Abby's big Adventure

Last Month Cynthia and I went to Siam Square to have a goodbye meal for Abby. We were the only ones eating however. Abby just patiently sat under the table.

Abby left for New York Monday to begin her formal training to be a guide dog. Cynthia has raised Abby from a puppy for the Guide dog organization. She has taken her to the opera, museum, restaurants, art openings, mine included, all to assimilate her so she will be able to be a blind person's eyes.

Abby we will miss you but can't wait to hear about your continuing adventures. Abby has been a portrait subject, a model and spokes-dog for Bark photography since she was been able to wag her tail. Good travels Abby.
http://www.guidedog.org/

Abby as a pup in her service dog coat

Bark takes a Holiday

It’s my birthday in January so Steve and I take a little winter vacation. This year we went to the Okefinokee and on down to the Suwannee River on a 5 day paddle. It was cold. There was ice back in the shallow part of the swamp. Nothing some warm food to start the day couldn't cure.

The second night it rained so there was more humidity in the air. Luckily we got all set up and fed before the heavy rain started.

The next morning the steam from the river was just magical

The last night on the Suwanee we had a nice camp fire. I didn't really miss eating at a table while we were out here but tomorrow night I will enjoy sleeping without a fine coating of sand over my entire body.

Wednesday Morning we were down at Crystal River Florida to see the manatees from a kayak. It was amazing. We went with biologist Matt Clemmons who owns Aardvark's Florida Kayak. He's also with Save the Manatees and knows all the ins and outs of the manatee world and the politics of the human side of dealing with the plight of the manatee. I thought I would see a nose or back from afar. No they were right under us, the water was so clear we could see them in detail. We had three even swim along with us for awhile.
The water was so clear - I never thought I would get such a view.

Thursday took us to the Chassahowitzka River and National Wildlife Refuge. The west coast of Florida is just beautiful, not as built up as the east coast. All the times I have been to Florida I had never really investigated this side, and have been amazed.

We rented a canoe at the Chas and saw the most wildlife we had seen, including two or three alligators. The second one doesn't really count; It was a skeleton. Usually there are tons more alligators out in the Okefenokee. It was just too cold up there for them to enjoy the sun.

I think the river might have a lot of traffic on the weekends. We saw only three power boats the entire day. On one of the tiny secluded spring fed creeks that feed into the river, we would meet entire outings of kayakers though. It was funny and quite alright as they are a friendly bunch

The almost end of the trip was to Cedar Key. We had both wanted to visit there for many years. They had great restaurants and a nice paddle over to an historic island. It was really the first part of our vacation focused on a town and we found Cedar Key really laid back and the way my Dad describes Florida. In fact we stayed on the same corner at the dock as I did when I was a small child. I have a vivid memory of being on this dark dock and this old man telling me stories of this island in the distance. The piture below is a restaurant at the corner of Dock St. I think I had breakfast there when I was a kid. I really didn't realize all this till I got home and talked to my Dad.

The hotel where we stayed. I think it got a face lift since I was a kid.

The island has lots of local cats. They must be in heaven. People left food out and water out for them and they had all the seafood leftovers.

They are supposed to have lots of local ghosts but we didn’t see any of those even though we ate dinner where one resides. But what we did find are clams. For the last decade or so Cedar Key has been busy clam farming and they are brilliant. We fell in love with them as you can see

Our final paddle of the trip was out to Atsena Otie island. The place the old man had told me about when I was little. It was rich in history. People had lived there and there was even a pencil factory. Now all that remains are some bricks and a cemetary.

An interesting sign on the way out of town

For our last stop we joined some other Sorellas in a race down in Lakeland. We decided to go all natural and use a map instead of the GPS to get there

Last day: the 6 hours of Lagarto with My Sorella buddies Norma Rainwater, Kate Cook, Kari Linder, and Aimee Murphy

Sorellas to get Logo Mugs

Feb 8th

Sorella had their members meeting and get together last month. This meeting is to kick of the new year. Everyone gets a goody bag and the perks from the sponsores are discussed. I got up and gave a little speel about the deals from Bark photography and Anne Ledbetter Photography the would recieve.

Bark also made mugs with the Sorella logo and The Bark Photgraphy logo with the picture of the bark dog on the other side. I think they were a hit.

Anne Ledbetter giving her speal about Bark

Allison and Paula sporting their mugs


A batch of Sorella

Thanks Carol Miniutti for the pictures

Gala for Golden Retrievers

The Adopt a golden will have their golden gala on Saturday Febuary 21. It will be held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts center. Paul Ossmann of 11 alive will be emcee along with Doppes the weather dog. Bark Photography will be donating portrait sessions and coffee table books of the portrait sessions to the event. Call 404-Dog-Less 404-364-5377 for more details or go to www.adoptagoldenatlanta.com

FEB 7 Happy Tails Silent Auction

Bark Photography participates in Happy Tails silent auction.
Happy Tails is a group of Pets and their owners who visit people in healthcare facilities, social agencies and special needs programs.
The action is themed Warm Hearts Cold Noses and is to expand program services and to meet the growing community requests for service throughout Metro Atlanta. The Auction will take place at Villa Christina Feb 7 go to the web site for details. Anne Ledbetter contritubuted a portrait session to the event.

This is Riley who is a retired Happy Tails Dog

http://www.happytailspets.org/