Henry the 3 Month Old Airedale Puppy

Many people have a favorite dog breed. In the list of the top ten most popular breeds in the USA, the top three are Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd and Golden Retriever. Forget the ranking, Airedales are tradition in my DIL’s family.

Henry, the 3 Month Old Airedale Puppy, is the newest member of the family. He is exuberant and happy with all the care and attention he is receiving from everyone. You’ve seen glimpses of him in a few posts.

Henry hails from Michigan (Aberdeen Airedales) and has already been in West Virginia and Virginia and resides in Ohio. He was really good on the seven hour ride to Virginia! Both ways so that racks up 14 hours in the van.

Mark was telling me about the Presidents who have had Airedales – Scott Brown of Cerebral Caffeine blog wrote “After The Great War (World War I), the Airedales’ popularity rapidly increased thanks to stories of their bravery on the battlefield and, in America, also because Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren Harding owned Airedales.”

Although Airedales are not in the top ten most popular breeds in 2013, he is one popular little guy in the family.

Can you see how big his paws are?

Learning to go down the stairs

Henry in introduced to his cousin Penny the Golden Doodle.

Puppy Portrait

Each of the kids sat on Dad’s lap to help steer.

My DIL Erika took this one on her iPhone as Mark held Henry the Navigator at Smith Mountain Lake Virginia

(Mark asked me if I remembered Toonces?)

photo credit to Erika, guest contributor

Henry and his new family.

Maura, Anna holding Henry, Michael and Jack in Hardy, Virginia.

Okay Can You See?

We’re celebrating the Fourth of July in Virginia. I’m grateful for another birthday.

When I was Maura’s age I used to think all the fireworks were just for me on my birthday. Ha!

Not sure if there will be fireworks to celebrate the fourth as there’s rain and more rain.

My granddaughter Maura (4) sings the Star Spangled Banner with a slight alteration of the opening lyrics.

“Okay, can you see?” or more like “O-O-O-Okay can you see”

The title for this post could also be How to Photograph Four Kids at a Time. I’ve had a lot of practice. It’s not impossible but to get ALL four with their best expression is not an easy task. Add the new puppy Henry to the effort.

I’ve used the -get ’em in action method- quite a few times. On the playground, the backyard, the hula hoop, the swing, the bicycle. Anything so they aren’t conscious of Grandma’s lens.

The sitting around all in a row or even staggered grouping and looking at my lens with the old CHEEEEESE doesn’t work for me. Or them Not that I haven’t tried. Canon 70-200mm L series lens ISO 100 f/2.8 1/125 I’m up on the front porch.

On Your Mark-

And they’re off-

Uh oh not that view of Henry. Henry, turn around.

Oh Henry, turn around. Nah, too posed looking. ACTION!

Maura, Anna, Michael and Jack and Henry

Here they come.

Anna calls to Henry to join them.

He’s getting it now

A moment of childhood captured.

Maura doesn’t like coming in last. Henry is watching the cows in the field next door.

Unexpected Gift

The seniors in sixth period finished their Digital Photography exam. And after homeroom, the seniors were allowed to go home.

One of the young women in the class and my homeroom, handed me this two tone metal dog pin and said, “Here Ms. Hendricks. This is for you.”

I was so surprised. She’d made it in Jewelry Class.

I took the highly polished pin and pinned it on my shirt collar, fastening the safety clasp, thanked her and told her how lovely it was…. but then as I thought about it, I asked her if maybe she should give it to someone in her family, it was so beautiful.

She said, “No, I want you to have it.”

My first year teaching high school is coming to a close. I’m touched when asked to sign a yearbook. They want me to bring my camera to graduation on Saturday.

I’ve learned a lot.

Thank you Jaquea. (p.s. It is really difficult to photograph highly polished metal)

Bob and Whiskers – 1955 – Guest Blog Post

This guest post is in response to Murphy the Airedale’s passing. We are grateful to so many friends and followers for their lovely email and text messages and comments on the blogpost, too. Many of you have experienced pet loss and understand how painful it is.

On Wednesday morning, my neighbor Bob (from across the hall at school) brought me a copy of this wonderful photograph with 1955 written in the margin. It touched me so. Later in the afternoon I asked if I could please share it on the blog.

Here is what Bob wrote for the blog when I asked if it would be okay to post………..

This picture of my dog Whiskers and me was taken in 1955 with an second-hand camera that had light leak. My oldest sister took this photo. He was a mixed terrier. On July 4th, 1957 my pal was attacked by a very large German Shepherd and he passed away 2 days later. I was 6 in this picture. My buddy was 5.

After 58 years, I have never forgotten what a great family member he was and I still miss him. This is on the Southside of Pittsburgh.

My face and hands and my pup were as dirty as the air we breathed back then.

There was a song on the radio that came out just about the time of my dog’s passing. It was ” I’m saving my money to buy you a rainbow“. Whenever I hear or think of that song, it takes me back to those wonderful days with my dog Whiskers, when “life was in black and white”.

Thanks for your kind sympathy Bob. I appreciate your thoughtfulness to me and also my family as we grieve the loss of dear Murphy.

Murphy the Airedale- A Family’s Best Friend

Murphy Joseph McGrath. Murphy passed today. He just turned 11. He was patient, loving, loyal, humorous and adored by everyone. What a personality!

It is a very sad day for the family.

If you’ve been following the blog you’ve seen his photograph many times. I swear he smiled for the camera.

He was one of the first posts on the blog, Murphy Waits for Michael.

So many of you expressed sympathy recently on the passing of Erika’s parents Italian Greyhound, Cleo. It’s been a hard month.

Today’s tribute is for Mark and Erika’s, Anna, Michael, Jack and Maura’s dear sweet boy- Murphy!

When Mark and Erika brought each of the babies home from the hospital, Murphy was there to welcome them into the family. Murphy was a pup before M & E got married. He was a loving and well loved member of the family. ( Erika would get mad at me if I called him “dog”)

There are no words to describe the sadness, the missing. You may remember the photos from his Tenth Birthday post last year.

Anna is nine now but here she is just home from Mercy Hospital

Murphy’s favorite tree in Virginia. He represented for the Weekly Photo Challenge: Peaceful.

Photographed by Erika

In Hardy Virginia

Rest in Peace Murphy

A Tribute to Cleo- A Much Loved Italian Greyhound

Sixteen in dog years is getting up there. 112. But no matter if a faithful dog is old or ill, she is going to be sorely missed. She was well loved and cared for but she got sick and just couldn’t get better.

Cleo and her sister Xena, who passed on before, came as tiny puppies many Christmases ago to live with Donald and Marlene, my daughter-in-law’s parents. I heard the story that they were about the size of mice. Cleo and Xena traveled to visit the family every visit. And they would greet us eagerly when we all drove down to Virginia for Labor Day or Thanksgiving or Memorial Day weekends.

Italian Greyhounds grace many an oil painting or tapestry in the world’s museums. This special dog, Cleo,was a much loved member of the family. It’s a sad day.

Sympathy and love to you Marlene and Donald. I know you will miss her terribly.

Xena and Cleo, sisters, in happier days

Three Dog Ride – Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique

WordPress puts out the Weekly Photo Challenge and this week it is UNIQUE.

I tried to find photos that seemed a tad quirky and not an everyday shot.

Some may be familiar to you if you follow the blog. One of a kind?

Fun to go fishing for some examples for unique.

At the Penguin Tank- Zoo — Some kids watching the Penguins at the Zoo. No relation!

Work Boots Planter on Arlington Ave. Pittsburgh

Food Truck Night Boa Constrictor — At the Food Truck Festival in Columbus. Still don’t get why you’d walk around with a Boa Constrictor draped around yourself.

Carrot Duo — Why I photographed the twisted carrots on this placemat is beyond me……

Fuzzy Dice and Crazy Hat — Fuzzy Dice in the Fourth of July Parade
Lewis Center, Ohio

Black and Gold Rosary in Bloomfield Religious Store (STEELERS colors for those who don’t live here)

Unique Backpack at the Food Truck Festival Columbus OH

Black Dog, White Kitchen Cupboard, Remote Cable and Presto-

Meet Charlotte- 1/2 Husky, 1/2 Shepherd. The runt of the litter four years ago at James’ sister Kim’s farm Red Rooster Acres. She was visiting her cousin Penny.

It was Sunday night visiting Laura and James before the Tony Monaco Show at the Rumba Cafe. I tried to photograph her in the living room, sans flash of course, and it was too dark. So I asked if I could photograph her in the kitchen. I had read that photographing a dog with black fur can be a challenge.

Using the white of the kitchen was the key and my new cable release. And the cooperation and attention of Charlotte. I swear she smiled. Thanks Shawn (James’ cousin) for allowing me to post her portrait today. When you look at her you can see she is not looking at me, but Shawn!

(My mother’s mother’s name,too)

Murphy Waits for Santa

Kids asleep. Presents wrapped. The adults listening to Vince Guaraldi. The homemade cookies left for Santa on a special plate but I have to tell you this is the first I’ve seen a bowl of raw cauliflower and another of water for the reindeer. We always did carrots.
I was looking for a paper clip to try to weave in a loose end of yarn on a knitting project/gift and Marlene produced a package with two yarn needles! Talk about timing. We went to the four o’clock and then Mark and Matthew picked up Persian takeout- another first for Christmas Eve.
Definitely a foggy Christmas Eve. Laura and James coming in the morning. All is quiet, all is calm. Wishing all blog readers a peaceful day, whatever you’re doing on the 25th.

The Paper Anniversary- The First

Happy First Anniversary Laura and James. It was a happy wedding. There’s a list of traditional and modern wedding anniversary gifts for each year here. I knew that the first anniversary was paper.

Laura took this photo of the paper items I sent to them to mark the occasion. James said he came home from work to find some large boxes on their front porch and had no idea what was in them. I know I had fun thinking about sending the paper products and figured it would be a gift that would get used. Actually, used up! Shipping was free!