There’s nothing better than a stationery basset for a spot of photography practice although they tend to not look their most attractive when they are being laid back and cosy.  I have to take all opportunities to capture their cuteness so I can look at the photographs and smile again and again.  One such opportunity arose right in the middle of eating dinner this week and I had my camera to hand from some food photography (more on that later) so I grabbed the opportunity to capture my monkeys – one cool and restful and the other ready to pounce.  I’ll give you one guess which basset was adopting which pose.

Got it?

Yes, Fortnum being out laid back snoozy Big Basset and his partner in crime trying out a new begging pose.

This picture of Mason shoes the real dilemma basset owners face.  A hound with cute capacity in spades offset by untidy wrinkles and masses of slobber.

Photography fanatic note:

I wished I’d had a higher aperture and got more of his nose and paws in focus instead of just capturing his eyes with my 35mm f/1.8.  Needless to say little basset didn’t sit still long enough to make the adjustments to the camera.  But I like this picture because it emphasises the devilish thought behind those eyes.  In Fortnum’s picture I like the fact that their is a very shallow depth of field it expresses his dreamy like state but keeping his nose fully operational in case there is an edible treat heading his way.

One of the biggest benefits of upgrading my camera is that I can now take photographs in low light conditions but I’m still trying to master the full capabilities of the camera.  It’s a darn sight harder than guessing a basset hounds next move.  For I knew the moment I’d point my camera at little basset he’d turn his face away from me.  Nevertheless I like this picture of Mason for it’s dark mystery as to what he’s plotting next.

You can also count on little basset leading the way when it comes to walks.  Up front drawing attention to himself whilst Fortnum lingers behind in his own little world.

There is no doubt about they’ll behave when it comes to sniffing – moving from one tree to the next checking each one out.

Fortnum’s predictable move includes his preference to wait at the top of hills and slopes so that the coast can be clear for him to run down as fast as his little legs will carry him.

Mason prefers to use higher ground to just get a better spot to cast his evil eye!

Those wrinkles betray deep thinking every time.

Today I thought I was reliving the nightmare of losing my hounds.  Or to be precise hound.  I had little basset at my heal but all of a sudden I realised that big basset wasn’t there.  He was gone.

Since I got back from being in Auckland the hounds have been a handful.  I have come to appreciate that this is payback time for going away and leaving them.

Two days in a row little basset has taken himself off to roll in something disgusting.  And I mean disgusting.  Unpalatable, smelly, gag inducing disgusting things.  The sort of things that leave him first sitting on the veranda and then being hauled into the shower to clean off the grossness.  Mason does of course have previous experience of rolling around in grossness.  This week he has surpassed himself.  As has big basset.

For Fortnum has taken to disappearing.  I know that he is secure in our backyard with full fencing so there is no way out.  But this has not stopped me worrying when he has extended sniffing adventures.  Also, he has previous crimes around the chicken house that make me much more cautious about him being away from the house on the own.  Despite my worst fears he has just taken to sniffing holes and probably a few gross things that I’d rather not think about. But today he disappeared out on our walk and once again my heart was in my mouth.

Trying hard not to panic that my basset might have wandered off I looked around again.  And there he was, lost against the background of dead fern leaves.  Waiting patiently for Mason and I to join him along the path.  There is no doubt that he was up to no good – there is nothing like an innocent basset when it comes to disappearing, even if he has just merged into the background rather than being lost.

I don’t know how long it will take before the bassets realise I’m back home.  Also, that when I do go away I’m coming back and there is absolutely no need to punish me quite like they have this week.  You’ve got to love them though – except when they are covered in unmentionable things.

With the weather forecast to be wet and windy we made tracks early today for our basset jaunt.  Enough time for sniffing and hanging around to stare at others in the park.  But after a while such delaying tactics can become frustrating but no sense in trying to hurry a basset when they’ve made their mind up that they are tired and just want an easy stroll. Mason was intent on inspecting almost every blade of grass and didn’t take kindly to being interupted.

Fortnum was intent on taking it easy at every opportunity.  Any excuse to yawn, sit and draw attention to himself until his master dished out the requisite amount of love and attention.

But the thing with basset hounds is that they are fickle creatures as well.  Especially when it comes to choosing friends – usually they pick the one with the treats in their hand or stamina to give out neck or belly rubs.  They can also go from dead slow and stop on a walk to sprinting in the blink of an eye.  One minute they are dragging their heels behind you and next they’re off.

They can go from a standing start like this…..

To coming at you like a steam train with all their wrinkles blowing in the wind.

It can be an unsettling experience as they come closer to you at top basset speed.

But such exertions don’t last for long.  A basset is built for stamina not speed.  And our big basset can suffer after chasing the leaner, meaner and generally more agile little bassets.

Yes, our big basset was pooped.  Ready to flop.  Which of course he did.  Nothing like the snores of a tired basset to remind you of the entertainment just gone.

Shame he’s looking a little fed up too.  Can’t blame him though it’s been increasingly miserable weather-wise and pottering outside in saturated ground isn’t much fun even for an exploring basset. Or maybe he’s just thinking serious thoughts – like how can I get an extra treat or get pole position on the window seat.  I would love to know what a basset hound really thinks. I’m sure if they really spoke they’d have a few things to say in response to people they met for the first time – “hey dude, you’re tall, you’ve got a big nose and how come you don’t have a tail”.

For all their idiosyncrasies the bassets do have the right idea about life – best foot forward, whatever the weather and state of the economy.

Big basset is still on short measure of walking on account of his strained leg but it doesn’t stop him hooning like a loony tune down the garden.  I know I’m biased but he really is a handsome hound who loves life outdoors.  He’s always looking out for something new and interesting to keep him amused.  Most importantly he’s always keeping a close eye on his pesky brother who may have found something he should rightfully have.

He is such a determined little chap to claim the ultimate prize, he rarely looks me in the eye when I have the camera for fear of undermining his moment of superiority.  He has been a terrorist in our camp this week, testing my patience to the limit.  Those long and luxurious ears seem to have lost the power of hearing although his howl is as strong and demanding as it ever was.

Yet Mason is our smart basset.  If you could measure a bassets IQ I’d say Little Basset would be in Mensa, a dog that would pass his 11 plus exam with flying colours.  I’ve no doubt he would be a candidate for a canine Oxbridge if there were such a thing.  For this is a dog that knows how to drive me crazy all day and then crawl into my lap at night giving me love and licks (yuck) that make him my favourite Little Basset all over again.

The one thing that is constant in my life is Fortnum and Mason.  You can always be sure that whatever else is happening things are pretty much as they should be in their little world.  For all the mishaps and the constant worry they give me it is far outweighed by their ability to keep me smiling and keep life in perspective.

It’s hard to believe that we’re at April already.  3 months of the year gone.  End of the financial year in business. It’s one of those staging points in the year where you start to realise that a quarter of the time has gone to complete all those New Year resolutions.  As a coach I spend my working life helping others to keep themselves on track and focused on achieving their goals.  Whilst it’s felt like a tough week when I actually stop and think it’s been a great year so far and there is so much to be thankful for.

For Fortnum, the greatest think he is thankful for is the opportunities to sniff in the grass.  Wouldn’t it be great if our lives were so simple.

But no, it’s rather more like Mason’s ears swishing around this way and that.

You’ll tell by this blog that I’ve become increasingly focused on photography which might make for dull reading but I can’t help myself.  To capture life’s moments seems to make them all the more meaningful.  It has however made me rather distracted from the other things I wanted to do this year.  But instead of stressing about them I’m recognising what is more of a priority for me.  It sometimes takes me a while to work up the courage to do the things I really really want.  It’s so much easier to do the “right” thing.  To please others rather than myself.   Certainly in a work sense things are so much better this year than last.  Let’s just say I’m feeling a little like Fortnum is looking in this next photograph.

I’m more focused, more determined and certainly have my tail up in ways I didn’t always have last year.  I’ve not yet worked out what’s truly different this year since the type of work I’m doing hasn’t changed that much. There is no doubt my attitude has changed towards work and I’m enjoying it more.  Perhaps it’s because I don’t feel quite so torn between stuff to be done at home. Like the bassets it’s a bit like running free every day.

I just love that picture of the hounds.  For all the competition between them they are truly best friends.

Whilst it seems like a dry spell blogging there is plenty of going on behind the scenes here at Domestic Executive HQ.  This weekend is a good opportunity to catch up with things to do outside and start to get ready for the inevitable winter heading our way.  There’s plenty to be doing in the kitchen garden, wood stores to be built and trees to be tended to.  Not to mention the ton of mulching to be done.

But it’s not going to be all work.  We’ve got beaches to visit, friends to see and cakes to be baked.  And I’ll be out with the camera trying to find my inspiration.