"Having A Dog..."

 This photo is of my beautiful first Lab Asia. In this photo her chest and paws in a laying position makes a heart shape. I know, "awwwww!" right?  This was a surprise to me, and I never noticed it until I looked at it more closely after she was gone. Once I thought about it, it wasn't so surprising really. Anyone that's ever loved a dog knows that the love is there.   Always.    Everyday.    All day.    No matter what.    Unconditional.    Pure.    Love.

I had gone to see a Scottish Fold kitten the morning that I brought Asia home. I was debating on my first pet, cat or dog? The Scottish Fold was a gorgeous creamy color with a touch of orange and was so sweet with his little owl-like face and those adorable folded ears. But the minute I saw those white Labs falling all over each other and all over me, that was it! They were all spoken for except for two females.  One was skinny and would be a smaller Lab, the breeder said. The other female was a chubby little thing. I had a tough time deciding...but the pudge won. There's just something about chubby babies and chubby puppies that I can't resist!

 I brought her home to my loft in Gastown.  I was sooo in love! I was single, in my early thirties, and this was my baby! She did test my patience more than once however. Not quite to the 'Marley and Me' extent, but we did have our moments. I finally broke down and saw that movie last year...literally.  I recorded it on the PVR, and finally decided to watch it while editing photos. I was ready. I thought I was ready. Nope... more kleenex. Ok, now I have to use toilet paper. Ok, I give up trying to edit or do anything at all because I can't see a thing through these big messy tears streaming out of my now puffy eyes. One word. Why? Why did I watch that? Why would someone make such a horrible movie? Why did it have to be a lab? Waaaaahhhhyyyyy!!!  Okay, it did have some good moments too...

            
 I digress. The vet told me she would be stubborn and difficult, and she was. How did he know, you ask? When you are in a sea of puppies and are trying to decide on the one who will listen and be submissive, that perfect dog who will be your loyal friend forever, it can be a tough choice. Often, the puppy picks you. Whichever one runs up and licks your face with the most vigor wins. The wise vet's tip was to pick up each puppy and hold them in your arms, but put them on their back. Those that lay there for whatever length of time you decide and continue to submit to you until you are good and ready to flip them back over are a pretty good bet. Those that squirm and fight being on their back, are going to be, he hem...challenging. Guess which one Asia was?

Thanks for the tip. A little too late Bub. I briefly wondered how the 'skinny' sister was doing, and if you could flip her on her back. The breeder told me a nice family got that little one and named her 'Abbie'. I convinced myself this stubborn trait ran in the family. I'm sure Abbie would have been just as resistant, had I tried this little test. The breeder also mentioned the only male in this litter of twelve was flown to New York to be with his new owner Kirk Maclean. Some of you Nucks out there will know who this well known goalie is. I often wondered about Asia's only bro, and all of her sisters of course.  If they were well behaved and lived long healthy, happy lives.
Fast forward about six months. A rather chilly fall day at a somewhat deserted Kits Beach. Asia was happily running off leash, racing up and down the beach, exited at any leaf blowing in the wind.

 Way in the distance we see a  Mom with her toddler. Asia races over to them as if they are long lost friends, and to my surprise, starts yanking on the little girls mittens hanging out of the ends of her tiny winter coat. She has never done anything of the sort before. Chew up her new shabby chic style basket bed I bought her, poop and pee on my newly painted cement floors, throw up on my white couch, but not this! The Mom is yelling at Asia and trying to prevent this overzealous dog from knocking her sweet child off her feet, not to mention scar her for life from dogs forever. Asia is having the time of her life and thinks this is great fun! She is intent on pulling those mittens right off, which of course are those cute knitted kind that are attached by a string through the coat to the other side. Arrrghh! How could she? I was racing down the beach, sand not helping my quest at all, trying to catch up to this ugly scene, and not really wanting to all at the same time. I had a dog that was not responding to her name, even yelled at in high pitched panicky squawks, and my non-confrontational personality was dreading the well deserved possible outrage which would be the normal reaction to such an attack.
Out of breath, I finally get to where they are standing. My misbehaving overly hairy teenager thinks this is a fabulous game of chase, and bounds away just out of reach. The hysterical child protecting her mittens and her life finally stops screaming. As does her Mother...as do I.  Was I screaming?!
Much to my surprise, the Mom was not angry, and I apologized profusely. They were both ok, and once I finally caught Asia, she even helped me coax her daughter to  feed Asia a few treats I had in my pocket. Why this behaviour was rewarded was strictly for the little girl, as I clearly wanted to strangle Asia. Cesar Milan might have something to say about both of these consequences, but there was no such whisperer at the time.  We wanted to show this child that Asia was not an evil-mitten-eating dog, but a goofy puppy with an attention span a lot shorter than hers! I think Cesar might have approved of that part. There are enough children and adults alike with unnecessary fears about dogs. Though this one could be a good reason to tell your Grand-kids why you hate dogs with a passion because this one horribly behaved lab tried to eat you and your mittens when you were but a baby!

She eventually mellowed out, for those of you with young labs wondering if that ever happens. It does. Usually.

Asia\s big heart will forever melt mine, and as much as it filled a space in it, it left an even bigger hole when she left. It also gave it little mini heart stoppers like this one over her 11 years of life. But once you are lucky enough to have a beautiful animal come into your life, that unconditional love of which I speak, goes both ways.

This furry heart symbolizes that love. I miss that fluffy girl. Even when she was at the vet, taking her last breaths, that big old tail wagged whenever she heard my choked up voice.  Dr. M said that was a typical lab, always happy, right up until the very end.
We should take note. Like our beloved dogs, our lives are never quite long enough, but they live every day until their last with joy. Truly amazing and inspiring, don't you think?

"You are MAGNIFICENT.."

  I want to be inspired! I want to glow with creativity and excitement! What's it going to take?  Perhaps a bolt of lightning?  It won't really hurt me per say, but just shake me up a bit and put a fairly large fire under my butt. Too much to ask? Ya, you're right, and I hate that singed hair smell.

 We all need reminders once in awhile. Sometimes more often than just once in awhile. Like every hour on the hour kind of thing. A little bell rings, and someone tells you how fabulous you are and you can do it!! Not a bad idea really.
 I felt compelled to write these 'affirmations' down. I know them to be true. Their deep truth resonates within me.  But I get sidetracked, these deep truths get forgotten, and I'm what? Magnificent? Nah!...I can't even remember what I went into the other room for?!  I feel bogged down by bills, by stress, (from bills!), and just the routine of everyday stuff. No different than probably thousands of others out there. So at least I don't feel alone.

 That statement, "be your true self".  Therein lies the struggle. I don't feel true to myself. I am definitely not living up to MY part of MY bargain. When did I make this bargain? Why wasn't I aware that when I did so, the consequences of not fulfilling this bargain would be this seemingly impossible struggle to find my true self.  I'm no Sherlock Holmes. I'm not qualified and I don't have proper training. I would have done it already!

  Of course, there are those that are highly motivated, and marking their path to greatness with no hesitation. Am I jealous you ask? No. Course not. Not Really. Okay fine,  just point me to my chosen path, tell me what to do and I will go running, full speed ahead! I won't even warm up! I have been waiting patiently for years now!
 Only me, my true self, knows what my chosen path is. Why is she keeping it a secret? What do I have to do to get it out of her? How long is she going to let me suffer? Let me tell you, I'm no spring chicken, and 'she's' starting to piss me off!

 I like photography. That's what I do. But it's not ALL I can do. It fills a small part of the creative need that I have, but there is still so much more...  I know I have it in me to do more than I can imagine. More than my wildest dreams can conjure up.  I am capable. I am strong. I am here for a reason. I'm just not quite sure of that exact reason... which is why I made this inspirational mantra. To inspire myself!
Maybe a few others need a gentle reminder too?

 Sure, Oprah's doing her best, with her daily email reminders, and her motivational Lifeclass. I don't think I'm passing...yet.  Is there a test?  If there is I know I'm not ready. But I think that's the point. We never think we are ready, always hesitating, second guessing our decisions. Fearing change, too much thinking and not enough action. One very popular shoe company, has the saying right. I should  'just do it'. Good advice.
I'll think about it.

 I took this photo last year. Sarah had heard from a friend that I did boudoir shots, and a little confused, I said "well, most of my nudes are about 34 weeks pregnant, but if you're game, I'm game!" Ive always wanted to do a natural style semi-nude-beachy-type-shoot.  Don't ask me why exactly, I think just not so posed, and a real ocean backdrop with natural light can't be beat. We did the first part of the boudoir session at her friends house, and then went to Wreck Beach in beautiful Vancouver B.C.  That's a nude beach for those of you that aren't in the know. We didn't want to get arrested or violate anyone's personal sensitivities by going to just any old beach, even if it is for arts sake. (and a birthday gift for her boyfriend!)

It was a typical unpredictable Vancouver day in June, you never know what you're going to get. It was a little cooler, and starting to sprinkle a bit of rain by the time we got down the long winding steps to the beach. Sarah and I were undeterred, but feeling a bit more pressure to get this done before a possible downpour made a surprise appearance. Being that it was such an overcast day, there really wasn't anyone there, and that was perfect for both of us. She wasn't used to walking around butt naked on a chilly day, and I wasn't used to taking naked photos of women with perfectly flat bellies. But we got the shots and had a blast! Sarah really let loose and had fun. I think she found it very freeing once she let her inhibitions go, and a few times I wished I was on the other side of the camera. But it was really cold and the ocean was freezing!  So on second thought, I decided it was better to stay fully clothed and just live vicariously through her and use my imagination. At this time, also imagining I am a supermodel in my prime with a killer body doing a sports illustrated cover shoot for a few million bucks. A girl can dream.

Somehow that day, turned into this little affirmation list that I wrote on her photo. It has the perfect mood of contemplation about it. There is a softness to her, that says she is delicate, she can be hurt. But she protects herself, not with the little wrap she has on her exposed body, but with the strength and courage all women have within us.

 Dig deep. Its there. And repeat after me, 'ding ding', "You are MAGNIFICENT"...

By Tamsen Ogden
Photographer, something blah blah something, and soul searcher
 (just my own, so don't ask me to find yours too)
 

Loving Glass Door Knobs

 I am getting creative with glass door knobs, but before I separate my beloved collection for the ultimate joy of others, I had a photo shoot with these little beauties!
(stay tuned for future posts and how to's, as I will be showing you how to make photo plank boards with these shiny glass knobs!)

 

I don't know what it is about these glass knobs that I love so much.  Perhaps the way the light shines and reflects off of their many facets. Or maybe it's the antiqueness... (I know, that's not a real word but I like it!)

It definitely has me dreaming of having a glass knob on every door and every cupboard in my house. Where were these glass knobs, and what did the houses look like? Did the people that live there enjoy these knobs as much as I would, or were they just overlooked and taken for granted? What happened to these knobs that they are now displaced, hiding quietly in dusty boxes in little quaint shops waiting to be adored once again? The mystery is hidden in those sparkling cuts of glass, and will forever keep us guessing.

One fine day I am sure I will have glass knobs on every door in every room of my house, and if I ever move, they are coming with me! 

How about you? Anybody else have a glass door

knob addiction? 

Do tell...