On Saturday I had the privilege of participating in a Raptor photo shoot put on by the Cape Fear Raptor Center. The fee for attendance went directly towards funding the center which rehabs raptors from the area and all over the state. Unfortunately there are birds that are unable to return to the wild but life is not over for them. They become ambassadors for the center and are used for educational purposes and on occasion brought out to photo shoots.
The event had three raptors. Archie the Great Horned Owl pictured here, Nev a one eyed Red Shouldered Hawk and a juvenile Eastern Screech Owl whose name I don’t remember. Prepare to be inundated with bird photos!
We have had a good deal of rain over the past two days thanks to a storm sitting off the coast. Oshie hasn’t been able to go outside very much thanks to rain and has been getting restless and who could blame him. He needs to make sure his marked spots around the yard still smell like him. Well today when I arrived home from work it was not raining and this meant Oshie would get some time outside.
I came in, said hello and let the poor boy out. I turned my back on him and headed to the mailbox to see what bills we received (because mail is always bills right). When I turned back around Oshie was sitting in the yard staring at me and he looked noticeable darker and possibly wet. Once I got closer it was clear that he had rolled around in the wet grass. What was funny to me was the face he was making and the fact that he was sitting there waiting for me. He knew that I would have something to say about it. So I took a little video of a lighthearted scolding. The guilty face made me laugh.
He loves water and he loves rolling around in the grass so I guess I can’t blame him for capitalizing on the opportunity when it presented itself.
Many people have a certain list of things that they like to do before they hit the sack. I like to make sure all lights are off, doors are locked, thermostats set and teeth brushed. Oshie has a ritual too. Parts of his ritual are cute and others are down right deplorable. Like a child, Oshie has a favorite blankie. The blanket is one that we have had for him since the day we brought him home. Every evening when it is time to go to bed, Oshie waits by the door to go outside. Once he is done marking the bushes for the millionth time he comes in and heads upstairs. Next he grabs his favorite blankie and brings it to the side of our bed. He then waits to be told to jump up ( yes he is completely spoiled and is allowed on the bed). Next is the part that is not so cute.
From the very first day we brought Oshie home at 7 weeks old he has been fascinated with blankets and towels. After the bath we gave him that first night home our innocent 7 week old puppy tried to hump the towel we dried him off with. It was cute and funny back then. Well he still has the same fetish for towels and blankets and while it can still be somewhat funny it is no longer as cute. So after he is told he can get on the bed he jumps up with his blanket and well, he tries to hump his favorite blankie.
He loves that blanket in more ways than one and it has taken more abuse than a blanket should. Here is a short video from last nights bedtime ritual.
What would we do without it? Well our parents got along fine without it so I am sure we would too. Thankfully we do have it and it makes life easier and provides plenty of entertainment. It also has the power to make your dog popular in Japan and Taiwan. I am sure those that regularly check out the blog remember the video I posted of Oshie excited to see his mom after she returned from 2 months in Norway. Well that video has somehow managed to get 120,000 views on YouTube with 57% coming from Japan and 26% from Taiwan.
Screen Grab of the Analytics for the video.
I even had a Taiwanese news outlet ask for permission to share it on their site. If you don’t remember the video here it is again.
Ahh the power of the internet ha-ha. Oshie is YouTube famous…kind of… in Japan and Taiwan. 🙂
Here are just a few photos from our trip to the Biltmore Estate that I never got around to posting. I wish I had taken some more time with camera settings to prevent the blown out skies that were hard to recover. The overcast conditions didn’t help much either but I will chalk it up as a lesson learned. I need to slow myself down and think about a shot before I take it. Needless to say, the house and grounds are impressive.
View of the House from the Rampe DouceA statue in the Italian Garden next to the House.Nigella in the lower garden.Arboretum.Bass Pond Waterfall with a slower shutter speed to smooth the water.
Jesse
Nancy
Oshie's World 
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