Summer = Swimming

We have three lakes in our B-Town that are all so very convenient to get to. This particular lake is roughly a 5 minute drive from my house. Daphne, my small mutt dogger has two bad knee's so we take her swimming as much as we possibly can. She's an absolute champ in the water and loves that low impact exercise. Dazy my Pitty loves the water too but she feels most comfortable sticking close to Mom. The difference between these two swimmers is that Daphne has webbed feet, like a lab or retriever. Dazy has zero webbing, she has fingers like us humans. Don't get me wrong she's a great swimmer and loves the water but just not quite as natural as my little pup:)

In Boise, to our family, Summer = Swimming!

While Daphne is fetching her stick 25 yards out, Dazy splashes around in the shallow waters waiting to pounce on her hard working sister in hopes that she will be able to snag the stick away!

Dazy, my beautiful Pitty loves her Mamma!

   Daphne, my lil' mutt would rather be swimming:)

Dogs make everything better

Yesterday I was doing a little yard work in the front. I had this funny feeling that someone was staring at me. Quickly I looked up to see if my feeling was true! Yep, to the NW across the street I discovered my neighbors 7 month old pup peeking around at me from one of their bushes. Being a neighborhood friendly person I knew that her parents were at work and wouldn't be home for a few hours. With a couple whistles and a loving hand I reached out to the pup and brought her home for the day. When I called her Dad the first thing he said was "don't tell me you have my dog?" I answered "why yes I do and I'll return her home this evening!" Needless to say my two dogs, ages 6 & 7, were a little confused by their new PUPPY playmate. WOW does she have energy! I had to take advantage of the time with the three amazing four leggeds and during that time I snapped a few photographs! 

Idaho to Cali

December 5th 2010

Last long family 'Dog Walk' before the road trip to So Cal.

It's cold, very cold but the sun was out and we were all together. 

What more could a family ask for on a Sunday afternoon?

Dazy's bundled from neck to toe.

It's tough being a naked pupper in the winter time.

 December 6th 2010 - 8:30am

On the road with blizzards ahead!

Daphne chillin' and Dazy not quite sure what to think.

Gassin' up! In the middle of no-where Utah.

Still getting used to the Jeep... First winter with her!

Not knowing that in a few hours we'd have our first AAA phone call with a broken down Jeep...

Daphne Dog tip-toeing along the frozen ground...

Quickly ready to load back up.

Yep, now broken down in Payson, Utah...

Only 6hrs into our supposed 16hr drive...

Turns out one of the battery terminals was warn out.

1hr of waiting for the AAA truck.

30min at the mechanics a $16.11 charge for parts and labor and we're back on the road!

I'm pretty sure the delay was meant to be....

This is what we drove into next!!!

Sleepy time in St. George's finest Super 8 Motel.

Early morning view after stopping for a must needed Starbucks beverage!

 Down the road the fog has lifted and we most definitely are not in Idaho anymore!

 Passed the mountains and visual stimulation...

Back to snoozin'... 

Have to catch up after experiencing travel hotel sleep... or non-sleep!

 Freeway through Vegas at 9:30am!

Primm

A must stop if the roller coaster is up and running. My wife made me stop and ride with her about 5 years ago on our 3500 mile road trip. I was more scared to ride this roller coaster than I was to Bobsled for a week in Lake Placid for a 'Push Camp' that I so luckily slid in to. (no pun intended:)

Let me tell you, Primm's roller coaster made me believe I can make it through anything!

Daphne slept sitting up most of the way.

Are we there yet?!?!?!

Thinking we had a couple hours left...

Not so much...

Yes, we finally made it after taking a wrong turn on the freeway above LA...

DON'T TURN WEST!

Take the San Diego freeway.

Laguna Beach bound, not Hollywood!

Finally, we made it...

After roughly a 20hr road trip (ONE WAY)!

What a reward! 

Aunt Meegs, 80 degrees and playing at the ocean for the first time.

Stay tuned for more adventures from the Cali Trip!

Lots of firsts were crossed off the list:)

California Trip - Allow

I'm in Laguna Beach with my pups. Yes it's december and yes we road tripped! One of my first art show's is on Saturday in Long Beach. It's a calibration type show with a large handful of other artists. We created our individual works around the word 'Allow' I have been M.I.A. from the interwebs... but I do emphasize the I.A. portion. Preparing for this show was more work than I could have ever imagined. 14 hour days, working through weekends and nights. All I can say is that I got everything done. Arrived in Laguna four days before the show and can't be more happy with being here.

Here are some photo's from the trip thus far!

Tomorrow my wife comes to join in on the So Cal fun!

 Aunt Meegs & Dog Family - December 2010

 'Cousins'

 'Little'

 My office space in Cali.

Lines & Poles continued from SI final project.