It happens to all of us…so much to do with so little time to do it. Get your gifts early….better yet I think the best gifts are those made with thought. These are a few of the things I will be doing this year…
Baked goods make lovely gifts and is something that you can do with your family. Photo gifts are another family craft project that can be fun and done together….homemade facial scrubs, body scrubs all make wonderful gifts. Make a wonderful basket filled with yummy treats, or one filled with yummy homemade scrubs with a wonderful scented candle….a photo calendar, photo mug and photo tee shirt….with treats and coffee beans or tea bags.
Of course….It is not too late to book an appointment with a professional photographer, but do so now for time is running out….a little too late for a Painted Portrait, please remember that Gift Certificates also make a lovely gift to add to your gift list for someone special.

Often times throughout the busy times, especially around the Holidays we often forget about our four legged family members. So….get the dog, get the children and start going for daily walks…it will take a half an hour to hour out of your busy day. I think of this time as family time….great exercise for the entire family….no TV, radio….just you and family going for a lovely walk. If your dog is not well behaved on leash….start training the dog to walk nicely….they need your time as does your family…more important then shopping and parties

Of Course, if baking, do not forget your furry friends. I do this around the Holidays and my pups love them….no, not healthy but once a year will not hurt them!

Pumpkin Bar Doggie Treats
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 tablespoons butter-flavored Crisco
1 whole egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine flour, cinnamon and nutmeg; cut in shortening.

Beat egg with milk and pumpkin and combine with flour, mixing well. Stir until soft dough forms. Drop by tablespoons onto un greased cookie sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool and serve.

If you bake these yummy treats please do drop us a line and let us know how many “Paws” up your pup gave them. If you have a yummy recipe to share, feel free to do so in the comments area!

Since the move to the new web site I have had little time to continue working on the site, so pardon our mess as we are still very much a works in progress. While I hired someone to put this site together. The rest is now up to me…and like everyone else, time is something I would love to have more of.

Several inquires as to just what the forum is for….I wanted a place where students can go to share, learn and upload images. It does not look like this in house forum will be staying as I see no way to allow students to upload images as does it appear to have privacy issues. I think I have found another forum that will link to the site and it will better suit our needs.

As to what On-line Courses will be offered for 2008:

• Photographing Animals 4 week course
• Digital Photography 6 week course
• Digitally Painting Animals 6 week course (includes Embellishing your prints).
• Dog Obedience Training 6 week course

In the next few weeks there will be a page added to the site explaining each course as will there be an option for you to enroll and pay online. There will be a student limit for each class, the reason being is having enrolled in several online classes myself great for the instructor if there are no student limit, not so great for the students. Students will have access to PDF files, videos, forum and for those that can attend…weekly live chats.

 

I have been so very busy with painting a few portraits, teaching dog obedience that I have not had the time to update the blog. Took a day to get a few chores done, and of course hung out with the puppies. I have not photographed them since my last posting….so early this afternoon found us out and about. It is a beautiful fall day here in the Atlanta area. Still in a very severe drought so while we are enjoying this pretty weather….we really need the rain. Manged a few action shots and of course a few close ups of the puppies….they really are too cute!!!! Due to the lack of  rain I found little else to photograph for I have not planted any of the fall flowers.

Niki and Gemma striking a pose.

 

****Halloween, not one of my favorite days. I did not even like it when I was young…it was not fun to me. Not sure why folks still allow the kids out and about knocking on doors and ringing the bell of strangers. It would seem to me, more fun if the parents allowed the kids to have a party. Halloween Safety…please keep your pets inside, especially your cats. Also, tell the little ones no sharing their candy with your furry friends, especially chocolate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our pets each have their most favorite games to play and their most favorite treats…add them together and fun will be had by all.
Just some of the things my dogs enjoy doing through the course of the day…every day. They never get bored…too bad we cannot be more like our furry friends! If you have not gotten any wonderful photographs of your pets doing the things they enjoy most…..do. It is easy if your patient….have camera in hand, make sure your settings are for action and proper lighting ISO set 400 or higher (my images were shot at 1600 on a very overcast day).  Then throw some toys….I was kneeling down so that I was more on their level.

If you are not getting the results that you would like know that there are Professional Pet Photographers that will come have some fun with you and your pets….if in the Atlanta area do contact Paw Prints Studio.

Remember, this will make a wonderful Holiday Gift….Gift certificates also available.

 

***Please note…Carnations, although lovely are poisonous to our pets. In the original he is holding a stick….this is a digitally manipulated image.

Fall has arrived here in the Atlanta area….the temperature has cooled down, especially at night. Dry, cool days….lovely. The down side for us is that while we may enjoy the dry weather….we are in such a severe drought that rain would truly be a blessing. State wide ban on all outside watering.

The other day the pups and I went for a little adventure and sadly there were no lovely fall blooms to be photographed
A trip to the local florist was needed to bring some lovely Fall Colors into our lives, if only for a short while. While it did spruce up the place…I also managed a few photographs to share….enjoy the Fall colors! This is the start of my Close Up Photography series.

                                                                                                    

What a wonderful breed the Siberian Husky is. They are friendly, adore their families, however often times are more attached to one family member. They love to tell a tale or two…..however do not bark that much. Very smart, however they get bored easily, can be a tad bit on the stubborn side. They are NOT couch potatoes and training and exercise  is a must. As you can see they are simply Beautiful dogs!

A dear friend is spending a few days with us. I met Sammy many years ago when I worked for a Boarding facility….my job was to implement a training program for them, train a few other trainers. During my stay there one of the dogs that was boarded there for two weeks was also a Board and Train. I remember going to get little Sammy out of his run….he was curled up in ball…shaking and just not wanting to be there. He so looked forward to my daily visits….we would walk, train. I always brought my female Golden Jas to work with me….after training I would give him some play time with Jas….they too became fast friends. When I left the facility his Mama kept in touch with me and each year Sammy comes to visit. He and Jas so enjoyed one another….at the time I had a six pack and while he could be around the two females….the males he could do without. Over the years a few of the older dogs had gotten ill and died.
I remember the first time he came after Jas had died….he pined for her. While he could be around the males…..running, chasing one another was not to be. Slowly each year my pack got smaller and smaller….then two more females joined the pack….now Sammy’s visits are a bit more enjoyable. They LOVE to chase and tease him. .I love to sit and watch there crazy play sessions…Nik and Gemma get the best of him each and every time. All are quiet and resting for the time being….time for me to get some work done for they will soon be ready for another round. Notice the Roc missing in action….they presently do not like one another….in time I have no doubt that they will learn to get along.

 

Yep….with our new site we now have the ability to offer online Dog Training  on the Net…how you wonder

Since my beloved Rocky is in need of some dog training I thought I would use him as my demo dog…I am used to working with the very best as far as Demo dogs go….he has some very big paws to fill.

With video and PDF files you will view your weekly lessons. A private chat room will be set up for you to go to have your questions answered. So, if you have a young pup that needs some manners, or an older dog that you want to spend some quality time with while going over some obedience this will be perfect for you!

So….come join Rocky and I in a six week Dog Training Course starting 10-24 $45.00. Pay in Paw Prints Secure online store.

                                                                                                            

 Thank You Beth

 

 

 

Close up view.

Last few weeks I have been very busy. Running your own business is not an easy task….at least it has not been for me. In this small company of mine I wear many hats….trying to do it all and keep your creative juices flowing is a balancing act. Add to it that while many often wishes they could work from home….one must have the ability to put all things on the side and actually work from home. I try to balance this out by working several hours in the morning…..get to my chores and dogs then back to work. …this I have found to be the most difficult challenges of all. A struggle to keep it all going….a schedule. Add to that there will be those times when outside help with certain tasks will have to occur. Then….of course while your busy doing all of these things that must get done…..you are not doing the work that will earn you an income….which of course leads me to say support you local artists

Feeding the creative side of the brain…..now here is the most interesting part of it all…..one must “nurture” their creativity. I must look, see, feel….I must make the time to do those things that truly awaken….inspire me. If I get too bogged down with all of the other aspects of business, which happens often enough….I feel a very slight panic as I sit trying to sketch, paint or even look through my view finder. Imagine the feeling of nothing……the pencil hits paper and all of a sudden I cannot come up with a sketch….I am seeing “nothing” through the viewfinder. Yes, scary indeed that feeling of nothing. So…time to feed the creative side of the brain is so important….in other words….one must take the time to smell the roses so to speak.

So, this morning finds me putting it all on hold. The web site date with which it should be up and running has come and gone….little frustrations here and there and oh my…..I just have no creativity left in me this morning….so…the sun is shinning….cool autumn morning… the dogs and I will go exploring a bit and I have no doubt that I will return feeling a bit more like me.

Clearly I am not the only one that gets this panic feeling of nothing….or am I??????

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