Last Christmas

I just realize that I didn't post our annual Christmas doggie portrait last year. That's probably because I was almost finished crocheting Christmas scarves for the annual photo when I learned Declan was coming back to us - I had to make one more at the last minute. So, better late than never.

2017 has been a tough year for so many people that I know. We had to make the ultimate decision for both Declan and Diamond this year. We are hoping that 2018 is a kinder, gentler year.

Diamond

The more observant of you may have noticed that in my last post (Hurricane Irma) I mentioned our two dogs. Yes, we have one less dog these days. Diamond crossed the rainbow bridge last Saturday, September 2nd. If was a merciful death because her quality was life was not good and we were concerned she was starting to suffer. She was generally healthy but 17 years takes its toll. She was deaf, blind, and had difficulty walking on our floors. She also shook with pain which we managed with medication. The saddest part was seeing her confused, stuck in a corner or against the wall, or the endless circling.

Diamond first came to Ratbone Rescues at the age of two and heartworm positive. She was cured and adopted out to a single woman who kept her for 10 years but returned her once her babies came. She was 12 when I fostered her. Because we learned she had nipped a child (the previous owner said it was the child's fault, not Diamond's) she was deemed unadoptable. Eventually we adopted her and had her for 5 years.

While it was a somber day and we absolutely hated making that decision for her, we know it was right. We miss her but am happy that she is no longer suffering.

Merry Christmas from Lani, Diamond, and Eddie

Annual Christmas Photo Fail

I gave it a good try and these are the best of the best. The dogs were not very cooperative. Luckily, Pet Food Warehouse did photos with Santa on Saturday so I expect we will get a frame worthy photo afterall.

Diamond's eyes are firmly planted on the treat in my hand.

Eddie has to be photoed last because he typically tears up the photo shoot setups.

Not a happy camper. Poor Lani doesn't jnow the sit or down commands so it was very difficult and she thought I was being mean.

A little banner of the best 3 head shots.

And now, the annual collage of tree and dogs. Merry Christmas everyone!

Happy Hallow-Giving!

My Halloween post is so late I am calling it Hallo-giving!

Eddie the fireman, Diamond the punk rocker, and Lani the clown.

Pencil Sketch

I discovered a new program (because my Internet Explorer no longer works on my laptop, I am using a loaner right now, and the only way I can access online programs is if there is an app for my Windows 8.1 laptop) called "Pencil Sketch" which will make your photos look as though they were drawn or painted.

For example, this photo:

Becomes these:

 

I also did some rattie photos (surprise, surprise) but did them like real pencil drawings (B&W) and saved them in another new app called "Cool Collage" and got this:

It's my first use of a free-form collage. I usually use Pixler where you choose the layout and put the photos in boxes. I tried to do that with the old photos of me (above) but they saved as wrong format (boo). So, it's not exactly how I envisioned it but a good start. Working with so many overlapping photos is just that, work. Gives me a new appreciation for all the ads and brochures we receive and just toss away- lots of time and work probably went into them.



Former Foster & Butt/Body Collage

Just a little doodling with Pixlar and photos of my former fosters (by the way, we are adopting the old gal, Diamond) and one where I assembled the leashed up and ready to go butt shots. The butt/body shots include the beautiful Miss Daisey (miss her everyday) but excludes Peanut. Peanut was an accidental foster and I didn't have a digital camera at the time.

 

 

Dog Park Saturday

Let's go to the dog park! That's Eddie on the left, Diamond in the middle, and Loni on the right.

We met up with Keeko's new family. Eddie photobombed Keek's new momma and brother Cajun.

 Keeko! He was excited to see me but didn't try to leave with me so all is good.

 

 Loni seemed to enjoy the park and behaved really well. We had no idea what to expect.

Now all three dogs are passed out ;)

Easter

My mom and the cousins joined us for Easter dinner today. We had the traditional ham with scalloped potatoes, cornbread salad, deviled eggs, coconut cake, and chocolate pie. Most of the photos I took today were of the new dog. Sorry Eddie.

I couldn't locate my Easter wreaths for the front door (because our garage is so messy) so I just created a little welcoming Easter vignette.

The new foster, Loni, in an Easter dress (it was my sweet Daisey's).

Diamond also wearing one of Daisey's old Easter dresses but she was unhappy because not only did  bath them today, but I put the hat on her head too.

Ham ready to go into the oven.

Loni enjoying Easter dinner (the dresses were only on long enough for a photo)

Loni, well fed and groomed, hunkering down for the night.

Secret Santa Diamond

Diamond was in the same Secret Santa program as explained in Declan's post below. Sorry for the low number of photos and their quality. She wasn't cooperating for photos that day.


She was very interested and glad that this one was for her.

She LOVED that blanket and grabbed it and carried it around.

Thank you Secret Santa!!

Annual Tree Photos, 2013

The yearly collage

Declan Ratbone

Diamond Ratbone

 I couldn't decide which Eddie photo I liked better so I am posting both!

Next to Last Photo of Daisey

Our annual in front of the tree shots. I also have a Santa photo I need to scan.

Someone Got A New Foster!

Meet Diamond - she is a wonderful doggie :)

Final Vacation Post - Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas

I didn't take my camera into the park so any photos are borrowed from online sources. The final adventure of our vacation last week was a trip to an actual diamond mine. In fact, the only one in the United States! The special part is that this tract of land belongs to the state of Arkansas and is open to the public for prospecting as opposed to leasing out to commercial entities.

I've always heard that it's easier to find these gems after a rain because the rain washes the dirt off so I was excited when we sat on our Murfreesboro inn porch reading in comfy rockers and watching it rain the day before we went to the mine. What we didn't know is that the "dirt" is actually clay and a day of heavy rain makes for a slippery mess.

If you can stay upright the clay actually builds on your shoes and they get heavier and heavier and began to resemble the feet of that man known as the tree man. For some unknown reason I cannot get that guy off my mind since seeing him on TV a month ago. Anyway, sometimes the muck would take your entire boot, shoe, and sock right off your foot when you tried to walk. We found lots of nice stones but no diamonds. The day we were there they only found 2 diamonds but I'm thinking that was due to the difficulty in working in the sticky mud.

The park is nice with other things to do so it looks like a good family vacation to me - in the dry season! There is a small water park, wildlife viewing, nearby lakes and fishing. The quaint little downtown has nice shops and antiquing. There was also a great BBQ trailer called "May's" with real down-home type BBQ served on "lite" bread.