[Canon 5D Mk III, 35mm f/2 IS]
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2015/02/let-sleeping-dogs-lie.html
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2015/02/let-sleeping-dogs-lie.html
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Monday, February 9, 2015
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
I try to let this sleeping dog lie, because she's so cute and it's a pleasure to watch her. There's no risk following an accidental awakening, though. Ziva can snap to alertness in a second, and is well tempered even then.
Even more impressive to me is how dogs and cats can fall asleep in a few seconds when the opportunity is given them. I sometimes wish I could do that in the middle of the day, then return immediately to wakefulness and be refreshed and fully functional. There's no app for that!
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Please Follow Me!
"Please feed me a treat!" says Ziva, but I will use her image to say "please follow my blog!" Because you can, and why not!
[Exif: 35 mm, f/2, 1/200 sec., ISO 16,000 < YES!, Canon 5D Mk III]
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2015/01/please-follow-me.html
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Cheese Ring - How To Make One
Have you ever wanted to create a properly shaped cheese ring? First, to introduce our instructor to any new readers of this blog, here is Ziva, happily sharing dreamland with her snowman.
If you thought the series of "got milk?" mustaches were impressive, look at the almost perfectly arced, delicately drawn muzzle ring of cottage cheese that Ziva displays (no touch-up, no enhancement). Nasal accent optional.
And here is how it is done. One picture, worth at least a few dozen words of explanation (which I have already squandered), yes?
If you thought the series of "got milk?" mustaches were impressive, look at the almost perfectly arced, delicately drawn muzzle ring of cottage cheese that Ziva displays (no touch-up, no enhancement). Nasal accent optional.
And here is how it is done. One picture, worth at least a few dozen words of explanation (which I have already squandered), yes?
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2015/01/cheese-ring-how-to-make-one.html
Monday, January 26, 2015
Hiding
You can infer the story from these two photos, I'm confident. Or invent whatever you like. Note the mud-stained nose.
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2015/01/hiding.html
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Can Cute Be Terminal?
Can a creature be so constantly cute as to be boring?
No...I don't think so...
No...I don't think so...
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2015/01/can-cute-be-terminal.html
Doggie Hypnotism
Look into my eyes...you will obey...me...
Wait, who is supposed to obey whom?
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2015/01/doggie-hypnotism.html
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Z is for Ziva
Perhaps novelist Sue Grafton should consider using Ziva as the eponymous inspiration for the final installment of her ongoing "alphabet" murder mysteries. I suspect Kinsey Millhone would approve, though I can't think of any connection the lovely and charming Ziva Dog Diva could have to nefarious activities.
Last night I was reading a different author's work (I've long since caught up with Grafton's output, and eagerly await "X is for..."), and parked on a sofa for comfort. Ziva parked by my feet, only slightly overlapping one slipper (she often puts herself squarely on whatever part of me is available). So as I absorbed The Racketeer, by John Grisham, Ziva emitted z's...zzzzzzz.
One quick glance to be sure she had my permission:
She didn't budge when I reached one arm to the side to get this perspective (a camera phone is much more practical than a DSLR for this sort of shooting):
Today, when I got home from rehearsal, after we went for a hike, Ziva made it clear that she wanted to play with a "snowman" that she was recently given by a neighborhood friend. Our dear friend has an older dog named Alexa, who was best friends with our late, beloved Photon. Alexa had grown tired of some of her things, gets along well with Ziva, and Ziva seems really excited about getting to play with them herself. She wanted an audience, too, so I obliged with a camera.
After the exercise (there was a lot of running and fetching), Ziva calmed down, looked around and sniffed...what dogs do to explore their surroundings, after all...so I caught some tight portraits.
"Why don't you put down that Grisham novel and get back to The Calculus Diaries (Jennifer Ouellette)?" Okay Ziva, you don't have to monitor my reading habits, even though I do monitor your eating habits.
Last night I was reading a different author's work (I've long since caught up with Grafton's output, and eagerly await "X is for..."), and parked on a sofa for comfort. Ziva parked by my feet, only slightly overlapping one slipper (she often puts herself squarely on whatever part of me is available). So as I absorbed The Racketeer, by John Grisham, Ziva emitted z's...zzzzzzz.
One quick glance to be sure she had my permission:
She didn't budge when I reached one arm to the side to get this perspective (a camera phone is much more practical than a DSLR for this sort of shooting):
Today, when I got home from rehearsal, after we went for a hike, Ziva made it clear that she wanted to play with a "snowman" that she was recently given by a neighborhood friend. Our dear friend has an older dog named Alexa, who was best friends with our late, beloved Photon. Alexa had grown tired of some of her things, gets along well with Ziva, and Ziva seems really excited about getting to play with them herself. She wanted an audience, too, so I obliged with a camera.
After the exercise (there was a lot of running and fetching), Ziva calmed down, looked around and sniffed...what dogs do to explore their surroundings, after all...so I caught some tight portraits.
"Why don't you put down that Grisham novel and get back to The Calculus Diaries (Jennifer Ouellette)?" Okay Ziva, you don't have to monitor my reading habits, even though I do monitor your eating habits.
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2015/01/z-is-for-ziva.html
Monday, January 19, 2015
Y in the sky
Contrails can be interesting. I spotted this while walking toward a Greenway entrance this morning. The broader trail had spread quite a lot, but it might not have taken very long. I saw the narrow one being formed by a jet that must have been on a lower flight path than the other. Its trail broadened noticeably in just a few seconds. Why look up, Y...
Although the sewer line work on the Crabtree Creek Trail is far from completed, the workmen waved me through today, so I felt I had official permission to hike and explore. So, we headed for Crabtree Valley.
Not so long ago, this area was covered with ice.
Into the woods...
No entry this way:
Ziva, the junkyard dog? No, but how did she get in there?
She fits where most adult humans can't (and she was on her leash the whole time).
The return trip under Edwards Mill Road was impressive, thanks to reflection of a blue sky that rendered even deeper blue water.
Some of the pumping and dredging equipment is very colorful.
This might give some young kids nightmares.
It's a cyborg zombie, ready to suck the brains of the unwary.
But that oddly gruesome thought only occurred to me now, as I write. Our trip this morning was very pleasant, and put me in a good mood for the start of the day.
Although the sewer line work on the Crabtree Creek Trail is far from completed, the workmen waved me through today, so I felt I had official permission to hike and explore. So, we headed for Crabtree Valley.
Not so long ago, this area was covered with ice.
Into the woods...
No entry this way:
Ziva, the junkyard dog? No, but how did she get in there?
She fits where most adult humans can't (and she was on her leash the whole time).
The return trip under Edwards Mill Road was impressive, thanks to reflection of a blue sky that rendered even deeper blue water.
Some of the pumping and dredging equipment is very colorful.
This might give some young kids nightmares.
It's a cyborg zombie, ready to suck the brains of the unwary.
But that oddly gruesome thought only occurred to me now, as I write. Our trip this morning was very pleasant, and put me in a good mood for the start of the day.
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2015/01/y-in-sky.html
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Quadruped-icecapade
Tweet
Here are two versions of a video of Ziva teaching herself to skate on a frozen puddle. The sound of the cracking ice excited her to the point that she barked loudly, and it echoed across the landscape!
Here are two versions of a video of Ziva teaching herself to skate on a frozen puddle. The sound of the cracking ice excited her to the point that she barked loudly, and it echoed across the landscape!
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2015/01/quadruped-icecapade.html
Sunday, January 4, 2015
A Shoe-In for Top Dog
[Shoo-in/Shoe-in, yes, I know the most likely etymology, and proper spelling, but how could I resist the pun?]
Considering the way that Ziva can gnaw a very large bone into shreds (and eat them), and that she has been known to chew various objects not intended for her consumption (e.g., she removed an elastic strap from one of my concert shoes), you might think that I would be concerned about the fact that shoes are regularly found on any of four of her "parking rugs". These shoes are normally kept in a large bucket by the front door.
However, after two such chewing incidents, things have settled into a groove where it is apparent that our cunning quadruped simply likes to have footwear near her as a comfort, particularly when she is alone for awhile. We have already heard some of your comments to the effect that dogs like strong smells... Be that as it may, Ziva is a comely foot-fetishista. Although I love Greek cheese, please, let's not have any puns involving feta, okay? But then, this blog post is enough off-the-wall that I really should allow open season in the comments section, as usual.
By the way, the shoe is completely intact, no missing sole, it just happens to have an insole that is a pretty good color match for the rug. Maybe Ziva has a genetic mutation that gives her trichromatic vision (like humans) unlike other canines and most mammals (which have only two types of color receptors, somewhat like humans with red-green color blindness). Of course I'm engaging in fantasy; I think Ziva was just lucky about the color. On the other hand, I could not identify hundreds of people by traces of their odor, hours after they passed through an area.
Considering the way that Ziva can gnaw a very large bone into shreds (and eat them), and that she has been known to chew various objects not intended for her consumption (e.g., she removed an elastic strap from one of my concert shoes), you might think that I would be concerned about the fact that shoes are regularly found on any of four of her "parking rugs". These shoes are normally kept in a large bucket by the front door.
However, after two such chewing incidents, things have settled into a groove where it is apparent that our cunning quadruped simply likes to have footwear near her as a comfort, particularly when she is alone for awhile. We have already heard some of your comments to the effect that dogs like strong smells... Be that as it may, Ziva is a comely foot-fetishista. Although I love Greek cheese, please, let's not have any puns involving feta, okay? But then, this blog post is enough off-the-wall that I really should allow open season in the comments section, as usual.
By the way, the shoe is completely intact, no missing sole, it just happens to have an insole that is a pretty good color match for the rug. Maybe Ziva has a genetic mutation that gives her trichromatic vision (like humans) unlike other canines and most mammals (which have only two types of color receptors, somewhat like humans with red-green color blindness). Of course I'm engaging in fantasy; I think Ziva was just lucky about the color. On the other hand, I could not identify hundreds of people by traces of their odor, hours after they passed through an area.
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-shoe-in-for-top-dog.html
Ziva begins a new year
As this photo suggests, Ziva still enjoys relaxing in favorite places, when she's not racing around with limitless energy. (We think she may be a mix of Terrier and German Shepherd. There's a lot of intelligence, some stubbornness, and an incredible capacity and desire for play.)
This look makes me think of the human phrase "guilty pleasure". She sure derives a lot of fun from getting a bone and exercising her jaw. I doubt that Ziva feels any guilt over eating or other enjoyment (Why should she? Why should we!), but there's something about the look at this moment, as if she's acknowledging that I caught her in the act.
The stripes on Ziva's back seem to have become more prominent as winter progresses. This may have a cause related to the weather, or may simply be part of her maturing. We'll have a better idea when spring rolls around.
This look makes me think of the human phrase "guilty pleasure". She sure derives a lot of fun from getting a bone and exercising her jaw. I doubt that Ziva feels any guilt over eating or other enjoyment (Why should she? Why should we!), but there's something about the look at this moment, as if she's acknowledging that I caught her in the act.
The stripes on Ziva's back seem to have become more prominent as winter progresses. This may have a cause related to the weather, or may simply be part of her maturing. We'll have a better idea when spring rolls around.
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2015/01/ziva-begins-new-year.html
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