Photography

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A New Seed

Well, apparently new seeds were growing last year.  I would like to introduce my new little brother Luke Skywalker de Louisiana a.k.a. SKY. I gave him the Codename 0012.img_9999b

Ain’t he something else?! His shelter name was Luke, we added Skywalker. SKY was moved from an overcrowded Louisiana shelter that was not suited for puppies to North Florida. Hence his last name. He is roughly 5 months old and our vet said that he was probably a mix between a Border Collie and Springer Spaniel.  SKY has aspirations to become a Jedi Master. When my former agility trainer saw his photo she said, “The Force is strong in this one”. So maybe he’s on his way.

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To be honest, I am hoping he can join me on my super-secret missions sometime in the future. With a name like SKY, he should be able to fly, don’t you think? That should come in handy on our Mission Impossibles.

SKY started his tactical training last Friday at headquarters. He has to wait at least a couple of months before he can start any offsite agility training but for now, he can start with the basics at headquarters. It’s a lot of chewing on a bone and sometimes there is a bone of contention but I’ve shown that it can be done. Anyhowls, in the meantime, SKY can prepare for his S.T.A.R. exam. More on all this prep work at a later time. For now, this puppy needs some rest.

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Signing off,

Dg. B, a.k.a. 0011
Commander in Chief
Headquarters

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Almost 3

Big drumroll pul-ease: Next week, September 18, I will be 3 years old! I expect lots of yummy treats and an extra toy or two or three or plenty. Anyhowls, my big birthday seems to be a reason to dwell on my puppy photos and has led to my own Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/dogtor_benji/. I hope the humans know that there is only one account that really counts: it’s my treat account!

Benji

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You’ve Got Mail: 4

As a real retriever, I got the mail yesterday.  Ms. Zulu helped me as she herded me to the mailbox like a true herding dog. We forgot to empty the mailbox on Saturday. When we finally got around it on Sunday, we found this beautiful card from Kosmo and his mom in faraway Finland! If we would have known what was in the mailbox, we would have run with Mach 2+ speed.

We got mail!
Let’s see what they write
I wanna dream about faraway Finland

Kosmo and mom wrote that the photo on the postcard is from their area. Isn’t that something? Can you imagine living in such a beautiful place? Kosmo and his mom are very lucky. If you want to read more about life in Finland, follow the blog Photofinland by Rantasalot.  Kosmo’s mom writes it and it’s wagnificent.

P.S. I hope to report tomorrow on what we saw when we admired the postcard. You won’t believe us.

Happy Tails,

Benji

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Cool Hot Summer Fun: 5

You thought all the wet stuff was behind us, right? Well, so did I. Apparently, we forgot about the beach. The beach is actually fun as long as you don’t get saturated with the wet stuff. We go to the beach a lot in the winter and fall, but we hardly go in the summer. It’s Florida you know. If we go in the summer, we go at night when the sand is cool and still a bit wet. I love to play in the sand and look at sunsets.

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I have been going to the beach since I was a youngster (12-17-15). Click on the photo to watch my video

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The sand is fun (1-1-16)

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I like to just sit and enjoy the scenery (11-23-16)

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And reminisce about the day (2-5-17)

Phew, I made it through the wet stuff alright; onwards to the dry matter,

Benji

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You’ve Got Mail: 2

We were very busy this morning writing a postcard to Doug, Andy, and Dougy. It’s not an easy affair. Once we figured out what we would write, we wrote the card and put a stamp on it. Unfortunately, we didn’t have to lick the stamp. And since we didn’t have to put the card in an envelope either, there was no licking at all. I can tell you that the usefulness of our long tongues is often overlooked.

What shall we write?
All done!
Did I put it in there correctly?
Yep, and the red flag is up.

Next, we walked to the mailbox and made sure that all was in order for the mail(wo)man to pick it up and deliver it to the boys up north. What we wrote and sent? I’m sure you will find out as soon as the boys get our postcard.

Patience is a virtue that will eventually lead to rewards,

Benji 

 

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The Forbidden Fruit

The forbidden fruit is oh so tempting. This is the first year our apple tree is producing apples. The name of the apples is promising: Joy Apples. Last year I was too small to help myself to the Fuyu Persimmons; believe me, I tried.  The apple tree will be so much easier as I have grown and the apple tree is still a youngin. Supposedly the apples will even get bigger. I am not sure if I want to wait to see that theory come to fruition. I can wait a little bit but hey where is the joy in waiting much longer?

Have a great weekend, and may the rewards be big for those who wait,

Benji

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Happy Sunny Day

Here are some flowers to brighten your Easter Day. Next week will be busy so we are taking it easy today. Tuesday is MI-6 day and we are finalizing two big interviews with Bacon over at hotel Thompson for Spotlight Thursday.  Stay tuned for an update later this week. Wishing you a lazy and happy Sunny Day.

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Hmmm, not so sure what to think of them. Can you play with them or better yet, eat them?

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A close-up

The ZAB team

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Helping Out

Ms. Zulu and I are helping M out as much as we can in and around the house. The kitchen chores are our favourites but we like gardening too. Especially the digging part but we are completely happy to supervise too. Friday’s shopping spree resulted in garden items so yesterday was a yard day.

The garden supplies are supposed to beautify the garden. Not sure how though. If you ask me it looks like agility equipment. I tested it and it seemed to work well to practice jumping and balancing.

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Flaming Azalea
Us and agility equipment

We hope you got to see our gardening collaboration with Resa for kid’s month too. It was fun to show all the healthy snacks you can dig up in a garden.

After all our hard work, we are ready to take a nap. Naps are always good before, after, during, and in between work.

Sleep tight,

Benji

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Modeling: Take 2

I have to say, and I wouldn’t have thought so a half year ago, but my modeling career is taking off very nicely. Maybe one of these days I can even bring up a raise. Here you can see the results of my third paid gig. Just to refresh your memory, this is in anticipation of Drake and Sol’s wedding. So I am happy to report that my treat account is growing. On the other hand, I seem to be using more too so not sure about the balance at the end of this month. I hope I’m not in the red, except for the bow tie. After all, the humans decided that I was too skinny and there is only one remedy for that. So, keep it coming or the tummy will grow hungry.

As you can see, both Ms. Zulu and I are taking the wedding preparations quite seriously and we are putting our best paw forward. -You are correct, that is our right front paw in both cases.- This time I am showing a red bow tie as it was decided by higher authorities that it might look better than the blue ties. My suit will remain the same brindle pattern, decorated with a white front. I have grown quite fond of it, so that stays. Sometimes you have to know when you can put your paw down. There was enough shopping to do as it is. I never knew that weddings would require so much preparation.

So, what do you think of the new addition to my dressing room? How does it compare to the two blue outfits? Light conditions were still not up to par according to my assistant. I hope to finagle another gig out of this. For some reason or another, Ms. Zulu’s pics are less of a problem. I don’t mind though; working long hours means more treats. Besides, I can always sleep in the next day.

Me and my red bow tie
Ms. Zulu, my chaperone

Enjoy the good life: make room for play and take lots of naps between work,

B.

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Modeling

In December of last year, I was invited to be at Drake and Sol‘s wedding in June this year. Drake and Sol are two beautiful creatures born at Belén Soto’s home. They are now happily residing at Resa’s, just click on the links to see their photos. I am very excited about the upcoming wedding as it will be my first!

For the occasion, mom and I have been shopping for bow ties. We settled on two possibilities: a dotted and a solid blue bow tie. Not sure which one it will be yet. I felt more comfortable wearing the dotted one but it seems to be the general opinion that the blue tie has a nicer color. What do you think?

Resa asked if we could show the results, so here I am modeling in my best suit and the bow ties.* Ms. Zulu didn’t want to be left out, so she modeled too with a beautiful hair piece to adorn her already gorgeous complexion. Maybe she can even accompany me to the wedding. Sort of a chaperone. After all, I am a bachelor and Ms. Zulu is much more experienced than me although I don’t think she ever attended a wedding either.

* I am happy to note that both I and Ms. Zulu were lavishly rewarded for the effort. There were complaints that the light conditions were not the greatest during the photoshoot so we may have to try again. I am not complaining as long as we are rewarded and I trust we will be!

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Foggy

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It’s that time of the year again; foggy morning walks! At least we didn’t suffer from brain fog because we still remembered to ask for a treat once we were done posing for the photoshoot. After all, fair’s fair.

Happy tails, Ms. Zulu and Benji.

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Then and Now: 1

I decided to start a new series that will show “Then” and “Now” photos. This is the first post in the series. 

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11-24-16

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Can someone please explain why the forest is shrinking?

Have a tail wagging day, Benji.

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Zuluism

The other day, I told you that I got very tired during the Thanksgiving Holiday. There was so much to do and so little time. Since we are close to another big holiday, I asked Ms. Zulu how she dealt with that issue. She gave me some valuable advice and I thought you would like to hear it too. I know she shared it with some of you already, way before I was born. Still, I think it is worth reading again.  The approach itself is called Zuluism in my house. Ms. Zulu calls it reaching the Z-state. I will give Ms. Zulu the floor so that she can show you all the different steps: 

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Thanks, Benji. It’s really easy; follow my lead; You don’t have to get there through A-B-, etc., so don’t sweat it.  What is really important though is that you set up a routine. Without this, you get easily lost in the woods, so to speak. My routine looks like this:

1) Start the day with a good stretch, then hug and kiss your loved ones; okay I like to lick, but that is a matter of preference.

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2)  Go for a short walk to get fresh air and enjoy your surroundings. Have a little bite afterward and make sure you rehydrate (no alcohol please).

3) Go back to bed. This step is VERY important as you will NOT get to the Z-state later on in the day if you skip this step. I call this the N-state (you may call this napping). So basically, you made it already from A to N in three short steps; amazing isn’t it?!

4) After a little napping, go for an extended walk. On this walk, you make sure you exercise your whole body. Get a couple of sprints in as well as twist and turns. Benji, you are good at this.

5) You definitely deserve a BIG break after your exercise (step 4) and a little snack (I said a little! Okay if you insist another little bite is fine too for those of us who really need it). Make sure you rehydrate too.

6) Next, you make your way to the Z-state. Go to a comfortable place for this. This should be a place where you are not interrupted. I like to be close to M. You will get to the Z-state by going through the S-state. During the S-state you will most likely snore. This is perfectly normal. Don’t let others tell you otherwise. The S-state can take up to an hour after which you slowly drift into the Zzzz-state.  The Z-state is the most pleasant one as you do not remember any of it. So I can’t tell you more about it. I do know that I feel totally refreshed after I get out of the Z-state.

7) End the Z-state with another break. I like to run with M while she bikes, but you may prefer other activities. Sorry, no photo here as I still go VERY fast.

8) Try to get another snack by making sure you are in the kitchen while others are there as well. It is okay, maybe even better, if they stumble over you. Put on your most adorable face (I believe I have mastered this step) and try to look thin (tuck in that tummy; that is a good exercise too). Rehydrate.

9) Go back to bed. This time you will not get to the Z-state, but drift pleasantly in and out of the Y-state. Why is it called the Y-state you ask? Not sure, maybe because this state will help you get some answers to your questions.  Your legs may jerk and you may barf (or talk when you are a human) some. You don’t get to the Z-state this time as you need to be able to wake up for alerts. This can be squirrels who have ventured out too far from their house,  the mailman, deer etc. It is my job to alert the humans, they are often SO unaware of these things. Benji, I have been teaching you this step since you were a little pup. After all, two pairs of eyes are better than one.

10) Come out of the Y-state before you drift off too far, go outside, play some, go back inside, and eat your dinner. Rehydrate once more.

11) Go back to your comfortable place and drift off to the Z-state again.

12) Get out one more time before you call it a night. This time you get back up to snuff with the world. Sniff out what has transpired outside while you were inside. Follow EVERY trail. Benji, you were born ready for this.

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12) Once back inside, get a little snack and go to bed. Take a friend if you don’t like to be alone. I used to sleep with Ducky. But I gave Ducky to you Benji, so these days I sleep either quietly alone or with another little friend out of our box with stuffed friends.  After such an eventful day, I am sure you will be able to sleep well. You and your friends (stuffed or human) certainly deserve it.

Happy snoring,

Ms. Zulu and Benji

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R.I.P. Ducky I

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Rest in Pieces, Ducky I

I am sad to announce that Operation Ducky I has failed. I tried to get to the heart* of it, but as of yesterday afternoon, around 2:05 p.m. EST, Ducky I, my ally and companion, succumbed. (* Every dog knows that the squeaker is the heart and essence of every playmate aka SA (Stuffed Animal)). Let’s start at the beginning though.

At some point earlier yesterday morning, Ducky I seemed to have stopped squeaking. All doggies instinctively know that you should always, always attempt CPR.  So that is what I tried with all my might. SA CPR is tricky and a bit different from your regular CPR. To get to the heart of our playmates, you have to start at the seams. I even got my big sister involved but whatever we did nothing helped poor Ducky. Instead of getting better, he only seemed to get worse as the day wore on. I did find the heart though. However, I may have been a bit too hesitant as I didn’t know right away what to do with it. In the end, I decided to run away with it, and I believe that was the wrong move. To be fair, this was my first rescue mission. Anyway, when I got back to my quarters,  poor Ducky lay lifeless on my bed. All may not be lost though as Ducky’s heart still continues to squeak. So, we are talking amongst ourselves how to use this piece of Ducky I once again in the near future.  In the meantime, Ducky II has been trained intensively by Ducky I, Ms. Zulu, and me, and is now 100% ready to take over Ducky I’s duties.  We must always remember though how Ducky I bravely has kept me company, all those dark lonely nights, in my forever home. R.I.P. Ducky I, I love you forever and will keep your heart close to me,

Benji.  

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Ducky I, we will never forget the good times we had together 

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Posing

What’s up? Well, while I am still waiting for my first super-secret-mission, I have not been lazy. Instead, I got some new work. I have been asked to model for Belén Soto, a very talented ceramist. We all really like her work, so I was quite honored when Belén asked me if I would like to sit for one of her sculptures! With mom’s help, I did my best to provide a front and side view photo of me. It was not easy to sit still. Leaves kept falling around me, interrupting my concentration.

You can find Belén’s beautiful work on Clay and Fire.  I am looking forward to the results of this effort! 

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Is this good?

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What’s that?

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OK, how about this?

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Mom, they are really tempting me

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OK, will leave them alone now

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This should be good, right?