I love the fact that I can tell Cocoa Joy to sit and stay, and she does it even when a bratty squirrel is playing nearby.

Almost every Sunday morning, I think about my friends at First Baptist Atlanta. I remember how they would comment about the photos on Cocoa’s blog. Reba especially likes to see ones of the dogs. So, it was only natural to think of her when I took this photograph yesterday morning. Cocoa’s looking out the windows in the sunroom scanning the land behind the house for stray cats, visiting deer, or whatever else is outside these days.

I remember my rockin’ horse and how I spent hours on it riding the “range” looking for the Lone Ranger. Okay, I may have just dated myself. The TV programs were reruns, folks.

Always when I get a new lens or camera, there is a learning curve. The first couple of shots are great and then something happens. Usually it is called “user error.” I’m trying to deal with learning how to use an ultra wide angle lens and the place I chose to give it a try was Tallulah Gorge. It makes no sense because as I have written before, there is really bright light at the rim of the gorge and very dark shadows at the bottom. But since I’m not claiming to be a professional photographer, I can do (and will continue to do) goofy things and get away with them.

Cocoa is silvering on the top of her head. I thought about dying her hair, but I know that would be a little messy. She will just have to be herself—no matter what stage of life she’s entering. Here’s a photo of her with Chip—the one who sticks “closer than a brother.”

Sometimes, it’s just plain fun to take a photo of simple things like this collection of gourds that serve pretty well as bird houses.