Kip’s Comments - February 3, 2023

Two Things a Shih tzu Does Not Like

During our afternoon drive today I learned two things our Shih tzu Layla does not like.

Dislike #1 - Layla does not like it when I open the truck windows and turn off the heater to eliminate heat shimmer from distorting my images. The sudden chill makes her ride uncomfortable and she quickly, but briefly, shakes like a quaking aspen leaf in a gentle breeze.

Dislike #2 - Layla suffers from a heavy posterior. When I slow quickly or turn faster than she is prepared for, her weighty back end tends to droop off the back of the center console, eventually pulling the rest of her body to the floor of the backseat of the truck. Layla is not injured in the process, but does sometimes appear embarrassed or confused as to why she can no longer see a little bit through the windshield through her cataract-covered eyes.

One stop during our drive today was to observe and photograph horned larks arranged diagonally on the snow. Yes our truck quickly turned cold. No, we did not have heat shimmers to impact the image.

Horned Lark - Image 790255

A second image for the day was this bald eagle sitting pretty over the Wapsipinicon River. When I slowed for this photo, Layla’s backside failed to defy gravity resulting in her dropping to the floor of the backseat. Without her leaning on me while on the console, I was able to hold still for this picture. Then I retrieved her from her little spot in the backseat of the truck.

Bald Eagle - Image 790294