I just got my new flip video mino and love it! Of course Emmett had to be the subject of my very first movie (poor guy - he just wants to rest!).

My husband, Brian Ng, is an amazing wedding photographer. He recently re-launched his photo blog and has some really cool pics of a recent wedding at AT&T Park in the city. He also posted images from a photojournalism intensive workshop that he attended in Texas. If you’re a dog lover, take a peek! He was assigned to shoot dog agility classes and he captured several cute pups in action.

It’s hard to believe that there’s just two more days until Christmas. This year just flew by! I’m looking forward to celebrating the holidays with my family.

Every year since we adopted our dog Emmett, Brian and I have made holiday cards featuring our favorite pooch. We think it’s adorable. We’re not too sure what Emmett thinks of all these antics!

If you’d like to catch up on our annual Emmett holiday card you can get your fill of the last five years… 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, and 2002.

I haven’t done a pencil sketch in many years, so it was cool to try my hand at it again. Especially with one of my favorite subjects, my dog Emmett. Brian is always taking great photos of Emmett (he’s very photogenic - it must be that “eye liner!”). This sketch is from a photo that Brian took last year.

[tags]National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo, Art Every Day Month, dogs[/tags]

This afternoon, I took a long walk with my dog Emmett to destress from the week. We hiked through the redwoods of Joaquin Miller Park which is just up the road from my house. Actually, I let Emmett walk me. (Brian does this sometimes when he’s curious to see where Emmett will go.) I thought that it would be a good exercise in slowing down.

Dogs live so in the moment. What a great lesson for me as I’m usually in the past or future. My dog loves to follow his nose. He experiences his surroundings by smelling every nook and cranny. Under leaves, in-between branches, through blades of grass.

At first I was frustrated at how he would stop at what seemed like every tree stump to poke his nose around. Then, I noticed that as I slowed down with him… I could hear bugs buzzing about. The cool, damp air brushed against my skin. Different shades of greenery and textures popped out of the trees. I was experiencing the beautiful forest around me. I relaxed into it.

Blog ideas about my walk insights bubbled up (always planning ahead!). I just noticed and let it pass. Instead, I focused on how curious Emmett was. How he seemed to instinctively enjoy going wherever the scent took him.

When I was ready to turn around, I’d get impatient when Emmett was just sniffing around for what looked like no apparent reason. Again, I just noticed and stopped walking or slowed down behind him.

On our way back, I bumped into someone I had just met last night at a gathering to explore the concept of accountability and support groups for projects. If I’d been intent on having my walk be my workout for the day (with Emmett merely tagging along), I might not have recognized this new person. I would’ve probably just zoomed right by.

I have Emmett to thank for a wonderfully refreshing walk in the woods and, more importantly, for reminding me to follow my nose and to relish in the simple pleasures of each present moment. It’s the journey, not the destination.

[tags]dogs, hiking, Joaquin Miller Park[/tags]

Today we docked in Skagway, an old gold rush town that was once full of brothels. Brian and I strolled the quaint main road in the morning. Since we weren’t really into buying furs or jewelry, Brian shots some photos of the town while I got in some quick painting.

In the afternoon we headed off to our musher’s camp and sled dog adventure. I’d been looking forward to seeing the pups all day!

The chorus of dog barks reverberated from the musher’s camp as we approached the entry way. Although we didn’t do the grand tour that takes you on a helicopter to see the dogs on a glacier, I still enjoyed the carriage ride through the woods. These working dogs, eager to run, jumped in the air raring to go. According to our guides, they are pound for pound as strong as horses and getting pulled along the trail by 16 Alaskan huskies, we could sure feel their power.

At the camp, one musher hailing from Massachusetts shared with us his tales of 140-mile a day runs with his dogs. His passion for these pups really came through and it was cool to hear about his experiences out on the tundra.

And then of course, the moment I had been waiting for… the chance to cuddle with puppies! I got to hold a really adorable Huskie/hound pup who really loved chewing my scarf, jacket and even earrings! What a cutie.

This picture is of a young dog named Silver. I’ve been studying how Brian shoots pictures of Emmett!

[tags]travel, Alaska, cruise, Skagway, dogs[/tags]