DreamEyce Studio Blog

Yesterday Hubby and I sent kidlet to his parents, and we took a quick de-stresser trip to the Oregon coast on his new motorcycle. We didn’t get to spend much time there since he needed to be in Corvallis that afternoon, but any trip to the coast is a good trip, no matter how short!

First stop was the sweets, which are ‘evil brownies’ at Indulge - Sweets of Seal Rock, Oregon. Mmmm! These are the best brownies in the world, seriously!! We got a small stash, including some treats for Dea since we had to leave her behind on the mainland.

I had a bad thing happen on the way to the coast, I smashed the LCD screen on my trusty Canon Elph. Whoops! Makes the camera hard to use, since while it has a viewfinder, the viewfinder is TEENY. Looks like I know what I’m getting for my birthday- I wanted a pink canon Elph anyways- and will be buying the extended warranty! I’m normally very careful not to damage the screen, but was careless yesterday. Lesson learned I guess :(

Yes, that is my gear… pink boots, and a leopard print jacket ;)

A mural, and view in historic bayfront Newport, Oregon. Taken with my Palm Pre, which BTW, I LOOOOVE. You can hardly tell it’s a cell phone pic!

Another of the murals in Newport. There’s a bunch of awesome murals in Newport, and all along the coast. I love the Oregon coast, as it’s so rich in art! You can hardly even turn your head w/o seeing works of art somewhere along your tour.

Sea Lions on the dock in Newport.

I love the thick tuft of hair on this big Sea Lion. Looked like he was wearing a toupee!

A catch cage on the dock for the Sea Lions. Sometimes the Sea Lions get things like plastic and rope tangled around their necks, and have to be contained before tranquilized so they don’t drown while tranquilized. When a Sea Lion in need is spotted in the cage, the doors are closed, and animals are tranquilized so treatment can be given.

Here’s the info flyer posted on the walkway about the cage.

Here’s a cute video of the ‘toupee’ Sea Lion scratching like a dog. They remind me of huge pig-dogs with flippers, since they look like morphed Pigs, and bark and scratch like dogs. Forgive the shakey nature of this video, that viewfinder is pinhole sized!

We stopped to get gas in Philomath, where I spotted this old Pepsi sign and peeling paint on a building. Made me wish I had a DLSR with me! Philomath is a really cool little town, with lots of history, and a great rodeo!

When I picked Dea up from Gramma and Grandpas I told her we’d bought her some chocolate from the beach. She was quite confused when I handed her this bag of rocks…

which are chocolate covered rock-looking candies! heehee Her expression was priceless when I popped one in my mouth! She seriously thought I was an idiot for eating a rock, and was so enthused when she learned the ‘rocks’ were chocolate.

I’m grateful I got the ride in when I did, as a few hours later the cold I’ve been fighting off, that my daughter had, set in. Today I’m congested, sore, and miserable. Hopefully it’s all over before finals, which is next week. In one of my classes 30% of my grade for the whole class is the final, which is a summary and response to an essay assigned to us for the final. That’s scary, as doing summery, and responses is not a strong point of mine in writing, so I’ve relied heavily on proof-readers through this writing course. I’m nervous about 30% of my whole grade being based on something that isn’t my strong point, where I’m not able to utilize my normal tools (Friends, and helpful professors) Wish me luck, esp in the prevention of a mental breakdown ;) haha My other courses this term thankfully the finals aren’t so scary, in 1 of the courses we don’t even HAVE finals, which is a huge relief off my back.

I’ve been wanting to play with fisheye view photos, but can’t justify the $600+ for a decent fisheye lens. I stumbled across a fisheye converters for under $40 online, and decided I needed to try it… OMGoodness, so much fun! I’m using it on my superdeduper 50mm canon lens, and really love the effects of this converter.

I very quickly learned that you can’t use the 50mm’s auto focus with the converter, because it’ll make the image too soft, and distort it. I still like the effect though, as it reminds me of those old, cheap plastic cameras, like a Holga. There’s even a fun flare spot too!

Yesterday I took advantage of a bright overcast day and played with Sparkles outside in the yard with the converter lens.

Nomming a deer rib bone

I snapped a photo of the first flower in our yard this year

when ’someone’, who is quite evil, noticed my interest…

The evil bitch, who shall remain nameless, decapitated the innocent dandelion

And flew off with it to do evil things with it… likely put together a “potion of cute”, or other horrid, beastly thing that only a puppy like Sparkles could do.

If you’re looking for something to goof around with, the fisheye converters are really fun to own, and cheap enough to justify only using every once in a while. I’m impressed by the build quality of mine, it’s metal, and screws right onto my 50mm lens easily. The fisheye adapter can even be screwed off, to make the converter a macro converter for the 50mm, allowing extreme closeups on things. Pretty fun to play with! I believe the focus ability of the 50mm on it’s own is 1.5 feet, so the macro converter piece makes a drastic difference. Now I can say that for serious photographers who want serious quality, I’d shell out the bucks for a real fisheye lens if that’s what you want, but if you’re like me and want to goof around with fun effects, look into the cheap converters! The brand I got was Zeikos, but there’s others out there.

*EDIT* These boys were adopted by the lovely RuLyn. Thanks a ton for giving these handsome guys an awesome home!

These adorable boys are currently being fostered, and are ready to leave for their available homes at any time. Reggie, and Rube are sweet rat-men, working on being ’squishy’. They are 6 weeks old, which is the perfect age to add them to your family! If you’re looking for the perfect rats to add to your home, look no farther than these handsome dolls!

Meet Rube, the loveable black hooded. Look at that face- how can you resist!

Rube likes to eat popcorn (Salt-free please!), and sleeping in his hammock. He promises to not run in a wheel at all hours of the night keeping you awake, because he’d rather be snoozing himself! His favorite activity after hammock surfing is so far, sticking his nose up your nose.

Reggie, oh Reggie. Handsome, and courteous! Reggie already seems to know where his pee goes, and will squirm, and wiggle when he needs to go. Tell me ladies, how can you resist a man who goes out of his way to keep you comfortable? Well I know I can’t! Quick! Take him before I adopt him! Reggie likes long walks on the beach, romantic lamp light… oh who am I kidding! He likes yogies, fleece hammocks, and sleeping in bras. See, told you he is a man!

These boys are kid-tested, and mother approved.

Also available are their sisters, two blacks, and a blue dumbo. These rat babies are from a rescue situation, where a doe was unexpectedly pregnant. Contact me if you are interested in adoption, or would like more info. I do have photos of the three sisters, who’re just as adorable as the boys! Ask me if you would like to see the girls too, and I’m happy to send e-mails off your way. The boys are here, the girls are in Portland, and transport may be available.

Harvey, CH Mariel’s Harvest Moon won breed at Westminster yesterday, and did all Cardigan people proud in the group. This photo was taken last month, in Portland at Rose City Classic.

Someone reminded me I’d not yet posted photos I’d taken at RCC. It’s been a crazy last few weeks and they’ve been sitting ‘on cue’ to be posted!

This handsome baby is a Morgan son, 1/2 brother to Striker. LOVE that red brindle color!

This is Caleb, Simon’s ‘brother’. His mama was off in the corner hiding her head, since he’s still waiting for his big boy brain ;) He LOVES to show though, so I can’t wait for him to grow up, and grow a brain! He’s such a character!

The beautiful Maddie, who is “my” dog… it works out great that I don’t have to care for her, or pay for her, but get to stalk her at shows and snuggle her ;0) I really adore her, she’s one of the Alabama puppies from Allegro Cardigans.

This is Maddies HAPPY sister, Lucy. Gosh she’s an adorable show-girl! You wouldn’t believe she’s a baby, she shows so wonderfully. I see a successful specials career in her future if she keeps this up!

Ell, my favorite black-faced Cardigan in the world, was visiting Oregon from MN, to work on making Pi-Ells… PUPPIES!

This is Daddy-Dog, Pilot.

That merle pattern is so striking.

Adorable Spitzen

Merle Mudi (I didn’t know they came in merle, but I admit, I don’t know much about the breed at all *G*)

Living mop

And a fun game of bitey face!

The rest of the set is up on flicker.

On saturday after the dog show Dana of Round Hound Cardis (Who owns Striker) invited me to go along with her to see a dog she’d bred and placed years ago. Dottie was the first Cardigan to win a Best Puppy in Show in Canada, and is Traum’s Great-Aunt (A Thorny kid) She is 14, and has held up so well! A very beautiful girl, with a great coat, topline, and front. I love these Cardigans that age with grace, and beauty :)

Dana and Dottie greeting for their first time in a few years. It was so sweet, as Dottie remembered Dana, and was so excited to see her. Dottie was even Woo-singing, and prancing. “Once a show dog, always a show dog”!

I also got to meet Nancy’s other dogs, ‘the boys’ Dozer, and Cooper. Dozer was a total ham, quite thrilled I was willing to play fetch throughout the visit. Many of you will also know this crew through their blog. This was the typical view during my visit…

I also became nicely acquainted with a beloved, slobbered Elvis chicken.

Cooper only made me miss having a Spaniel even more… even with 4 dogs in the home, a household still feels naked without a Spaniel. When we move, I really have the feeling a Spaniel is on the top priorities of needs…

Cookies!

Dozer kept asking if he could keep me. I felt rude rejecting him right before valentines day, but I told him I didn’t need another jealous man in my life- Traum and Cove are enough for one lady!

Spaniel faces make me melt. Awww!

I love Dozer’s heart-butt!

“Enough with the Corgi-talk, can we focus on me now?”

Dozer has the typical Corgi “I’m the baby” complex, so the boys took took turns snuggled with Nancy… Dozer looks quite pleased with himself!

It was really great to meet Nancy, Dozer, Cooper, and Dottie. I’ve been stalking their blog for over a year. I had a feeling that Dottie and Traum were related, but not sure how until Dana showed me a photo of puppy Dottie, and I said “Hey, I know that dog!” Dana was quite surprised that Dottie was down this way, as she’d been placed with a lady in Washington. It’s a small world, and I’m happy to have played a part in reconnecting Dana with Dottie. It’s amazing how small the world is, esp the Cardi-blogger world!

There’s more photos from the visit on my flickr account here. I look forward to meeting the crew again someday :)

I got a new camera this week, but haven’t had much chance to play with it, with our poor weather, so I set up a mini studio area in our livingroom. With the help of Dea, we got some photos of Spark and valentine toys. The other dogs weren’t as willing to pose… Spark thinks that’s because she’s the cutest, and they all know it ;)

“If I help you fold laundry, will you scratch my butt or rub my tummy?”

I think of the canine crew in this household, Traum has got the pitiful face down best!

I’m trying to fugure out why I can’t post from my phone…  Lets see if this works!

woo hoo!  Looks like it worked, and that I’ve officially joined the digital age :)  now if only there were a way to upload photos from the phone to blog….  If only there were an app for that ;)

“Dreams: That thing that drives me to wake up every morning, but makes me cry myself to sleep at night. Such a blessing and a curse.”

I’d give anything to have been out running barefoot on the sand this week. This week wasn’t all terrible, but the weather has made it less than pleasurable. We had a sun-break, and it was as though a splash of life landed in the valley after a long pause. Hopefully the sun shows again today! I owe kidlet a nice long walk in nature, no cement, just nature. Maybe we’ll go up to the mountains, or hike along a stream. Anything to get out, and enjoy any sunshine that is willing to peek between the rain clouds!

This week will be better, easier to tolerate, and hopefully sunnier! I keep reminding myself that it’s almost spring, and then after spring, comes the summer. Living in the rainy NW, I seem to live for those dry days, as they really do make the gloom worth it to tolerate. I’m crossing fingers for a good week, even if I have to sit under a UV lamp all week, and make up crap to be happy about ;) heehee

I got to see Patricia McConnell in Corvallis, Oregon last year during her canine behavior seminar and left in tears… I think we all did. She is a brilliant, charismatic lady, and one of the best speakers I’ve ever listened to. For the closing of her seminar, she reflected on the important dogs in our lives or as she called them, “forever dogs”. For hours she had a whole auditorium begging for more of her wisdom, and insight. It was amazing… well amazing for a dog-geek like me *G*

A few days ago she lost her beloved Lassie, and challenged all of us to choose 6 words as a story to describe our dogs, as Hemmingway had in his short story “For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn.”. Here’s mine to describe the wonderful dogs who I’ve owned.

Robbie: Floppy dog. Long ears. Soulful gaze.

Traum: Big dream. Golden Stripes. Best Friend.

Cove: Silly grin. Mischievous smile. Trouble again.

Galaxy: Princess high. Ears to the sky.

Kiwi: Summer day. Water spray. Happy Play.

Sparkles: Happiest puppy. Kisses and pounces daily.