This and That from June...

In Spring and summer, there are certain things that create emotion.

I don't know what makes us so melancholy in the Spring and summer.

It just happens.

For instance, THIS fellow makes me both smile and get angry at the same time.

(He eats up all my bird seed, ALL DAY LONG!!):

And this little fluffy chipping sparrow twittering on the branches

just makes me happy:

The eloquence of a Columbine, makes me wonder about the miracles of Nature:

This was one of the farm dogs at the Alpaca farm I recently visited.

His sad, loyal eyes makes me want a dog again. Longing.

Really bad.

But I can't....I just can't:

A goldfinch in flight

just takes my breath away:

And seeing bright yellow in the trees after a barren, cold winter lifts my spirits up

more than I can describe:

And?

If he is FLUFFY??....

Well, it makes me darn right GIDDY:

The bright greens of hosta leaves and the delicate blue forget-me-nots

make me smile in wonder:

Finding a garden moose for my garden at a rummage sale for $4.00??

Practically DRUNK with joy!:

And spying a hummingbird aiming for spring blossoms?

Thankful to the angels in heaven:

May your day be full of this season's emotions....

and gratefulness to Mother Nature

for the joy the seasons brings us.

The U.P. Dog Sled Race 2010: Part TWO

For those of you that didn't see my last blogpost, please drop down to read Part ONE of this series before reading this one.

So, for the rest of us, let's continue with our dogsled race photos, shall we?

Today, I am still showing photos of before the race started.



The U.P. 200 Dog Sled Races has an organization behind it, of course.

And THIS is their President.

Don't you LOVE her hat???:

He just HAD to sneak a sniff at his companion dog before the race!

(Once a dog, always a dog!) ha:

There are judges to make sure all the rules of humane treatment to the dogs occur and that all the equipment is up to equal standards:

OMG!

I fell in love with his SWEET FACE!!:

See the hay and the little bins for the dogs to travel and sleep in?:







The Musher is carefully strapping on booties to each dog's feet to protect them from the ice:

Two cuties awaiting the race:

OH THOSE EYES!!!:

I LOVED this Musher hat!:

The fashioneesta of dog bootie wear!:










This is blurry, because it was very dark and the dogs were WILD at this point, but I wanted to show you how they YELP and jump around in excitement right before they line the dogs to get ready at the starting line! It is WONDERFUL!!!:

Don't you love his flashlight too?








C'mon home with me, baby...I will give you big hugs every 2 minutes:

Right after

I

HUG

YOU:

Stay tuned for PART THREE of this series, where I finally get to some shots of the teams taking off for the race!!


*Reminder!: Today is FEB. 27th...remember to enter a photo to the free Photography Contest. ONLY ONE DAY LEFT, PEOPLE!!! February's theme is "Critter Closeups". Please enter your photo by midnight on Feb. 28th to the address listed in these rules. Best of Luck to all the entries!I will be showing all the entries in an upcoming blogpost and announcing the winner of February's contest by Mar. 15th....stay tuned!!!