Category Archives: Animalia

Rare Gold: Early Morning Light

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Shortly after obtaining my puppy Chules, we began training. Chules  is an America Eskimo dog, which is a breed known for ease of training, so I was eager to get started. True to his breed, things moved along quickly.

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The first thing Chules trained me in was the absolute necessity of rising early in the morning and heading out for a daily walk before we did anything else. Anything. Like coffee, breakfast, waking up…

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The reward in learning this trick was that I was often out and about during the morning “golden hour,” when lighting is said to be ideal for outdoor photography. Not that I really knew how to capitalize on the opportunity, but I did get some photos during our walks that I was rather pleased with.

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Now that Chules is older, training is less intense, and we sleep in a bit longer. I rarely catch the golden hour anymore, and a part of me misses it. But not the part of me that likes to drink coffee and have an unrushed breakfast in the morning.

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That part of me continues to defy training. As does Chules. I don’t mind, though, because to me, Chules is more precious than gold.

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The Daily Post weekly photo challenge: Rare

Eight Things

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Eight things I wouldn’t want to be:

I.  A big fish in a small pond.
8 big fish

 

II.  Just another brick in the wall.
8 brick

 

III.  The lone fire hydrant in a dog park.
8 fire hydrant

 

IV.  A sitting duck.
8 sitting duck

 

V.  On a train to nowhere.
8 train

 

VI.  A thorn in someone’s side.
8 thorn

 

VII.  Moss on a rolling stone.
8 moss

 

VIII.  Caught with my back — or butt — against the wall.
8 back to wall

The Daily Post Discover Challenge: The Poetry of List-Making

Dog’s Best Friend

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“Are you sure, brown dog? Bark if I see ANYTHING at all on the street, and twice as loud if I see NOTHING at all?”

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“Hmmm. Fruity, black currant, vanilla, buttery… I’d say cab-sauvignon aged in oak.”
“I’d say cherry Pop Tart.”

 

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Synchronized Sleeping

The Daily Post weekly photo challenge: Partners

 

International Day of Yoga

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June 21st is the United Nations-sanctioned International Day of Yoga (International Yoga Day). United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his Message on the 2016 International Day of Yoga, tells us, “Yoga balances body and soul, physical health and mental well-being.”

Pertinent to this year’s observance of #YogaDay, Ban Ki-moon states:

“Practicing yoga can also help raise awareness of our role as consumers of the planet’s resources and as individuals with a duty to respect and live in peace with our neighbours. All these elements are essential to building a sustainable future of dignity and opportunity for all.”

http://www.un.org/en/events/yogaday/message.shtml

Here are some poses that have definitely improved my mental well-being:

yoga legupwall
legs up the wall pose (Viparita Karani)

 

yoga downward dog
downward-facing dog pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana.)

 

yoga cow
cow pose (bitilasana)

 

yoga corpse
corpse pose (Shavasana)

 

yoga child
child pose (Balasana)

 

yoga treed pose
treed pose (Squirrelasana)

 

How will you observe International Yoga Day?