​​Tuesday, 5:31 PM – In the former days, when extended families still lived together on the family farm, “home for the holidays” simply meant that everybody was there, it was a day off work, and nobody traveled. Today, many of us no longer live in the immediate area of the rest of our family. Therefore, “home for the holidays” means stuffing suitcases and pushing through crowded airports. Going home means navigating jammed highways and following GPS directions to our destination. But at travel’s end, we enjoy a time of merriment with our families.

For others, “home for holidays” might not be as joyful a phrase. Many will miss a loved one because they won’t be home, whether for just that holiday, or forever. It can be a phrase that evokes sadness at the holiday season.

Three years ago, a friend of mine lost her second husband. She had been widowed many years before but later in life found another man, a true gentleman, and love was rekindled. This new husband, after only two years of marriage to my friend, suffered a tragic heart attack while the two were driving on the highway just before Christmas. Since it was one of Steve’s favorites, she chose to have the song, “I’ll be home for Christmas” played at his funeral. Now, whenever I hear that song, I think of Kristy and Steve and how he won’t be “home for the holidays.” But…

There will be a time that we truly can go home for the holidays; a joyful occasion where we will be reunited with those family members that we haven’t seen in long passages of time. Even if the present holidays bring us sadness, we can look forward with anticipation to a glorious reunion. This world is not our home. There exists a lasting, permanent home beyond this one. But just as important as the GPS on that drive to the family Christmas party, be sure to follow the road atlas to that eternal home!

​Monday, 11:27 AM – “Noel” was a gorgeous girl that was picked up stray by a Walton County Animal Control officer on December 14, 2017. She was quite the unique looking girl with the narrow body and facial conformation of a Greyhound, and the merle coat of a Catahoula. When her ears were back, she looked almost like a pure-bred sight hound.
 
She had obviously had a tough go at life so far. She was very underweight when she arrived at the shelter (which added to her Greyhound-like appearance), had runny stools, and tested heartworm positive. A quick deworming at intake and several healthy meals through the weekend got her quickly on the mend. The heartworms would take some treatment, but with pledges rolling in from generous sponsors, her rescue hopefully wasn’t an impossibility.
 
The lifting fog created a giant soft-box over the late morning sun creating some great lighting to capture this girls beautiful merle coat and golden brown eyes. 

​Monday, 7:58 AM – in the upper forties at sunrise; much warmer than Saturday’s 28° morning. The warmer air made for lots of fog on the drive into work. Before starting my day, I walked up to the main shelter pond to check for any new ducks. A female Hooded Merganser practiced solo dives out in the fog; a Kingfisher was barely discernable. Heading back into the office, a Song Sparrow was watching my footsteps as I passed by the blackberry and Mimosa tangles near the shelter back door. 

But in just three short weeks, I have become a smart phone zombie too. Well, maybe not as bad as the under-25 crowd. But still, the grip is tightening. My smart phone is now everywhere I go... even on the trails for weekend runs. And it didn't take long before I began to see the advantages of the phone’s built in camera. I’ve always lamented the fact that I missed so many great nature photography opportunities while trail running.

While in the midst of a 20-mile trail run this weekend at Sandy Creek Nature Center and Park, I broke out my new "essential appendage" and snapped a photo of the rising sun over the trail boardwalk.
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Wow. It actually looked pretty good! What if…? What if I could begin producing higher quality cell phone shots when my Nikon wasn’t available? What if there was a market for iphone nature photography for wallpaper backgrounds? Hmmmmm… could there be a boost in stock photo sales to help with shelter photography expenses?
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Yep. It didn’t take long. I’m “ibrainwashed”. ​

​Wednesday, 10:10 AM – “Ursula” was a gorgeous, white pittie mix with blue eyes that was picked up stray by Walton County Animal Control on November 22, 2017. Her microchip revealed that she had been adopted from Gwinnett County Animal Control and was already spayed.
 
The shelter contacted her owner who said they’d come to the shelter to claim her. But after a full week, nobody had showed up. In fact, there were some social media postings stating that she was seen being dumped out of a truck.
 
“Ursula” made her photography session easy. All the white dogs turn out so well since their bright coats normally allow quicker shutter speeds. She also sat so calm and patiently as I fired away. 

​Wednesday, 10:24 AM – this playful little low-rider pup came into Walton County Animal Control on November 27, 2017. They said they found him two days prior but couldn’t find his owner. Being a happy, short-legged, smallish-sized dog he’d hopefully get adopted quickly.
 
I switched to a wider angle lens to capture the fact that he was still a small puppy. When using the 70-200mm, it can make the smaller dogs look a little bigger.
 
He was happy to play and run around my feet, so I placed him up on an outdoor table to get his cute shots with toy in mouth! 

​Wednesday, 12:02 PM – Surprisingly warm today; 69°. A coworker pointed out one of the Red-shouldered Hawks sitting in a tree near the animal shelter parking lot. There are at least one pair of Red-shoulders that hang out around the shelter and ponds. I hear their distinct cries almost daily. On many occasions they’ve been spotted in this same location, perched above a draining ditch that seems to harbor a lot of wild mice.
 
Sure I’ve photographed plenty of Red-shouldered Hawks… and I may have already photographed this same bird! But just because something is common should it be ignored? I’m always fascinated and stop to watch any animal, even if I see it every day.

​Tuesday, 10:44 AM – “Storm” was picked up stray by a Walton County Animal Control officer on November 20, 2017. Because of the Thanksgiving week, she didn’t have a fair crack at being advertised for adoption. But her turn for a glamour photo session came up today.
 
In her kennel, “Storm” was a quiet and sweet girl. But upon getting outside, I see why the officer gave her that name! She was so excited to get outside and was 100 miles-per-hour the whole time. It was only when she got tangled in the bushes that I was able to snap a few photos.
 
This sweet girl had some scars all over her nose. Unfortunately that would probably scare some people off. But in the interaction pen with a couple of other dogs she was all play.