Riley — Page 22

Trying to Capture the Light

November 17, 2011 at 9:01 am by Claudia

Early evening – and it gets dark so early these days – and I thought I would experiment with the camera. No flash, of course. Just playing with the settings on my camera. Since it is what is called a bridge camera, there is only so much I can do. I think.

Lit by lamps and the ever-present glow from my laptop. The colors become muted in the photos. My eye sees the scene one way, the camera sees it very differently.

Riley’s sleeping in the den. He has no idea I’m taking his picture. Scout’s red toy is on the bench.

She looks pissed off. Is there anything wrong, your highness?

There’s something about a house in the evening. When I lived in Philadelphia and Boston, I would walk for blocks and blocks in the evening. Brownstones, row houses, apartments – all of them lit by lamps, offering a tantalizing peek into the interior. Just a quick glimpse of a corner or two – a snapshot of the world inside that particular home.

I love taking pictures. I love photography. Normally, I wouldn’t post these but I’m experimenting, trying to capture what my eyes see. It’s a challenge.

Before I forget, I want to share a couple of cute things I got in the dollar bin at Michael’s. I bought them just the other day, so I think they might be available in your neck of the woods, as well.

This is a little notebook that I keep on the table next to my blogging chair where I’m very comfortable, indeed. I’m using it to jot down ideas for blog posts.

These drawer pulls were a dollar and change. I bought 4 of them. I have no use for them at the moment, but I will. They look like porcelain. Love them.

I think I’ve contacted everyone personally, but if you’re here for Reality Shot Thursday, I regret to say it is no more. Last week someone posted a very suspicious link which I deleted. Luckily I caught it right away but that was because I was home that day. I don’t want anything on this blog that would be offensive or harmful in any way. Since the title of my meme was Reality Shot, it may have been found by spammers or those with bad intentions. I refuse to give them a platform of any kind.

Thanks so much to everyone who participated. I had fun; I hope you did, as well.

Here’s hoping the sun comes out today! It’s been a rainy week.

Enjoying the Porch While We Still Can

November 13, 2011 at 2:00 pm by Claudia

Lap it up, my doggies. Enjoy the warmth of the sun before the winter snows come. That pretty stone floor will be covered in snow and your favorite place won’t seem quite as welcoming.

Watch the cars and motorcycles go by. Bark at the occasional jogger. Make sure the deer and chipmunks and squirrels know this is your territory.

I love your ever-vigilant, house-guarding attitude. But today, take a deep breath and enjoy.
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My dear friend Brenda from Cozy Little House and I are starting a series. We’re calling it Defending the Small House. Thanks to Casey for giving us that title – she used those very words in a comment on my Living Comfortably in a Small Space post. Brenda and her two little dogs are living in just over 1000 square feet and Don and I (who are both tall) are living with our two big dogs in 1200 square feet. Each week, we’ll give our take on a particular small space topic. And we’ll ask for ideas from you, as well. Hope you’ll join us.

Are You a Cat or Dog Person? Or Both?

November 7, 2011 at 7:00 am by Claudia

This is my favorite photo of the dogs. There is such a sweetness, a gentleness to it. I have it framed and it lives on our living room wall.

I am a dog person. I wasn’t always. When I was a wee child, about 2 years old, a family friend’s dog jumped up on me and knocked me over. I became terrified of dogs – so much so that when I walked to my piano lesson about 6 blocks away from our home, I would cross the street if I saw any dog.

So my parents wisely decided to get a dog. They figured the only way to help rid me of my fear was for me to get to know and love a dog. He was a terrier named Friskie. I distinctly remember the barrier my parents put up between the kitchen and the living room which kept Friskie safely away from me in those first days. Mom would lift me up and carry me from room to room. Gradually, Friskie and I became friends. He slept in my bed with me. I would lift up the covers and he would burrow his way down to the foot of the bed where he felt cozy and warm. Friskie lived to be 16. Other wonderful dogs came our way. (Remind me to tell you the story of Shannon and my dad’s dentures some day.) It was a no cat household until I had moved out (I’m allergic to cat dander) and my sister conned my parents into rescuing a barn cat. Now they have two cats.

I spent years dreaming of having a dog. Because my life during graduate school and beyond consisted of small apartment living and long hours of work, I had to hold off. It wasn’t until Don and I moved in together that we got our beloved Winston, a rescued Aussie Shepherd mix. Then Scout, also a rescue, came into our lives. After we lost Winston at the far too young age of 8, it was just Scout until Riley came along.

I must be honest and say that I wasn’t particularly thrilled with cats until I worked for a Veterinarian. Being around them all the time really changed that and I grew to admire and like them. Nevertheless, I’m allergic and I don’t want to hassle with even more allergy trouble than I already have.

I can’t imagine not having a dog in my life. My dogs are great teachers and make me a better person.

What about you? Are you a cat person? Are you a dog person? Or are you someone who has both a cat and a dog? Or more? Please share. I’m all ears.

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The winners of a copy of Maman’s Homesick Pie by Donia Bijan are Lucille (who doesn’t have a blog) and Sheila of The Quintessential Magpie. Congratulations! Send me an email with your mailing address and I will forward it on to TLC Book Tours.

Trying to Capture the Light

Enjoying the Porch While We Still Can

Are You a Cat or Dog Person? Or Both?

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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