Sometimes it's the little things...

Tonight for the first time in his life, Antare walked through the front door, under his own power, with just a moment's hesistation and right past me!

Usually he comes in the side door, into the arctic entry, but only if he's following another dog, only if the door is wide open and I hide behind it.

Tonight, he acted like a "normal" dog

Sometimes it doesn't take much to make my day!

A new toy....

I'd been saving up for a new camera for awhile...the dogs kept draining my camera account! Last week, I finally took the plunge and ordered a Nikon D300s. It arrived a few days ago. Oh my! I've shot with a digital SLR for more than three years and this thing makes me feel like I've never even shot a plain ol' point and shoot camera before! Hello, learning curve!

Fortunately, I have some cooperative models. Antare likes it when I take pictures of him from a safe distance. It also means my hands are full so I can't try to pet him, something he would prefer to avoid if he can!

Pete is always glad to assist with developing my low light shooting skills!

Occasionally Mother Nature sends along a model too, like this eagle who spent some time in the yard this afternoon! Nothing shuts the ravens up faster than a really big bird!

Woke up to Winter

It's my day off so I slept in this morning and at about 9am woke up to this:

Welcome back winter! Not that I'm quite ready for you yet!

Somewhere under the several inches of snow blanketing my yard is a few thousand feet of garden hose, which I thought about bringing in yesterday after I finished filling all the dogs' tubs.

Mac and some of the younger dogs are enjoying the snow. Sleet decided that today was a good time to play her "age has it's privledges" card. She won't go outside for any longer than absolutely neccessary. For a former lead dog, she has quite an aversion to snow now!