Camera Critters - Young Mandy

Meet my other baby ... my 10 pound, Italian Greyhound/Jack Russell Terrier minx. She is also affectionately known as the 'California Diva Dog' and she has the personality to match :-)

She can be found, almost every evening, anxiously peering out the window, waiting for Daddy to come home from work. She seems to be able to sense when he should be arriving ..

Ok, Mum ...enough with poking that thing in my face...I'm trying to sleep here!!!!

Camera Critters - Water Fun

Been a couple of years since I posted to Camera Critters, so glad to see it hasn't disappeared :-) Misty , our Lab/Blue Heeler cross, has been convinced for ages, that immersing herself in water is a VERY BAD THING !!! No amount of gentle persuasion on our part was going to change her mind. It was definitely a case of 'If us dogs were meant to swim, then we would have been given gills and webbed feet', as far as she was concerned. That was until we moved up to WA and took her to one of the salt water inlet parks in Olympia. The pictures say it better than words do :-)

Happy puppy = water + big stick + Mum & Dad getting exhausted throwing it :-) Also Saturday Critters

Camera Critters - Newest Addition..

My poor blog has been a little neglected of late. The loss of Meesha has left me a little adrift over the last few months. I've lost furry friends before and it's hurt, however, I really was not prepared for the pain and devastation I've felt since she passed. She and I had a very special connection.

With the death of our puppy, Shamus, not long after, I really didn't want another furry friend in my life. However, Sparky, our surviving canine baby was feeling rather lonely.

It was heartbreaking to come home and find him sitting there crying.

So, without further ado, let me introduce the latest addition to our family, Misty.



She's a labrador/blue heeler mix and was around 4 months old when we got her. She's almost 6 months old now. The lady we got her from, said that she had rescued her from a couple that were trying to sell her outside one of our local Walmarts. She had seen them standing outside the store, waving Misty around in the air and when she came out about an hour later, they were still there. Misty at this stage was crying piteously, so she bought her off them for $35.

She assured me that she had taken her to the vets and got her shots, however, I'm still a bit paranoid due to the experience with Shamus, so I'm redoing her shots.

So far she is really healthy and full of life.

She has dug a small hole in the bathroom floor, chewed up part of the kitchen floor, destroyed the electrical cord to my Xmas tree lights (fortunately not on at the time) and separated the plug to my sewing machine from it's cord.

Toilet training is going well though...

Wishing you all the very best for the New Year :-)

A young friend of mine, Taylor, has just started her own blog. She's 9 years old. Her first Camera Critters post is here, so pop over and say hello. :-)

Camera Critters - My Meesha

Meesha, telling me to hurry up, when we were fossil hunting in the NV desert, early this summer..

I'm reposting this, which I wrote this last Monday, the 19th. I wanted to share it with you all as a tribute to my beloved and brave Meesha.

It's been 5 days now since she crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. I miss her so much. I think, that until now, I hadn't realised that grief could actually make your heart hurt.

Meesha was so much part of our family. She was born in our home, so, as somebody mentioned yesterday, I have known her from cradle to grave.

She and I had a connection that was really special ... she was my shadow and my best friend.

I know that in time this crushing pain will ease. I also have so many happy memories of her to look back on and I have faith that in time I will see her again....

Anyway ... this was what I wrote on Monday..
*************************************************************************************
R.I.P My Beautiful Meesha

As you have probably noticed, I haven't been posting lately. It's been a combination of my hubby being out of work, being ill with the H1N1 flu and one of our fur babies being very ill. I've been doing some intensive nursing at home, trying to help our wonderful girl win her battle with cancer.

Sadly today, in the early afternoon, our beautiful and courageous Meesha lost her fight. She passed away in my husband's arms.

Right now, my heart is full of pain ... but there is some comfort in the fact that she is now on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge, running free and probably chasing butterflies.

It hurts so much to say goodbye, Meesha. I knew this day was coming, but it doesn't make it any easier or make the tears stop.

I shall so miss looking into those beautiful, big brown eyes and seeing the love shining out of them.

I shall so miss seeing you running through the house, with that comical, wide-eyed look on your face, when you thought you had lost sight of me.

I shall so miss the excitement you showed, when I walked in the door after being at work or shopping.

I shall so miss cuddling my face into your soft, warm body..

I shall so miss you...

Thank you so much, my beloved baby, for the 12 years of unconditional love that you gave your Mum and Dad. We shall so miss you, but we are grateful that you are now at peace.

Rest In Peace, beautiful one ... you will never be forgotten.


At the river, this summer, before she got really sick. Look at that happy look on her face and that furiously wagging tail. She'd just caught sight of me. :-)


Beautiful doggy smile. :-)




I so loved her colouring, that you can see in these two photos..


One of my favourite photos of her, taken at the beginning of summer, when we went fossil hunting in the old Lake Lahontan bed. You can't see her closely, but this little dog, standing there surveying awesomeness of the desert and sky, just makes me smile..


Yesterday, Sunday, the last full day of her life, we took all three down to the local lake. Meesha managed to walk part of the way, but spent most of the ride in the bike trailer. She had such a happy look on her face and even barked at another dog. I'm so glad she had that.

Love you, now and for ever, baby girl...

Camera Critters - My Newest Grandbaby :-)

Meet Ruben, the newest addition to my daughter's family. He's a 10 week old English Springer Spaniel.

My daughter sent me these photos..


Looking innocent. :-)


He just loves his Mummy....

Apparently, a typical early morning scene, in my daughter's household, now goes something like this ....

'MUM !! DAD !!! GET UP !! GET UP !!!' (with much excited bouncing on heads...)

'Ruben, it's 6am Sunday morning!!' (vain attempt to pull blankets over heads...)

'BUT, BUT, I CAN HEAR FARMER BROWN'S ROOSTER CROWING..SO GET UP !!!'

'Ruben, Farmer Brown's rooster is on the other side of the airport, you can't possibly hear him, now go to sleep !!'

'MUM, I HAVE TO PEE!!!!!'

'Okay, Ruben, I'm up !!'

Which explains why my daughter was up and about at 7am, last Sunday, when I phoned her. Just like she was when the human grand kids were babies. :-)

He is a cutie though...

Have a great weekend all !!!

UPDATE ...Apparently, according to my daughter's comment ...he's an English Cocker Spaniel and is 16 weeks old, now... :-)

Camera Critters - 'Lady, I Feel Safe By You! '

Which is what this poor little duck seemed to be saying..

(click to enlarge)

An idiotic couple, with a pit bull in tow, were thinking it rather funny to set their dog to chasing this little girl.

She was clearly terrified. However, when she spied me sitting on the riverbank, she paddled over, quacking loudly. She then settled down in front of me and started preening her ruffled feathers.

I guess she saw me as a haven of safety.

I was glad to sit and keep her company until the two twits moved off...

People who allow their dogs or kids to terrorise the wildlife and think it funny, really get my ire up.

Camera Critters - Marmaduke Marmot.

(Click on any image for a larger view)

On the way up to Walmart, last weekend, I happened to glance over into the empty field, that is in front of the shopping complex, and saw this face peering at me.

I immediately thought 'Camera Critters' and grabbed my 35mm SLR, fired off a shot and then realised I was out of film. Arghhhhhhh !! No worries though, as I then remembered my little point 'n shoot digital was tucked into my jeans pocket.. :-) A girl's got to come prepared, these days as one never knows what photo opportunity will be around the next corner !!


'Watcha doing? Trying to sneak up on me or sumfing??'


'Okay, what's with the inch a step closer, stand still and then repeat thing you've got going on? No wonder people walking by are giving you odd looks !'


'Okaaaay Lady, come any closer and see this stick that I have clutched in my paws? Well, I"M NOT AFRAID TO USE IT !!!!'

I think at this point, young Marmaduke decided that I'd snuck close enough, because he turned tail and scurried into his burrow.

I continued on my way, quite happy with the results of my stalking interlude, when I happen to catch a slight movement out of the corner of my left eye..


Why, it's Marmaduke's BFF, Manny, sunning himself on his favourite rock !

I think he was a tad put out, that I didn't have any pieces of carrots or apples in my pocket, because he sort of huffed at me and stalked off in disgust.

Have a great weekend, folks !!

Now go to CAMERA CRITTERS and join in the fun.

Camera Critters - Mr Peabody

This is Peabody, a male Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassisii) that lives at Animal Ark, here in Reno. He's about 52 years old and was brought to the Ark by a fireman in the late 80's. He's believed to have been some one's pet..







The Desert Tortoise is the Nevada State Reptile. They are also an endangered species and protected by Nevada state law.

They are found mainly in the southern Nevada desert, however their habitat is threatened by human population growth and environmental factors.

They are also found across much of the southwestern area of the US. Fossil records have shown that they have lived there for at least the last 10 - 12000 years.

An interesting fact about the desert tortoise, is that it spends about 95 % of it very long life (80 - 100 years) underground in burrows. This helps it survive the hot summers, where ground temperatures can exceed 140 deg F, and the cold, harsh winters.

Have a great weekend all !!

The school year ended, on Friday, so we are now on break for the next 5 weeks. YAAAAAYYYY !!!

Now go to CAMERA CRITTERS and join in the fun.

Camera Critters - The Young Ones

'The young ones
Darling, we're the young ones
And the young ones
Shouldn't be afraid
To live, love
While the flame is strong
For we may not be
The young ones very long'


'Tomorrow
Why wait until tomorrow
'Coz tomorrow
Sometimes never comes
So love me
There's a song to be sung
And the best time
Is to sing it while we're young'


'Once in every lifetime
Comes a love like this
I need you,
You need me
Oh, my darling, can't you see'


'That young dreams
Should be dreams together
And young hearts
Shouldn't be afraid
And some day
When the years have flown
Darling, then we'll teach
The young ones of our own.'

Credits ..

'The Young Ones' - sung by the one and only, Cliff Richard.

First photo - taken by my hubby ..

All other photos ..well, that was me :-)

Now go to CAMERA CRITTERS and join in the fun.

P.S... If you want to listen to Cliff singing the song, here it is, Video quality is a bit poor and the sound isn't synchronized, but it shows that he's still got it! Not quite a Camera Critter, but I couldn't resist. :-)

Camera Critters - Ducks, Ducks, More Ducks & A Goose :-)

This week, we are out of the desert and into the water... I took these during a walk around the lake, late in the afternoon, last Monday.

Never fails to amaze me, how many different shadings I can see on the ducks at our local lake.

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

This little one had some interesting brown markings on it's head ..


This young lady paddled along beside me, around half the lake. She was obviously hoping that I had food in the pockets of my camera vest..


I loved this black and white duck....


These three had me amused for awhile.

The drake beside his mate, had one eye on me and the other on the drake behind him, who was valiantly trying to attract the attention of the female.

Every time he swam towards the pair, the other drake would drive him off with wings flapping and beak outstretched. Quite funny to watch..


Another one of my camp followers, a goose this time, who was hoping for a handout. He even came up out of the water at one point and plodded along behind me. :-)

Now go to CAMERA CRITTERS and join in the fun.

Camera Critters - Peter Rabbit

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As a child, growing up in New Zealand, my Grandmother used to read to me from Beatrix Potter's 'The Tale Of Peter Rabbit.'

Ever since then, I've had rather a soft spot for these furry creatures....

I happened upon this little fella, on Friday, while on a field trip to the Animal Ark (a local animal sanctuary) with a group of second graders.

It wasn't one of the Ark's animals, but had chosen to make the Ark it's home.

While it was not tame, it obviously tolerated humans and was curious about what I was doing, as it followed me for awhile.

It was very good at posing for photographs. Holding it's pose as I fiddled with the hubby's digital camera.

I'd forgotten to bring some extra rolls of film for my camera.:-(

You can click on each photo to enlarge it...


"Well .... hello there!!!"

"BTW, I do not have an abundance of whiskers .... I'm carrying around some dried grass"..


"Okay... you look harmless, so I'll keep on hunting for food"...


"Time I went home now .... byeeeee !!"


"Oh, you're still there" ....


"Look .... I'm getting a bit tired of this posing thing !! Haven't you already taken, like, a zillion pictures ???"


"Okay, one more time. Now please go home, already !!"

Now go to CAMERA CRITTERS and join in the fun.