I love having dogs in my life. No other creature on earth will give you the love a dog will give to you. No matter what mood I may be in, my dogs always manage to "check in" with me and stop by for a scruff and a pat on the head. They are always eager to please and be nearby awaiting instruction from their Master. Today when I check in with my Master, let me be open to what is in store for my life.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Hanging with the Human Pack
There was only one wish that I had this past Christmas season and that was to have a family picture taken with all the kids and grand-kids. For most families that may be a simple request, but for my pack, it is never a simple process. We have referred to it as "herding cats" when attempts have been made to take a family picture. No professional photographer will touch this family, even if we could afford it.
We were able to have a family picture taken about 3 years ago. But that was before 5 grand-kids and one new spouse (son-in-law). We now number 20 in the immediate human pack and we have gotten spread out over 2000 miles from California to Minnesota. And this is not one of the most favorite things for my children. When it is known that the whole family will be together, a certain "look" and mumbling under their breath begins to travel through the kids. The look says, "Great she's going to want us all together for a family picture". And that means traveling out into the Minnesota freezing cold where there is room to line up 20 moving targets, hold everyone still and face the camera with a smile.What typically happens is that about the time I mention it is picture time several children need to urgently go to the bathroom (group number one), several decide to bundle up and go down by the barn and look for Cat ( group number two) and the third group pours a cup of coffee because they know it will take several minutes to gather groups one and two. Meanwhile I am making futile attempts to set up the tripod, remember how to use the timer and find the "perfect spot" for a family portrait. Even Photoshop at its best is not capable of filling in all the missing bodies that are discovered after the picture is taken. Hence, several pictures of every one gathered in a heap are taken in search of that one picture that is worthy of the framed picture on the wall.
The family picture this year started out the same as always...."the look", mumblings, scattered children with parents chasing after them. But as I started to set up the tripod, my son, Ben came over and suggested we pull the tractor up and let the kids crawl up and find a spot and all adults fill in around them (usually the adults find a spot and grab a child to fill in an empty spot). Out of just wanting to get the task underway, I agreed and the tractor was hauled into the official picture spot. One by one all the grandkids eagerly found their spot on the tractor and adults filed in to the open places that were left. I checked the camera perched on the tripod and for the first time in 3 years we fit in the picture! No adjustments to kneel, pull closer, stand taller and show your face. Just the instruction to look at the little blinking red light on the camera and not at grandma running and diving into the picture. Smiles everyone......first shot was the keeper for the wall iniside.
We were able to have a family picture taken about 3 years ago. But that was before 5 grand-kids and one new spouse (son-in-law). We now number 20 in the immediate human pack and we have gotten spread out over 2000 miles from California to Minnesota. And this is not one of the most favorite things for my children. When it is known that the whole family will be together, a certain "look" and mumbling under their breath begins to travel through the kids. The look says, "Great she's going to want us all together for a family picture". And that means traveling out into the Minnesota freezing cold where there is room to line up 20 moving targets, hold everyone still and face the camera with a smile.What typically happens is that about the time I mention it is picture time several children need to urgently go to the bathroom (group number one), several decide to bundle up and go down by the barn and look for Cat ( group number two) and the third group pours a cup of coffee because they know it will take several minutes to gather groups one and two. Meanwhile I am making futile attempts to set up the tripod, remember how to use the timer and find the "perfect spot" for a family portrait. Even Photoshop at its best is not capable of filling in all the missing bodies that are discovered after the picture is taken. Hence, several pictures of every one gathered in a heap are taken in search of that one picture that is worthy of the framed picture on the wall.
The family picture this year started out the same as always...."the look", mumblings, scattered children with parents chasing after them. But as I started to set up the tripod, my son, Ben came over and suggested we pull the tractor up and let the kids crawl up and find a spot and all adults fill in around them (usually the adults find a spot and grab a child to fill in an empty spot). Out of just wanting to get the task underway, I agreed and the tractor was hauled into the official picture spot. One by one all the grandkids eagerly found their spot on the tractor and adults filed in to the open places that were left. I checked the camera perched on the tripod and for the first time in 3 years we fit in the picture! No adjustments to kneel, pull closer, stand taller and show your face. Just the instruction to look at the little blinking red light on the camera and not at grandma running and diving into the picture. Smiles everyone......first shot was the keeper for the wall iniside.
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