Balloon chasing during Albany’s Art and Air Fest

Posted September 2nd, 2010 by Emily Rose

Hot air balloons are one of those things in my life that brings back the childhood sense of utopia to me. When I see a hot air balloon I’m left with the feelings of total awe, and light I’d feel as a small child in my Grandpa and Grammas yard, watching the hot air balloons fly overhead and wave at us. They lived right along the balloon route to the Flint airport in Michigan, so balloons were constantly overhead during the nice months. I remember playing outside waiting for them on the days we knew they’d be coming overhead, and squeeing with glee when they flew over. I still feel that same excitement, and contentment by the sight of the balloons, like I’m home, and happy with Gramma and Grandpa, bugging Gramma as she sews, or asking Grandpa questions about how to fix a truck, a bike, or other things. Oh, those happy childhood days!
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The Albany Art and Air Festival is the event we look most forward to every year, with a night glow on friday night- synchronized light show with the balloons, concerts, and awesome artists and crafters from all over the NW. The event takes place right out in our backyard, and for those mornings we can sit outside our house in the morns and watch the balloons launch, sometimes they even fly right over us! That above photo was taken right off our front porch.

This year I decided to be more adventurous, and instead of watching the balloons from my yard in my PJs sipping my morning coffee then going back inside, I decided to follow them, and I’m so glad that I did! First morning I got a call from Curtis that they were landing along hwy 34 going into Corvallis, so we loaded up the car and headed off to watch balloons land.
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Here was the beautiful view east of there we watched balloons land.
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I’m not religious by any means, but this view of the WWJD balloon with the heavenly, majestic clouds seemed all too fitting.
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Sunday morning Galaxy and I got up before the rest of the family to watch the morning lift-off at Timber Linn park, and to follow the balloons to watch them land. Unlike the previous days where they went south, landing along hwy 34, this wind was blowing north so the balloons headed to the beautiful town of Jefferson!
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I wished Dea was there with me, as her favorite balloons are the rainbow colored ones, so she would have really enjoyed this scene!
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Going to Jefferson was so much fun, Galaxy and I ended up right down the road from Dana of Round Hound’s place (Roy’s co-owner) so we were sure to wave as we drove part!
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The above balloons were what these llamas were interested in. I can only imagine what it’d be like to be a llama, and have these big bubbles up in the sky around you!
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Saturday night I spotted a raffle quilt I adored, and my gut said I *had* to enter. That tingly feeling in in my gut I either trust and am rewarded by, or blow off. I’m glad I did, as the next afternoon I got the call we’d won, so we picked up our beautiful balloon quilt! A great keepsake, and celebration piece of the event we love so much.
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This all comes as a very bitter-sweet as we’ll be moving from this wonderful place very soon. The career field which Curt just graduated from is very bleak in this area, but booming in others. After a year of discussion on where/what we’re willing to do, we’re moving to the Dallas-area of Texas this month. It’s scary to think about packing up and moving, leaving this land we love and call home, but the opportunities being offered are so exciting, and the horizons look very bright for our family there. There’s a great dog-scene in Texas, and I’m looking forward to teaching dog classes again- something I’ve missed so much the last few years! We’re all really excited, including Dea who’s been obsessed with Texas since last year, begging to go there. It’s a huge adventure, and big risk but we feel it is the right thing to do, and we’ve had the feeling for a while we’d be headed south in our near future.

Now taking holiday orders!

Posted September 1st, 2010 by Emily Rose

Pembroke with Welsh Cow Pin/ornament or pendant I am starting to take holiday orders (With a discount on multiple pieces!), to be started on after our move, in October. If you’re looking for custom dog or cat pins, pendants, or ornaments for your pet-loving friends please drop a note before the big holiday rush hits so I can begin to get my holiday art schedule worked out. You can drop request emails to dreameyce at gmail.com

Pictured is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi with a Welsh cow pin/ornament (Or pendant!) combo piece. An example of one of the many designs I can make!

Traum is my homeboy <3

Posted August 27th, 2010 by dreameyce

Couch snuggles with my best friend is the greatest thing on earth :)

The hardworking sidekick Spitz!

Posted August 27th, 2010 by Emily Rose

Hardworking Sparkles...
Sidekick Spitz rests on the dashboard while I waited in the car this morning for more balloon action for the Albany Art and Air Festival. This was right along hwy 34, Hubby alerted me to balloons taking off, and landing in south Albany fields so Dea and I hopped in the car and took off. I love how she’s all ‘flying frog dog’ posed right there! Don’t see how it could be comfy, but she seemed to think it was!

Don’t worry, we were parked, and the vehicle was turned off ;) Since we were along a busy road (Dea, I and dogs) I decided between snapping pics to leave everyone in the car since it was safer than standing along the road!

– Sent from my Palm Pre

Soaking in the magic at Clear Lake

Posted August 24th, 2010 by Emily Rose

Over the weekend hubby-guy talked me into going out on the canoe for a day. I’m not a big fan of water, but since I’ve got a spare DSLR, and lens I’m willing to risk to water I’m talked into the boat as long as I’m promised pretty scenery for pictures. I have to keep reminding myself he’s not a really fan of dog events, and training classes but tolerates them anyways so we all bend a little, and I get into the canoe and enjoy being with the family.
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We’d planned on going to Suttle lake, but a neighbor friend of ours suggested the little (5 miles around) Clear lake for the canoe for the beauty, and the fact motorboats are not allowed. WOW! It was beyond amazing! I’m hoping we can work out spending another day, or the whole weekend there! We took 3 dogs, Galaxy, Roy, and Sparkles. Usually we only take Galaxy when we’re out on the boat, but figured the other two would enjoy the outing, and they’re both small.
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Galaxy is the perfect boat dog, and LOVES it. As soon as the canoe is off the vehicle she’s in it, letting us know it’s time to GO!
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The lake was the most beautiful body of water I’ve ever seen- reminds me of those tropical scenes where the water is this gorgeous teal blue color!
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I love the lava flow along the bank. Lava rock is one of my favorite things in the world!
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The lake is literally clear, down to the bottom. Here’s some of the lava rock underwater. There’s also a forest underwater, tunnel, and other scenes. Curt is trying to talk me into taking scuba lessons and doing down with him and I think this lake can talk me into it… as long as he gets me a nice underwater camera ;) No way am I gonna be talked into water unless it’s to benefit my obsessive love for photography!
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I made yummy farm-fresh (Bought direct from the farm!) egg sandwiches which were a big hit. Roy Rogers was pretty darn sure Dea would be willing to share the num nums!
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Feelin’ a little loony there!
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Osprey were active fishing, while I wish I had a better lens with me for these shots, I’m incredibly proud I even GOT these pics! The lens I’m using as my ‘boat lens’ is an old, crotchity 35-135 mm that only works in manual focus mode and isn’t geat for sunset, or low-light settings since it does weird things with sunlight. It’s a really fun ‘art lens’, but not too great for serious shots.
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They were so amazing to watch, and really have me considering risking a better zoom lens out there on the lake JUST to get spectacular fishing shots of these awesome birds! There’s also Bald Eagles around this lake, which is another reason to work out bringing a better lens next time if I decide I can risk it! It’s hard to find cheap zoom lenses though, so I may be SOL :(
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A bridge that’s part of the hiking trail that circles the lake. I’m hoping we can do this hike over the weekend, if Hubby ends up being free!
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Handsome sleepy puppy!
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This was an incredible trip, and quite the find! It’s only about an hour from our house (Same distance as the coast for us!), so I’m sure will be a get-away we’ll use often now. I’m crossing fingers that this weekend we can work out going again, as my land-loving self wants to take the round-the-lake hike trail!

Roy Boy Snuggletime

Posted August 22nd, 2010 by Emily Rose

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Roy Rogers War’o Tug Time!

Posted August 19th, 2010 by Emily Rose

I’m not exactly how many photos I really honestly need of my puppy playing tug-o-war, but I think they’re adorable and can’t choose a favorite!
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I looooove this boys ’stick to it’, and drive! I’m so proud of him in Nosework as he is so determined, a thorough searcher and doesn’t waiver. I can’t wait to try him on sheep and cattle as he grows up! I’m so excited about him as he may just end up being that dream ‘total Cardigan’ I’ve always wanted who does very well in shows, and events. One can cross fingers, hope, and let the baby be a puppy, and grow up a good dog :)

Galaxy has been incredibly helpful with her puppy raising skills, teaching Roy the ins and outs of life, and simply having fun with him. I’m so glad I have her around to help socialize him, as otherwise I’d have to find a good dog like her to help teach him manners!
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I can’t believe how BIG he’s gotten so fast! It sucks, since I still have to carry him down stairs when he goes out to potty which means not only do I need to be semi-decent for 3am puppy pees as I take him all the way outside, I also have to lug that ‘huge’ puppy down when I go! Oh well, I guess there’s far worse things in the world than having obligatory Roy Rogers snuggle time! Oh and did I add, he sleeps with us most nights, and WAKES ME UP when he needs to potty? He’s been ding that a while now, and came to use housebroken! Eeep! Love it! (Housebreaking is the single worse part of raising a puppy in my book so he came home with the hard part taken care of ;)
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This is the kind of stuff I do on ’sick days’…

Posted August 18th, 2010 by dreameyce

No wonder I never get any rest!  Today we took Galaxy and Roy out to a local lake, and have plans to go to another lake in the morn.

It makes me sad to think that summer  is almost over, and the typical, miserable grey and dreary rainy  season is on it’s way back so soon!

This is a cellphone pic and post (Loving this phone app!) and real pics from my old DSLR, and an old manual lens are coming soon! (Well, soon as I get around to posting them :P)

Sweet Dreams Tay Tay Bear

Posted August 18th, 2010 by Emily Rose

On saturday we had one of those ‘bad kind’ of surprises, our reserved but sweet, and quiet Scottish Fold cat, Taylor Swift, took a trip to the rainbow bridge, sooner than we’d expected, and without any warning whatsoever. Cause of death was either a stroke, or an embolism, she passed peacefully in her sleep in her favorite spot, relaxing in the sun as she always loved to do.
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For those that remember Mattie Katty, the osteochondrodysplasic kitten who had to be put down, Taylor was the cat we’d gotten from that situation (Mattie wasn’t ’suppose’ to be ours, but with her health problems ended up staying here) Tay Tay Bear was a very quiet cat, but as sweet and gentle as could be. She had huge hocks, and walked awkwardly (She was likely homozygous fold, like Mattie and had hints of mild osteochondrodysplasia but was never diagnosed since she never showed signs of pain), always seeming clownish no matter what she did. She never bonded much with people, but was very attached to all of the dogs, esp Galaxy, and Kiwi while Wii was alive. She’d usually be snuggled up with Wii, or begging Wii for attention whenever Kiwi was around her. We often joked and called her ‘the dogs cat’, since she never sought out people for affection, but spent most her waking time, and a lot of her snuggle time with the dogs.
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Taylor was a quiet, sweet soul. There’s not a lot of stories to tell about Tay Tay because she never did much of note, her favorite thing to do was relax, and lounge, she was never playful, and she rarely sought out attention from people, but graciously accepted it, and reciprocated when we gave her attention. Tay Tay didn’t live a life of big tales, and excitement, but rather of contentment, and complete peace. She lead her life, just as she left her life- without stress, without grief, and without spectacle.
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I know for a while I’ll be watching in her favorite spots for her, expecting Taylor to be laying there, willing to accept a gentle pet, or scratch behind her soft, folded ears. I wish we’d had at least a little warning, but of course you wouldn’t have that Tay Tay, as you would have never in your life have ever wanted to make a scene. I’ll miss you, sweet quiet girl. I’m glad we were there when your family needed our help, and I’m so thankful you graced our family with your affections, and your quiet, gentle soul. Please, give Kiwi a nose kiss for me.

Testing phone posting…

Posted August 16th, 2010 by dreameyce

Testing the mobile posting app on my palm pre here, so excuse me if this doesn’t work!  *g*

Yesterday puppy Roy Rogers hadhis first tim on a boat with the inlaws, and Dea got to kneeboard with Daddy.  Lots of fun!

Duck stew!
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Pooped puppy, assisting the driver, and flagger.
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Back on shore, watching kids play.
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I’m very proud of Mr. Rogers since he was such a trooper, had lots of fun, and even learned to swim! He used Galaxy’s lifevest which was a  little big on him, but fit him on the smallest size. Can’t believe how fast he’s growing though- even getting his big boy coat!