Life of Doc

Birthday "yep 4 sisters and 3 brothers - I am the cute, smart one!"

4weeks old  "I knew I was the one for Mom"

8 weeks old going home with Mom and I cried all the way from Soldotna to Anchorage unless Mom was petting me when she let me out of the crate - "I drove her crazy with the yelping, screaming and crying for my family".  Then for next week I cried nightly for my puppy mommy driving Mom more crazy.

9 weeks old and first car ride with Mom as "therapy dog for work".  I love car rides Never threw up or anything in the cars - I did other things that Mom can tell you about further down!

I got to go to park with a friend I am 3 months old and have don't have listening skills HAHAHAHA was told to not go in  water and we both did!  I even ran from Mom when she called me. 

Just over a Year old in Mom's boyfriend's truck who happens to own my love who is a black lab and she is awesome but she pissed at me at moment cause I am in her Daddy's truck...
"what did I do wrong?'

last fall watching my girlfriend swim practicing her retrieving - all I can say is
 "that water is Frigging cold on my balls and I ain't chasing her.
Plus I don't know how to swim...tried it once didn't like it - Ain't trying again"

at home looking handsome for Mom

Last week we went to Kenai.... "damn thats a long car ride but I was good all the way didn't chew on the seatbelts like I did when I was a baby and did the front and back passenger ones.
Mom got really mad when she had to have them replaced LOL
boy did she cuss at the cost"

Me telling Mom to 'hurry up" so I can run some more at one of my favorite places ... I don't like it when she can't keep up with me as I run 

Ya Mom takes another pic of me on a walk at Lynn Ary park a couple of weeks ago .... "Like I can read!"

Since I live by this school we often walk all around it
"this was just on Wednesday afternoon - it was a boring walk!"
 I like it better when  kids have been there...
they leave lots of trash all over so I can sniff
and get told "Drop it" "Leave it"

Mom and I do a lot of site seeing together but she also travels by herself at times so I get to stay at home with a good friend who spoils me but don't tell Mom she might get jealous.

My friend Courtney who takes me on walks & spoils me when Mom travels.

I am so lucky! I love a lot of people that are friends of Mom's and get to do things other dogs haven't  and my best trip was flying to St. Louis in April when I got to meet Aunt Kathy and Grandma!  "I'm only a little over 2 years old and life is pretty damn awesome!"

                      Seeing life through the eyes of Doc, 

                                      a standard poodle, 

                             is at times a jolt to my reality.

Anchorage Botanical Garden

One of my favorite things to do on travels and at home is visit the local botanical gardens.  The sights and smells are heavenly.  Plus I can fill my bucket of joy with taking all the photos I want of various flora!

On Sunday I once again loaded up my camera and phone with photos of the latest blooms at the Anchorage Botanical Garden.  I also meet a few folks along the journey who brighten the overcast day.

As I was taking some photos at one of the side gardens a toddler came running over so excited about my camera.  Saying repeatedly "camera camera camera".  So I asked him if he wanted his picture taken and he shook his head YES.  Liam is two years old and quite precious: After taking I had to of course show the result.  He was very pleased with it.

 The Anchorage Botanical Garden has several focal points for different types of gardens.  I have my favorites. But if you have a afternoon of nothing to do visit the Anchorage Botanical Garden.  Its $12 and worth every penny!  Right now many of the berry bushes are crock full of mouth watering berries for various animal life.  As one who doesn't know what is safe to eat I never taste any of the tempting fruit.  I shall leave that up to the moose and bears that visit the gardens.  Yes folks there are bears at the gardens!  The botanical garden is off Campbell Airstrip Rd and it's 110 acres, much of it left in its natural state.

Once inside the gates of the botanical garden you can find gardens within gardens:  Liles Gardens, Lower Perennial Garden, Herb Garden, Alpine Rock Garden, a Alaskan Heritage Garden, and several trails just for walking in the 110 races.  Its a peaceful place of beauty and one can loose the daily stress of life just looking at all the various plants that bloom.  Wear comfortable walking shoes, and clothing.  Bring your camera, a bag lunch or snacks there are picnic tables at various locations.  Then enjoy what nature has given us to be thankful for!

Short Story

 I get a thrill each time I snap an ordinary items with an unusual sky.

Clouds add another dimension.  Making the item displayed a lot more interesting.  More alive.  More friendly. Joyful as I see it. A bright sunny day helps with the illusion.

A sky that is cloudless or totally overcast makes things look ghostly or lost.  Cold and distant.  Certainly bland in my perspective.   A tad scary.

Either way makes for fun as one takes time to snap a picture.

Grand Prix - Monaco 'A Walk to Remember'

In February I got to walk the race route of "Grand Prix' in Monte Carlo. It is a walk to remember!











The route is lined with restaurants, Mom & Pops businesses, hotels, designers shops, theaters, private homes and the world famous Monte Carlo Casino plus the port of Monte Carlo. We started out from the port walking to the casino, and then the long trek under the Virage du Portier (this is a tunnel that has awesome views of the port) which takes you to Prince Rainier's theater and back to the port.


https://www.exclusivegp.com/monaco-grand-prix/monaco-grand-prix-circuit-traits-changes/

On this particular day it started out a tad sunny but chilly, then overcast and cold, then rainy and very cold, then it snowed!  Snow is very unusual in Monte Carlo; we were told it was the first time in 26 years by members of the cruise line.  In reality it was the first time in 8 years.



Monte Carlo is a fantastic city.  I fell in love with it as we slowly pulled into port on our cruise ship.  It's one city I plan on visiting again.  The gardens are beautiful, the food delightful, and the view is unforgettable!  And we all remember Princes Grace.  She has a theatre named after her.  My mother was a great fan of Grace Kelly and the fairy tale life she had after her marriage to Prince Rainier; as many women were in the 1950's and 1960's.

The city is built on layers up the sea-cliff.  The architecture is Modern mixed with Victorian.

Monte Carlo also has a world class Museum of Oceanography.  The museum sits on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea: it is simply breathtaking!  The walk from the port was exhilarating if one takes the south walking route.

https://www.oceano.mc.

We spent over 3 hours enjoying the serenity of the museum along with its wide collection of living sealife.

Illusion of Beauty

As a photographer I was in my twenties I started out in black and white film with a gentle used Pentax 'K' that my husband's boss had sold me.  I took classes amassing huge amount of college credits in photography.  Over the years I had different cameras.  Going from film to digital.

I now have a Sony A7 which I dearly love, a Samsung 8+ phone that takes super pics, and a Apple X phone which I am slowly learning to like after years of being a NON APPLE person.  In fact I had switch from PC to IMac so my learning curve is in full swing at moment.  But that's another story for another day; today we talking about programs I use to assist me as a photographer.

I call my process "Illusion of Beauty with Photoshop and Filter Forge."

Photoshop Elements 2018 is the tiny version of Adobe's Creative Cloud for working on photos or develop ones own artistic creation.  It allows the artist using the program to expand their creations; this statement is a simplified explanation believe me.

Filter Forge 7.5 is program to work with or stand alone with Photoshop any of the versions.  Filters are what create different effects or layers upon a photo.  I use both Potoshop Elements and Filter Forge.

I don't know many photographers who do not use some form of assistance to enhance their photographs.  Even when I use to develop from film my own photos in a darkroom that there tricks of the trade to enhance a photo.

I like a certain style to my photos.  It is one reason I use the programs I use. My personal taste for a photo is:

 A soften look, more of a painters style using a watercolor effect, 

 a singular item as the focus of interest. 

It's amazing what one can do to a photograph!  When I look at magazines or art book I look to see the "Illusion" as I call it.  Many times it very obvious, other times its so subtle that it's often not found.  Unless a person is told you may miss the "Illusion".

These are my Illusions:  Hope You enjoy!

Lost In Her Own World - Final Edited Photo

Lost in Her Own World - Original Photo I took

Rainy Day in France - Final Edited Photo

Rainy Day in France - Original Photo I took

Raw Beauty

I am always blown away by the raw beauty of the State I live in.   Since I can remember water, snow, mountains where a place that brought joy to my soul.  I will jump in my car on a whim for a day's driving trip to see Alaska outside my window.   Either down Turnagain Arm to places south or up north to Talkeetna the jump off spot for mountain climbers that plan to scale Denali.

Winters are long. Summer are all too short.  The one constant of Alaska is its beauty is everlasting!

My phone or camera are never far from my hands to snap a picture of the variety of glorious things to photograph.

Flowers are always a favorite of mine:

The Beauty of Being Old

I love to travel as you all know.  Ireland, England, France, Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Greece, Israel, Italy, Spain, Monaco

My age does not slow me down, nor does it hinder to me.  I am a young 68 year old (come November lol).  I am lucky that I have good health and solitude doesn't bother me in the least.

Although this past trip in late February/early March to Europe was a cruise and a co-worker joined me on a 8 day adventure. It was fun to share seeing many wonders and ancient buildings, and looking through another set of eyes to find different things to explore.

Both of us are not into the main stream of site seeing.  We wanted to see botanical gardens, the odd parts of towns where graffiti covered doorways, where the locals drank their wine and broke bread together, the grime covered buildings that stood throughout centuries of mankind doing its worst.

As I traveled to various countries in Europe the reoccurring theme old churches where in each city we visited.  My travel companion was as I; non religious.  One can be spiritual with all of Mother Nature and the human race without having a set program of theology to follow.

Entering a church as a non believer we felt was temping fate the first one we entered but being pure of heart, we ventured into  a journey seeking a church for its beauty and feel the coolness of ceilings two to three stories tall.  Each church took my breath away in wonder.

Such stately works of architect that beholds history through centuries.  Life, death, marriages,  celebrations and even battles have been under these roofs.

Most of the churches where grand fortresses.  We also came across several chapels; tiny and petite that were just a beautiful as the grand fortresses that covered a city block.

Whenever I visited one these ancient beauties I think of Joan of Arc and her firm belief system.  She died for her beliefs in a world where Men ruled in a way I find hideous in today standards.  Women where nothing more than chattels.  Most could not read or write, most had no rights to land, women had to no rights to anything not even to life.  Here it is the 21st century and still in many countries women still have no basic rights.  I am the age where I set a standard with those in my life.  As a woman I am any mans equal.  All women are my sisters and I will give them the strength to believe in them selfs.

Humanity when you think of it hasn't really come very far in the aspects of theology.  In my small world that I hold tightly pressed to my heart: humans treat each other with love and kindness.  We all are one.  I see no difference in color, or who you love, I see no difference in what church guides you, WE are ALL One.

I can only hope the future for todays children continues in the betterment of All of Humans, all species, and the world.

One Year Again

Another year has passed and I write once more.  I must try harder to write more often.  I have set a schedule for myself so that I will do my blogging, write my novel, work on my photography, and travel with my faithful companion Doc.

Monte Carlo

Over this past year I traveled to various points in the States visiting families and friends.  Plus once again to Europe on a cruise.

Las Vegas

my lovely mother

Barcelona, Spain

Pikes Market, Seattle Washington

Eugene, Oregon

Palm Springs, California

Pisa, Italy

Ate amazing food, drank great wines and tried different cocktails too a first for me acting as an adult.

Enjoyed days of love and found myself filled with joy at simple things once more.

Doc; my standard poodle; is forever a source of fun and entertainment.

Doc of Whisper Ridge