The fact there has been a plethora of bassets photographs recently is reflection of this renewed photographic energy.  But as much as I’m a loner and a home bird, I need to step out again and find some new photographic assignments that will capture my imagination and plan carefully for the opportunities of arising from the travel that is planned for later in the year.  This includes a trip to Queenstown which has some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in New Zealand, a few days in San Francisco, a few weeks in England and finally a few days in Tokyo which will I am sure will be an amazing sensory experience.  I also want to push myself a bit harder with my photography closer to home – literally here at Domestic Executive HQ and also within the Wellington region making the most of the luxury of time I have when I’m not working.

But for now, here’s a selection of a little photo shoot with Mason.  He was of course completely oblivious to my camera but instead being a wicked basset stealing the toy from Fortnum and playing on his own.   I love the wild abandon a dog can have rolling around with their legs in the air like nothing else mattered in the world (which of course to them it doesn’t). No doubt Little Basset can be a charmer when he wants and for a few seconds was happy to lie perfectly for a basset portrait before he became much more interested in another toy he could steal and play with!

For February Big Basset is looking philosophical in the beautiful evening sun.  You can see all the February Basset Photographs in the Basset Gallery.

The light has not always been that beautiful over this summer but it doesn’t stop me pointing my camera or iPhone at my resident clowns.  Here’s a couple from last week which I have moved to my “get printed folder”.  They sum of the distinctly different characteristics of our bassets.

Mason 

Fortnum

For the last three years I’ve inflicted a selection of basset photographs on my nearest and dearest in the form of a calendar either as a desk calendar or a wall calendar.  I of course have both in my office and their cheer me up every time I look at them.  I’ve been very late in getting into production this year but they have all finally arrived and I can now stop getting confused about the days and dates of the week by looking at last year’s by mistake.

It was only yesterday it dawned on me that this was a form of publishing my photographs.  I’ve failed miserably in getting any of my photographs printed and framed despite the fact we have a long corridor in the house which is a perfect gallery area.  Now I feel so much better about this although still determined that I have at least 12 framed photographs on the wall by the end of this year.  Preferably all of them not basset hounds.

I thought I’d share each month the photographs in the calendar and start a new photo gallery for all basset blogging lovers who kindly stop by and read this blog.

Yee Haw!

Mason (aka Little Basset)

Paddling

Fortnum (aka Big Basset)

Such laziness is fine for the bassets since every day is a holiday to them.  But our holiday is officially over today as his Lordship headed off to the big smoke for his first day back at work.  I do have the luxury of more time off work.  I do however see this extended period of “holiday” more as forced unemployment as there is little or no demand for my professional services so I take the time to work on projects around the house.  It’s also a great time for the annual life laundry – cleansing the office, the cupboards and finding some time to fill in the details around my work plans.  I’m also working on some personal project ideas that I want to bring to life.

One thing I am looking forward to over the coming weeks is getting a routine back for the bassets and I to exercise.  Whilst there has been no shortage of walks and physical activity I love this time of year for early morning romps when it’s cool, the light is at it’s most beautiful and I have sufficient time and energy to get into my running groove again.  I’m also tempted to dust off my bike once more and head to the trails as an antedote to all the seemingly constant munching that goes on when you’re in holiday mode.

This is precious time that I really appreciate even if I do feel guilty that my poor husband has to get back into the corporate grind.  I know that he’d rather be at home with us having fun and hanging out.  So this post is for him to give him a smile on his first day back.  A little of what his beloved bassets will be up to whilst he’s earning the necessary funds to keep them in the style he has accustomed them to!

It was a real pleasure to catch the last of the sunshine as they took an evening perambulation to sniff the evening breeze and take a few snaps.  Fortnum is of course the most obliging of models although for a dog that spends most of his time looking regal it’s not hard.  Little Basset however played his camera shy role to perfection.  Making every effort to hide either in the grass or behind his brother.

We had a quiet and restful Christmas enjoying the views shifting only to replenish the table and hold a round robin of telephone calls with family in the northern hemisphere as we all moved through the Christmas Day in our respective time zones.  Hope you all enjoyed your own moments of golden sunshine over the special day.

Fortnum crashing on the cool grass

Mason doing his crocodile impression in the grass.  Ready to make a surprise attack on the camera

Not quite the look at me pose I was hoping for

Big Basset at his regal best!

Our neighbors dogs are constantly at the vets being stitched up after doing battle with wild pigs. Our pampered pooches don’t live such dangerous lives but their health and well being is a constant worry.  With so many long dangly bits and wide open eyes, it’s hardly surprising that they will be in the wars occasionally.  Once again Fortnum has been up to his fearless Basset tricks and injured himself after hooning down the garden breaking ground speed records for a dog on legs six inches in length.  I didn’t see the actual moment that has caused him such distress but I suspect that it involved misjudged cornering on the slopes or wild acrobatics trying to outdo his much more agile brother.

He’s clearly pulled/strained/injured something in his hind quarters although the vet has not ruled out an injury to his back.  So he’s on enforced rest and banned from all manner of garden antics.  But when one basset suffers so does the other as Mason is left without a playmate.  These hounds are inseparable most of the time and over time have developed a natural synchronicity which always amuses me. On a recent stroll I was able to capture the spirit of these mischievous hounds.

For once I was able to capture Mason in action although there was still a fair amount of camera avoidance going on which is not that helpful when the deadline is looming for the production of our 2012 Basset calendar.

Basset synchronicity.

It always makes me laugh how Fortnum can go from hangdog hound to hunting hound in just a split second.

Best foot forward Mason

Their routines are now severely disrupted as I head up north to the homeland, the UK.  They won’t have had any idea that their little lives were to be so disrupted.  But these hounds are fickle in their affections and after a manic sniff around to trace my scent and reassured themselves that I am not in fact in residence they will then have settled down on the sofa as if nothing had really changed.

Meals will still arrive. Walks will still be had.  Sniffing will continue and play dates with their day care kennel buddies will carry on as usual.  I’m sure that the fact that I’m missing from most of these adventures will not bother them at all.  I will of course miss my constant companions and our routine.

I shall miss that pitter patter of podgy paws around the place.  The head spins that blast out slobber.  Most of all I’ll miss that constant whine, howl or bark that would otherwise drive me crazy and they crave my affection.

By the miracles of internet technology I’ve just done video conferencing home from the transit lounge in LAX.  As if to prove my point the bassets weren’t interested at all in talking to me.  Much more interested in looking out the window and enjoying the sunshine which seems to be bathing Wellington.  I’m off now for a cup of what the American’s call coffee (although does not resemble our NZ brews) before re-boarding the plan onwards to London.  Another chance to become reacquainted with my laptop entertainment centre.  Or, perhaps my Kindle.  Or my book.  Oh the choices are almost limitless.  Isn’t modern travel marvellous!

There is something comforting to know that across the acres there are neighbours close to hand to help if need be.  Where animals are concerned there is much reciprocal dog or chicken minding.  It’s a lifeline if you ever want to get away for a short spell.  Admittedly the bassets are such high maintenance we’ve yet to inflict them long term on anyone.  Mostly because security is crucial – a basset proof fence if essential if you’re to keep the tracking hounds within the confines of property.  The basset of my childhood was an escapologist extraordinaire who regularly tunnelled her way out of the garden to romp across the farmers fields only to return home hours later having rolled in something unspeakable.  Thankfully Fortnum and Mason are too lazy to make that much effort although I wouldn’t want to put their cunning to the test.

This weekend we have a canine house guest.  The neighbour’s dog is Abbie who happily puts up with the bassets bully boy tactics and will run and run with Fortnum until eventually he slumps with exhaustion.  She wrestles too in the most gentle way although when it comes to snacks there is no holding back, she knows she’ll make it before either of the dwarf dogs ever do.  Abbie is an outdoor dog though so it’s always a wrench for me to close the door on her as the bassets head indoors to take up residence on their comfy blanket.  She seems happy enough though to laze on the veranda and settles happily in the barn to sleep.

We’ve come to learn that labradors have huge amounts of energy.  Abbie is the perfect running companion happily jogging along with me in ways that is impossible with the bassets. In fact, she’s pretty much the perfect house guest.  Undemanding, aside from regular belly rubs.  The basset hounds could learn a bit about manners from her.  Not sure whether that’s a basset thing or a boy thing!

True, it was a little unsettling to find out that foodie tweeter I follow turned out to be a member of staff of one of my favourite clients. That’s an occupational hazard in a place like New Zealand where everyone knows everyone with around two degrees of separation rather than the usual six. And yes, I still swop tweets with this said person who is a remarkably savvy foodie who blogs some amazing self developed recipes that I would never think of in a million years. As a rule I find tweeters and bloggers enthusiastic and social people who like to share.  Not just links and information but their knowledge, ideas and encouragement.

Photographers are some of the most prolific online social networkers and I would never have progressed so far with my photography so quickly without consuming terabytes of photographic geekery and artistry.  From time to time you find someone online who you can relate to.  I lurked (read silently without comment) on the blog of a remarkable woman, Sabrina Henry,  who like me was learning photography for a long time before I finally left a comment.  Over time we’ve swopped tweets and I’ve continued to be touched by her candid tales of being a photographer.

A few weeks ago Sabrina asked if I’d be prepared to be “interviewed” for her blog.  Although it took an age for me to select a photograph and respond to her questions, I am honoured to have been featured on her blog The Chronicles of Learning.  If you’re a photographer in training (aren’t we all) I’m sure you’ll be touched by Sabrina’s generous nature and infectious enthusiasm for photography.  You can also follow her on twitter.

What started as a way to keep family and friends in touch with our lives in New Zealand, blogging has now become part of my life opening up a new window on the world that is as interesting and fun with the added benefit that you can pretty much keep up your relationships in the digital world as and when you want. And it gives you a topic to debate with friends in the real world!