Unconditional Reciprocity

unconditional

giving, by give and accept,

reciprocity

Something very special happens within when we open up to the unconditional acceptance of another being. There is a reciprocity. By both giving and receiving, we nurture within ourselves love, gratitude, and a softening of the heart.

My response to The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Face.

copyright ©2016 Terry Boswell

 

Tug O’ War

2 beagle mixes + 1 tug toy = puppy fun!

I couldn’t resist posting a second response to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Pets. 🙂

… and with this post, I’m premiering my first attempts using Lightroom…

While post-processing these three photos I was really impressed with the noise reduction capabilities of Lightroom. I’m still finishing up my photos, adding my watermark and applying unsharp mask, with GIMP, but hope to begin learning Photoshop soon. Although I have been happy with GIMP, I think it’s time to go mainstream.

There is definitely a learning curve that I’m struggling with. Just getting the settings right to import photos into Lightroom so that they would be organized and named properly has been a challenge.

If anyone has any invaluable Lightroom or Photoshop hints or other favorite post-processing apps/programs to recommend, please comment below!

Focus On The Bubble… Please

It looks like this little dog has his owner trained to focus on the bubble quite well! 😉

(If you’re having trouble viewing these three images as a slide show in the WordPress reader, click here  to view the post directly on my site. You should be able to see it then.)

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Lisbon, Portugal. 2014.

In response to Jennifer Nichole Wells’s One Word Photo Challenge: Bubbles, and Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Pets. Thank you Jennifer and Cee for the challenges!

 

Oops!

SOPHIE
Oops… maybe I shouldn’t have revved up the new puppy…

Yes, I mean him.

HUDSON
Who, me?

 

This was the scene.
Fast action.All ablur.
Oops!
Why wasn’t I paying more attention to my camera settings?!

First, I didn’t anticipate that Sophie and Hudson would continually move at lightning speed. Second, I was more involved with enjoying their antics (and keeping some control) than I was with capturing clarity… And third, I just don’t think super fast with my camera.

Choosing how to adjust my camera’s settings does not come to me as easily as breathing… or walking and chewing gum at the same time… or patting my head while rubbing my stomach. I have to think about camera settings. During the upcoming winter months I intend to become more technically proficient with the Sony a6000 that I bought earlier this year. I’m hoping to be able to think, adjust, point, and shoot with accuracy and aplomb, on the fly, by spring!

Back to Sophie…

SOPHIE
I need a break!

 

SOPHIE
Well maybe just a little more fun…

 

SOPHIE
OK. Enough. 🙂

 

Hudson is the new rescue dog in our house. We adopted him after losing our furry-love, Archie, a few weeks before Thanksgiving. A beloved pet can’t be replaced, but all the love that still remains can be channeled into giving another shelter dog a home.

… So, we now have a lively, yet extremely cuddly, year old (year-and-a-half-old?) Puggle puppy romping and running about, keeping the older dogs on their toes.

There are quiet moments, too.

 

This is my response to the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Oops!

… Giving a shelter dog a good home is the opposite of oops!  Click here, petfinder.com, to find a local shelter and a four-legged-furry to love. 🙂

Remembering Archie

Brown, barking, bundle of fur
wiggled your way into my heart.
Spinning, whirling, four paws off the ground
greet me, feed me, it's breakfast time.
Butt up, front paws slap down,
goofy tail wagging in the air.
Sit, stay,
drool, eat.
Joy to repeat and eat and eat.

Couch potato curled, then sprawled long
sleeping, dreaming, a twitch and a snore.
Soaking up sunshine, dirt baths galore,
rolling and wriggling, then repeat
Sit, stay,
drool, eat.
Feed me, it's dinner time.

Walking together without leash or command,
trotting along by my side.
My steadfast friend, though a terror to some,
having past terror to be overcome.

Softest ears,
beautiful eyes,
panting doggie grin

suddenly gone.

An empty space left on the sofa,
a hole left in my heart.

copyright ©2015 Terry boswell

It never fails to amaze me how attached I become to the four-legged-furry-loves in my life.

Treasured

brown eyes,
     blonde lashes,
dark liner,
     thoughtful gaze,
fur wrap,
     sweetness

:-)
Copyright ©2015 Terry Boswell

(Click an image to view it larger or to start a slide show.)

My response to the Photography 101 prompt, “treasure.”

Writing 201: Animal

“Make shapes with your poems. Go crazy with enjambment. And pay attention to the animal inside. Hello, Day 4!”

The poetry prompt for day four of Writing 201 is “Animal.”
The form is “Concrete Poetry.”
The device is “Enjambment.”

I’ve been sick with a cold and fever this week and have spent a lot of time curled up on the couch with my dog, so she was the first animal that came to mind for today’s prompt.

Click on the images to see them larger.

Puppy paws playfully pounce,
tossing toys this way and that.
Tail in the air,
snout in a rout,
joyfully sniffing about.

Pausing to sleep in a streak of sunshine.
Dreaming sweet dreams of the next escapade.
Rising,
rested,
ready to go.
Running and racing then
s l o w.

Paws

pause.

Eyes seek me out.

Leaning
lovingly,
strokes,
pats,
and pets.
Curled
cuddling
sublimely content,
my steadfast canine companion.

I’ve made this image available to purchase as a t-shirt, note card, or iPhone cover on Zazzle.com. Click here if you’d like to take a look. 🙂

Words and images by Terry Boswell
Copyright © 2015 Terry Boswell

Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadowed

Sleepy dogs in sun and shadow.

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: Shadowed.

Christmas Pup

This little fellow is accustomed to wearing sweaters to keep warm, but I was surprised by how cooperative he was with the hat!

I am blessed to be celebrating Christmas with family and friends. I hope your holidays, whichever ones you celebrate, are joy filled and spectacular!  ~Terry