Our backyard photo journal - a collection of pictures of Skippy and the plants and flowers in our backyard. Also pictures from Skippy's walks & stories of his therapy work. Skippy is working hard at learning to be a Therapy Dog.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

puppy pictures

puppy1 puppy2
puppy3 puppy5
Skippy 2 Skippy 1
Skippy 3 Skippy 2a

I was reminiscing about my summer garden earlier this morning and came across pictures of Skippy from two summers ago. Skippy was born March 26 (on Easter) (plus or minus a day) 2005. He'll be 2 in a few weeks! These pictures were taken the first week of June, when he was 2 months old. Such a cute bundle of fluff, but boy, was he trouble!

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

white backyard

sticky snow backyard sticky snow 2
A sticky, wet snow in our backyard. Everything is blanketed with white.

backyardphotos

Monday, February 26, 2007

watercolor orchid pictures

white orchid orange orchid white orchid
My new camera came with software that makes photos look like a watercolor painting, sort of. I was experimenting with this feature on some of my orchid photos. Kind of pretty. It makes me wish I could paint.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

a walk in Habitat

habitat hig res0002

Skippy and I had a great walk today at Habitat Audubon sanctuary in Belmont. We walked along parts of the Western Greenway trail. I wish my camera was able to photograph all of the beautiful chickadees singing their spring song. It is one of those places where Skippy had to stay on his leash. (That's why its see it dragging along the snow in the photos!) I was surprised to see a sap collector on a birch tree today at Habitat in Belmont. Cool! With as little research, I found out that birch syrup tastes delicious, but has a distinctive flavor. Its made much the same as maple syrup, but requires twice as much sap per gallon of syrup and birch generally has a shorter tapping season. It was a good day for pine cone pictures!

Saturday, February 24, 2007

orchids on the windowsill

orange orchid flowers orange orchid
white orchid flowers white orchid
sill

Friday, February 23, 2007

therapy work cancelled

Skippy's therapy job was cancelled today. We were the only ones who had signed up for this visit. Four dogs were needed. Oh well. Skippy will have to wait until next weekend to work again. Instead of working, we had an extra long hike.

Bay Circuit Trail

bay circuit trail
Today Skip and I hiked along the Bay Circuit Trail in Boxford, MA.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

early spring buds

buds0002
I was so excited that I found the image stabilization button on my new camera today. To try it out, I photographed the progress of buds in our backyard. The past two days have been warm and it seems like the buds are swelling.

From top left: azalea, rose (Othello), pussy willow, crab apple, climbing hydrangea, rhododendron, viburnam Carlesii, leatherleaf viburnam, blueberries, pear, rose bay rhododendron, and another photo of rose Othello.

Monday, February 19, 2007

yahooo!!

sledding
Monday was an awesome sledding day. Mostly because the cousins were together. The snow was fast and there were no injuries and no arguments. Only one little rip on the hat that Skippy stole and had some fun with. All in all, a great day.

talking dogs video

Here's a cute video my cousin sent me: Talking Dogs. These dogs have alot to say.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

a snowy walk in Boxford

creek

winter wildflowers

winter asters winter golden rod
I photographed these near Baldpate Pond in Boxford, MA - dried goldenrod and aster flowers. (wildflower)

Saturday, February 17, 2007

today's therapy visit

calling cards
Skippy and I went to visit a nursing home in Winchester this morning. Skippy was very relaxed about it. He leaned against me and let everybody pat him. They played with his ears and stroked his head and back. Skippy even gave a couple of kisses. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

I would say that we are finally getting used the visiting work and I am finally able to keep Skippy relaxed, on his feet (or sitting) and interacting with people for most of the 30-40 minute visit. This was our 8th visit.

The calling cards are something our group started using on visits to children's facilities, especially when the kids were not allowed to touch the dogs. Skippy and I can't go to children's facilities yet (we need more experience), but the older people like the cards, too. I usually give out several of these to the people we are visiting.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

snow scenes

white snow
The fresh snow was very pretty today. But it was windy and about 15F (-9C), so we didn't stay out long.

Skippy floats snow on cedar
cedar white snow
I've been experimenting with my new camera. This is the snow setting. It gives a very high contrast photo. Skippy looks like he's walking on air and his shadow looks blue!

big oak picnic
Waverly Oaks Park

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

snow dog

snow dog snow dog
Skippy sure does love the snow!

snow day!

its snowing! slush Skip on sledding hilljuniper berries Fresh Pond
A snowy winter day. Our first one with real snow accumulation this year. It was very pretty to walk in this morning, but the icing became difficult for shoveling and driving towards evening. Skippy had trouble with snow balls on his paws this morning. I put wax (Musher's Secret) on them, but still Skippy sat every few minutes and waited for me to come remove the clumps between his toe pads. Next time, I'll have to put on extra thick wax. Especially in this thick and wet snow.

happy valentines day

happy valentines day
Most of these roses grew in my garden last summer. Especially Othello, First Kiss and Dorothy Perkins. A couple are store-bought roses that I photographed in a vase on our table.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

painted bunting

bunting
My dad sent me this picture of a painted bunting he photographed last week at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Naples, Florida. It's a nice contrast to my drab New England photos!

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Belmont Conservation land

skip in path
snowy hill path tomato tepees victory gardens from south

The Belmont Conservation Land has beautiful open fields. It is adjacent to the Belmont Victory gardens, an area with community gardening plots. Not much going on there today. Everything is icy and snow covered. You can see the skeletons of the gardens and check out all the different types of tomato supports made from available materials. Skippy ran through all the little paths and across the open fields.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Skippy's therapy tags

skippy with toy profile cc tag