A Rain Check for Ringo
Ringo and I took our first trip to Sterling State Park this year.
Yesterday’s torrential rain forced Ringo to take a rain check for our weekly day trip. The weather improved today so we headed out to Sterling State Park, our first stop here this year. Our options were limited by a trail closure but we had a blast visiting one of our favorite day trip destinations. And once again, Ringo crushed his signature shot peeking his head out the back window of my 2007 FJ Cruiser.
Signs of Spring
The slow transition from winter to spring has begun.
The slow transition from winter to spring has begun. One of the early indicators is when Rocky lingers outside to lie in the grass, as he is doing in today’s photo. There are many other signs, from migrating birds to early blooms, and extreme weather changes from day to day.
We are past the worst of winter and I am happy to be spending more time outside now, whether with the dogs as they linger in the grass that is getting greener each day, or running on my favorite trail which has finally thawed free of winter’s grip.
Rainy Day Run
It was doable, so I did it.
After losing so much running time to ice covered trails this winter, I’m not about to let a little rain deter me from my daily run. Even when the rain suddenly turned to sleet upon my arrival at the trail head. Is this some kind of test? It was doable, so I did it and my après run experience was that much sweeter.
Happy Hour with Ringo
A great time for a walk, despite the rain.
A light rain didn’t deter Ringo and I from heading out for a happy hour walk at Willow Metropark. It’s a great time of day to squeeze one more fun activity in before the sun sets on the day. Of course, we took a few minutes for Ringo’s signature shot peeking out the back window of my 2007 FJ Cruiser.
It’s a Wrap with Rocky
Rocky gets the last photo of the month.
Rocky gets the last photo of the month, wrapping up a February full of wild weather. It’s been bitter cold most of the month, with high winds and a layer of snow and ice on the ground. Today, the sun was shining and we hit 50 degrees, melting the snow and leaving icy puddles in its place. Hopefully this is paving the way for a warmer March.
Mellow Moose
It’s nice to catch him in a mellow mood.
Moose finds a quiet spot to chill out, and lures me in for this mellow shot of him.
Ringo Refined
Today’s goal was a portrait of Ringo.
My goal today was to capture a portrait of Ringo, who never disappoints as a model. This lovely shot of him just being the good, sweet boy that he is, is exactly what I wanted. ❤️
Happy Hour Snowshoe
Snowshoeing is the perfect antidote for cabin fever.
With the sun shining and the temperature finally a bit higher, I headed out for a late afternoon snowshoe today. Cabin fever was setting in after a long stretch of severe weather and frigid temps, and it felt awesome to break free from that and enjoy some outdoor time with my favorite winter activity.
I’m modeling my new snowshoes from Crescent Moon Snowshoes that are designed for either walking or running in snow. I bought them after finding a broken strap on my old snowshoes which prevented me from snowshoeing in the last big snowfall.
I’ve been limited to gym workouts for most of January and February and have missed my outdoor activities. I was so happy to get outside and get some extra steps in today.
Golden Hour Glow
A rest day gives me time to enjoy some golden hour sunshine.
I’m rarely free to take photos during golden hour, that magical window twice a day when the light is often ideal for photography. But today I found myself with some extra time and took advantage of the opportunity to shoot during the evening golden hour.
That warm glow from the descending sun really does add something special to the photos, especially in winter when it’s so cold and the light is usually cooler.
Spending some time outdoors in the sunshine helps to keep my spirits high in the winter, and today’s golden hour was the perfect time to get a Vitamin D fix alongside some great photos.
Make a Wish Rocky
Rocky wishes for a tasty treat.
An adorable capture of the Rockstar with his eyes closed. He seems to be wishing for something, almost certainly a tasty treat. He gets plenty of treats during our photo sessions which is how he became such a great model. 😀
Deadlifts and Vitamin D
Deadlifts and sunshine come together for a beautiful day.
Friday brought two of my favorite things - deadlifts and sunshine, both giving me a much-needed boost. I had a great workout with an early morning deadlift session that set the tone for the day. While physically taxing, deadlifting makes me feel strong and confident, and that feeling stayed with me all day long.
It was still very cold today, but the sun makes a big difference here, especially when it comes to spending time outdoors in lower temperatures. It was the perfect day to get a Vitamin D fix, despite the cold weather.
Rounding out my perfect day was a salon appointment with the amazing Kaitlyn, who worked her magic on my hair. This is the best my hair is going to look all month, so I figured I’d take a few photos.
We Did It
Moose earns Canine Good Citizen certification.
Yesterday, Moose and I faced our most challenging training goal to date, and tested for Canine Good Citizen certification, a set of ten standards of dog obedience required to be considered a well-behaved dog, as defined by the American Kennel Club.
The test required us to demonstrate our ability to perform ten skills with a strict pass/fail grading criteria and without the assistance of treats. He crushed the test and earned the esteemed award.
This was a surprisingly nerve racking experience for me. It wasn’t just about the past five weeks of practice with a small cohort of human and canine classmates, it was the culmination of forty-five weeks of training that Moose and I have completed as a team since he was just sixteen weeks old.
So much work led up to this moment. There were several setbacks along the way. And we were finally here to prove something I didn’t think was possible when we first began.
In addition to my own performance anxiety, I was on pins and needles as each dog in the class performed each of the ten exercises, as I had become invested in their success as well. The collective nervous energy of the group was high and I worried we were transferring our anxiety to the dogs. Happily, all three of the dogs passed the test despite the pressure and other distractions that arose during the test, including screaming children and barking dogs nearby.
This experience reminded me of the persistence and patience required to reach ambitious goals, as well as the importance of setting ambitious goals for myself. What seemed impossible at the beginning was just successfully completed after sticking with it and putting in the required time, energy and reps. Because of our success with a challenging goal, I have more confidence in facing the next challenge we decide to pursue.
I’m so proud of Moose. He didn’t sign up for those training classes - I did. But he stepped up to the challenge and worked hard for me. Moose has grown so much since we began, successfully progressing though each training class, moving from puppy to adulthood, and from an 11-pound squirt to a 66-pounder towering over his pack mates.
I can’t wait to see what’s next for Moose as we continue on his training journey. There are many different paths we can pursue and I’m confident Moose will be successful no matter which direction we take. ⭐️
On the Road Again
Ringo and I took advantage of the nice weather.
January’s weather has been brutal. Bitter cold temps combined with high winds have disrupted all aspects of my routine, from daily runs to the weekly outings with the dogs, and I’ve been planning around the weather all month.
Ringo and I usually follow a rain or shine policy with his training rides, but rain or shine becomes play it by ear in Michigan’s winter months. We started the year off right with a New Year’s Day ride, but have missed a number of rides due to severe weather and a week I lost to illness early in the month.
We finally caught a break today with temperatures in the forties and plenty of sunshine, so Ringo and I headed out for a make up ride. We may be out of practice but Ringo’s posing skills are still sharp. He turned out two great shots in his signature pose peeking out the back window of my 2007 FJ Cruiser. ❤️
Winter Break
Warmer temps provide some relief today.
January has been challenging weather-wise with bitter cold temps and high winds. Today, the temperatures rose into the forties, melting the snow and making it much more tolerable to be outside. My routine has been upended this month because of weather, and today gave me the chance to get back outside and get back on the road with Ringo.
Winter Sunshine
The perfect combination of sun and snow calls me outside today.
A beautiful blanket of snow on the ground and radiant sunshine from above gave me the perfect opportunity to get outside for a Vitamin D fix and some photos. These are perfect photography conditions as the sunlight reflects off the snow covered ground creating gorgeous, soft natural light. It’s been such a great week for photography and beautiful winter portraits.
Change in Plans
A broken strap derails my snowshoeing plans.
Another beautiful snowfall called me outside today. I love the way snow transforms the winter landscape, creating a beautiful backdrop for outdoor activities. Snowshoeing would have been my choice today, but a broken snowshoe strap derailed those plans. I’ll get that sorted out before the next snowfall, and in the meantime, I had a great opportunity to take these winter wonderland photos. I feel like I’m in a snow globe!
Snowy Selfies
Slippery snow ruins my running plans but the photos save the day.
We had a gorgeous snowfall today and I thought it would be a beautiful backdrop for a winter run. Unfortunately, the snow was slippery and I couldn’t get any traction, so my snowy run fantasy turned into a snowy run fail.
It may not have been a great day for running, but it turned out to be a fantastic day for photography. Capturing falling snow is challenging and the volume of snow has to be just right. Too heavy and the subject is obscured, too light and the snow isn’t visible. Today the snowfall was just right and I love the results. ❤️
Back in the Game
Fully rested and ready to go.
After a strong start to the New Year, a nasty cold took me down for a full week. I’m back at it this week and so happy to be healthy again. A beautiful snowfall gave me the perfect backdrop for my return and for a snowy selfie.
Quiet as a Moose
Moose rests in the coziest spot in the house.
I couldn’t resist taking these shots of Moose resting quietly in the kitchen, in the warmest spot in the house. There is a heat vent at the base of the cabinets next to him, not visible in the photo, and the dogs frequent this spot for that reason. I felt bad interrupting his nap but he went right back to sleep.
Coffee Break
Ringo and Moose join me for my carbs and coffee break.
Ringo and Moose move in on my carbs and coffee break. I didn’t share my English muffin with them, but I did reward them with a treat for their role in creating today’s fun photos.
