The Notorious B-U-G
Mom always tells me that my birthdays make her feel older than her own birthdays do, and today I understand that feeling.
I’ve had Bugsy since he was six weeks old. He was the one male in a litter of seven, and when he pranced up to me like he owned the joint, I knew I had to have him.
He loves to cuddle on the couch. He loves to take walks around the neighborhood. And he loves to run off with your socks while you’re trying to put them on.
Happy birthday, Bug-man!
Out-of-this-world smile
Meet Princess Leia!
She is 14 years old, but has the sweet and energetic eyes of a young pup. Some might call her slow, but after spending some time with her this evening, I’ll just call her steady and thoughtful. If she wants to come over and see you, she’ll definitely make her way.
Adopted by Becky at six months old, Princess Leia is a lab-border collie mix who now spends time enjoying life around Wimberley, keeping a close watch over her “shop” on the square and greeting visitors. She is a sweet, gentle dog who — you can tell at first glance — has received, given and shared a lifetime of love with her family.
She’s certainly not letting age, cancer and a little hearing loss keep a smile from her face or a wag from her tail.
Lil' Wayne
Wayne is a happy dog these days. He had a rough start in life — living in a home where they didn’t treat him quite as special as they should have — but a local rescue group, a couple of chihuahua lovers and a big heart changed all of that.
Our friend Mary saw little Wayne’s face at an adoption drive being sponsored and held by a local rescue group dedicated to small dogs. He was a feisty little fellow, kept away from the other dogs that day, and not many people wanted to consider him. Until Mary came along. A couple of friends encouraged her to give him some thought, and after a few minutes visiting with him, she knew it was a match made in heaven. That was five years ago.
At eight years old today, Wayne is the man of the house. He shares his home with two beautiful cats twice his size, who definitely know that he’s in charge.
Happy Birthday, Wayne! I’m so happy I got to spend part of your special day eating peanut butter snacks with you!
The Birthday Boy
What a handsome boy
We went to see some friends in Wimberley Saturday evening for dinner and great conversation. When we pulled up to the house late that afternoon, this is the sweet face that greeted us.
Rocky is now a little more than 12 years old. Our friends Brandon and Kimberly have had him since he was about 7. Brandon got to know Rocky as a puppy, but the friend he was with could no longer take care of him. So Brandon and Kimberly opened their hearts and their home up to him.
Though he used to spend hours and hours playing fetch, he’s now happy just to be by Brandon’s side, always close to his family.
In the evening sunlight
Sweet Phoebe in the Backyard
I was an only child. About the time that I moved off to college, my folks and some coworkers found a momma kitty and her brand new litter under a dumpster at the hospital where they worked. Mom and Dannie took two of the kittens home: Bart and Phoebe.
Bart was an adventurer and a hunter. He would run into the fields behind their house, chasing anything that dared try to get away from him. He would often bring back pieces of his conquests, laying tiny tails and other body parts at my parents’ front door, seeking praise for being such a good hunter. One day several years ago, he went out on an adventure and never came back.
Phoebe, on the other hand, always liked to stay pretty close to home. She loved nothing more than to curl up on the couch for hours with Mom while she read a nice, long book. Napping on a comfy blanket next to Mom on the couch is still one of her favorites places to this day.
Sweet Pink Nose
Phoebe turns 19 this year, and there’s not much that makes me feel older than thinking about it being 19 years since I went off to college. Her thyroid and kidneys are showing their age, and she’s getting a bit demanding — if she wants fresh-from-the-tap water at 2 a.m., she’s not shy about letting Mom and Dannie know — but for the most part, she’s doing great.
She’s not a big fan of the camera — I’ve been trying for ages to get a good picture of her — but grab a book and curl up on the couch with her, and she’s one happy kitty.
Sweet Jazz at the Park
I’ve been hearing for ages now how we should all follow our passions. That when we choose to follow our passions, the happiness (and hopefully the paycheck) is sure to follow.
I love my job and have no desire to leave it, but I also know I still need to follow my passions: Pets and photography. So I’ve decided to try to do some volunteer work involving the two. And sweet Jazz helped me bring all of that together in my mind.
Several months ago, my mom asked me to photograph Jazz for a friend of hers. Jazz was getting old and having a hard time getting around. Mom just thought it would be a great idea for me to take a few pictures of Jazz while she was still healthy enough to play in the park. A way for me to have some fun and practice with my camera, and a way for her friend to be able to look back and think of healthier, happier times. It was my pleasure to do so.
That one morning at the park with Jazz made me realize that other families might be facing the same issue: losing their beloved pet sooner than they’d like. I simply want to be able to offer a lasting memory to them.
My plan: Talk to my vet, the one who takes wonderful care of our five four-legged babies, and see if she knows of families in the area who might appreciate a fellow pet lover capturing some great portraits of their beloved pets before age and illness step in.
More to come as I hash it all out in my brain.
