Reminder - Update Our URL!

Please do not forget to change your favorites or links listing our blog.  Some things will stop working in a day or two and  you need to make sure you are on the correct address to get updates etc. 

www.bcxfour.com

Other bad stuff may happen if you don't update the link.  Massive deranged chickens will explode from your toilets!  Trust me, you do not want that.  So, update the link,  please! 

"I like to eat chicken." 

 

"What's a chicken?"  

I am still screwing around with the design & working with the developer to revamp my photography website - which is leaving me very little time for FUN! 

The sun was actually visible today!  The Pineapple Express took a break and a strange, bright, golden orb appeared in the sky.  I was not sure what it was, so we went outside for a closer look - sun glasses were required.  

"Look!  A Giant Glowing Ball in the SKY!"

 

Believe it or not, I was outside with the dogs  *gasp*    taking pictures!  Next, I have to process them, but when I sit down at the computer I find myself messing around with borders, headers, html and what not.  It is pathetic really. I think I am obsessed.  Sad eh?

"Sad is not the word I would use."

I promised I would tell you the story about Brynn chasing a sheep into a motor home this last weekend at a trial.  It is coming up soon, right after I edit a bunch of pictures - then get sucked into borders, headers, navigation bars, html.  AHHHH!   See what I mean?  It is a vicious cycle!  

*insert sudden change of subject here*

If anyone can refer me to a good person that can explain SEO (search engine optimization) and how to actually get www.lookbackphotography.com website to appear high up on searches - it would be wonderful.  (I already know about Google Ad Words  & cannot afford the $$$ risk of pay per click.  It scares me...)  Or refer me to someone who can do it for me without costing an arm and a leg? 

My unemployment benefits officially ran out last week - jobs are still scarce and I need to start making money to support my dogs!  And herding, food, trials, camera gear & LIFE!  

Enough rambling.  Camera Face is shutting up now and editing pictures, right after she goes to bed.  

And We Are Off!

The blog redesign is done for now...NOTE:  I said "For Now".  Meaning for the next day or two...knowing me I will be dissatisfied with something and want to change it.  Be prepared.

YEAH!  Ranger is so happy! I have been spending an inordinate amount of time at the computer learning HTML, designing stuff and converting hand painted designs to digital format.  

First - we have a new domain name.  www.bcxfour.com

Those that have favorites set up directing you to www.bcxfour.blogspot.com will not be left behind.  The link will automatically refer you to the same place you have been coming all along for the next few days, then you will get directions redirecting you to our new domain.  

You may notice a few new things.  The navigation bar at the top is one.  I have not yet completed all the links - stay tuned they will be up and running shortly.

I am also adding a store where you can purchase prints of my previously licensed artwork from my books & pattern lines as well as new designs I am doing now featuring sheep, border collies, quilts among other things.  All of these designs are being converted to digital format and will be available for printing in any format you wish (cups, teeshirts, prints, canvas, etc).  Please bear with me as we iron out all the kinks in the system.  Till then here is a preview of a simple design that will be available. 

My photography website www.lookbackphotography.com is also undergoing some changes over the next week making it easier to navigate.  The blog for the Look Back Photography was redesigned as well - check it out!  www.lookbackphotography.blogspot.com. 

All of this was made possible by a lovely person, Aarean Jergensen of La Ditta Designs.  

If you are looking to have your personal blog redesigned beyond what blogspot offers or need some custom work done on business cards, logo's, headers etc please contact Aarean - she can hook you up!  Her prices are very reasonable (check out pricelist on the side bar of her blog).  She is an absolute joy to work with & exhibits endless patience (I can be a wee bit challenging) all the while taking care of a newborn baby.  

La Ditta Design - Home of Aarean Jergensen

Now here are a couple of questions for you....I know I asked this once before, but since changes have happened since then I need to ask again.

How are things loading?  Any problems?
Is it too dark?
Anything look wacky or just plain weird?
What color socks are you wearing?
What did you have for breakfast?
Two ply or single toilet paper?

I know the blog links on the side are broken & or missing - I have not fixed them yet since the domain transition.  I will need to slim down the amount of blogs I have listed and may end up adding a LINKS page on the navigation bar above - I have not made up my mind yet.  Be patient...my mind is a scary place, even for me. 

What was I saying?

Oh yessssss!  Dogs...what about the dogs?

Speaking of Dogs...guess who has her own blog?

Miss Bea!   www.beaaboutit.blogspot.com   

It is where I will be documenting our 52 Weeks for Dogs project. "A photographic journey through a border collie puppy's first year of life". 

Working with Aarean inspired me to try my hand at designing another header.

Bea About It

I think it fits Bea's personality perfectly!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming - an actual post about DOGS!  And SHEEP!  And HERDING!   

I can tell you all about how Brynn chased a sheep into a motor home at the trial this weekend.   Yeps.

MeSsinG AroUnD

Quick quick quick post. 

I have been messing around with the blog design, as if you couldnt tell. 

See the new header I designed?   I am quite proud of it.  The sheep on the bottom are actually sheep I painted on another piece, photographed, made black and white...then dodged and burned them onto the background.  The border collie in each corner is a photograph of Brynn working! 

Now I am tired, very tired.  My hands are cramping, I have a headache from Haiti...and drank all the Irish Cream. 

But my blog is pretty.  At least I think it is pretty...and it goes with my Look Back Photography website too!

So, here is my question.  Does anything look funky?  Can you read everything?  Are things hanging off the page?  Is the blog loading okay?

I added this funky Facebook widget at the top - I think it is slowing down the blog from loading.  If even one person says that it is not loading okay...it is GONE! 

Let me know what you think.  I am going to continue to play with it and have a gal working on the actual blog design behind the scenes too - more changes are a'coming round the pike!  Stay tuned. 

WomBea

Yesterday Bea played hard...

Well, as hard as she could play getting no more than 20 feet from my side. 

The other day Ranger slammed into her, knocking her arse over tea kettle.  Much yelping ensued...since then Bea has been staying away from the bigger dogs when they are running. 

She learned a valuable lesson about herding her packmates. 

Now she is a little more cautious about her approach, waiting for them on the return..then following them back to our feet. 

And stares at their tongues....strange little puppy. 

Those adorable little ears, flopping over her head, not sure which direction they will take...butt in the air watching the big dogs.

When the dogs are off exploring, Bea begins to stalk Camera Face. 

I just want to grab that little puppy face and squish it with kisses. 

"Dont touch me...I am working."

Very tired puppy, slept hard. 

I put a border collie puppy in her crate last night...this morning out popped a WOMBAT! 

 

Actually a WomBEA!   Notice something new?  By golly we have TWO EARS!  

Bea wonders "Do my ears make me look fat?"

Not at all.. my dear little WomBea. 

But you may want to avoid any stiff winds for a while. 

Snow Happy

Ranger is so happy he can hardly stand it!

It is snowing again!   While many of you shudder and moan at the sight of snow...we dance with joy!   Because in the Pacific Northwest it doesnt stick around for very long.  And of course I dont have to drive in it unless I absolutely must.  Like over the mountains to Idaho for Thanksgiving - that was a MUST! 

"We will drive through anything for SHEEP!"

Did you say SNOW?  

 

Sheep and snow, not such a good combination...but it is very pretty to photograph.  The snow is supposed to stick around all week - the worst coming on Wednesday, according to the ever reliable weather service.   We are running in a trial next weekend in Roy.  I wonder if it will look like this again?  

Beazer loves the snow too!

Awww lets be honest here...she loves being outside stalking her sisters. 

She watches...her little butt in the air.

"Are you seriously talking 'bout my butt?"

At least I am not talking about the little fat pouches you have on your tummy, Miss Beatle. 

Actually, Bea is not fat.  She is at a perfect weight, according to the vet.  Last week she went in for her third set of shots and she weight 16.8 lbs.  A healthy, sturdy puppy...whose ears are a wee bit confused. 

Will they both be up?   One is already up to stay...the other cant seem to make up its mind. 

Maybe I should use duct tape and bend the prick ear down?  Better yet I can get a staple gun and use that?  Or how about I just use mole skin and string, or something else equally asinine.  I can't understand why people do that to their 'show' dogs.  Please forgive me if you find a reason to mold your puppy's body in some particular fashion to adhere to a 'breed standard' - because I am sure you have a very good reason to cause suffering and pain.   Personally I feel any changes to a dog's body is ... well icky.  Cropping (ears or tails), tape, surgery, breeding for appearance....WTF? 

I have one boob larger than the other.  Should I have it surgically altered just so I will look better in a dress?  Actually, that is not a good analogy.  I would need to lose the weight of a small wildebeest in order to look good in a dress.  

Wait...I need to shut up now, lest I start a hornets nest.  Please ignore the previous paragraph - I know nutting!  Nutting, I tell you!  Nutting! 

I love my puppy just the way she is. 

Floppy ears...

Prick ears...

My mouth runs amok...like happy little puppies. 

"Oh hiya!  I have missed you for so LONG!"  It has been a while since I had a good shot of Bonnie to share.  She has been adjusting to the puppy quite well and has even taken to playing with her.

 

"Camera Face...please shut up and throw the damn ball?"

What was the point of this post anyway? 

I dunno.  I rarely have a point I try to make.  I like pictures.  I prefer to keep the text simple and something that will make me smile when I look back at it.  I hope when you visit our blog you smile too. 

Anything else makes my head hurt.

What was I saying? 

Over the fence he goes!  Like a gazelle on crack! 

I have to tell you, since I have switched the dogs to total raw, added liquid glucosamine, fish oil, sardines & made sure I peel the inside skin/film off the inside of each egg (among other things) & give it to Ranger I have seen NO MORE LIMPING!  It appears his leg is not bothering him as much anymore and he JUMPS again! 

See I have proof!

Weeeeeee!  SNOW! 

Time for me to shuddup now....before I put my finger in my mouth again.  Or is that foot?  If you are typing....wouldnt it be finger?  Unless of course you type with your feet - then it could be construed to 'foot in your mouth'. 

I should not drink wine and blog.