It Is Up To Me

This week the blog circle is a free-for-all.  It's my choice to decide what exactly I'd like to write about.  Since it is up to me, let me tell you some things I wish were really up to me.

If it were up to me, our pets would live forever.
If it were up to me, all animals would be treated kindly and well loved.
If it were up to me, all homeless pets (and people) would have a home.

I realize these aren't things I can control on a large scale, but on a very small scale, there are things I might be able to do.

I can make room in my household for some dogs and cats that might not otherwise have a home.
I can treat the animals I meet, and those that live with me, kindly, and provide for them until they can no longer stay with us, and pass to spirit.
I can be sure that their images live forever in print on my walls, as a loving reminder of each one of them.

Below is a quick snapshot of one of our dog-related areas in our family room.  I took this with my cell phone late in the evening.

The shelf features some of our dogs that have gone to spirit.  That's Winston, Burton, and Daisy (from left to right).  Our dog Moe is to the left of the shelf, and our dog Danny is below it.  Both are still enjoying life with us, but Moe is 14 this year, and Danny is approximately eleven.

Yes, I know our pets are not going to be able to live forever, but a good photo can live on, reminding us of them everyday.  You can see the wooden urns in front of the photos of those that have passed.  This shelf is a great comfort to me, and brings back great memories, including the memory of their favorite expression or pose.

There is another wall in our family room with more photos of the pets not featured here.

This past week, we finally had some beautiful, sunny weather and I went outside into the yard with our dogs, who enjoy good sunshine, toys and green grass stretches.  I wanted to capture some photos of them doing whatever was "up to them." 

They are below and include:  Luke with his crinkle toy, Moe being Moe, Lilah with her fuzzy, and Billie trying to steal Luke's toy.

On Monday, June 1, I will be reopening my photography business as part of the yellow phase of Covid-19 restrictions.  Our county went yellow on Friday, May 22nd.  I will be posting clear instructions for scheduling over the weekend.  The studio will remain closed, but outdoor/location sessions are available.

My hope is to create more memories for more people, who just like me, want their pets to live forever.

To read more "photographer's choice" blog posts, start the circle with Pawparazzi Pet and Animal Photography presented by Shae Pepper, then look for the link at the end of each blog to take you the rest of the way through the circle.  Have a lovely weekend!