October Photo Challenge Day 24: HOODIE
Posted: October 24, 2017 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: #octoberphotochallenge, Autumn, Dogs, Fall, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Hoodie, LSU, LSU Football, LSU Tigers, October Photo Challenge, Pet Photography, Pets, Scarecrow, Thek9harperlee 11 Comments
It’s the day I’ve been dreading since I first saw the October Photo Challenge list: HOODIE. I don’t mind wearing a stylish bandana. In fact, I quite like a stylish bandana. But I am not . . . repeat AM NOT . . . a fan of wearing actual clothes. And I do not . . . repeat DO NOT . . . like to have things on my head. My personal photographer (who also happens to be my human mommy and who also happens to owe me a ton of treats for this) took about 50 photos trying to get some semblance of an animated look from me. Not. Going. To. Happen. This was my look in every single photo. On the bright side (work with me here; I’m trying to make the best of this), I do like supporting my favorite college football team. My LSU Tigers have really come through in the last three weeks, and I couldn’t be more proud of them . . . even if my face doesn’t quite show my excitement. š Also, my friend Scotty the Scarecrow is back for an autumnal visit. Hey, Scotty, I could use a little sip of that Dixie Beer right about now.
October Photo Challenge Day 2: FALL LEAVES
Posted: October 2, 2017 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: #octoberphotochallenge, Autumn, Dogs, Fall, Fall Leaves, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, October Photo Challenge, Pet Photography, Pets, Thek9harperlee 7 Comments
Today’s October Photo Challenge assignment seemed simple enough:Ā FALL LEAVES. There was just one little problem. I live in New Orleans, which means that temperatures even approaching something fall-like are several weeks away and our leaves haven’t even thought about turning beautiful shades of yellow, red, and orange. Awwww, who am I kidding? By the time November arrives, our leaves are so exhausted from enduring the long months of unbearable summer heat they just give up, turn brown, and drop to the ground. That’s ok. My human mommy/blogging assistant had a plan. We would go to our neighborhood nursery and take photos in front of the lovely display of crotons that are strategically placed to make shoppersĀ think that temperatures are falling. Then along came a tropical wave, which crossed the Gulf of Mexico and planted itself right on top of our fair city. The nonstop rain caused flood warnings and impassable streets throughout the day. So we resorted to Plan B. Take a close look over my shoulder. Do you see them? They’re there. Yep, right there in that seasonal arrangement. Fall leaves!
Wish me luck with tomorrow’s assignment. We may be digging through some vintage shots to get a NIGHT SKY photo if this rain doesn’t let up. š
Why I Love Fall
Posted: November 14, 2014 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: Autumn, Bath, Dogs, Fall, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Pet Photography, Pets, PetSmart, Thek9harperlee 14 Comments
I absolutely and positively love fall. Cooler temperatures mean longer and more frequent walks. Crisp days are perfect for lounging on the lawn. Tiny sticks start to fall from the trees like manna from heaven. But do you know my favorite thing about fall?
The arrival of autumn marks the end of the dreaded driveway bath. A couple of weeks ago, I endured what I hope will be my final humiliation . . . at least for several months to come.
Yes, friends, I put on a brave face. I held my head high, drenched and dripping, as people and dogs walked by . . . and gawked.
I’ll admit that I even fantasized, briefly, about subjecting my humans to such treatment. How would they like it if I paraded themĀ onĀ the driveway . . . wet and naked . . . for all the world to see?
I suspect that my human mommy read my mind, and then she did this to me.
But as I began to air dry, I realized that things were looking up for me. Fall was knocking on the door, ready to rescue me from the dreaded driveway bath and its accompanying humiliation.
I hear that my next bath will be courtesy of the PetSmart groomers. We call that “going to the spa.” I think a spa bath is far more my speed, don’t you? Thank you, fall. I love you!
Our First Fall Fire (aka The Great Stick Sacrifice)
Posted: October 21, 2014 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: Autumn, Dogs, Fall, Fall Fire, Fire Pit, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, My Yard, Pet Photography, Pets, Sticks, Thek9harperlee 29 Comments
Last evening, my humans and I enjoyed our first fire pit blazeĀ of the fall. It was magical . . . at first.Ā Flames flickeredĀ through the air as we satĀ besideĀ the warm glow of embers. Burning wood popped and cracked as we sniffed the autumnal air (well, I did most of the sniffing).
And then the most horrifying realization came to me: Those were my sticks burning in that fire pit. My humans had sacrificed my beautiful and oh-so-tasty sticks to their fire pit god. Just two days earlier, I had walked around my yard supervising my humans as they carefully collected a wheelbarrow full of sticks and then placed them in a nice little pile . . . just for me . . . I mean specifically for my chewing pleasure. Right? Apparently,Ā I was wrong.
Well as fast as my humans could toss my sticks into that burning pit, I started pulling them from the stick pile and carrying them to safety.
I am pleased to report that I managed to sneak at least a few of my sticks from the pile . . . saving them from an almost certain fiery death at the hands of my humans. We won’t discuss the fate that those same sticks met between my jaws.
I am also pleased to report that my humans and I have reached an understanding. No more sacrificingĀ my sticks toĀ their fire pit god. That’s good news to me, because I rather enjoy our fall fires.
Footnote: I know it appears in the photo above that our scarecrow has been sacrificed to the fire pit god. I can assure you that this is not the case. He was at a very safe distance and is currently keeping the crows away. Thankfully, he has no power to repel squirrels.
Also, my human mommy/blogging assistant “got a little off track” with my blogging. (Those areĀ her sugar-coated words. Just between us, she has been completely dreadful at updating you on my adventures and keeping me up-to-date on yours.) She promises that with this post she is now “back on the rails.” I planĀ to hold her feet to the fireĀ . . . a fire built without any of my precious sticks.
The Great Outdoors
Posted: November 15, 2013 Filed under: Places I Like | Tags: Autumn, Baton Rouge, BREC Greenwood Community Park, Dogs, Fall, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Parks, Pets, Thek9harperlee 48 Comments
We have had a string of perfectly beautiful autumn days, which means that my humans and I have spent a lot of time enjoying the great outdoors. Last week, my mommy and I visited BREC’s Greenwood Community Park just north of Baton Rouge.
The centerpiece of Greenwood Community Park isĀ a gorgeous 18-acre lake where humans can enjoy fishing,Ā kayaking, and canoeing. Unfortunately, puppy dogs cannot enjoy swimming because all of our parksĀ require dogs to be on leashesĀ (with the exception of our dog parks), and I believe in abiding by the rules.
This was my first visit toĀ Greenwood Community Park. My humans wereĀ thereĀ a couple of yearsĀ ago for the third segment of a kayaking class offered through BREC, our community parks and recreationĀ department. The class hooked them on kayaking. They’ve even kayaked on the open Caribbean Sea. They were a little over-confident in their kayaking skills, and the tide nearly carried them off into the sunset. But I digress.
During World War II, the Greenwood park area was an ammunition depot. Bombs and ammunition used in aircraft were stored there, and pilots trained at nearby Harding Army Air Field. The air field is now the site of Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport.
ExxonMobil Cypress Bayou Trail surrounds the lake, and signage along the way tells visitors all about the park’s WWII history. Naturally, my mommy had to stop and read every single sign. That was alright with me. There were lots and lots of smells along the trail, and I was happy to stop andĀ enjoy as much as I could.
I know that our perfect autumn days will soon come to an end.Ā Chilly temperatures and drizzly gray skies will move in. But I will have glorious memoriesĀ of the days that I spent with my humans enjoying Mother Nature’s magnificence in the great outdoors.
Fall, Finally
Posted: October 8, 2013 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: Autumn, Dogs, Fall, Flowers, Gardens, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, My Yard, Pets, Scarecrow, Thek9harperlee 55 Comments
Fall finally arrived at my house yesterday morning, and I could not be happier. At last we get to enjoy cool temperatures, low humidity, and more time outside.Ā People and petsĀ in my neighborhoodĀ are venturing out from their air-conditioned bunkers, and life is slowly but surely returning to South Louisiana. Plus, we’ve dodged what looks like it will be the last tropical threat of the year. Hip hip hooray! Life is good. To celebrate our first finally-feels-like-fallĀ day, my human mommy and I started theĀ morning with a very special walk. I’d love to tell you about it now, but you’re going to have to wait until Friday. I can, however, tell you how we spent the rest of our day. After we got home from our special walk, Mommy took off–without me–in my chariot. When she returned home, the entire back of my chariot was filled with fall plants. It’s a good thing I didn’t go with her, because there wouldn’t have been anyplace for me to sit. We then spent the rest of the day outside, pulling old and tired summer plants out of pots and replacing them with beautiful mums, ornamental kale and peppers, herbs, ferns, and a croton. I was right by my mommy’s side the whole time she was playing in the dirt, and it was glorious.
Except for one thing: It appears as if we have been invaded by scarecrows. I’m not really sure what to think about this development. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that scarecrows have surrounded my house. This little one is standing guard by my breezeway door.
And she must have called this guy in for backup, because he’s positioned just a few feet away by the garage. I had no idea that crows were such an issue around my house, but apparently they are.
Because this little lady is guarding the back of my house. As alarming as the scarecrow invasion is, I must admit that thy seem to be doing their jobs. I did not see one single crow anywhere near my house all day long.
It’s too bad those scarecrows aren’t as successful at keeping the mosquitos away. Look at that pesky thing on the tip of my nose. Someone needs to tell him that summer is over, fall is finally here, and it’s time for Mr. Mosquito and all is little friends to move on!
The Shadows Say Fall, But . . .
Posted: September 3, 2013 Filed under: People I Like | Tags: Dogs, Fall, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Pets, Thek9harperlee 28 Comments
Almost everything is telling me that it is fall (or, as my international friends call it, autumn). The shadows are getting longer and longer. The college football season started this past weekend. The children in my neighborhood began a new school year three weeks ago. Halloween costumes are already on display at my local PetSmart. And yesterday I celebrated Labor Day with my humans. Labor Day is kind of a big deal in the United States. There’s a whole lot of history behind it, but all you really need to know is that it’sĀ observed on the first Monday in September and it symbolizes the end of summer.
Well, I think someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that itĀ is time for her to turn summer and its miserable heat and humidity off. Now, please, ma’am. We have had enough. I said enough! I know that I really shouldn’t complain. Until the last few weeks, we have had a relatively decent summer . . . for us, anyway . . . and we haven’t had a tropical storm yet this year (still keeping all twenty toes crossed on that one). But it is just too darn hot to do much of anything. So, Mother Nature, I am asking you just as nicely as I can (I would beg, but Mommy says I shouldn’t do that): Please, please, please check your calendar and look at the shadows. They will both tell you that fall is here, so it would be really, really, really nice if you could send us some weather to match. Thank you.
Black and White Sunday: Looking Like Fall
Posted: August 25, 2013 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: Black and White, Black and White Sunday, Blog Hop, Dogs, Fall, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Pets, Photography, Thek9harperlee 58 Comments
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