Showing posts with label MSH. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MSH. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Cooking Class

Cooking Class
Zachary: "Today we shall be making cookies. Watch, and learn."




Oh, Hi Mom
Zachary: "First, you open the bag and pour the contents into the bowl..."
Henry: "Uh, Zachary..."


Oh, Hi Mom
Zachary: "... then you add one egg, some water, and a bit of oil..."
Henry: "... how are we going to pour the bag into this bowl?"




Now What?
(crickets)




Oh, Hi Mom
"Momma!"



Dog Blog Post #934



Photography Assignment



I walked into the kitchen and what did I see?

Yup, the boys were…

Our Daily Challenge - Jan 16, 2013 - "Caught in the Act"

… of making Cookies.

Zachary's looking pretty confident, but Henry's obviously….

The Monthly Scavenger Hunt January - "#8. Thinking"

… this might be a bit harder than Zachary makes it sound.

Perhaps, upon further...

Daily Dog Challenge "443. Reflection"

... they'll reconsider the wisdom of their actions.

Editor's Note: Good grief, you'd think it would be easier to find a handy reflective surface.

Is nothing made of shiny metal anymore?

Does EVERYTHING have to be made from plastic?


The best I could come up with was this old mixing bowl. And while it dutifully reflected the tray it sat upon, it was admittedly a bit... weak.


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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Worn Out

Worn Out
Zachary: "Ahhhhh - at last."
Henry (off camera): "Hey, that's my nest!!!!"

Worn Out
Henry: "Mine mine mine!"


Now Henry, that's not very nice.


Well Worn
"But I found it Momma, doesn't that make it mine?"


Well, yes, sort of. But we're a family. That means we share our things with others. Like when Zachary shares his Lacrosse Balls with you.

Hmm...

Perhaps that was a bad example.


Well Worn
"He's suppose to share?"


Dog Blog Post #931



Photography Assignment



Over the Christmas holidays, hubby and I replaced our…

Daily Dog Challenge "440. "Well Worn"

… and...

Our Daily Challenge - Jan 13, 2013 - "Past Its Prime"

… comforter, plus an ancient and undersized blanket, after a large rip suddenly appeared near the hem of the comforter.

While I was making up the bed with the new, Henry found the pile of the old and flopped down into his newfound fluffy nest.

This was a born yet another "dog bed" in our house, and a…

The Monthly Scavenger Hunt January - "#6. Frugal"

… one at that.

Here are the boys, enjoying their nest as a prop, with the ripped innards displayed for your viewing pleasure.

When I build the nest for real, I'm careful to fold the tear deep into the middle to prevent an additional destuffing.


Mischief Monday



Well Worn
"Now you've done it, mom."



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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Friday, January 11, 2013

Busted

Busted



Dog Blog Post #929



Photography Assignment



I figured something must be up when I heard the boys whispering and giggling in the study.

And the light was out.

And when I walked in they where shopping on Amazon, which is definitely…

The Monthly Scavenger Hunt January - "#13. Forbidden"

Daily Dog Challenge "438. And THEN What Happened"

Why, I changed my password, of course, making it…

Our Daily Challenge - Jan 11, 2013 - "Something That Can Never Happen Again"

And here I'd been thinking having "Zachary" as my password was pretty darned clever.

Alternate...


To be honest, today was real let down after yesterday. It's not that I didn't have great things in mind... I pictured Zachary's face bathed in the glow of the monitor with the rest of the room reduced to black.

What I got (with the exception of the silhouette above) was mostly this...

Busted

Zachary! What are you doing???

Busted
"Huh?"

You know you aren't allowed to make internet purchases without asking first.


Busted
"Sorry Mom."
Oh sweetie, just don't do it again.


Editor's Note: Why is it the pictures I'm most proud of never seem to happen on Blog Hop days?

Arg!!!! Not fair!

So, just in case you missed it, here's my favorite from yesterday's Rim Lighting post...


Framed

If your curious how I got the effect, there's a lighting diagram at the very bottom of that post.

-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Learning New Things

Learning
"Hey mom, can we get our own iPhone? I found this nifty book that explains all about it."


Well, I don't know dears.

It's kinda tricky to use, even with fingers, I'm not sure how well it's going to work with paws.


Learning
(blink blink blink)

Why don't you read up on it a bit, and then we'll see.


Learning
"Surfing, pictures, maps, text messages, appointments, restaurant reservations, scores... this sounds awesome!"

And how do you use it?


Learning
"Tapping, flicking, pinching, spreading, dragging...

Hmmm...


Dog Blog Post #923



Photography Assignment



After a nice romp outside in the drizzle, the boys came in, dried off with a thick...

Our Daily Challenge - Jan 5, 2013 - "Green"

… towel, then curled up in their Camo-Snuggy with its many…

Daily Dog Challenge "432. Shades of Green"

…, to set about…

The Monthly Scavenger Hunt January 2013 - "#2. Learning"

… how to use their new iPhone 5.

I'll keep you posted how that goes. :)


Learning
"Maybe we should get an iPaws instead."

Editor's Note: For those who might have been concerned, Kitty was saved from the auction block just in time, and Zachary had a bit of a talking to.


I'm sure such a thing will never happen again, aren't you?



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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

New Year's Day

New Year's Day


Oh, come on guys.

It's a beautiful day outside. You can't spend the whole day sprawled out in front of the TV watching football and eating cookies...


New Year's Day



... can you???


New Year's Day
"It's a guy thing, Mom."


You'll get Cookie Bellies...


New Year's Day



(sigh)

I give up.


New Year's Day




Dog Blog Post #919



Photography Assignment



Our Daily Challenge - Jan 1, 2013 - "One Day"

… in the life of your typical suburban…

113 Pictures in 2013 - "#3. Canine"

… with the boys saying

Daily Dog Challenge "428. Hello 2013!"

… on…

100 Pictures (2013) - "#99. New Year's Day"…

… in that most typical of American Male way - by watching way too much football and eating way too many snacks.

The Monthly Scavenger Hunt January 2013 - "9. Photo taken on January 1st 2013"


Prop Tip



Prop Tip



While I might show a bowl full of cookies in pictures, most of the time I fake it by using a smaller container to fill up as much space as possible.

Add a dusting of cookies on top, and you're good to go.

Why bother?

Because filling these bowls with cookies takes a LOT of cookies, and sometimes I simply don't have enough in the cupboard to do the job.

This method also reduces my loses in the event of drooling.

Editor's Note: Oops, looks like I jumped the gun posting the boy's New Year's Resolutions yesterday, so here they are again for the New Year's Resolution Blog Hop. If you click on them you'll see a full-sized (more readable) image.

New Years 2013 (part 1)



New Years 2013 (part 2)


-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Monday, December 10, 2012

Momma's Little Angel

Zachary
Zachary: "Mom says there's a little bit of all of us in the decorations on the Christmas Tree."



Momma's Little Angel
Henry: "I found my bit!"



Dog Blog Post #897



Photography Assignment



I told the boys there was a little bit of all of us in the decorations on our old fashioned Christmas Tree.

I think Henry's found his bit, don't you?

Daily Dog Challenge "406. Bokeh"

Our Daily Challenge - Dec 10, 2012 - "I Am…."

Henry is Momma's Little Angel, of course.


Momma's Little Angel
"Really, Momma?"


Yes, Henry.

Momma's Little Angel
"Are you sure?"


Yes, Henry.


Zachary
Zachary:  "I don't suppose I could have a Lacrosse Ball instead?"


Editor's Note: Comments - I had to switch away from allowing anonymous comments the other day, as the blog was being hammered by some Russian spammer.

No, I don't know what he's selling. It was in Russian.

Yes, Blogger did catch them and thoughtfully put them in the "Are you sure this is Spam?" folder for me to sift through. But sifting through 400 comments a day, 99.9% in Russian, trying to see if anyone real accidentally got pegged as spam (and yes, the innocent get unjustly accused from time to time) was a total drag. :(

You should still be able to put in comments using one of a variety of Open ID methods. I'll wait a few days, then switch back to allowing anonymous and see if my Russian "friend" has moved on.


-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Where There's Smoke

Smoke
"Oooooo"



Dog Blog Post #896



Photography Assignment



What better to scent the air than a Holiday Spice…

The Monthly Scavenger Hunt December 2012 - "12. Candle"

The boys were quite intrigued by the…

Our Daily Challenge - Dec 9, 2012 - "Smoke"

… created when I blew this…

Daily Dog Challenge "405. Props for Props - Take a photo of your dog with a prop we might not expect to see with him or her"

… out.

Editor's Note: Ok, this was different. I don't recall ever having to capture smoke before.

So I read up a bit on it in google, then basically ignored everything I read and gave it a go.

That is, I didn't use an incense stick, I didn't point the flash from the side, and the background wasn't a foot away from the smoke.

I did use as fast a shutter speed as I could with my Speedlight (1/250 - on camera) and as small an aperture as I dared given that I needed enough light to show the boys (f/8).

I must say I was rather pleased with how it came out, given that I needed to get a dog in there, too.

This is the one and only shot I took, as I had no desire to smoke up my kitchen. :)


Monday Mischief


I was a bit worried, as I couldn't think of anything mischievous to say about the shot above, then I turned around to see what Kitty was up to...


Mischief
"This is a fine mess you got us in, Kitty."




Mischief
"If you think I'm going to untangle you..."

Mischief
"Hey!"



Mischief
Troublemaker


... should have known.

-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Friday, November 30, 2012

Making Cookies

Making Cookies


Now where are those boys?

I was sure they wanted to give me a paw baking Christmas Cookies...

(Shazam!)


Making Cookies
"Did someone say cookies?"


Making Cookies
"Cookies! Cookies! Can I lick the bowl? Can I? Can I?"

Henry!

There are no unwashed paws allowed on the table!

And there will be no bowl licking at all unless your manners improve, young dog. In fact, I'm now thinking these cookies will just have to wait until another day.

Dog Blog Post #886



Photography Assignment



Our Daily Challenge - Nov 29, 2012 - "On the Other Side"

The Monthly Scavenger Hunt November 2012 - "10. Ingredients "

Daily Dog Challenge "394. With (a) Heart - Take a photo that shares a sentiment or shows a heart in some way today!"

Yeah, a bit weak on the Heart part - but it's there, if you look closely!



Making Cookies
Zachary: "Step One - grow opposable thumbs."


Mmm Mmm Good


Editor's Note: No, of course they didn't lick the cookie dough. Sadly, after getting it all out and setting it up, I never even made the cookies. This weekend. This weekend for sure.

As for the shot above, the boys are enjoying a generous amount of peanut butter I smeared inside the bowl.

Miss Kodee mentioned the lighting on yesterday's Christmas Picture shots.

I use a Speedlight, on camera, and bounce it off the ceiling.

Bouncing the flash creates soft, nearly shadowless lighting for the pictures plus it means the dogs are not getting flashed directly.

I also usually, although not today, add in two stand umbrella stands with CFLs. They don't flash, they are just on, but they also don't get very hot - a real plus in out hot summers.

I couldn't photograph at my preferred shutter speed (1/160s) and aperture (f/6.3) with just the stands, but they do a great job of evening out the lighting from the flash.

Why do I like even lighting? Because my "studio" (the kitchen) is pretty cramped, and the boys are usually with a few feet of the backdrop. This is so close that any backdrop other than the black, if flashed directly, would have nasty harsh shadows thrown on it, and the black would shimmer gray in places.

Why don't I just shoot a wider aperture and get more light that way?

Because I've found if I drop below f/5.6 when shooting both boys at once, its pretty much impossible to keep them within the depth of field. With a single dog, f/2.2 - f/3.2 creates pretty portraits. :)



-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Monday, November 26, 2012

Gotcha!

Gotcha!
Zachary:  "Where's my Lacrosse Ball?" (sniff sniff sniff) 



Gotcha!
Zachary: "Gotcha!"


(Time Passes)


Gotcha!
Henry: (sniff sniff sniff) "Oh Cookies, were are you hiding?" (sniff sniff sniff)




Gotcha!
Henry: "Kitty! How could you?"




Dog Blog Post #883



Photography Assignment


Looks like Inspector Zachary and Detective Henry spotted Kitty…

Our Daily Challenge Nov 26, 2012 - "At the Top"…

that would be the...

Daily Dog Challenge "392. Tip Top"

… of the Recycled…

The Monthly Scavenger Hunt November 2012 - "#5. Paper"

… heap, where she had smuggled Zachary's favorite Lacrosse Ball and was snitching Henry's cookies.

Kitty!

And in Other News...


Drooling?


... why is Zachary drooling?


-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Adventure

Cat Burglar


Dog Blog Post #875



Photography Assignment



Follow the boys around with a camera and you never know what sort of…

Our Daily Challenge - Nov 18, 2012 - "Adventure"

… you'll have.

Today, we have Inspector Henry collaring the local Cat Burglar red-pawed with the goods - a bag of priceless gems including a monster...

The Monthly Scavenger Hunt November 2012 - "Diamond"

Just one more day in the life of the Golden Boys.

Daily Dog Challenge 384. "Out Of Frame - Take a photo of your dog today where he or she is partially out of the frame."

Editor's Note: For those keeping score at home - no, I did NOT add a new brown Fedora to the boys already extensive hat collection.

That's the bright red Fedora (as shown in their recent A Night Out post) selectively colored in Aperture 3 to be brown. I don't normally go that far for pictures, but after Hubby glanced at the shots and commented on how ridiculous it looked, I couldn't very well leave it that way. :)


Alternates


Sir Droolsalot's lone entry, as he immediately left spots on the purple satin and the diamond didn't show up with out it, thus ending the shoot. To his credit, his shot is the best match for the Daily Dog Challenge's "Out Of Frame" prompt:

Cat Burglar



Yup - I selectively colored the Irish Green Bowler hat (as seen in Sharp Dressed Dogs) as well...

Cat Burglar



How about no hat?


Cat Burglar



And Henry looking regal... just because. :)

Cat Burglar



Monday Mischief


If a diamond stealing Cat Burglar doesn't qualify as Monday Mischief, I don't know what does!


Cat Burglar



-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved