Tag Archives: northern Va

Buddy & Cooper: Maryland Westies Spend a Hot Afternoon in the Barn!

Sunday, July 25, 2010 12:19 pm Posted in General - Dogs

Well, with temps continuing to top 100 degrees our summer shooting season has been significantly impacted. Summer always brings its share of complications for outdoor shooters such as late afternoon storms and the occasional super hot temps.  This summer has been the poster child for bad weather and reschedules.

Yesterday we had Buddy and Cooper on the books. It was to be a combined barn and outdoor session.  With the heat index well over 100 we opted to shoot the barn portion only and have them return in the fall for the outdoor portion of their shoot.

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After meeting these two, we’re secretly happy that they have to return! These little guys were simply delightful.  Buddy, age 11, was a rescue dog.  Adopted by his family in 2008 from Maryland Westie Rescue, he breathed life back into a home that had recently lost their beloved dog, Kasey.

Buddy did not come to his new family without problems.  As many Westies are prone to have, Buddy came with a plethora of skin issues.  To say they were extreme is an understatement. Below is a photo of Buddy in 2007 as he entered the rescue program.. Words, I believe, are not necessary.

Buddy’s current condition is a testimony both to the wonderful work of Maryland Westie Rescue and to the dedication of his adopted family.  I have seen so many dogs abandoned because of conditions like this. Unwilling or financially unable to manage such severe skin conditions, dogs like this are at best relinquished to rescue groups and at worse, euthanized.

Instead, Buddy found a home with his very lovely forever family! First he had to be wrangled away from his foster home who also wanted to keep him. He was such a charmer within the rescue organization that a newsletter  has been named after him, Buddy’s Buddies.

Buddy’s charm notwithstanding, Cooper is a bundle of personality as well! Cooper came to his family as a puppy and is full of cautious curiosity.  He has that Westie charm and exuberance (read stubborness!)

It was truly a delightful afternoon. We are so glad Buddy has come so far. And so grateful to his adopted family for giving him a new lease on life!

Buddy & Cooper thanks for a lovely day. We can’t wait to see you in September when the temps are cooler and the farm is in full color!

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More Snow….

Saturday, February 6, 2010 5:59 pm Posted in For Fun!, General - Dogs

Well, it seems “the lady doth protest too much, methinks,” aptly fits my current state given my prior post.  I complained, you see, about having to run on the treadmill due to our constant pummeling of snow this winter.

So, the God of Nature showed me – she dumped 30 inches of the white stuff upon me and now, alas, even the gym is closed.  I believe I’ll stop complaining.

I ventured out this morning but conditions were so nasty and the snow so deep, I didn’t stay out long.  Here are a few from inside my snow globe.

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After shoveling all day, my husband made a tiny dent in our driveway. Niles and Lily were grateful.

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Snow

Thursday, February 4, 2010 11:00 am Posted in For Fun!

It’s been an unusual winter for us here in northern Virginia.  This is my fourth winter here.  And though it’s only the start of February, we have had more snowfall since December than in my past three winters combined.

I’m not much of a winter person. I like warmth. The older I get the more my joints really appreciate those balmy temperatures! Plus, I’m a runner. I’m a runner who prefers running outdoors to a treadmill – a  million times over.  This snow cramps my style.

That said, there is sometimes such beauty in this white stuff.  It is so breathtaking at times that even I, hater of cold, am lured out into its wonder.  With my camera of course…

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So, though it’s only the start of February and the luscious warmth of spring seems so very far away, I’ll stop for a moment and enjoy the beauty of winter.

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Senior Australian Shepherd – Jordan!

Sunday, July 12, 2009 10:34 am Posted in General - Dogs, Tranquility Farm

It isn’t every day you meet a 14 year old larger dog with spring in her step and  mischief in her eyes!  That was such the case with Jordan yesterday.  We thought we were going to be stormed out of yet another shoot but her human perservered and really wanted to try to get the session in.  We’re so glad we did as Jordan was just a delight.

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We left Diane, Jordan’s human, back at the barn studio when it became obvious Jordan would be velcroed to Diane for the evening.  Once she got over the fact that Diane was gone Jordan decided we weren’t a bad “second.”  Especially when she discovered that we came with treats!

It is dogs like this that define the spirit of pets.  Though her body has slowed – she is deaf, her eyes are cloudy and muscles have weakened, she still approaches life with such grand enthusiasm and happiness.

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Next Saturday Jordan will welcome a new puppy, another Aussie of course, into the family.  A lot of geriatric dogs can’t handle a puppy at this stage in the game.  With so much puppiness left in Jordan, I think she’ll do just fine.

We’re so glad we got to meet you Jordan.  We even had a couple moments of glorious golden light amongst the grey storm clouds….

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Hunter – Play Ball!

Sunday, June 7, 2009 1:09 pm Posted in Tranquility Farm

Finally. After 4 reschedules due to this horrendous spring weather, we got to spend our evening with Hunter on the farm.  A young English Yellow Lab, Hunter is just a year old, and is pure lab through and through.

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What does that mean to a pet photographer? Bring food,  have toys (a ball in Hunter’s case), and give up any thought of wearing him out!

Hunter was the perfect dog for a farm session. Happy to run and jump (and drool!) and also very willing to take a break and strike some lovely poses.  We were inundated with gnats last night and I was grateful I had such a gracious subject and patient humans!

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If I had to guess, if Hunter was asked to write a short composition about his day at the farm it would go something like this.. “There was this girl with great treats, there was my favorite ball, the girl, the treats, the ball… Did I mention the treats?”

[caption id="attachment_516" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Did Someone Say Ball?"]Did Someone Say Ball?[/caption]

And I have to say, after the sad news of last week with the loss of my assistant Michelle’s dear Peaches, it was just the type of session we needed.  A dog full of life and humor and spirit!

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So thanks for the wonderful afternoon Hunter. Maybe there was a bigger reason for all of those reschedules. If you were sent to cheer us up, you did a fantastic job!

I was especially happy to work with my new 85mm 1.4… LOVE IT and…

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…. the tilt-shift is just so much fun for those vintage shots I love.

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It was most appropriate that we were rewarded with a beautiful sunset – after 4 rainy reschedules.  A fitting end to a great evening with an awesome dog!

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