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I'd hopped on the mower tonight to get some of the side field cut before dark. As I went around on the mower, I saw the dwindling sky light become increasingly interesting. I debated with myself whether I should stop, go in, and get my camera. "Mow?" "Take pictures?" "Mow?" "Take pictures?" But I was able to do some of both! 
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 "Canada Geese" in oil by Larry Fanning You know that I have been steadily other-homing books. Two or three times, I have had a specific one in my hand to put on the Go pile but kept pulling it back. And I am glad that I did! It is a book that I have had since I was stationed at Fort Knox in my early 20s. And have never read. Began reading it yesterday and it is wonderful!
"A Sand County Almanac" by Aldo Leopold, written in Wisconsin in the 1940s. It is a collection of essays that were in draft form when Mr. Leopold died in 1948. His son Luna edited them for publication in 1949. I love the writing! Besides being a naturalist, he was also a historian and the pages are filled with both. Here is a paragraph: "March. The Geese Return. A cardinal, whistling spring to a thaw but later finding himself mistaken, can retrieve his error by resuming his winter silence. A chipmunk, emerging for a sunbath but finding a blizzard, has only to go back to bed. But a migrating goose, staking two hundred miles of black night on the chance of finding a hole in the lake, has no easy chance for retreat. His arrival carries the conviction of a prophet who has burned his bridges." Great stuff in this little book which I have only begun to read! This afternoon after it stopped snowing, the wind became stronger and I looked out and watched snow cyclones dance! I bundled up (way, way up!), and went out into the frigid air and took something like 120 photos under an ever-changing sky. These are my Pick Four. I love living up high but there's a whole lot of wind crossing these hills! How artistically magnificent this is! The photo and the puppies belong to Tor Johansen of Norway. 
Happy New Year! I chose this wonderful graphic because my dream vacation is getting on a horse and walking him away from civilization for a week. Somewhere in a western state, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Texas, I'm not picky. I'm going to check some places out. Other than that, I have sat down to think about goals for this year. So far, the page is blank! I am a little tired. Need more coffee. But not too much caffeine or the goals list will be galloping into the sunset... I hope your dreams for 2014 come true. 
This is Pie, daughter of Owl, in two super shots by Christian Stock Photography. In fact, Pie is owned by Christian Stock Photography!   Wonderful photos, Christian! Thank you!
The renowned "Danish Blue Plates" collectibles have featured nearly all breeds of dogs through the years. I came upon a website today that pictured a number of the dachshund blue plates. And I could not help but notice the difference in the body types of the dogs from earlier editions to later ones. I wish I could post these as larger files, but I increased the original thumbnails to 131% as it is, that's about as far as I could go. But simply see the overall body types and outlines.
Top row are earlier versions of standard longhair, miniature longhair, and wirehair.
Bottom row are later versions of same sizes and coats. First, it is obvious that the dachshunds have become longer. Second, it is easy to see that they have also become lower. Finally, you might notice that that they were taken out of the woods! Unfortunately, it is an all too real depiction of what has been happening to this breed. Same music, same group, two very different renditions. I may account for 101 views of each of them myself. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is wonderful!  What a beautiful photo! 5.5 years old, Svante, father of Viljo, was recently Helsinki Winner 2013. Some of his other accomplishments include: Finland's 2011 Longhaired dachshund of the year, show Champion in six countries, tracking Champion in Sweden, and successful in the blood tracking recovery of moose and deer.
Svante is owned and handled by Tia Eskelinen of Finland. His breeder is Marina Nilsson of Red Top's dachshunds in Sweden. Photo credit to kuvauksellista.com Elaine Hanson posted this link on a dachshund forum a few days ago. I am posting it here because I found it astonishing what this woman, Nirit Levav, former bridal gowns designer, is creating with chains and parts from old bicycles! The first one pictured and the last one are my favorites. Do scroll through to the end!
Mindy Reed sent photos of artistic woodpiles. How interesting! I went online and found more. Amazing, really, what people can do. Thanks, Mindy! 
Korean organic sculptor Jay Hyo Lee
Hungarian artist Gyula Várnai
Montana cordwood stacked by Gary Tallman
Arch on a farm in Hawley, Massachusetts
Canadian wood artist Alastair Heseltine
Team Olive certainly surpassed their goal of 60 qualifying agility Excellent B runs for 2012! Not to mention the Master Agility Champion title that Olive earned on August 11! Way to GO, Olive! Of Double Q #31 today, John writes: Excellent B Standard, Olive ran in 67.09 (SCT 76). Not a good course for us - starting and ending with a line of offset jumps - but Olive had a good run, particularly after the weaves. In fact, so fast that she almost took a wrong course tunnel on me. 3rd place.  Olive became a Master Agility Champion in 2012 Congratulations to Olive, John, and Diane!
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra's two month "Lost Christmas Eve Tour 2012" ended today in Columbus, Ohio. I had heard great things about TSO but the concert far exceeded my expectations! I was in awe of the magnitude of the talent, professionalism, and sheer good will energy of the performance! If you have opportunity to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in concert - GO!!! Diane Webb and John Willmore sent me two photos from California that they'd had BEAUTIFULLY framed. The large one (20x11) is the photo of 5 Dorndorf dogs taken at DCA in Wisconsin last year. Here are photos of that photo: alone and also newly put up on my dog wall. The other photo they sent is an 8x10 of Olive who became a new Master Agility Champion in 2012. I have emailed them these photos and also wanted to share them here. THANK YOU, JOHN AND DIANE! Hope everyone is having a great day!   All the Blessings of the Christmas season to you and yours.  My 2013 Helderberg Seasons calendar came today. By Jolanta Jeanneney Photography, the photos are even better 'in person!' Besides the wonderful nature photos, the superb quality of the materials used by Cafe Press is the same as last year. And they ship the calendar very well, too. It arrived without bends, wrinkles, or even corners the least bit stubbed. I am plugging the calendar because I like it. Jolanta, thank you.  I hope that you had the opportunity today to be well fed, to relax and to be warm. If so, talk about having things to be thankful for! Here is a black/white print of a favorite art piece of mine. It is "The Forester's Home" painted in 1886 by Ludwig Knaus in Germany. The original is 40 in x 56 in. It resides in The Corcoran Gallery of Art which is the largest privately supported cultural institution in Washington, DC. Information from the Corcoran's catalog of its art: Born in 1829, Ludwig Knaus first studied in Dusseldorf, then in Paris, where he attained the Order of the Legion of Honor, and afterwards became Professor of Painting at Berlin until 1884. Love the detail, the dogs, and everything else!  |
