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Yesterday, after dinner was started Niki and I decided to do a little bird watching.  As you can see by viewing the photograph of Nik-Nak…it is very relaxing. I, of course had my camera with me and managed a few shots. While we have many types of birds that visit our feeders, we have a large amount of cardinal’s.  While sitting I noticed with the arrival of Spring, many of the birds are just a bit more territorial then usual. They were so busy chasing each other away…did not mind us watching though….they too did a little dog and people watching!

All photographs were taken with a Nikon d300, Sigma 70-200 zoom lens.

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The many signs of spring are popping up everywhere….birds singing in the Bradford Pear trees, as are there lots of buds and flowers. I fell in love with both the dogwood tress and Bradford Pear trees when we first arrived in Georgia. Due to the wet land, we could not get a dogwood to grow on our property. So, in went the Bradford Pears, what I did not know at the time was that the flowers smell….and not a very pleasant aroma at that. The trees beauty when blooming make the smell something to just ignore, it is only for a short time. This year just may be shorter then most for freezing rain and possible snow is in the forecast…so glad I took a few minutes to get a few shots late yesterday….even if I did not have enough time to enjoy due to the light fading. Last image is the daylilies popping up throughout the yard. All images taken with a Nikon D300, close up lens (without tripod….always best to use a tripod….especially if not steady).

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I always wonder just what they are thinking and doing….maybe a little People Watching

I have been missing in action….not feeling 100%….so taking a little break from the world….when the weather is nice….you will find the pack and me out back doing a little bird watching….going for walks and just wanting to feel better….soon, I’ll be back real soon!!!!

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The color Red…

can be warm…hot…Fire.

Feelings and emotions of

Anger, Desire, Passion…Love…

All shades of Red.

Strength…our beating heart…

Joy, friendship…femininity… Courage…Longing…

All that can be conjured up by

The Color Red!

With the warmer temperatures this afternoon I was in the moood for photographing a few flowers. While spring is not yet here, I just happened to have a few flowers from Valentines day. Opened the blinds, placed the flowers on a dog crate near the light from the window and managed a few great shots. All images were taken with a Nikon D300 and a macro lens.

***As with all images and paintings found on the Paw Prints Studio Site, Images belong to Paw Prints Studio, INC. You may not borrow, use or place on other sites, print, etc. Most images and paintings are for sale, if interested just contact us.

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I hope all of my friends have a Happy Valentines Day. I hope someone did something special for you today…and vice a versa…or maybe just do something nice for yourself!  I have never really been a big fan of Valentines day….although I like the idea of wishing all a Happy Valentines rather then just that special someone, although that is nice as well.  The above image was taken with a  Nikon d300, wide angle lens….oh and the use of a few small pieces of hot dog was used…hey Rocky demands treats when he works

Below, something special I made  as a Valentines gift….a good meal, good wine and a wonderful desert…what a great gift. The desert is not low cal….but oh my, very yummy (recipe follows).

Tiramisu….rather then use lady fingers crushed Amaretti cookies were used (if using the crushed cookies you do not need as much of the coffee and rum…and I went to the local coffee shop for the espresso…cookies were purchased online, although you could make them yourself).

6 egg yolks (room temp), 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup good dark rum, 1 1/2 cup brewed expresso, 16 oz. mascarpone cheese, 30 itl. ladyfingers…or crushed amaretti cookies, shaved bittersweet chocolate.

Whisk the yolks and sugar on high for five minutes until thick and light. Lower speed to med. and add 1/4 cup coffee and 1/4 cup dark rum, cheese…whisk until smooth.  Dip one side of the lady finger in remaining coffee and rum mixture…line a bowl (or a layer of crushed cookies….drizzle rum/coffee mixture over the crushed cookies). Pour cheese mixture….then repeat with a layer of lady fingers, or cookies….more cheese. Top with crushed cookie and shaved chocolate. refrigerate over night….then enjoy!

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Time goes by so very quickly….Sammy and I are very old friends. He has been visiting me and my pack for many years now. Yesterday was Sammy’s 10th Birthday, he is spending it with me because his people are on vacation for two weeks. In celebration we did a few of his favorite things….went for a few walks, ran with Niki and Gemma and did a little bird watching, kept the squirrels away from the bird feeder. All in all….it was pretty good day. Happy Birthday Sammy

The above portrait was taken with a Nikon D300, 70-200….below, Nikon D300 with a sigma wide angle….birds Nikon D300, 70-200 lens.

** Our beloved furry friends are with us for such a short time, do not miss an opportunity to photograph (check our class schedule on How to take better photographs of out furry friends) or make an appointment with Dee to have your furry friend photographed, remember….February’s special savings is $25.00 off the sitting fee.

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After having problems with the site….took the rest of the day and just hung out with the dogs…playing, doing agility and a little bird watching.

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Gemma…aka wild coyote. This image was taken this morning with a Nikon D300…28-70 f 3.5 @1/20 of a sec ISO was pretty high due to the lighting…and the fact I was OH so very lazy and hand held the camera. Impossible for me t0 hand hold a camera under a 60th of a second (depending on the day and how sturdy I am). Still….lazy moment and I wanted a few images for todays blog. Gemma is a mixed breed….she happened to come to me for socialization and training several years ago. I like to say I earned a good bit of money, in the end got a dog too. She actually was the most unsocialized dog at seven months or so I have ever met. After being in my care for several months….soooo much progress was made….I state that as in progress for this dog. She did not trust humans….her saving grace was the fact she so liked being part of the pack…she learned through them. My pack of five at the time were dogs that so adored people were well trained and well balanced. I was honest with the woman when asked if she would ever be “normal”….my reply was that no…you cannot go back in time to ensure proper socialization….heck….just a little bit of socialization would have benefited this dog. You can only move forward….try to make her as balanced a dog as she can be. I doubt she will ever like being in the company of people, that is other then her own. She accompanies us on vacations….as long as she is with her pack, she is a happy dog.

Her person at the time had seven other dogs…..all rescues. A very big heart, however she worked full time and had little time left for eight dogs, severall of which had behavioral issues. Since progress was so slow going…..it was decided Gemma was not to go back home. Sigh…..while I can in no way save all of the dogs….I knew I could keep Gemma safe, and those that were in her company safe….so she remained with us. So many improvements made….still, she really does not like people, change, being taken out of her environment. I like to say she is a works in progress. Gemma has so many fears….pretty sad…but we keep her active….work her and yes, adore her. We praise the wanted behavior and pretty much ignore her fears. One of her fears is bad weather. She will seek my company out and that is all right….she must remain calm. Thunder storm phobia is usually something that worsens with age in many breeds. So far I have only seen improvements….still she has so learned all of the approaching signs of a storm….barometric pressure, darkening of the sky….wind etc. Some dogs also react to their humans fear and behavior. Comforting the dogs for panting, pacing and going into a state of high anxiety….well you are rewarding that behavior. Yes, it is soooo tough for some to understand that often times we make the anxiety worse.

Again, the above image taken this morning…Nikon D300, Sigma wide angle lens…another of those situations where the use of a tripod would have come in handy. With the storms approaching there was a lot of bird activity at the feeders…all three looked up at the same time…what I like to call a Happy accident. So….rainy day blues here in the Atlanta area, waiting, keeping an eye out for we are in a tornado “Watch”…these same storms have been more then rainy day blues in surrounding states. For all in the storms path…pay attention…stay safe.

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Just in time for Valentines Day as a special gift to our blog readers…save $25.00 off the Photography Sitting Fee. For those interested in a painted portrait save $25.00…all sizes…all you have to do is mention the February Blog Special to save $25.00.

Gift Certificates are available and make a wonderful Valentines Gift.

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The start of a new day…sounds promising indeed. My days each start pretty much the same…get up, take the puppies outside….pretty chilly this morning from 60 degrees yesterday to low 30’s this morning….brrrrr….shuffle into the bathroom, entourage following. Wash up, brush teeth….comb hair….all without ever looking in the mirror….way too early for that. Head into office, still in my jammies….turn PC on….back in the kitchen to put the tea kettle up (I like a cup of green tea in the morning). It is then I notice somewhere along the way I have lost my entourage. I head back to the office and there they are…already napping, knowing I will sit look through e-mail….sip my tea…look at yesterdays work and start painting for about an hour or so, then time for breakfast. They are so very adaptable to my schedule. I type that with a smile for…say, I was to go over that hour of quiet time in the morning….then boy are they ever so annoying for they want breakfast. After each feeding there is a pack rule ….no play for a few hours (always reminded me when I was a kid, no swimming after eating)….this rule stems from having dogs that can possibly suffer from bloat. It has never been discovered why some breeds experience this, we know it is in many a hereditary problem…others, well so many things have been said to be the cause….since no one really knows…well there must be rules right

Well, they know exactly when it is time to play…..they just know. Just as they know when one of their loved ones should be coming home….sure, your thinking that they are creatures of habit…yes indeed, that they are….but it is more then that. …Dogs can tell time

The image was taken this morning, bad light but this is the view from my chair when it is pushed back….often times Gemma (the dog that is missing from the photo) does not follow me into the office, but rather stop in the living room preferring to nap on the comfy leather sofa.