Sweet Trinity

It is with a heavy heart that I bring you the news that another beautiful doggie soul I met through my 100 Pets Project has been lost. Trinity (Pet #34) lost her battle with an undetermined illness on February 17th at the age of 13.

Trinity & Trevor

I knew the minute I saw Trinity at the Southland Off Leash Park in Calgary that I wanted to meet her and get to know her a little better.  She just had a special way about her in the way she walked and the spark in her eyes.  It was obvious she and her person Trevor had a special relationship; just the way they looked at each other and interacted showed their close connection.  Needless to say Trevor and his girlfriend Fay are devastated by their recent loss. I am so glad they contacted me and I was able to provide them with a collection of photos of their special girl.

Trinity, full of spark!

I also thank Trevor and Fay for their kind words about my project and the fact that I have been able to help them navigate their grieving process. Their contact has gotten me revitalized to start my project up full force again as I had recently let it fall to the wayside behind other matters. Their words made me remember why I started my 100 Pets and The People They Love photography project in the first place; I so appreciate their encouragement.

Here are some favourite words a very good friend of mine shared with me when I lost my dog Mo. I would like to share them with Trevor, Fay, Trinity and anyone else who has lost a dear pet; they are adapted from the book,The Art of Racing in the Rain:

“After a dog dies, her soul is released into the world around us. Her soul is released to run in the world, run through the fields, enjoy the earth, the wind, the rivers, the sun, the woods.”

Trinity has been released.

I am not lonely. I am not afraid. I am still yours.

Coach & Dexter

While I was wandering around Spruce Meadows at the Alberta Kennel Club Summer Classic a couple of weeks ago, I stopped to watch a very interesting Agility competition being held by NADAC (North America Dog Agility Council). It was different from other agility competitions I have watched, I was intrigued. There were dogs of all breeds, purebred and mixed, and people of all ages. The courses were different from your regular class seen at competitions, and the rules & regulations different as well. I saw two beautiful Dalmatians in the ring doing a Hoops, Tunnels & Weave Pole course. Speed wasn’t their secret weapon but accuracy was. I was lucky to meet Sandy and her two stunning boys, Coach & Dexter.

Sandy with her beautiful boys, Coach & Dexter

Coach is the black and white Dally and Dexter the liver spotted.

Coach

Dexter

I liked the less rigid rules of this competition and the interesting classes (might be something Tashi and I may try one day). Sandy, Coach and Dexter are pros at this and after watching them compete you just know they all love it. Come on over to the 100 Pets and Their People page to read their story and see them in action.

Molly & Mark

Well, well…such a LONG time between posts. My biggest excuse is the flooding here in Southern Alberta and the fact that most of the parks and woods I frequent have been devastated by the flooding. Of course it hasn’t been safe to walk in these areas for awhile (still isn’t in some cases) with all the debris and contaminants flowing through but we’ve had more that a few heavy rains and that has helped. Southland Dog Park in Calgary is far from being repaired enough to walk, such a shame.

You Watch My Back While I Watch Yours

I was happy to meet Molly and Mark out at the Black Diamond Off Leash area last week. We were out surveying the damage, as were they. Molly is such a sweet, happy girl. She didn’t want to sit still at first to pose for a photo, and who could blame her with all the new smells and changes to be explored at the park. Eventually she sat and was happy to pose with her person, Mark. Click here to meet them both.

Molly In Profile (love that floppy ear!)

Charlie & Baffin

Well, well…it’s been a little quiet on the 100 Pets and Their People project front and I apologize for the silence but I’m back to introduce you to a new, incredibly adorable pup, by the name of Baffin, and her person, Charlie.

Best Buddies – Charlie & Baffin

We met at Southland Off Leash Park in Calgary and for the first time it wasn’t me who initiated the conversation about my project. Although Charlie didn’t know exactly what he was getting himself and Baffin into, he asked if I was the woman who was documenting dogs at the Park and wondered if I’d met his. I don’t think being wrangled into the photos too was what he had in mind, but nevertheless he was a good sport and gladly posed with Baffin for me and we chatted for quite some time. Baffin is a terrific dog, full of energy and enthusiasm.

What a Happy Pup!

One of my dogs, Tashi, found a good smell and started digging a hole which Baffin gladly agreed to help out with, and…took over the task. You can see by Tashi’s face that she wasn’t quite sure what to think about the assistance and gave me a “mom….do something about this!” look.

My dog, Tashi Supervising Baffin

“Seriously Mom, it was my hole first!”

It was a real pleasure to meet them both and add them to our project. Check out their full story here.

Because the stories and photos from my Project are growing I have decided to divide the project into several pages so Baffin and Charlie, being Number 36, are on the newest Project page for Numbers 36 through 70.

Thanks for being patient and for stopping by! Cheers, Sheila

Zola The South African Princess

Zola is a beautiful South African Boerboel (pronounced “Burbul”), a rare breed in this part of the world.

Zola, she still has a ‘puppy’ look (now and then)

I met Zola and her person, Priscilla, a lovely British lady, at the Southland Off Leash Park last week. I wish I got a photo of Zola that shows how impressive and strong she really is. I did however, capture some great shots of Zola’s connection with Priscilla, especially when we started chatting and they both kind of forgot I had my camera with me (as much as you can with a big DSLR being pointed at you).

Zola Knows We’re Talking About Her

Zola & Priscilla

I find once we start chatting, I can get more intimate shots of their relationship with their pet.

Zola, Loving The Attention!

I really enjoyed meeting both Priscilla and Zola and hope you will too. Click here to get to my 100 Pets and The People They Love page so I can introduce you to them! Cheers! Sheila

Rocky and Juno

We’re back to the Dog Park!

Patty and Rocky

Patty and Juno

Meet Rocky and Juno, two beautiful, friendly mixed breed pups and their person, Patty. We met a couple of weeks ago at the Southland Dog Park. I’ve been looking forward to writing about them, they are awesome dogs; Rocky such a bold character and Juno more reserved and quiet. Patty is a City of Calgary Animal Services Officer; she sees it all in her job but is so very lucky to have these two wonderful dogs to bring her joy and balance at home.

Their bond is palpable and so incredible to see. Please check out their full story and more photos here.

Rocky

Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap 2013 – Blog Hop

Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap is completed again for another year but lucky for us Kat Sloma (the amazing and talented organizer of the Liberate Your Art) has arranged for this wonderful Blog Hop so all the incredible Art sent around the world can be further liberated and shared. This is the second year I participated and I plan to keep going as long as the Swap does. I received six beautiful cards, five from Swap participants and one from Kat. Here they are:

Surprise in my Flower Box by Colleen Lough

This postcard is a photo Colleen took of a lovely surprise she found in her flower box.

Candance Porth, Arizona Beauty

The quote on the back of this postcard is:
“The desert, when the sun comes up…I couldn’t tell where heaven stopped and the Earth began” ~Forrest Gump
Candance’s blog is: Glenrosa Journeys

Acrylics on Canvas by Vigdis Lobach, Norway

The original size of this painting is 60×80 cm. Vigdis blogs at: Kunstkanskje

Beautiful Multi-Medium Artwork

This beautiful piece is by Tamara B. you can find here at www.writeyourliferight.com, she wrote this quote on the back
“Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home…it’s your responsibility to love it, or change it.” ~Chuck Palahniuk

Scenes from Seattle, Washington, by Madge

This beautiful postcard is from Madge, she can be found at: The View From Right Here a Pacific Northwest Photography Blog

Adorned and Alone by Kat Sloma

This lovely artwork is by the one and only Kat Sloma, who with an incredible group of volunteers, sorted and swapped 1290 pieces of art by 216 artists from 11 countries this year. Watch the video Kat put together here.

Here are the four pieces of my art that I liberated into the world (I sent out two of the ‘Found Love’ postcard):

Abandoned

Found Love

Pure Joy

Watchful

I was happy to hear from two of the recipients of my cards, I hope the photographs and quotes brought a little happiness into everyone’s mailbox.

Please join in our blog hop to see all the amazing art and artists who set their art free and I think must have made some postal workers hearts a little happier and bags a little heavier.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! to Kat and each and every artist that participated. The world can always use more beauty!

Cheers! xx Sheila

Ornamental Kitties

These two Oriental Shorthair Kitties, sometimes nicknamed ‘Ornamentals’ because they can be bred in over 300 possible colour and pattern combinations, are Jack and Lindy.

Jack

Lindy

They are lovingly owned by Leslie and her husband David. Leslie and David do not breed their cats, they show them for the pure enjoyment of it and for the friendships they have made through the years.

Linda with Jack

I have enjoyed getting to know all of these brilliant cats and their people. I have always loved cats and had two domestic shorthair cats myself, a brother and sister named Smucky and Tigger, when I was in my 20’s. They were great fun, always entertaining, and gave me great company. I want to thank all the fellow cat lovers I met and talked with at the Calgary Cat Show, I enjoyed myself immensely and learned a lot.

Jack Loves His Mom!

Click here to go my 100 Pets and The People They Love page to meet Jack, Lindy, Leslie and David to read their story and see more photos. Cheers! Sheila

The British Are Coming!

British Shorthair Kitties that is! I love these chubby faced, chipmunk cheeked, happy, smiling cats! We met at the Calgary Cat Show; iBruiser and Blue Star were happy to come out of their comfy kennels to say hello and be admired.

The handsome iBruiser!

Adorable Blue Star!

British Shorthair prefer not to be carried around everywhere, they prefer all four paws to be on the ground, but they do like to be where you are will gladly curl up beside you on the couch. Click over to my 100 Pets and The People They Love page to meet them both and their people, Brenda and Darrell. If you want to learn more about this breed of kitty, check out the TICA website. Cheers! Sheila

Three Little Kitties!

Cyndi with Hannah Montana

I can’t wait to introduce you to these three little cuties! Meet Hawn, a Munchkin kitty, and Rudy and Hannah, two Selkirk Rex cats. They are all so very loved by their person, Cyndi, who owns a Cattery and Kennel between High River and Nanton, Alberta. These were the first cats and their people that I met at the Calgary Cat Show. They were so kind to spend time with me and educate me as to what was going on at the Show (as I said before, I really had no clue). Click on over to my 100 Pets and The People They Love page to meet these three cuties and learn more about their interesting breeds. There are many more photos with their story.

Kisses for Sir Rudy