Brandy in the Sun...

I think I'm getting into this dog portrait thing...

King of the World...

Our expired Christmas tree still lives on the deck and is a favorite of the red squirrels. They seems to covet the view from the top!

Morning Sun

The morning sun caught Brandy on our walk this morning...

Some days...

...are Vivaldi days or Yo-Yo Ma days or even weird Tom Waits days. Way too many days are Journey days. 


Today is a Keith Moon day.

I found this fantastic picture on the web of a very young Keith Moon preparing to change the world while simultaneously destroying himself. Let's go big on the first part and temper the second part today OK?

[Drum set kicked over. Cymbals shattered. Foot through the bass drum]

Snoozer Dog...

Brandy loves her bed - but she doesn't always stay in it...

Goodbye my sweet Prince

Turns out that Prince stopped in our lives just for one night and is now on to the next phase of his increasingly happy life. I took these shots - including one vaguely illustrating his "flippy walk" and another showing off his serpentine tail - just before he joined his new family.

Prince...

We have the opportunity to help another rescue dog named Prince! He has definitely had a very tough run but is getting along well with Brandy and is drinking up the attention.

Dancing Bears...

I seem to have a crush on our dog. Yes our dog - we're in the process of moving from fostering Brandy to adopting her. She is a wonderful addition to the household!

Roxy...

This little girl in need joined us last Friday night. Roxy is a terribly sweet girl and a good playmate for our Brandy.

The oeufes of color...

We were lucky enough to get this batch of fresh eggs recently. They were the most colorful non-Easter dozen of eggs I've ever seen.

Can't wait to eat them...

First balloon of the season...

... rolled past our place this morning. It was a new design (to us) with a single passenger. Opportunities like this always make me pine for a longer, better lens...

The Best Part ...

... of the trip to Gent was stopping in Antwerp to see our good friend Ewa. After picking me up at the amazing Antwerp train station...

She took me for a delicious beer at Elfde Gebod (The Eleventh Commandment) 

and then amazing mussels and frites at Stadscafé. 

Having such a good friend so far from home is a special thing indeed. Thanks Ewa!

Snow in Ghent

 On the last day in Ghent, it snowed. This happens infrequently - perhaps once a year - so the city is not particularly prepared for it. Things slow down and get a bit quieter; there are snowball fights and at least one little fellow getting towed down Zebrastraat on a sled.

Zebrastraat...

Is that a giant nail?

Arrival...

Ghent's Festival of Lights!

Ghent at night...

Here are a couple shots of Ghent's beautiful downtown area at night.


The Belfry of Ghent...

Here is Graslei Harbor...

Saint Nicholas's Church as a car drives by...

Dinner!

I don't know why I like this picture of our partially completed Beef Bourguignon so much...

But I do.

Sunrise...

The sun made a show of coming out on this dark and cloudy morning...

Snow...

Neighborhood street sign during a recent snow storm...