My Favorite Things: Christmas and Ginger!

I so love decorating for Christmas, and because of that I've been doing it earlier each year!  And what's so cool is that I'm not the only one doing that either!  It seems to be gaining popularity to decorate earlier!  And why not?  I always feel sad when they come down and feel like it was never long enough...it kinda makes you understand why some people love to have Christmas decor all year round.  But I also love garden stuff so I wouldn't want Christmas all year, but during the months the garden is sleeping it's nice to have something pretty!  Since we got the Ektorp couches from Ikea I got the white covers to put on for Christmas time, and I got green velveteen pillow covers and I made bands of Christmas fabric to go over them so it's nice to be able to change the covers at my whim!  LOL  (and they are washable, a must for white!!!)

My Hubby saw our little dog Ginger sitting here all cute and since we had the camera on the tripod still from taking photos in the garden he thought it would be perfect to get a photo of her!  But he's forgotten how to use a SLR so deferred  to me to get the shot.  It's cool that we both enjoy photography.  It's been a long time since we've gotten to do any this way, the last time either of us used a SLR camera was back when you used film!!!  LOL  So I've had a time getting used to thinking about photos in Manual settings instead of the old point and shoot we've had for 10 years of digital cameras.  Back then it was way too expensive to get a digital SLR and it still can be if you get a fancy pansy professional one, but I got a good starter SLR (Nikon d5100) which is perfect and it's all about the lenses you use anyway than it is about the camera itself.  I'm really enjoying using a wide open aperture and getting some nice shallow depth of field photos (where only a small area is in focus and the rest blurs).  I think it's nice to look at this photo and see Ginger in focus and everything else not so much, which usually with point and shoot you get everything in focus and it can be a bit plain.  I like how it gives it good depth like you are looking in a window at her.  If you take your hand and focus your eyes on it and bring your hand closer or further than your face you will see that your eyes blur what's around you as you bring it closer to your face, and that is the effect of a wider aperture which I LOVE!!!  LOL It's fun to play around with it and practice, so I can capture the feeling I want in a photo!

Anyway isn't Ginger adorable?  And she loves to snuggle too!!!  So I guess this photo is really 3 favorite things in one!!!  Christmas, Ginger, and Photography!!! LOL

And this reminds me I need to make my annual Christmas Ornaments!

2010 ESD Enchanted Challenge: Fairy Treasure - Keeping Me Company

As I work on my Fairy Treasure project Madie likes to snooze under my sewing machine desk! She was there while I pieced and sewed it together and even now when I embellish! She's keeping me company! ;)

Family Photo Feb. 2007

Today we decided to take our family photo so here it is! Me, Gerard, China, and Madie!
China and Madie have their own blog too. Click Here to see it. They have been making doggy online friends. There are lots of dogs with blogs out there! Check out China & Madie's sidebar for a few cool dog blog links.

I got it at Ross

I'm on the computer and I look down and Madie has something on her beard I start laughing! She's always getting stuff on her beard and we just think it's hilarious the best part is she looks at us like 'why are you laughing?'! This one is even funnier because if you look it's a price sticker for Ross for $1.99 (compare at $4)! Hey you all better get down to your local Ross and pick up a Mini-Schnauzer! They are wonderful for laughs!

Winter Fashion

Here is our dogs China and Madie in their brand new outerwear hand made by me and my hubby! Aren't they so cute! We worked together and finished them up in about an hour. Madie's got the jacket and China has a matching scarf. You can Click Here if you'd like to see their Winter 2006 Fashion Show and Faux Paux on their blog.

The Lake

Today Echo, Gerard, and I went to the Lake with Sky, China, and Madie! We had a lot of fun and the dogs had a blast. The first photo is of Sky enjoying the warm sun during the car ride to the lake. The second photo is of Gerard playing chase with the doggies! They LOVE to chase Papa! Then the Third photo is of Sky resting after exploring the area. The forth is China following Gerard down a log, but Madie didn't want to try it. The fifth is China and Madie exploring near the water.
Click on the photos to see them closer! I just love the one where Gerard is playing chase with China and Madie you can just see all the fun they were having!

Echo, China, & Sky

This is my sister-in-law Echo. She is married to my youngest brother Aaron who just joined the Air Force and is at training. She just came down to stay with us while my brother finishes up his training and gets his first duty station. The cool thing is that they will be stationed about 2 and a half hours away from us. Echo is almost 5 months pregnant too! I'm going to be an Auntie! Our dog, China, just adores her and she won't let just anyone snuggle with her and hug her! So that means she really likes and trusts Echo. The big white dog is Sky, he is a pure-bred Kuvasz and Echo and Aaron adopted him from our brother Issac who couldn't have him anymore. Sky is a big, gentle, boy who really likes Gerard and Me as well which is also surprising, since he is usually wary of people he doesn't know. Sky and China don't get along though...China is having a tough time having this big boy coming into HER house. Madie and Sky knew each other previously when Madie was a puppy, so they get along just fine.

China & Madie

China and Madie snuggling with Papa! China usually doesn't allow Madie to snuggle with her but since she was snuggling with Papa she allowed Madie to be there too.
To read more about Madie click here.
To read more about China and Madie click here.

Madie!

Isn't she soooooo cute?! This is a photo from a few days ago. Madie is a Mini-Schnauzer who is 1 year and 2 months. Whatever room I'm in doing whatever all her toys seem to migrate! I'll have to take a pic of the mess she makes! LOL When I go to vacuum I put all her toys in a basket and she goes after me and pulls every toy out as I put them in! "No Mom! The toys aren't supposed to be in the basket! They go on the floor!" So I've started giving her something to chew on to keep her busy while I vacuum. She also likes to pretend the vacuum is trying to steal her toys from her...she'll put a toy in the middle of the floor and if the vacuum points to it or goes near it she will swoop in and grab her toy away and put it somewhere else! She is a very entertaining puppy!

Us and Our Dogs

My favorite recent photo of my wonderful Hubby and me! We went to the lake for a fun trip with the dogs in January 2006.
This is China and Madie at the lake as well. Madie is still a pup in this photo and a very shaggy one at that! China is a chow mix we adopted from the Humane Society at 1 1/2 yrs old, now she is 7! She is a very dainty and sweet dog although protective and tough when need be. Madie is a Mini Schnauzer who we adopted from my sister, Joyce, when she was 5 months and now she's 1 year! She is very out-going, loves to investigate and is a very silly girl! China and Madie love to wrestle with each other. Madie loves to tug but China refuses to tug with anyone, much to Madie's dismay.