Sunning

And for the last time until next time, Lola.

Love Me

Partly Sunny Leftovers

I'm still having fun with my pancake lens and trying to spot the difference between it and my other lenses. It's been glorious outside and here are a few shots enjoying the partly sunny weather.

Oliver, looking extra fluffy after a "haircut." I think they put more hair on him (old EF-S Canon 55-250 STM lens)

One of the first shots I took with the new pancake lens. Toxic green sure is pretty

 Lola, aka Big Ol' Baby Girl, loving the cooler weather and warm deck (Canon EF 40 mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens)

Zen

I was on the opposite side of town sitting for my cousin's sweet beast (pictured in the last post) when I came across this Cambodian Buddist Temple. I thought it was the perfect subject for yesterday's cool blue clouds and my new pancake lens. 

Bonus, there's a song by Haley Mills kid, Crispian, that occasionally goes through my head which fits quite well, especially since I was sitting for an Italian dog owned by a very Italian family and Kula sounds like culo (butt), a word we heard a lot growing up. 

So shake your Kula and have a zen week. 

Joy

This might not be the best picture I took today but it's the most joyous.
Say hello to Lola, a young Italian Mastiff living the life on the right side of the tracks. She's got that super thin coat which makes things very uncomfortable on hot sunny days. Today she feasted on cool weather and warm sun, making the best of cool grass and a tolerable patio before the rain came.

I love...everything

Cloud Bolts and Swamp Things

I liked the way this cloud struck down from the sky like a fat lightning bolt on the road to my favorite swimming hole.
Okay, my swimming hole is an indoor warm water and lap pool with a parking structure and fancy fruit water, but technically it has holes in which one can swim.
Taking this and a few other field shots reminded me that having a prime lens instead of a zoom might encourage me to carry my camera more.

I think this was taken with my Canon 55-250 STM and doesn't look much better than my kit lens, but I like the sky. I was surprised to see how much we've needed rain. 

After going camera shopping and realizing I couldn't afford anything I looked at, I got an *inexpensive lens at the Best Buy in Brookfield and stopped by Lapham Peak on my way back. I looked at these photos and thought, "No reflection in these shots."

And then I found actual open water. All except the pooch and top photos are taken with my first fixed lens, a Canon EF 40 2.8 STM which I'm loving. I especially love that it's called a "Pancake Lens."

Making a mental note to come back here for Halloween photos.

Bobby Boy (aka Bob Barker, aka Mr. French, aka Sunny Bob) hated his new haircut so much he's been wearing this vest to cover it up and feel something against his skin. Although I think he looks dapper, it reminds me of a devastating haircut my mother made me get that was so bad I covered it up with a hat for the entire summer (much like Roberto here). 

*Got a speeding ticket just as I hit the city, a few miles from home.

Ain't Nothin' But A Hound Dog

Or more accurately one hound and two sporting.
I love the dog beach at Devil's Lake because you can pull your car right up to it and set down your chair, watercraft and cooler. Much of this parking lot has been flooded for years and you can still see telltale signs if you peek underwater.
You can meet locals and travelers, people and pooches and all manner of means to be in and on the water. A bonus to pulling your car up to your spot is that you can plug in your automatic air pump if it's not too hot to be on the water. Until yesterday, however, it's been so hot that being in the water v. on the water may mean the difference between cooling off or toasting your marshmallows.

Howdy dog. Howdy boychick.

Let's go swimmin'

You may need more water

Let me show ya

Ooh, chilly

Oh no, here come the Bumpus hounds aka Otis and Copper

Sons of &^%$#@* Bumpuses!

And there they go looking for a perfect Christmas turkey

Demon Ginger God of Mischief

My lil cuz dropped off Dexter for "a few weeks" sometime in April (yes, he's still here). This is not his first "visit" and at this point, all gloves are off. Not for me, however, since he's taken to nipping me in the hand after I give him a good brushing or ear scratching. He acts like he's giving me a tip. 

"Here's a little something for  you, doll."

And ever since I started painting my toenails watermelon pink he'll go after my foot. He looks at me like it's the funniest thing in the world, then takes off for his blanket fort to peek out and taunt me. 

He also managed to push a full bag of cat food off the breakfast bar and rip into it while I was sleeping. To add insult to injury, that's one of the few places he's not supposed to be.

Dexter, Demon Hellcat and Ginger God of Mischief

Mr. Howie's Holiday, Surf Edition

I was swimming in Devil's Lake when a wet furry thing swam up and pawed me. It turned out to be a black lab named Howie who wondered if I was something to retrieve. We chatted a bit ("Who's a good boy, Howie's a good boy." "Wuff.") then he swam out to mom and paddled away.

General Guinness

I threw some water and snacks into a Playmate cooler and planted a chair in the water last Friday. I photographed boaters against blinding light with my old Canon t3i knowing I had a new camera on the way (I've already returned it). These pictures remind me of when you lose weight and just your socks fit better. I'll take the win but, meh.

Just Another Road Trip

With a week of 90˚ weather, I'm trying to fit in a few road trips before the pavement buckles and sucks in all the cars. I hit Boscobel and Highland yesterday and people were getting ready for the heat by chilling out.

More fun with silhouettes. There appears to be a creeping entity in the lake 

A Charlie Brown Pine

I've been taking Black & White shots in Creative Auto and my laptop keeps changing them to color. Nevertheless, I persist

A deceptively serene Wisconsin River

P.S.

Special comment request, what do you think?

On The Move

We've had a glorious two days and another few in store before hellacious humidity and heat return. I guess it got so hot even the picnic tables took to the lake. 

If we move slowly, people will just accept it

Fishin' just off the WI River in Boscobel

The migration of picnic tables began back in May. Looks cool, doesn't it. I can almost hear it saying, "Ahhh."

Let's Call It Summer

Two 90˚ days in a row, oof. I took these on my way home today because I struck out on Saturday's drive to get popcorn. No photos worth posting, but they sure looked good in my head. My mother got her freshly popped plain corn and I got cherry cheesecake jellybean and two kinds of cheddar cheese.
Sour Cream Cheddar Cheese popcorn, it's what's for dinner.

It's too hot for captions

Lake Chocolat

Dancing With Dad

I've seen a lot of dancing lately, but this is my favorite.

Last Week Today

I got caught in a short dust storm, spent time in one of my favorite towns and stopped by one of the most mellow fests around. 

I think the dust kicked up from this field across from Peck's

The Swiss United Church of Christ in New Glarus. Wish I took an audio of its charming chimes

What IS that hooded figure reflected in the window? Hipster Cap Dude has no idea what evil lurks behind him

Experimenting with McCloskey silhouettes outside The Hop Garden