Being a lover of a good nights rest you would think I might find this disruption to my sleep inconvenient but honestly…I am grateful for the world that owning a dog has shown me.

I call it “Dog Hour”…those brief few minutes, in the early morning light before the sun’s intensity starts to be unbearable. All the dogs and their two legged companions leave the comfort of their beds and head in to the fields and forests.

Honestly I have gotten some truly amazing images in the 2 weeks we have been living this way. That beautiful golden morning light with it’s long shadows and finger like rays touching the yellowing fields.

The rest of the day may be a bit unbearable…but in those early morning and just as the sunsets…are pure magic.

I spend my days capturing fractions of time, collecting them together in hopes that all these tendrils of time create a cohesive and complete moment.

On yesterday’s wander while adding images to a collection of work I am doing on the agricultural area of Ladenburg Germany we found ourselves standing mesmerized by the sound and force of the wind blowing the heavy plastic doors of the giant green house….like a feather in the wind it floated.  All the while, the air,  heavy with fragrance..the intoxicating scent of ripening strawberries, filled our lungs.

Photographers  hope to string together moments like this and create a life.  I captured this moment…in cupped hands…to share with you here. Click the link below and watch the wind blow.

The Summer Wind

Before there was the adored Clover, there were 3 little equally adored cats named Larry, Moe and Curley.  They were brothers and they very much lived up to their name.   The introduction of a puppy into their lives at 14 years old was perhaps not the best idea…for them or Clover.

One summer just after we moved from Belgium back to Germany I noticed a strange power shift happening in the house.  Curley our normally timid and shy cat began to assert himself.  I came into the living room one day and found a very frustrated Clover squeezing himself into one of the cats beds…while on the other side of the room a very self satisfied Curley…was snuggled smiling in the HUGE bed reserved for the dog.

I think this is a great example of “With Rank comes Privilege.”  Curley sure felt he earned his position….Clover just thought him evil.

The best advice I have been given about cats and dogs living together is…you can have a dog then introduce a cat, but not the opposite.  Now I know.

Once we moved to Germany we found a new trainer for Clover and she told me every time you find it hard to get his attention or if he wanders off…Go hide.   Let me tell you, this works!

A trick to living with a Wheaten Terrier is to turn all “Learning Experiences” into a game.   He loves to go in search of me now and I love being interesting to him.

It is a funny phenomena, Clover and sheep…their resemblance at times is uncanny.  Mostly in the Winter when he has his fluffy downy coat.  All Sheep will rush over to give him a real good stare….a long unblinking stare until they are sure he is not one of them and then he gets the terribly threatening Sheep Foot Stamp.   Sheep being threatening in the first place is funny to us,, but this hypnotic stare this group was presenting us today just kept us in stitches.  Me mostly as other than tail wagging I have never heard Clover laugh.

Well, try to fight the urge to do whatever  it is that these fellas are trying to use their evil sheep mind meld to make us humans do, but enjoy the image all the same.

This morning in a cloud of our own breath, Clover my canine companion and I set out to be the first people to crush the morning frost kissed grass under our feet. To be in the vineyard before the sun breached the blue chilled hills.

At first we took the path we normally would, flat and steady, our path matched our pace. High above we could hear a busy woodpecker pecking away at a hollow tree and it’s rhythmic pattern resonated across the rows. It seemed to pour down the hillside at us as if calling us higher.

We turned our direction up the rows, fighting our way up the steep sides. Several times Clover turned as if to ask me was I really sure this was the way? Were we really going to forge a new path, a more direct and perhaps more difficult one? With a smile I hurried him along telling him to step gingerly so as to not loose footing on the steep and loose soil below our feet.

Twice we were forced to turn back because the way was not clear for us. Clover would whimper at each course change and again I would have to encourage him to push himself forward..always forward. We had a goal to reach.

Then before we realized it, just above us we found a maintained path. With a struggle we pulled ourselves up and over the gravel edge to once again stand erect on sure footing. Together we danced in circles, me clapping and he wagging not caring if anyone might see. This bitter morning we set ourselves a goal and could not be deterred from succeeding.

I hope you set a goal today and remember to celebrate the success no matter how small.

Happy New Year 2010!

I have written to you a few times now about my husband’s interest in film photography and how he is inspiring me to join him on journey into medium and large format film photography.

Being a complete “Left Brainer” my husband really enjoys the chemistry behind film photography. Each evening, when he comes in from work, he changes his clothes and checks to see what film needs to be developed and he loads up more 4×5 plates for the next adventure.  He says it is a real stress burner for him.

What use to be known as our bathroom has now acquired the new title of “the Magic Room” as it has been transformed into his laboratory/Darkroom.

After much research he purchased an amazing bit of kit to add to our home studio, the Harrison Pup Film Changing Tent. As you can see in the slideshow, our Wheaten Terrier Clover, enjoys helping load film. The addition of this little tent has freed up a lot of time and made changing and loading film while traveling possible. We can even pop up the pup tent in the car or in the field if necessary. We can’t say enough about this great product.  Aftrer viewing the slideshow someone pointed out how a “Pup” tent is very appropraite for us.

If you are interested in seeing some of our combined film work, we have recently released a calendar for 2010. You can view and purchase this calendar at this link: SharedPassion

As we walk we giggle to ourselves, after many years living in this foreign land we realize how much these wonderful people have influenced our daily lives.  From our Sunday long walks with lunch to the seasonal art of foraging.

In this season, everywhere you look you will find people bending and poking at the ground.  Free hands holding bulging bags of nuts.  If you see someone under a tree any where right now….you know exactly what they are up to.  Foraging.

Our work is a bit more delicate as we join our German neighbors.   The fact that we walk with an inquisitive Terrier, changes the dynamics a bit.  Clover our Wheaten Terrier watches and learns very quickly.  In the Summer months he is known to sneak off in the vineyards and pluck a few grapes from the vine….only for tasting of course.  When it comes to nuts…well, he is simply nuts about them.  He races from one cracked shell on the ground to another…nosing all the while in hopes to find a bit of meat that has been freed by the foot of someone walking by.

Kastanien is the German word for chestnut, the small good eating kind in this area.  A few years back we had an amazing day at the Ville Ludwigshöhe in Edenkoben along the German Wine Route.  It simply was a festival in celebration gift from the Gods.  Everywhere you looked people were off in the forest, stick and bag in hand, poking the ground in search of these prickly nuts.  The best part of this small event for me were the amazing things made from the Kastanien.  Breads, tortes even chestnut honey were all for sale.

If you haven’t experienced the secret joy of foraging, I highly recommend you get out and go in search of a wee bit of free food.  Honestly..nothing tastes better….but take my advice…leave the Terrier home.  He will rob you blind.