph. Good little man.

Love this.  Chocolate had went ahead to investigate a walker.  Usually it is Blanca that is the investigator, but she stuck with me this day.  They were tired at this point, we were on our third lap and they had done a lot of playing.  I Love my dogs.  Does it show?  I hope.

All My Friends

Enjoying a walk with all my favorite friends at Norm Schoenthal Island.   As you can tell by the green, it was taken a few weeks ago. Photograph by my good friend Michael E Garcia.

Walking With Our Friend Missy . . .

We were fortunate this morning to get to the Island at about the same time as our good friend Missy Seu.  We stopped at one of our favorite stick chasing spots and Finny, Chocolate and Emma chased sticks.  Emma is taking a turn out here.  So; Lucy, Missy holding my Nina Blanca, and Emma.
The weather was absolutely perfect.  One could not feel the air, the temperature was perfect. So wonderful.

Technocolour Chocolate.  As I am writing I am aware that I am always describing our times spent at Norm Schoenthal Island in very superlative terms. Well, that is the way it is.  Maybe I will do a post on politics.  Maybe not.

The Slough.  Had to look up the spelling on that one.  One just floats around the island in a sea of visual stimulation.  Was that too much?

Autumn Reflections

Blanca checking out her reflection.  Can dogs be narcissistic.
Norms is beautiful now.  I think it is beautiful always, but the fall, and seemingly this fall, is exceptional. 
I have been walking with a new friend, Kay, with her gorgeous Australian Shepherds Bally and Selkie, and their new friend Rolo.  I really like Bally, she is very similar in temperament to my boy Chocolate.  Selkie is more like Finnegan.  Always on the move. I will get some photos of them. Soon.

Friends

I thought that maybe it would be a good idea to start the month of October off on the correct foot and  . . .  Post.  I have been negligent.
This is one of Blanca's favorite friends, Bozzy.  He and Blanca are very similar, same build, same movements, same shape heads, the colour is the only difference. Oh yeah, the tail.  Bozzy has the most magnificent tail. It would be cool if Blanca had one, a tail. But then, as I think about how much work it is keeping her bum clean, maybe no tail is good.
I love this picture.  Bozzy is a beautiful boy. Of course you all know what I think of my Nina Blanca.

Cloudy Fall Day

Bunch of friends gather for a day of stick at our very favorite place.  Finnegan, Neeky, Chocolate, and in front our new friend Snickers. They are waiting for Snicker's peep Dean to throw the stick.  Neeky keeps an eye on Chocolate.
The Island has been absolutely gorgeous the last weeks,  though it is very dusty and dry because of the lack of rain.

Neeky and Finn are great friends.  The Little Big Man is not even slightly intimidated by difference in size, but he does not like to be ganged up on, which does happen because he is a popular fella.

Snickers is pretty comfortable with this group of dogs, and has even begun to play stick with them, though she still prefers her own game.

Karen, Neeky's peep, is in charge of the stick now.  I love the focus here.

Beautiful girl Neeky.  She is a Border Collie Mix, mixed with something big I do believe, maybe several things.  Nice dog.

Cameo of the girl. I like this.

 Ha! I do not believe this is directed at me, I think most likely Finnegan is on my lap or next to me.  Great Photo. 

Everybody got worn out this day, that is the object, no?

Dog Show at Barnes & Noble
I have been pretty negligent with this blog, my apologies to my legions of fans.  But, today I announce my show at Barnes & Noble Booksellers on 24th Street here in Billings Mt.

We are having a Meet and Greet with me, the photographer, on Friday September 7 from 6 pm until 8 pm.  I hope that everyone comes. It would be great.

Glorious Light

Best Picture of Chocolate ever.  The light today was fantastic. Glorious. Light clouds, kept the hard shadows away. We had a very nice morning walking with our friends Missy, Laura and Karen. I was able to get some good photographs of all the dogs.

This is Neicky, she walks everyday with her friend Karen. She is a beautiful Border Collie mix. High energy. Great tail, no?

 

Laura's friend Beau.  Not confident of the mix, but he is a beautiful boy. Possibly Flat Coat Retriever.  He is also a High Energy boy.

Of course, my favorite, my Princess Nina Blanca. It was great light to get some details in her fur, which often is difficult.
The water has receded several feet and the Island can be walked full circumference.  I am hoping we have seen our flooding for this year.  Probably not, but we can hope.

Glorious Spring

Our Gang, Finnigan, Chocolate and Nina Blanca.  The Island is absolutely, Glorious. That is the only word for it.  It is green, the air is fresh, the birds are happy and singing away.  The bugs have not arrived yet, some ticks, but not many.  It feels so good.  I went late today, and by the time I took this picture the kids were already hot.  Must start going earlier.  Note to self.

It is green.  In a couple of weeks the grass will be over knee deep, then it will turn brown.  But for now it is lush.  The kids love running through this soft, short grass. It is growing in soft sandy soil, so it must feel wonderful on padded paws.

The slough is wide fast and muddy.  After a few warm days the water is coming down fast. Today was the highest it has been.  I hope it does not flood, the island is just too beautiful right now.  Finny is checking it out.  They, especially Finn, still finds a place to get their feet wet.  They seem to know to stay away from the fast moving areas.  I am not letting Chocolate swim after sticks though, I would have to fish him out way down stream.  For a few days I was throwing the stick upstream and then he would come out just below me, but it is too fast now. He still looks to me to throw sticks though.

Rimrock Rover Ramble 2012

Off they go! The 10th annual Rimrock Humane Societies Rover Ramble was a great success, despite the chill in the air and the high winds.  Dedicated folks. 
The photo show the beginning of the Ramble for the 3 mile, the serious, folks.  The 3 mile winner was the man in black, who it looks like took the lead from the beginning and held it.
It looked to me like everyone had a great time.

The "with dog" winner.  I love this, notice that she is carrying a poop bag, she stopped while running to pick up after her dog.  This is great.

White Dog and White Dog

For several weeks people at Norm's have been saying to me "we saw Blanca walking with someone else".  No way.  Finally last week the mystery was solved.  We met Kiva.  It is easy to understand how people thought it was Blanca.  They look amazingly alike.  Kiva has a little more color, mostly grey, she has a black nose, and her eye rims are not as pink as Blancas. Kiva has more hair, and it is curly.  But what is more amazing than that they look so similar is that they move and act so much the same.  Even I and Kiva's peep must take a second look to see who is who. Amazing.  We are so happy that we finally were able to meet Kiva.

I tried, I really tried, but this is the best I could get of them standing next to each other.  It does give an idea of their similarity.  Kiva can hear, at least in one ear, so she moves her ears more.  Blanca keeps her ears back all the time, they never move.  I have more pictures to post, but I am quiting for now.  Come back, I will try to do it tomorrow.

Boys Having Fun Fun Fun

Simon and Finnegan.  Simon walks with his peep Pat, and has been our friend for a long time.  This day he met Finnegan for the first time and it was interaction time from the get go.  Their energies were well matched.

 

They played like this the whole time we were walking around the Island, a good hour and a half. We probably had some really pooped pups that day.  It was a joy to watch.

In Pursuit

Best Friends

We started out taking Little Big Man, Finny, with us just on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Then we added Wednesday, then Saturday.  Finally we decided we really liked The Little Man and we would stop off and get him every morning.  He predictably is looking out the window as we drive up to the house.  It took a while, but Chocolate finally accepted LBM and they have become great buddies.  Choco even defends Finn from bigger dogs, though Finnegan needs no protection, the reason we call him LBM.

 Little Big Man.  Finny and I get along really swell.  He comes when I call, and he has been doing a really good job of not jumping when I yell for him to not do so.  It is complicated keeping him from jumping, because the little man likes to dance, Linda has taught him, so he has gotten used to being on his back legs. He is quite the dancer. I need to get a video up of him.
Finnegan's mom was a Sheltie, his dad was a Schnauzer. He has energy in abundance.

 Blanca liked Finnigan the first time they met.  They are great buddies, and keep us entertained for hours with their shenanigans. The love to wrestle and play the mouthing game.

Ranger, Mr. Energy . . .

Ranger walks everyday at the Island with his peep friend Robert.  Everyday, unlike wimpy me that stays away on the really cold days.  Ranger is a Labradoodle, and is the best looking one I have seen.  He is a perfect size, just a little bigger than Choco-Blanca, with great color.  He is very much Mr. High Energy.  He is even too much for Finny.  Ranger plays well with Brisbane.

 Makes one wonder if he can see where he is going.  Finny has the same problem, and he has been known to run into trees.

Ranger with his buddy Brisbane.  They are a good match.  Brisbane has the energy and the body mass to keep up with Ranger. Go guys.

Ranger is one good looking dog.  He is big on sticks.

Luke on a Cloudy Day - Much Better

Luke is a beautiful boy.  We have been seeing him quite often and as he gets used to our group he has been learning to join in.  At first he was hesitant.  After all, we are a bunch of dogs, and a very tight knit group.  We often see Luke when we are with Brisbane, and they get along famously.

I love Luke's coloring.  Great ears.  He is very compact, and energetic.  He and Finny should be great playmates, but so far they are tentative.

 

Luke photographs much better on an overcast day, like this day.  Choco and Blanca were playing their circle chase game, and Luke is watching.  We posted a photo of Luke a couple days ago, but it was from a sunny day, and not as good.

Going Chocolate

Lucas

We have been seeing Luke at the Island regularly as of late.  A beautiful Blue Healer, with a nice way about him. He walks with his friend Amber.

I will put more photos of Luke up.  What I need right now are snow picture, but I am not going out there, no way.  Tomorrow.  Tomorrow it is supposed to be warmer and overcast, sounds good for photographs to me.  Luke would photograph better if it were overcast. He is naturally a very high contrast dog, hahaha.

Walter

We met Walter yesterday.  He is a very nice fella, friendly and outgoing.  He was walking the Island on only the second day with his new Peep, who had found him listed on Craigs list. Amazing that someone could let this beautiful boy go.  Walter is two years old, and it looks like he has a very good new home. Welcome to Billings and the Island Walter.  Hope to see you often.  I apologize for Blanca's behaviour, she does not like to share me, you just got too close.

Guest Photographer Michael E. Garcia

We have another owl on the Island.  The same one?  Whoooo knows.  He/she has taken up residence a little further west than the owl we had last year. Owls do not build their own nests, but use nests built by other birds. We have not seen any nesting so far. It is a Great Horned Owl.
This photograph is by our friend and Island regular Michael E. Garcia.
Great photo Mike, Thanks.

Happy New Year From Our Gang!