365 Project: Paco…happy doggy clown? Not so much… LOL

I don’t know why we humans force Halloween costumes on our pets. Do any pets REALLY enjoy getting dressed up? Well, maybe those chihuahuas on Beverly Hills Chihuahuas enjoy it, hmmm… For sure, our Paco has never been too thrilled about Halloween dress-up. But, dang, he sure looks cute! 😉

365 Project: Doggy Paco after his toe amputation :( (October 7, 2013)

Our ten-year-old lab retriever, Paco, who just had his toe amputated last Friday. 😦

365 Project – 185: Reflection of a photo bomber (July 5, 2013) #photobomb #funnydog #picsoftheday #portangeles

During our evening dog walk I thought I’d shoot the reflection of the mountain relief in the perfectly still water of this fountain. Then, Paco decided to check out his own reflection and photo bomb my shot! He’s famous for photo bombing my pics but, once again, he made the shot way more interesting. I love Paco, my photo bomber! LOL

365 Project – 182: Put the iPhone away and throw the ball already! (July 2, 2013) #happydog

365 Project – 156: Happy Paco at Salt Creek (June 5, 2013) #picoftheday #happydog #photography #sunnyportangeles

365 Project – 117: Signs of spring on the Olympic Peninsula…White Creek – Port Angeles, WA (April 27, 2013)

Trillium…always my first official sign of spring on the Olympic Peninsula 🙂

Bleeding hearts

The trails behind our house…I love our outdoor playground!

Isn’t that big stump awesome?!

Red flowering currant

Paco loves it when White Creek is flowing 🙂

White Creek in the springtime

Looking up into our forest canopy. Do you see the heart?

Looking for the heart through the trees 🙂

Me crossing White Creek 🙂

Young stinging nettles…we eat these around here. Boil ’em, steam ’em, saute’ ’em, the nettles dissolve and you end up with a tasty green rich with iron. Just make sure to harvest them with thick gloves!!

A dandelion globe…not sure if that’s what it’s called but, that’s what I see! 😉

365 Project – 10: Paco’s soulful, memory-stirring eyes (January 10, 2013)

ISO 400, f/1.4, 1/3200 sec (Nikon D7000 with 85mm/1.4G lens)

Oh, these beautiful eyes reach into my soul and still my heart. Almost 10 years ago we got Paco when we were having a hard time getting pregnant. To cope with my maternal pangs we got this 7 week-old puppy, the runt of the litter with no tail, and he comforted me through 3 1/2 years of every negative preggo test, failed fertility treatments, and miscarriages. So, I refer to Paco as my soulmate and my firstborn. When I was upset he would just stare at me with those soulful eyes and “tell” me that everything was going to be okay. He’d let my wet tears fall on his soft fur and while raising him he taught me that I had the makings of a caring, thoughtful parent. One day, while we were starting the adoption process, I miraculously got pregnant (I found out at the dentist office…that’s another story), even after we quit fertility treatments and after the docs gave us dismal news about our poor chances to conceive. I’m grateful for our miracle daughter, now 7 years old, and our sweet, sweet Paco. These eyes are soulful, magical, comforting, healing, heartwarming and memory-stirring. ♥♥♥

365 Project – 355: Day 20 iHeartFaces photo challenge – “furry faces” (December 20, 2012)

Shutter Speed: 1/1250, Aperture: F/3.2, ISO: 200

Paco, our almost 10 year-old sweet puppy 🙂

See more of my 365 Project: Untouched photos from my Nikon D5000 with 50mm lens

365 Project – 236: Moments in Time trail…Lake Crescent – Port Angeles, WA (August 27, 2012)

Shutter Speed: 1/60, Aperture: F/6.3, ISO: 400

See more of my 365 Project: Untouched photos from my Nikon D5000 with 50mm lens

365 Project – 155: Our quirky lab-retriever will retrieve ANYTHING! (June 4, 2012)

Shutter Speed: 1/1600, Aperture: F/7.1, ISO: 400

Without throwing a stick or ball our quirky Paco will jump into these fountains and retrieve these river rocks, over and over, into a big pile. I guess this is the retriever in him prompting this behavior? Well, it’s hilarious and we love our quirky Paco! 🙂

Shutter Speed: 1/1600, Aperture: F/6.3, ISO: 400

See more of my 365 Project: Untouched photos from my Nikon D5000 with 50mm lens