Oh how Pinteresting!!

This post is a shameless homage to a national {international?} obsession- Pinterest. I found it several months ago and, like many others, I have lost hours and hours of my life to browsing the endless realms of the Pinter-land. And. I. Want. More!! There is no theme here- just a random collection of images that inspire, delight and amuse me. Enjoy!

Source: dnkzone2.tumblr.com via Jill on Pinterest

                                                                             

Source: weheartit.com via Jill on Pinterest

   

Source: mainenmasonjars.tumblr.com via Jill on Pinterest

Source: theberry.com via Jill on Pinterest

Source: theloveliestday.com via Jill on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Jill on Pinterest

Source: babiekinsmag.com via Jill on Pinterest

Really?

"Mom, I'm trying to sleep an the camera is making way too much noise."

Fifty50: Pickle

I love photo challenges, but you wouldn't know it from recent post. I admit it- I have fallen off the challenge bandwagon. For several months I had my days planned around what challenges were coming up and what photos I needed to capture, but... it was too much for me. Between work, pets, life (and I guess I should mention the husband), I just couldn't devote that much time to photo challenges.

But... then I realized  the joy of periodic and monthly photo challenges- yay! Over at Chase the Light, Tracey has a variety of fun and no pressure photo challenges to enjoy. This month she started her Fifty50 project which focuses on diptychs (she has a great explanation of what that is). So what did I take 2 photos of?

Pickle, of course!

Well, I was mostly focusing on his ears.

They kind of do their own thing, no matter what he wants them to do.

"Mom- I'm being serious. Stop playing with the clicking black thing and pet my belly!"

"What? These are my serious ears!"

Poor Pickle- he won't ever be taken seriously until he gets more graceful and learns to control his ears.

I hope that never happens!

Behold- Pickle!

ANNOUNCEMENT!!! I have prevailed! After months of sending emails with photos of cute adoptable puppies, squealing at opportune moments while web surfing and outright begging, Mr. Pony caved before my onslaught and we have added to our family!

Behold- Pickle!

Really, he is thrilled. Just tired. He came with a case of kennel cough, but that happens when you are a 10 week old puppy at an animal shelter!

No, we have no idea what he is. The shelter listed him as a collie mix, but his face looks a bit hound-ish, his paws are pretty big and his body seems slightly too long for his legs. But that could be an awkward puppy phase, not a breed trait. We'll find out as he grows {hopefully not to a giant size!}.

He spends a lot of time sleeping right now. And peeing on stuff- sometimes outside, sometimes not. *sigh* However, we are in the process of housebreaking and he is starting to get the hang of it. We were spoiled by Chowder, who came to us at 4 months old already housebroken- perfect {other than the parvo}.

Speaking of Chowder- he is learning to love his little puppy shadow. It might take a bit, but they are getting along. Of course, he does have his 'HOLY CRAP' moments.

But you can't really blame him- this is a big change and he is used to being the canine center of attention. No worries, he'll get used to it and we are giving him lots of attention!

So long, 2011.

I'm beyond confused at how fast 2011 flew by. I hope all of you are able to spend this New Year's Eve with those you love and can cherish fond memories of those who are far away.

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.  ~Benjamin Franklin

What I like this Wednesday

Nothing much going on here- just enjoying a week of freedom, getting some projects done and dancing with Chowder. Yup, he has mad dance skillz. No big.

The mad holiday rush is over, so now it is time to think of gifts for yourself (you know, for being awesome and making it to 2012).

How about:

Displaying your management skills openly.

Taking your leisure in style.

Booking a Cape Cod escape (or you could just steal that house- amazing!).

Deck your walls with running horses!! 

Bake some darling cookies.

Pay homage to the Best Story Ever. 

Pack your kickass vintage suitcase with... succulents? {impractical, but beautiful!}

Organize your writing utensils purr-fectly.

Engrave yourself with words to live by.

Maybe just add these things to your wish list {or, in my case, a Pinterest board}, but for me, all of these things are a dream.

In dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own. - Albus Dumbledore

Trust

A couple of months ago one of my friends showed a great deal of trust in me- she asked me to take pictures of her family together, including her baby bump.

*gulp*

That is a lot of trust and a lot of responsibility! I'm not a professional- just a passionate hobbyist! And since this was partly a maternity shoot, it isn't like we could try again at any time- I needed to get at least a few images right the first time!!

But I agreed, prefacing my agreement with "Well, they may not  be fabulous, but they'll definitely be free!".

So a time was set and off we went! I'm pretty pleased with how the entire thing went off, though I did learn a lot about shooting portrait photography. I'm just glad that I am friends with them- otherwise I'd have been way too jittery to do this at all!

Here are some of my favorite shots from the shoot.

Puppy Eyes

I was up earlier than usual this morning, and before heading to work I curled up for a few minutes on the couch with Chowder. I got up to head to work, looked back, and this is what greeted my eyes.

Puppies are great at guilting you. "Mom, we need to talk. Really, you shouldn't have moved until I did, and then you should have pet my belly. And given me bacon. And cat food. Rude, mom, so rude." *sigh* I did give him a treat- I am a sucker for those eyes!

Shades of Autumn: Yellow

I'm not sure why it took me so long to join up with this photo challenge! Maybe it is because we don't really have fall where I live...

But a recent trip to Minneapolis (to visit my parents:) gave me a chance to soak in some fall colors. Oh yeah, and photograph them too:) I'll be working through other shots from our mini vacation, and I'm hoping to share those with you as the week progresses!

For now- join me over at Bumbles and Light for the Shades of Autumn challenge!

Disclaimer- Mr. Pony took this photo. I do not have magic powers {sad}

Chowder Up Close- the last!

I believe that if Chowder became people, he'd end up as a hobbit. Look at those toes! All that fuzz between them is really unnecessary! When he is flopped down, you can see that he has hair that grows down from between his toes... and it is an inch long at least! He has warm wee tootsies!

Chowder Up Close: Part 3

Welcome back for another installment of Chowder Up Close!! Chowder has random hair that sprouts at odd angles, and makes his little ears so adorable!! Squee!

Chowder part 2

Chowder loves to sniff. We'll be out for a walk and he'll sniff so hard to find the bunny that he doesn't even notice it sitting a few feet away from him. He loves explaining the world to himself through his little nose, he provides endless amusement to those around him with his constant questing!!

I love his wee little nose (and the rest of him!).