Is this Wonderland?

White. For now.
London, ON, December 2010

About this photo: We're closing out Thematic's transition theme (click here for a last-minute fix), and given the weather that's been repainting much of the landscape for so many of us this week, I thought it would be appropriate to revisit the winter that was - and apparently still is. Sooner or later, the great transition known as spring is inevitable. (New theme launches tomorrow eve.)

As you can see, Frasier is not the world's largest dog. Mind you, for a Miniature Schnauzer, he's somewhat outsized for the breed, taller and broader than most others we've seen. Yet another thing that sets him apart and makes him special.

His size works against him in conditions like this. Huge snowdrifts block his view and make it hard for him to leap into the snowpack - as he'll eagerly do when the packed snow doesn't tower over him. And when he does, it's quite the joy to watch him take it all in. He bounds through the white stuff like a jackrabbit, sticking his head deep down when he finds something he likes. You know he's really enjoying himself when the snorting reaches fever pitch. I like to stand there and just drink in his energy.

Around these parts and elsewhere, it's been a winter and then some. And the Twitterverse (and blogosphere, and Facebook planet, and...) have been rife with endless complaints about the weather. But as I hold the leash and feel him pull me along, I can't help but think that whining about the weather is a pretty useless practice. It is what it is, and nothing we do will change it. So why not be like Frasier and throw ourselves into it? Good question: Looks like my dog taught me something, after all.

Your turn: What else can animals teach us?

They'll always be puppies

Dog show
London, ON, July 2010/December 2010

Dogs can have friends, too. This picture is Exhibit A. Frasier's first dog-friend was, and is, the handsome, beyond-sweet fella on the left, better known as Hudson.

If I'm being kind, Frasier is not the world's best behaved dog. He barks incessantly when he first sees strangers on the street, and he can never be off-leash outside because we just don't trust him not to run off at the first sign of a jackrabbit or squirrel.

But when he meets his buddy, everything changes. They play hard, they occasionally growl at each other because, well, they're dogs. Then they work it out and bound off in another direction. Eventually, they tire each other out, so they'll take a quick nap before heading back to the serious business of play.

Hudson somehow gets Frasier. Communicates with him as richly as he does whoever he meets. Connects with everyone around him in ways that betray the fact that he's covered in fur, walks on four legs and doesn't speak English. Reminds you why anyone's life would be better if it had a dog in it, and why every day would be better if it started and ended with some dog time.

I don't think I've ever met a dog I don't like, but there's something in these two that gets me. It's a joy to watch them create their own little dog social network, because it reminds me that doing the same on the human side really should be just as simple and pure.

Your turn: Why do best friends matter?

Dognap

A sleeping dog lies
London, ON, September 2010

About this photo: This is one of my favorite photos of the year. Coincidentally, that's what Thematic is celebrating, too. Go here to share a fave of your own.

I don't write about our dog, Frasier, as often as I perhaps should. I don't mean to ignore him on the blog. Indeed, he's anything but ignored in the day-to-day life of our house. He's the centre of the kids' world, the object of their constant attention, and their absolute favorite reason for getting up, for coming home or just being themselves on the living room floor.

He's our fixture, our loyal buddy, the sweet-looking being who follows us around the house and never lets us forget how much we need him. I don't have a whole lot to add to this picture because this is him: Rested and content. I wish I could grab a little bit of his spirit for myself.

Your turn: The appeal of a pet dog. Please discuss.

Did you brush?

Waiting for her to finish
London, ON, September 2010

About this photo: Thematic Photographic celebrates family this week, and the furry being waiting for Dahlia to finish getting ready for bed is an integral part of our little family. If you've got a family-themed photo you'd like to share, please head over here.

Frasier is a remarkably social dog. He doesn't like being alone - we figure it's a response to his spending the first few months of his life locked in a cage and ignored for much of the day - so he follows us around the house and plunks himself close to us, often uncomfortably so, when we finally sit down.

It's actually the sweetest thing when he scrunches his little body into yours just to let you know he's there. We do, little buddy, and we're glad you like us. We like you, too. Lots.

Your turn: What do pets add to a family?

Thematic Photographic 105 - Family

A girl and her dog
London, ON, April 2010

I've chosen "family" as this week's Thematic Photographic theme because as time goes on, I realize little else matters beyond this. It's the one constant in most of our lives, the one foundation on which all the other good things - career, health, interests, etc. - are ultimately built. Many of us are lucky to be surrounded by strong families, while others, sadly, wish that could be the case.

Since I tend to wear the family thing on my sleeve, anyway, I thought it might be fun to explore it for the next week. As you both capture and choose which photos to share - and let's be clear, you're free to participate as often as you wish - please give some thought to the definition of family. Specifically, it doesn't always necessarily have to be someone directly related to you.

In this case, it's quite clear to anyone who knows us that the young lady on the right is a member of my immediate family. The furry being* our daughter is holding, on the other hand, has no genetic link to us whatsoever. Yet, Frasier has become an integral part of our family - and I'm sure you've got happy exceptions such as pets and friends who similarly qualify.

Your turn: Over the next week, pick a photo that relates to the family theme and post it to your blog or related site. Mosey on back here and paste a link into a comment here. Repeat as often as you'd like. Then feel free to visit other participants to share in the familial goodness. For more info on how Thematic Photographic works, please click here.

* There's a bit more method to my madness, as it's Frasier's 4th birthday today. He doesn't know it, of course, but I'm sure he's just as happy to receive even more hugs than usual from us, his human family.

Lesson from a four-legged friend

I've decided I rather like having a dog to come home to. Although my wife and kids are usually pretty consistent about hellos and goodbyes - my wife believes in making these moments special - there are times when the only greeter at the door has four legs and a soggy Schnauzer beard. When everyone in the house is too busy to get to the door, I can always count on our silver-furred hellion to attack the door until I can get it open. In the truest guard dog tradition, he'll bark and howl until he realizes it's me. Then he'll bore in, nubbin-of-a-tail wagging madly as he buries his head in my chest and snorts repeatedly.

I'm not quite sure what he hopes to accomplish in the process. I can hear all manner of sniffing going on, and all I can come up with is he's following his instinctive hunting dog's DNA as he tries to figure out where I've been, what I've done and who I've done it with.

Before long, I'll have to get on the floor because that just seems to make it so much easier to enjoy this wiggling ball of fur. It's always the same, and it never gets old. I think it's the unconditional nature of it all that makes moments like this worth holding on to. He'll be there, drooling and happy, no matter what kind of day he or I had. He doesn't temper his excitement for anything - the world revolves around the two of us for those few first moments on reconnectedness. He's happy simply because we're together.

I keep thinking there's a lesson here, and all I need to do is listen to him a little more closely. I think I need to be a little more like him - unconditional, in the moment, simply happy to be together, and to simply be - whoever I'm with.

Good dog, isn't he?

Can I play, too?

Waiting his turn
Richmond Hill, ON, February 2010

About this photo: We're remembering the winter that was, and I'm hoping you'll share a wintry scene of your own. Click here to participate in our weekly photo sharing insanity, Thematic Photographic.

All Frasier wanted was to be off his leash so he could bound up and down the snowy toboggan hill with his favorite folks. But since obedience isn't his strongest suit, and since my luck would result in the bylaw enforcement officer coming around the corner just as he'd be chasing the neighbor's dog back into the next zip code, I kept him leashed.

Every once in a while, the munchkins came back to him and made sure he didn't feel alone. Made me feel a little warmer on this frigid afternoon knowing the sharing gene was alive and well in all of them.

Your turn: What's he thinking?