A Cold Winter Run on the Prairie

One of the many people I have met on this vast online network is a wonderful young man that served in Afghanistan. He first contacted me about one of my photographs when he was overseas because it reminded him of home. I was honored to donate my work to his locker and he surprised me later by ordering a large version for his family's home when he returned.

The reason this photograph reminds me of him is because he is a long distance runner. Although his usual terrain is desert sand, I could as easily imagine him on this frigid snowy prairie, being just as dedicated to his morning run as this lone runner and his two dogs. So this one is for you Pj. Thanks for being there for all of us.

Runner
A lone runner and his two dogs venture out on a cold winter day on the Cathy Fromme Prairie, Fort Collins, Colorado.
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Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts about editorial, photography, and anything in between in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.

Street Life in San Francisco, USA

San Francisco is my favorite American city. Street life is diverse, entertaining, and poignant. You can play and relax, as well as, grow and expand. And you can see just about anything; including a carriage full of pug dogs, a man with a smile bright enough to light an entire stadium, and a baby bundled in a colorful scarf. For me it is a photographer's delight. I hope it also delights you.

Smiling Man
A homeless man in San Francisco graciously allowed me to shoot his photo after explaining to me that he had no teeth and couldn't smile. I disagree.




Pugnacious
I was watching the street life from a curb side cafe when this carriage full of pug dogs came into my view. I was so surprised I almost missed the shot!




Street Musician
A man in Chinatown plays music on his traditional bowed instrument.




Baby Bundle
I was watching a group of women push a cart of food down an alley in Chinatown. Once they were past me I was surprised to see the baby bundled in a colorful scarf that I hadn't noticed before.

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts about editorial, photography, and anything in between in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.

Playful Dogs in the Snow

Dog play is one of the most fun things in the world to watch. And when the weather is cold and snowy my two dogs seem to enjoy their outing even more. It all starts with an invitation. You see, dogs have a language all their own. When a rump goes up with tail wagging and then the dog bows it means "let's play!"

Dulcie "play bows" to Rob.

Rob is only too happy to oblige and leaps toward Dulcie.

Now they are both leaping and running in joy.

Dulcie pulls rank with her elder status and calls it quits.

Rob gets back to business, tracking bunnies!

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A Winter Walk with Furry Pals

The day was a balmy 40F degrees and the sun was shining. The foxhound and the Australian shepherd were looking at me with expectant toothy grins. Okay, let's go for a walk! After much leaping about on their part and pulling on boots and coat on my part, we were ready. I opened the front door and they waited politely until I said okay, then they bounded away leaping and cavorting in the snow. Rob plopped down in a rather large snowdrift, then plunged his face down into the snow and immediately looked at me as if to say "I love snow!" Meanwhile Dulcie was waiting on the road ready to get down to the business of a walk. Let's go!

Dog on Road
The loyal hound waits patiently for her morning walk in the winter light of a snowy mountain top road.
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Frisbee Dogs

Dogs are some of the nicest people I have ever met. I admit to being head over heels in love with a couple of them. So this summer when I had a chance to watch a young man with his dogs perform before a small crowd at the county fair I was right there in the front row. Hope you enjoy the show!

This dog is fully engaged and ready for the frisbee throw.

The crowd cheers as the dog gets ready to pounce on the flying frisbee.

A dog jumps high and is totally focused on catching a frisbee.

This dog loves to go for a spin in his boy's arms.

A totally airborne dog catches the spinning disk.

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Dog Photography

Wanted to share three warm and furry photos for your amusement. Let me know if you think any of these should appear in my shop. Cheers!

Robin Nose

Peacefully asleep under the favorite comforter, our little "demon" dreams of bunnies.

Champ
Memories of our golden boy always include this happy day when he believed he could fly.

The Watcher
My best friend, Keota, watches over me always.

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On Vacation

I'm on vacation. I'm taking a few days off. My husband has been after me to slow down and I am going to take his advice. I have a couple great excuses too. One, it's my birthday week. Two, a couple very dear friends are flying in from California for a visit. I'm very excited as we have not gotten together in five years. So if you are looking for me, I'll be sitting right there on the porch, rocking, talking, and sipping a wine cooler. See you in a few days!

Golden Bliss

2009 Paws for Charity Art Book

The 2009 Paws For Charity Art Book is now on sale! I have my order in and can not wait to receive my copy. The cover of the book below provides a link for a free look at the first fifteen pages of the book. So be sure and click on the link, or go to www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/606337 to preview and/or order.

Remember, all funds raised from the sale of this book are directly donated to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade by blurb.com, our book publisher.

2009 Art Book ...

37 artists raise fu...

By pawsforcharity.bl...

Book Preview

This photograph that I took of Champ a couple years ago is included in this wonderful collection of photographs and original art. To have a closer look at this print click on the photo below. To purchase go to Julie Magers Soulen Photography.

Tattoo

Last night I went to have a consultation for my first tattoo. I spoke with Mez Love. I had in mind generally what I wanted but still had some questions as to the design. She was wonderful to work with and immediately came up with a great idea. I can't wait to see her finished design!

My inspiration was this little statue of a wolf sheltering a woman. It has always reminded me of my "soul dog," Keota. She was ever watchful over me in the gentlest of ways, like a wise old spirit, as I believe she was and always will be. So I took my photos of her and this little statue. Part of the design is also a white dove that has great spiritual significance to me. This is so exciting an experience for me and I am so happy to have a true artist doing my first tattoo!

Seven Things You May Not Know About Me

I have been "tagged" by Beholden to Nature to share seven things you may not know about me. So here we go.

1) For the last ten years I have lived in an off-the-grid home. We have our own solar power system, a deep rock well (literally) with water that tastes like snow, and no utilities except propane for hot water and back up heating. Our main heating is with wood from our 40 acres of Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir trees. We are official forest stewards through the Colorado State Forest Division and manage our thinning of the forest with moderation and care. Contradictory to popular impressions of this lifestyle, we do not lack any modern conveniences nor do we use kerosene lamps.

2) I actually grew up in Ohio. But my love for the West goes way back!






















3) My photo of our golden retriever, Champ, was featured in the Sierra Club's Daily Ray of Hope.

4) I lived in a van by choice for three months with my husband and three year old daughter in the summer of 1980. We traveled over 3,000 miles.

5) From 2000 to 2007 my husband, Ric, and I collaborated on the first blog to ever appear on DenverPost.com. We called it "The Colorado Journal" and it documented our daily life living off-the-grid.

6) I am a voracious reader. I love award winning literature, pulpy genre fiction, and nonfiction equally depending on my mood.

7) The best friend I ever had was a dog. My forever girl, Keota.

Dog Blog

I have always had a special connection to animals especially dogs. As a child I wanted a dog in the worst way but it never happened. So now when I fall for a funny, big nosed, fuzzy face it is head over heels.

Rob and Dulcie have lived with us a year and a half. My husband used to call them the emergency back up dogs. Our distinguished old gentleman, Champ, was already eleven and the keeper of my heart Keota, a black sheperd mix, had already passed on when we drove to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah to find them.





When she was six Dulcie lost her entire family. Her owner died and her two dog buddies were permanently lost to her. If you know anything about dogs you know that their "pack" literally equals their life. In the wild if you lose your pack it often means death. So when we found her she was afraid and timid. She had been bounced around the foster care system for dogs and suffered abuse. She was petrified of everything.

Dulcie has blossomed into a happy well adjusted fox hound. She still would rather avoid pets from strangers if she can. But with us she actually hugs. She nestles against you and bows her head in what can only be profound gratitude as she gazes deeply with her soft brown eyes right into your soul.





Rob was just a little fluffy ball of black fur. He was sick with some weird virus and just slept in my arms all 850 miles home. It took him months to recover but he is robust and healthy now. His nickname is "Demon". He is part Aussie and Rottie. The Aussie part is precocious, smart, and always trying to herd us. The Rottie part is stubborn and always wanting to push boundaries. We have fallen for his antics and I'm afraid we have spoiled him forever!

So now our "emergency back up dogs" have taken their rightful place in our little family. And though Keota and Champ will always be loved in memory we now have new love that is growing stronger everyday.

Chasing Bunnies

Snow, tracks, sunlight, sniff, sniff, ah.... BUNNIES!