New Beginnings

This past year had been a time to regroup, to think about the direction of my life, to simplify, to say goodbye to portions of my life that were dragging me down, not lifting me up.  I went into a bit of a hibernation, gathered what was important to me, said no to the things that didn't make me feel good.  I am changing the direction of the journey, moving on.
I am thankful for 2011, for the chance to reevaluate and nourish myself, I am excited and hopeful for what 2012 has to offer, a new year, a new start. The world is always changing and reinventing itself...do you feel it?  Are you open to it?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Lovely

We love the wood stove, couldn't be happier to have it in our home.  If we throw a couple of good sized logs on before bedtime there is a nice bed of embers ready to spark up a new fire in the morning.  Which is exactly what I did on this very frigid AM.
My guys have always worshiped the heat provided by our space heaters, they quickly discovered the beautiful warmth of the wood stove.  I have a steamer on top of the stove that I fill with water to add humidity to our dry winter air.  Yesterday Mick commented on the lack of static electricity this year, seems the steamer and the limited use of the forced air oil furnace is the reason, much to the relief of my dogs, nothing worse then coming for a cuddle and getting a static electricity shock from your owner.

Merry Christmas to All

And to all a good night.
See everyone in the New Year.

What tha???

Get that big red dude outta here!!!!!!!!

Regardless of what everyone said about Santa Claus, Olive knew there was just something weird and not be be trusted about an old fat dude, sporting a fake beard, a red elf suit and trying to get her to sit on his lap......

Searching for photos of Christmas Elves

Tidus and Santa

I am starting to receive Christmas photos from owners.  You all know how I love funny, silly, cute, hilarious photos of Schnauzers.  If you have one of our Standard Schnauzers do share your Christmas photos and I will continue to add to our list of Christmas elves.
Heck, even if you have a Standard Schnauzer from another breeder send it in and we will get it up on the Blog.  Ho ho ho  don't you feel the Schnauzer Woe :-)

Pecos & Poppy sporting festive antlers

 Doc & Suede

 Lenny and his girls

Dexter's Visit with Santa

Charlie looking like a Christmas Angel

Molly under the Christmas tree

Quito poses with festive winter friends

 Quito again as the reluctant Elf

Poppy, Quito's sister and just as reluctant

The dapper Finn

East Coast Elves Jessie & Raven

Jazz and Guinness

Kodie smiles for the camera

A woody trail

This morning we set off to a Provincial Park that is about 20 minutes from us.  It is crazy busy in the summer and we go out of our way to avoid it, but Fall & Winter is fantastic.  Mostly we ran into others enjoying the breezy frosty morning with their dogs.

Mick poses with Mersey and Beamish

"Put the camera down and hurry up before we lose them"

"Follow ME! said the wood-sprite"

The Lighthouse looked gorgeous this morning

Canada and our winters

Rantings from one of my favorite Canadians, Rick Mercer. Ya gotta laugh eh?

Oh my, can schnauzers even compete with this?

The cutest Holiday video ever! Below, how they created the magic.

Cross that off my to-do list

Twenty-six individual doggie 'bunny' dinners done!

If you check in on my blog occasionally you may have seen my postings about the addition of rabbits to help supplement the dogs diet.  Really pleased with the results, its wonderful to know that I am supplementing my dogs with well raised fresh meats. 

 The occasional rabbit has also made it to our dinner table, yes it's true, once you get over the whole fluffy bunny thing, healthy garden fresh rabbit makes an amazing dinner.

Hurry Hurry get your Calendars!

Update-Looks like I am out of calendars, dropped a few into the mail today, and the rest will go as payment arrives, should have them all to those that requested one by the end of the month.  Hope everyone enjoys them.

I have 2012 Calendars! They are lovely, glossy quality photos, composed of photos that have appeared on the Blog as well as some that I have never posted. Calendar 'open' dimension from top to bottom is 17" and 11" wide.  In the photo above August is shown open so you can visualize the finished product.
Photos include Pups, Golden Oldies both Black Schnauzers and Pepper & Salt Schnauzers, ears natural and cropped.  No Show photos, just beautiful shots of Standard Schnauzers doing what Schnauzers do best, being our pets.

I have a couple that I have pre-printed, I could pop them in the mail immediately if you would like one by Christmas.  I can also order more if I get enough requests and have in the mail in the New Year, so long as I receive your request within the next two weeks.

*CORRECTION* error on original invoicing, sorry.  Price is $20 including postage & envelope for Canadian orders, $21.50 to send to USA.

Calendars are $25 (see above for price correction) that includes postage & envelope in Canada, haven't worked out a cost to the USA but could get a price if anyone south of the border is interested.

I am not looking to go into the publishing business, just thought a few folks that visit the blog, or have Dinsdale dogs themselves might enjoy a purely 'Standard' Schnauzer Calendar for their walls.  If there is no response then I will not order anymore for printing.  So let me know soon! :-))

Email me at dinsdale@eagle.ca for details....Oh and for fun, the first 2 people to contact me will get a free Calendar :-)  Only Canadian or USA eligible for the free calendar fun offer.

Dawn

Rosehips and raindrops

Sweet, sweet and sweet

 Yep, she's back on the blog, the sweetest schnauzer ever, Hazel.  Dogs present us with so many different personalities and Hazel has been, since puppyhood, the most sweet natured schnauzer I have owned.  She isn't confrontational, not particularly cheeky, she isn't dominant (which doesn't necessarily make her a wuss) she is respectful (probably a bit too much so with some of the older girls) funny and playful, wonderful when we have young pups in the house, she has always been super trustworthy with pups and small dogs.  The only time I see her *bitchy* side is when she is in season, the noises she can produce when a boy even looks at her, well lets just say it seems to cool their advances pretty damn fast.
Here are some photos taken today of the worlds sweetest schnauzer.

 

 

OK Olive you are Super Yummy Sweet too

  Hmmm....Daisy??  OK, ok, today you are number three on the Sweetness Scale

Tis the season to be.....

                                               ......happy???  I picked up a bunch of seasonal hats & scarfs to dress the dogs up for some seasonal fun photos.   Hope promptly laid down on the sofa and asked me to kill her quick before she died of embarrassment.  Anyone that tells you dogs do not have a sense of self, show them these photos of Hope.

"I can't even bring myself to look at you, grumble grumble"

"I suggest you not turn your back on me..just saying"

Monday wanderings

 Sunday was spent clearing all the garden beds and putting them to sleep for winter.  I ventured out with my garden shears afterwards to continue with the task of trying to keep the wild perimeter of the property from it's never ending attempt to swallow up the land.  I chopped and pulled a ton of wild grape ivy from the now leafless branches of the trees it is trying to consume. Once done I putting the cuttings to use wrapping and weaving them into rustic garden wreaths.

 

We have an old Balsam at the side of the driveway that needs to be removed, I have a feeling that if we don't have someone come in to take it down, soon the winter elements may do it for us.  The moss and lichen growing on it are very beautiful to photograph.

Sunlight and Schnauzers

 To make up for my lack of photos this week, a flurry of random schnauzer shots taken today