Monday, April 19, 2010

The Rites of Spring . . .

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There have been quite a few posts around the blogosphere of late about the joyous arrival of Spring, after what was, for those in the northern hemisphere anyway, a rather arduous winter, with memorable blizzards and frigid cold spells which left us all wondering about the reality of global warming. And celebrate we should, for Spring is indeed a wondrous time of year; why not indulge in multitudes of glowing, brilliant, luminous photographs of flowers under dazzling azur skies ? Why not actually go outside, get away from the computer screen, and inhale the heady odors of the real thing ? Ah Spring, hope springs eternal ! All sorts of flora and fauna come out of hibernation, with a spring in their step, a gleam in their eye, and bubbling with invigorating thoughts in their minds, yes, vivid, vigorous thoughts of reproduction.
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And I would not have been the roving reporter of all things strange and fabulous whom you are counting on to bring you something just a little bit different had I not produced this photographic essay when the opportunity arose, and arose, and arose again . . .
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All I can say is, I hope he took her out for a good dinner later, and offered her a big bouquet of Spring roses . . . Heaven help him, one can't help but marvel at his single-minded persistence, and her epic stoicism; this series of photos spanned at least half an hour . . .
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A spectator watched from a first floor balcony, running back and forth, wishing he could get into the fray . . .
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50 comments:

English Rider said...

Enthusiasm compensates for size every time.

Owen said...

Hi ER ! You get the early bird award... There was an incredible population of dogs on la Réunion, after seeing this fellow at work I understood why...
:-)

Ann said...

reminds me of the old saying " in springtime,a young mans fancy turns to love".....love the dogs smile !!!!

Owen said...

Hi Ann... I guess fancy turning to love is reason enough for any old dog to smile...

CiCi said...

Is she just being coy or is she not very interested. At least it was good for one of them judging by the look on his face in the one picture.

Lydia said...

This is quite a fine series of photos. Too bad you didn't follow her to her home so you'd have an address to send them to the litter of pups, who would all go: "Mom and Dad did that? Eeeuweuww!"

Steve said...

Ah... if Rolf Harris did porno...!

French Fancy... said...

How interesting that they turned round at one point (or did you reverse the neg?). Usually with a 'tie' they don't move until the act is over. Hark at me - it's not like I'm a breeder or anything.

A great set of pics.

Anonymous said...

Bwahahaha! It is indeed spring. I doubt she got anything but a headache from that little ritual.
Do you know this saying "The month of May, the month of May! Outdoor f**king begins today!"

Adam said...

The third photo is priceless. Incidently, are you a part-time paparazzi?

Plum' said...

Spring is everywhere, not only in blossoming flowers as you said...:)

Stickup Artist said...

The expression on his face in the third one is so intent, while she seems rather ho hum. Well, it is spring in Paris...

Gry said...

Oh, yes this is spring!

clo said...

coucou owen...
il a la tete du vainqueur le petit gars...celui qui s'acharne...c'est vrai que l'on peut se demander quelle tete vont avoir les rejetons...
une belle demonstration de l'activation hormonale printaniere...
bises cher owen...:o)

Unknown said...

Hehe.....fabulous series :)

Clytie said...

I had to cover my eyes to look at these pictures! Snicker. Too funny.

Owen said...

Ah TechnoB, you are too much :-)

If that is coy, she is one hell of an actress... looked to me more like, "oh jeez, not again, can ya just hurry up and get it over with already ?", repeat and fade...

Owen said...

Hi Lydia, well, I would have followed them a little bit longer, but was called off to other duties before the fun was over... not sure they have an address though, there were a heck of alot of strays there...

Owen said...

Hey Steve, I wasn't familiar with Rolf Harris, had to google him, and can see I'm going to have to discover more, he looks like quite a character... many thanks for the connection. Guess I better be careful or someone's going to want me to flag my site as a porn site... unsuitable for children or some such...
:-)

Owen said...

Dear FF, well, maybe these two were an exception or something, it seemed that they were trying to prove that they could walk and couple at the same time, as they started right in front of our hotel, then went down the street a ways, while I went up to our room, and then was watching from a balcony, then they turned around and came back up the street, hardly missing a beat of the music they were marching to... nope, the neg (digital) wasn't reversed, you see by the number plate on the car the same way in both...
:-)

Owen said...

Dedene, very naughty, you are, I didn't know that expression ! Guess I had a sheltered upbringing. And I don't even know that she would have had a headache, it really looks like she couldn't have cared less... very patient, a certain quiet dignity, this was all very much beneath her I think...

Anonymous said...

What an impressive calidoscope of life and its joy you do provide tonight...reminding me of a night spend outside...

A wonderful Wednesday and many thanks for the memories.

Owen said...

Hi Adam, no, not a paparazzi, more like a part-time puppyrazzi !

Owen said...

Hi K'line, indeed, Spring is everywhere, except in the southern hemisphere where it is now Fall... and what are blossoming flowers but another form of courtship ritual ?

Owen said...

Hey Stickup, yeah, I think "ho hum" is a total understatement... Perhaps one of the advantages of being a dog is that one doesn't have to pretend that one is having a good time if one isn't, no faking of pleasure required... I wonder how many humans have the same "ho hum" hidden away behind whatever facade they may put on ? A few perhaps. No perhaps not, I'm sure that doesn't ever happen with humans... oh boy, I better shut up now...
:-)

Owen said...

Hey Gry ! Very nice to see you here... I remember quite clearly a pair of pigeons that you shared with us a while back, quite a while back I guess. They also illustrated these springtime activities. I do love your blog and your gorgeous photos...

Owen said...

Howdy Clo !
Comment vas-tu ??? J'espère bien, avec le beau temps enfin dans le sud... Et tu as raison, ce petit klebard a vraiment une tête de champion, totalement absorbé dans son élan, il s'en foutais des papparazzis autour... un vrai maitre de concentration, aucune distraction n'allait le perturber. Merci bcp, je suis bien content si tu as trouvé quelques sourires ici... je n'osais presque pas partager ces images, que je trouvais droles, mais doutais si d'autres partageraient ce sentiment... bref, et alors, le café, depuis le temps que l'on en parle... j'ai eu le plaisir début avril de rencontrer quelques autres bloggeurs dans Paris un dimanche, un vrai régal. Si jamais tu es sur Paris, tu nous dirais ?
En attendant, plein de bises...
:-)

Owen said...

Hey John ! glad you enjoyed, though if there were a few abandoned cars in this street it would have been better, the cars in these were too new...

Owen said...

Hi Clytie, you're funny, you cover your eyes to look at things ? You didn't peek from between your fingers I hope ! You were not supposed to see these !

Owen said...

Hi Robert, this is a little lesson in evolutionary theory... a caninoscope, as opposed to a kaleidoscope... Best to you in Athens !

Anonymous said...

Hahaha, god allmighty you have made my day with this objective, interesting, crude essay of what spring does really means, and as i am the Grinch when it comes to spring i cannot say anything but thanks Owen fellow for such a sweet sweet revenge hehe, now i can go and hibernate in peace til next autumn and let all those lovely creatures and rascals make what they were created for =)=)=)=)

Loulou said...

OMG! Should I leave some trace here...? Couldn't stop laughing!
Recently one Indian lady came to us since she was looking for some dogs photographs... well... should we send her a link to the Magic Lantern Show...? Your thoughts?

Sorry for being soooooooooo absent, life here is crazy, even without any volcano.... Kids are now on vacations and temperatures in Delhi are getting higher and higher... 44 degrees............!!!!
Hope they're are not too crazy at the airport and your company.... It must be horrible... Is there any way you can run away and look for the Dream House for real....?
Bises à Madame et aux filles
Loulou

Deborah said...

She looks pretty bored. Laid back. Has somebody said that already?? Serves me right for getting here late.

But seriously, he should try cuddling first. Or helping with the housework.

Nathalie H.D. said...

LOL Owen, it could only be you!


Thanks for being the free spirit that you are, life wouldn't be as much fun without you.

Nevine Sultan said...

Oh, Owen! Leave it to you to capture such a thing. Most amazing, really! I mean, I almost couldn't believe it, that's how unbelievable this is. But cool photos, and very original! And that dog in the balcony... I pronounce it a classic! ;-)

Nevine

The Laundress said...

Hmmm... Owen,
My friend would like a brief discussion with you about this latest blog post of yours! She is not quite sure what to think! ;)

Thanks for a good laugh.

Liz

Owen said...

Hi Alberto !
Rascal was the right word for this ginger colored mutt with a one-track mind... but only in Spring season. The rest of the year he plays bridge, sings in a barbershop quartet, and writes haiku in his spare time... but come Spring, those hormones kick in, and culture is out the window !
:-)
Happy hibernation to you if that is where you're off to...

Owen said...

Hi Loulouloulou !!!
So very good to see your "trace" here, very good indeed, thought maybe your blog was on autopilot and was posting pre-prepared posts every day...

I can bet you're busy, and severe heat also does tend to make people lazy too, but I'm sure you're not a lazy lady ever... hope your photo expos went well...

If a nice Indian lady would like some dog photos, she's welcome to come and take a look here, if she wouldn't be too shocked of course... wouldn't want to shock anyone !

You are right, work is absolutely, positively CRAZY at present, it is going to take us at least another week to dig out from under all the things that got backed up from Thursday to Tuesday... I hardly even know what day it is...

Well, as for these dogs and their Springtime behavior, if you smiled a little, then I'm happy... I have to admit to giggling a bit while putting this together...
:-)

PS please be very careful in coming days, US State Dept is putting out warnings about New Delhi at present, saw that on CNN just now...

Very very very best wishes to you Loulou and family too !

Owen said...

Deborah - You are so right... he could have at least taken her up the street for a walk in the park instead of insisting on the sidewalk or the street... could've taken her to a movie first or something, put on nice sweater, brushed his teeth first at the very least... but no ! Brash Mr Business just had to get straight to the point, as it were... What was that Beatles song... "Why Don't We Do It In the Road" ? Not very romantic, actually, that one...

Owen said...

Bonjour Nathalie... merci infiniment, tu es trop gentille toi... You know, it started when I was very little. Back in about 1968 in grade school, we had to take part in a "pretend" presidential election, I think the candidates that year were Nixon, Humphrey, and maybe George Wallace was an independent... I was the only kid in the class who voted for Charlie Brown for president... that about sums it up... but really, thank you, am glowing...
:-)

Owen said...

Dearest Nevine, egyptian queen, descendant direct of Nefertiti I think... who inherited the powers of the inner temple... If you have prounounced one of these a classic, then I am just bowled over... Well, I even surprised myself in conjuring up the audacity to document their little romp in the street... Guess in my advanced old age I'm losing my inhibitions ! Could be trouble in another year or two...
:-)

Owen said...

Dear Laudress,
Your friend doesn't need to discuss much, her green eyes say it all ! But if you like we could maybe try to arrange for her to meet the gentleman in question, if she can come to Paris, then we'll take it from there to get to la Réunion, then up into the central mountains... no problem, right? Or was there something else on here mind ? She looks like a very nice friend... Is she a Mom already ? The ginger colored mutt here would be happy to help if necessary...
:-)

Owen said...

Of course I meant "Laundress"... a thousand pardons, it's late, and I'm off for my beauty sleep now...

Karin B (Looking for Ballast) said...

Hahahahahahahaha!!

I love it. :)

A Taste of Garlic reminded me that I had not been here for a little while. When I read that he noted this post, I had to come and check it out. I absolutely love the shots you got. What an awesome post!!

French Fancy... said...

Fancy me not spotting that the number plates were the same way round. I was too mesmerised by the action to notice properly - that's my excuse.

Loulou said...

Dear Owen, yes you're right, terrorist attacks risks are back.... we are requested to avoid markets and popular places as much as possible... Interesting....
Risk is everywhere anyway so... inch allah!

Didn't use the autopilot function at all, was really very busy with photo exhibitions and jewellery and kids and LIFE !!!!! ;-)
take care and good luck at work
Bises

PS - saw on the right column that John's photoblog (remember our discussion?) was showing some "old rusty cars/car cemetery"... Owen... where are you... wait! I haven't finished. Gosh.....

Owen said...

Hi Loulou... I love John's blog !

Several months ago he very kindly gave me permission to publish one of his photos in these pages, which can be found by clicking the "Dream Cars" label in the labels list, and then going back to a post a bout 3 Norwegian blogs...

The Sagittarian said...

Oh my golly gosh, I don't know what to say! This blog has gone to the dogs, thats for sure!! I'm not sure I would have been brave enough to even photograph that...perhaps a bit 'ruff' for some eh?

Owen said...

Dearest Saj... the blog, and the toad behind it, went to the dogs long ago... and once that border has been crossed, it is difficult to come back... but to tell the truth, I sort of like it here...
;-)

Batteson.Ind said...

lol!.. you gotta love a bit of doggy porn! :-D