Two Small Stars

Recent competitions (August 2023) in the Animals-Dogs category at Pixoto resulted in my two small stars being rewarded with first, second, and third place finishes.

Paste the URL at the top of the AWARDS sheet to see more about Pixoto and photography competitions.

A Dachshund-Schnauzer mix, Breezi (ABOVE) currently remains my latest adopted pal (since 2017) and likes to show off outdoors. A red only camera setting resulted in her picture here, and it also won a first place showing at Pixoto on a different date.

Breezi-Girl

(BELOW) More of Cee-Cee

Cee-Cee was a Terrier-Basenji mix gifted with many winning expressions and a very curly tail. She was my little darling as an adoptee from 2010 to 2017. One other of her photographs also placed categorically first at Pixoto. In addition, she won first place in a local parade of dogs contest.

Smiley Girl

My two small stars have been the typically named bundles of joy in my life after human offspring flew the coop.

Got a pet? Share a story !

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Credit:
Photographs from the personal and copyrighted collection of Barbara Anne Helberg

See more of the author’s Stories and Photographs at:
My Writing Life Xposed

BAT Publishing Stories

Barb’s Photo Gallery

Tuckered Out…

All peanut butter tuckered out, and in her dreams…

See the full story of Cee-Cee’s peanut butter adventure, by Barbara Anne Helberg, at the next post (BELOW):

Got Any More of This Stuff, Mom?

“Hmmm…Hmmm…Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Mom! So good!”

 

 

“Mom that stuff’s great! What’s it called again?”

“That’s peanut butter, Dumplin'”

“Got any more?”

“Manners, please. What do good girls say?”

“Please. Plleeaasseee?”

“What a good girl…

but I’m afraid I’m not done with this one, yet.”

“Are you sure, Mom?”

A FEW DAYS LATER:

“Hmmmmmmmmm…Hmmmm…Hmmm…

This one’s different, Mom, but just as good! Hmmm…You’re the best, Mom!”

All peanut butter tuckered out, and in her dreams…”Hmmm…Hmmm. Wake me up when there’s more, Mom. Hmmmm…”

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Credits:
Story and Photos from the personal and copyrighted collection of Barbara Anne Helberg

National Mutt Day

In honor of US National Mutt Day, here is my adopted sweetie-pie, Cee-Cee, also known as BUCKEYE TUT-HUT-NUT-MUTT at http://www.chickensoupforbuckeyes.wordpress.com :

 

Cee-Cee came to live forever with me in October of 2010. She was in a foster home after being removed from a shelter one day away from her meeting with the Needle Man.

God bless those willing to act as foster parents for the sake of getting more dogs permanently adopted. Bonnie and Dale saved Cee-Cee for me!

Cee-Cee says, “Thanks, everyone, for giving me a second chance! Love you, Mom!”

Not Quite…

“Hi, Mom! Want me to hold still for a picture?”

“Yes, Sweetie-pea.”

“That picture felt kind of sticky, Mom…

but I know you really just want to make my eyes turn green with that flash!”

“Not quite. I really wanted to get a shot of that ‘Miss Dole’ sticker on your head, my little angel.”

“Mom…”

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Credit: Photos from the personal and copyrighted collection of Barbara Anne Helberg

 

FishEyes

“Mom. Really? A FishEye lens view of me?”

“Ha, ha, ha! Very funny, Mom!”

“What, Cee-Cee? Sarcasm? It’s a riot! You do look very funny!”

“Well, sure, right. So… Give the camera to me for a minute…”

Out of Control

During a walk around the neighborhood, Cee-Cee suddenly stopped to take a look at these cuddle-balls:

She thought they were cute.

“Hey, Mom, those guys are cute, aren’t they?”

“They certainly are.”

“Bet they’d like to go for a walk like me.”

“I’m sure they would.”

“Wow! Mom, they’re getting a bit excited, aren’t they?”

“Well, I’m sure they’re jealous of your getting out for a walk.”

“Yeah, but…

they are starting to take it a little bit too far…”

“Yes, they’re very excited, all right.”

“Mom. Excited? They’re out of their minds, out of control!”

“I think you’re right. Should we call ‘animal control’?”

“Mom. Don’t be clever.

Really. Mom. Do I ever act like that?”

“No. You are much too under control for that!”

“Thanks, Mom. You’re the best, too!”

Coming Through

“Coming through, Mom!”

“Can we go outside now, Mom? Are you too busy?”

“You’re so good to me, Mom! Here’s a Haiku poem for you, from me!”

*** Through the silver gate
inside the dog park off leash,

to romp with best friends ***

Westminster Welcomes Mixed Breed Category

“Hey, Cee-Cee, look here!”

“What are you reading, Mom?”

“You’ll never guess!”

“Try me. My mind is supple, you know.”

“This year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is allowing mixed breeds into a special category!”

“Hee, hee, hee! Well, it’s about time!”

“The world keeps changing, for sure!”

“Hey, Mom! Can we go? I’m a Defiance Crescent-News Pet Parade winner, you know!”

“Oh, little girl dumplin’, I know. And you won Best Curly Tailed at the Bark for a Park event, as well. But this involves travel costs and registrations and agility competition, events for which we’ve never trained you.”

“Oh.”

“I know. Bummer. But we can watch on TV –”

“That’ll be cool. Hey, who are the new dudes this year?”

“Hmm… Let me look. Well, Rat Terriers –”

“Huh! Hey, I’m terrier –”

“But you are a Border Terrier m –”

“Border Terriers compete!”

“Purebred Border Terriers, little girl dumplin’. You are part Border Terrier.”

“Oh. Yeah. What’s that other part again?”

“Basenji — the non-barker with the –”

“Curly tail.”

“Right!”

“Okay. Who else is new?”

“It says the Portuguese podengo pequeno –”

“Wow!”

“Yes! I agree! And the Chinook.”

“What’s that?”

“He’s the New Hampshire state dog, a sled puller.”

“Geez, Mom. You always say I could pull a sled.”

“Well, you could, too, but this event is just not your cup of bones.”

“Well, I’ll get a new chewy bone when we watch on TV, won’t I?”

“You surely will!”

“With peanut butter.”

“Of course…”

“Okay, then. As long as I’m with you, Mom. Yum, this old chewy is still pretty good.”

Cee-Cee Watches the World Series

From 1972 to 1980, I lived in the state of Vermont, USA. A baseball fan, I found a companion who also loved the sport, and we took trips with my two children to Boston, Massachusetts, to watch the Boston Red Sox play ball!

This year, (2013), the Red Sox made it to the World Series and won that title for the third time since 2004. Unfortunately, those titles all came after I was long gone from Vermont and living back in my native Ohio!

However, my little faithful “lapper” rescue, Cee-Cee, was my fellow rooter as I watched this year’s Series. She really enjoyed it, so I let her give her version of how it all went for our Red Sox!

“C’mon, Mom! It’s starting!”

“Hmmm…What’s happening now, Mom?”

“Mom, this is kind of a slow-type of ball-playing game, isn’t it?”

“Sooo slooow!”

“Mom, why do they call it the World Series? These teams are from Boston and St. Louis in the USA.”

“Okay, I see. He got a hit. Drew…”

“No, I’m awake. Promise…”

“What? A home run! We’re way ahead now, aren’t we? Six to zero!”

“It’s almost over!? One more pitch?!”

“Wow, Mom, they’re all over the field! They’re celebrating, aren’t they? That means they won, right? World Champions! Wow!”

“This is sooo exciting… Zzzzzzzzzzz… Wha’ ?? Yeah… Zzzzzzz… Glad they won, Mom… Zzzzzzzzzzz…”