Dogs, Swans, Socks, Quilts & Christmas

I have been MIA and apologize.

Blame my camera.

My brain has been sucked into the camera abyss and won't let go.

I keep hearing these voices in my head.

Errr, beyond the other voices that are there everyday.  You know the ones - the ones that told me to adopt border collies and buy cameras.  Nuts eh?

The voices keep saying "MUST PHOTOGRAPH EVERYTHING"

Like Vicki's old boy Grizz, a newfie-lab mix.  Who could pass up that drool face?

 

I think the voices are from a 'higher power'.   They make me photograph CATS!  Yes, CATS?  Ranger was disgusted with me.  Gus was a little bewildered too. 

What more proof do you need than this?  While driving to my parents for a Christmas get together - suddenly the rain clouds parted, the sun shone and a rainbow appeared - shining down upon a huge arse flock of migrating trumpeter & tundra swans.  Okay, so you have to squint to see the rainbow.  It is there I am telling ya!

Swans are good for the heart.  They make it smile and sigh.  This picture does not - it sucks.  But it shows a mixture of trumpeter & tundra swans together. I did not get a decent picture of the sheer volume of swans in the Skagit River valley that morning numbering in the thousands.  I focused on one smaller grouping of mainly trumpeter swans and their young.  Fascinating birds...

Trumpeter swan coming in for a landing!  Yeeeha!  (click on any picture for larger view)

 If I didn't pull off the free way (thus causing us to be late & my father to pace) then I would have been struck down by the great photo buff in the sky.

 Bad things will happen if you pass up excellent lighting and rare birds.  I'm just sayin'

These birds yell at you while you take their pictures too. They say things like "HONK HONK OVEREXPOSED"  or "HONK HONK YOUR F-Stop is FFF'ED".  Ever heard them?  They are loud and noisy. 

But I still think they are beautiful.

This is what happens when a young border collie escapes the car and runs to Camera Face.

My father didnt buy the "God made us late" story.  Shadow told him I am full of crapola.

My parents live at Shadows house

Shadow was very happy to see Bonnie & Brynn.  However, he was not thrilled about Camera Face

Even at my parents house I was compelled to photograph everything.  Like my father's empty chair.

Looking at this picture I had to ask myself a question.  There are pictures of sheep on the walls, and even a picture of a border collie with sheep.  The entire second story of their house is occupied by wool, scads and scads of wool.  Sheep are an integral part of my parents house. 

So how did they end up with this?

Well, you know he is black and white.  I will give him that. And there is the adorable factor - okay, he is an honorary border collie.  He does a very good job of protecting my mom's yarn, but guarding my dad's lap is the top of his 'to-do' list. 

My mother knitted John socks for Christmas.  When he took them out of the bag - they were still attached to knitting needles.  She fitted them to his feet and finished them right there.  John is the happy owner of custom fitted wool socks.  He is a happy electrician with warm feet.   

He was speechless when he opened this ... my Mom made him his very own quilt!  If you want to make a grown man get misty eyed - give him a hand made flannel quilt.  Works like a charm. 

But nothing, I mean NOTHING tops this.

My mom made me my very own Border Collie quilt.  Perfect for snuggling in my chair.  The quilt backing is sheep & border collies - the companion fabric to the border collies on the front. 

Best Christmas present ever.  Thank you Mom & Dad.  I will cherish it forever.