We all need to take a lesson from our pets about how to relax.  Have you ever seen a cat that did not look completely comfortable upside down on the back of a couch?  Or a dog that knows exactly the right position to take in order to fit onto an ottoman?  Do you ever find yourself saying: "Oh, I wish I could relax like that"?

I have noticed a few things about our crew.

• They each have their own special spot where they relax.
• They have a special time of day when they like to occupy certain spaces (whether that be the floor near a sunny window inside in the morning, or under the shade of a tree outside in the late afternoon).
  
• They all have a certain position they assume when they relax.

Take Moe in the photo above.  He can usually be found on one of the wing chairs with his chin tucked on his paws.

Lilah, on the other hand, likes to melt into the couch.  She takes up way more room then she should.  Many times she will hang her head over the edge of the couch.  I think it's a beauty treatment--you know, let the blood rush to your head and you feel more refreshed. It seems to work for dogs.  For me, not so much.

Matty Matt the Bratty Cat is usually aware of his surroundings and people marauding with cameras.  This is the typical one-eye-oh-it's-only-you-again look.. I believe this is called a "cat nap."

The biggest question in my house is always: "Is there a seat for me?"  The answer is usually "no."  Sometimes I have to play the Queen of Hearts and say "OFF" with somebody.  I am sure that was what the threesome below were waiting for when I snapped this photo.  The photo below is an older photo.  It includes (L to R) Winston, Danny and Moe.  We have since lost Winston, an older dog we took in through a rescue.  We were very happy to support his final years with as much relaxation time as he needed.  That's what it's all about.

Where do your pets like to sleep and relax?  Want to see more sleeping and relaxing pets.  Follow the circle of blogs until you get back here.  Start here with Alicia Kapheim of Barking Lab Studio in Princeton, New Jersey.  Enjoy!

I am participating in a new group, made up of some very fine pet photographers, who select a new theme for each week and then set up a photo shoot to match the theme.  I'm starting in at Week 24 and while I may not be able to post every week, I hope to participate as much as possible.

The rule around here is to NOT plant anything within the dog fence area that can be carried away by a canine seeking plant revenge.  We have seven (YES SEVEN) dogs, who sometimes band together to search and destroy anything that might be loved or fondled over too much by humans.  Watering can be misconstrued as "love."

Some of our garden landscape includes sturdy bushes that bloom.  Piper, our border collie, who absolutely refuses to become a model at any cost, can be lulled into a false sense of security and photographed when he least expects it, as in the photo below.  In order to capture this photo I had to hide around the other side of the bush and pop out.

We also garden in many containers in and around our patio, which is contained in the fenced-in dog yard.  Some of these containers are hanging baskets but most are on stands which cannot be knocked over.  Here is our girl, Lilah, a seasoned poser, being somewhat cooperative near one of our larger container gardens.  Lilah did not get her hair done for this photo.

Although the next photo is a bit blown out, I just had to post it.  I had taken the hanging basket down to place behind Lilah for the previous photo, and then I hung it back up.  I am quite sure that Lilah figured when we were done with the photo above, she would have had full access to the basket for sniff and taste purposes.  Her facial expression, and specifically that "setter lip" that so many of us English Setter owners know well, show her thoughts on the matter.

I am guessing that you would like to see some additional interpretations of the Gardens theme. Simply  click on these lovely colored letters which will link you to Moxy Pets Photography.  At the end of Eva's blog you will find another link to click on. You can continue right through the loop until you end up back here again.  Isn't this fun?  Enjoy!