Thanks For The Help, Hun!

Since most everyone thinks that the girls pose so perfectly for pictures, I thought I would let you know that it isn't always the case.





Some days they are more than willing to cooperated and things go quickly, with beautiful results.





Other days, not so much. The moodiness of females, I guess.





While trying to shoot the Thanksgiving portrait recently, we were definitely having an 'off' day. The girls wouldn't sit still, Stormie steadfastly refused to put her ears up, etc., etc., etc. I was getting frustrated, so we quit. The girls pick up on my mood very quickly, so I always quit before I get angry and make the whole experience unpleasant. The key to good pictures is to make it fun, fun, fun. And be willing to stop when it isn't going well.





We had a few pictures and Shawn decided to get a little creative with the Photoshop elements.





And this is what happens when your husbands helps edit photos for you:





This picture just cracks me up! While they look a little freaky, it is also pretty hysterical.

Thanks for the help, hun!

Happy Thanksgiving

There are many holidays that come our way each year, some big, some small. Thanksgiving is one of those big family gatherings that invoke scenes from Norman Rockwell paintings. Yummy smells start coming from the kitchen for several days as cooks scurry around, preparing masterpieces that are shared only on this most special day.

The day is set aside as one to give thanks for our many blessings, our families, our freedom, our country and to honor those brave men and women who traveled to this strange land to set up a new world where we could have all these things.

And to eat lots of food.

At least that is how the menfolk in our family look at it.

We hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving, spent with those you love - both the two-footed and four-footed variety. The girls will be helping me (they call it helping, I call it hovering around my feet) as I prepare the dinner for our family.

Christopher is cooking a turkey in the Traeger grill this year. He's getting pretty good at producing yummy meals with that thing.

However, just to be on the safe side....I am doing a back up turkey in the oven.

Call me unbelieving, call me nonsupporting. Or, if the Traeger turkey doesn't turn out so well, you can call me brilliant. Either way, we will have turkey.

Perhaps LOTS of it.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

Keeping Your Dog Safe at Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. As we gather with family and friends, there are a few safety measures to remember for our furry friends.

The following recommendations come from DogChannel.com:

Keep Dogs Safe on Thanksgiving

Avoid an unplanned trip to the veterinarian over the holiday weekend by taking a few precautionary measures.

As many celebrate a long holiday weekend with turkeys roasting and friends and family visiting, holiday dangers lurk for dogs. To ensure it’s a safe and happy Thanksgiving for all, pet owners should take a few extra precautions on behalf of their dogs.

**Avoid feeding dogs table scraps. Sudden diet changes can cause upset stomachs, and feeding pets greasy foods and sweets can overwhelm their digestive systems causing vomiting and diarrhea. Cooked turkey bones can splinter, and if ingested, can cause serious injury to a pet’s intestinal tract.

**And while baking holiday breads, ensure the dough is kept away from dogs. When dough is ingested the pets’ body heat causes the dough to rise and expand, which can result in abdominal pain, bloat, vomiting, disorientation, and depression, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

**In addition to health risks, extra treats can add unhealthy pounds to a pet’s frame – keep dogs’ nutritional goals in mind to avoid holiday weight gain.

**Inform guests of pet’s house rules. Let visitors know the house rules for feeding dogs table scraps or treats and jumping on furniture in an effort to keep pets safe and on track with their normal routines.

**Take extra precautions with candles. Dogs who bump into furniture or swiftly run past a candle may knock it over and start a house fire. Keep candles in a location where pets cannot get near them.

**Secure trash bins. Pets may try to get into the trash and dig for holiday leftovers. Keep trash lids tightly closed and in locations where they can’t be tipped over.

**Keep tabs on pets’ whereabouts. With holiday visitors coming and going, dogs have ample opportunity to escape through the front door. In the event pets do get out, ensure all their identification tags and vaccinations are up-to-date.

**By implementing a few precautionary measures, Thanksgiving feasts and festivities can continue while emergency veterinary clinic visits are kept at bay.