Today's Pup Portrait with friends at Lake Lavon!

After we took the above Pup Portrait, my friend came with her dogs to join in on the fun at the lake.

Gorgeous, Handsome, Grissom, Riggs, and Panda

Today's Pup Portraits at Sister Grove Park!

 

I couldn't decide which one I liked better, so I posted both.

Today's Pup Portrait at Sister Grove Park!

Another beautiful day here.  I took a late afternoon hike with my pups and completely enjoyed it.

Today's Pup Portrait at Sister Grove Park!

I took a hiking stick with me this time to tear down the spider webs and spiders that were in my path, and it worked great. I felt like I was holding a flag as I was walking, but it's better than having spiders/webs in my face.

Lazy Rainy Day with Lord Bumble

Lord Bumble taking it easy on this lazy rainy Sunday... I think I may follow.  Now to convince the Border Collies!

 

Sister Grove Park

We haven't been out hiking in a long time, but the weather was perfect today!  It was 72 degrees out and cloudy.  We spent two hours on the trails and the dogs had a blast.

I didn't want to lug my DSLR around with the zoom lens, so I took my small point and shoot camera.  It did a pretty good job with the shots I took.  The best part is that I could put in my pocket when I was done.

Below is a wicked spider that hung across my path as I was walking.  Luckily I had my head up when I came to this one.  I would have been jumping all around and squeal like a girl if I ran into it.

 

Another great shot of my pups at the park!

ADCh Gorgeous video!

VERY long time coming video! I finally finished Gorgie's ADCh video, where she became a champion in the agility world this past April.

Many thanks to my instructor Elizabeth Evans, my parents Toni & Ron Mazzola who also made most of my equipment, and my supportive friends. Especially the ones that continually came to watch each attempt as we tried (you know who you are), but the pressure was too much for me. Funny as this day those friends weren't there and we got'er done!

The video starts off with some clips of runs that helped get us to that point while patiently waiting to do our last leg in Jumpers. At the end the video, there are some fabulous photos from none other than Tom Bridge with Fast Clicks Photography who did a fantastic job catching memorable moments of time.

Happy Birthday Gorgie!

I didn't have time to finish Gorgie's yearly video, but should have it done by this weekend to post.  I took this photo this morning of my little rockstar puppy who is ready to party!

Today's Pup Portrait at Lake Lavon!

Gorgie unleashed no props... just water!

Kyle Smith Herding Clinic

Awesome weekend at the Kyle Smith Herding Clinic with both Handsome & Gorgeous. We worked on shedding and I felt I was getting it in the end... dogs too! So we might trial the Advanced B Course next month which includes a shed! I have some worked to do.

Handsome!

A Handsome Sheep Dog View

 Gorgeous!

Gorgeous Lake Lavon

Today's Pup Portrait at Lake Lavon!

Today was another hot day at the lake.  It showed 103 when we were out there.  Funny thing as the temperature tomorrow will be in the mid 80's both Saturday and Sunday.  Perfect for the Kyle Smith Herding Clinic that both dogs have a working spot in.

Below is a picture I took in May of this year.  It's close to the spot where I took the photo today.  You can see that the water was all the way up to the grass.

Today's Pup Portrait at Lake Lavon!

Pup Portrait for today!

Gorgie biting the water!

A Gorgeous Sixth Year Movie Trailer

Gorgie's Birthday Video coming soon!

Gorgie's birthday is coming up, and I'm going through her past years accomplishments for her yearly video.  I must say the most thrilling of them all is being part of the IFCS World Agility Team.  I haven't looked at these photos since, so I started editing them and wanted to post this one of our team.  Thanks Kevin Burnette for being the best handler and friend to her.

Of course Gorgie receiving her Agility Dog Championship title was a thrill, but next on the list was how well she did in the South Central Regionals round one tournament classes the very next weekend.  First place in Grand Prix and second place in Steeplechase... what a way to end her (or mine) agility for the year.  I hope to be able to run again next year.  So you folks that always say "hug your dogs!" don't forget to hug each other... you just never know when it's "your" last time to run with your dog.

State Fair of Texas winning photos!

For the past two years, I have entered photos in the State Fair of Texas photography competition.  I'm allowed to enter two of my photos and they can't be entered in the same category.  They also need to be taken within the last 18 months.  Below is this years wins!

2nd place Rural Scenes

3rd place Humor

Below is last years wins!

2nd place Humor

3rd place Animals/Domestic

Today's Pup Portrait at Lake Lavon!

The dead tree makes a different type of background than just the lake.  Gorgie was so tired from playing, she just flopped herself down for the photo shoot.

YEE HAW!  Gorgie biting the water.  She likes to run into the water to make a splash and then bite it.

Today's Pup Portrait at Lake Lavon!

First Day of School!

Handsome and Gorgeous first day of school!  Going to Dogwarts!

Flight of Many Colors!

I took this photo yesterday at Lake Lavon.  I changed it up by adding color to the clouds.  It really turned out great.

Lake Lavon Pup Portrait with two takes!

 Pup Portrait Take one!

Pup Portrait Take two!

Lord Bumble

Dear Lord Bumble,

I didn't have a hole knocked threw the wall and add a pet door for you to sit on the other side of the kitchen window to let me know you want to be let in! Plus, I would like to finish breakfast please.

Sincerely, 

your management

Today's Pup Portrait at Lake Lavon!

Just another day at the lake with beautiful weather!  Sheep herding later this evening!

Today's Pup Portrait at Lake Lavon!

Another beautiful day at Lake Lavon.  The temperature again was remarkable for the Summer of Texas.  It showed 80 degrees out!!!  No winds today, so it was a quiet walk down the shore line with the pups.  Well, as quiet as Gorgie will let it be!  She continually splashes the water up and barks/bites it.  Below is a photo of her running into the water to make a splash to bite.  There is no ball around!  She knows how to self entertain!

Lake Lavon with a LOLkatz

Took the pups out to Lake Lavon.  It was really nice weather today... probably in the high eighties when we were out there.  Love that this lake is only ten minutes from my house.

 "I think we're going to need a bigger leash!"

A Handsome and Gorgeous Sunrise

My boy Handsome... as the sun was rising behind him this morning.

The sun hasn't quite come over the trees when I took this shot of Gorgeous.  Lots of dew on the ground this morning along with cool temperatures in the mid 60's.

Here are the three lazy farts that refuse to partake in the sunrise photo shoot this morning.  They claim that Heaven forbids them to get their paws wet! 

Lake Lavon and the Egret

I took this picture at the lake today. I was going to add a quote to it, but thought not too. Let others be swept away as I did looking at this bird in flight. I must say the first word that came to mind as I was watching him soar through the sky was freedom. It was a nice feeling.

 Another shot of the egret.

Lake Lavon with the pups!

I took the pups to Lake Lavon today!  They haven't been to this spot since last year.  Nice to see the lake up to these rocks.  I'm sure in about a month, the lake will be too far away to get another shot on the rocks.

Nice to have a place to go for the pups to run around in the Summer of Texas.

 Both of them are waiting for me to come down the hill to play.

Willabee

This photo turned out so great.  I took it this morning as Willabee was sunning himself from the window ledge.  He is so photographic.

LOLkatz

Willabee.

LOLkatz

Gorgeous.