Lens-Artists Challenge: A Quiet Moment

~ oneletterup

Lens-Artists Challenge #102: A Quiet Moment

This week, we are challenging you to capture “A Quiet Moment.”  Maybe it’s a walk early in the morning or the time you sit down with a book and a cup of coffee.  Include shots captured at home or in your neighborhood, or from a trip to a faraway place months or years ago. It’s totally up to you.

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There have been many quiet moments in the last 3 months. More than usual.

Much of the time those moments were also peaceful, particularly during solitary walks around the neighborhood next to mine. The winding street was usually empty. Cars remained parked in garages or driveways. People staying-at-home indoors, except for a few dog walkers.

There is a pond tucked in a bend in the road – which (I assume) holds water for irrigation and firefighting purposes. I usually pause for a moment when I pass by and captured this moment a few weeks ago.

cupalo and bench
June 2020

However…6 months ago…quiet moments were few and far between at my daughter’s house during the hectic holiday season. What with a talkative 3 year old whirlwind, parents and grandparents everywhere you’d turn, it was a home filled with happy noise. Music! Making cookies! Telling stories! Playing games! Time to eat! Grandma come!

There were also two sweet family dogs trying to adapt to all this fun craziness. At least that’s what I sensed. One was a friendly brown and white rescue named Taco, who was visiting for several weeks. He actually belongs to my son and his girlfriend, who traveled to Europe for the holidays. And there was Lutra (the resident pet!), a friendly black rescue dog, who belongs to my daughter and her family.

quiet dog moment
December 2019

I was fascinated by the dynamic between the two pups. Taco made himself at home immediately. Lying on the couch. Napping in Lutra’s bed. Chewing on her toys. Lutra would immediately leave the area when Taco entered…and then stare at him from under the kitchen table in the next room.

However, something was apparently resolved during a loud barking session between the two in the backyard shortly after my husband and I arrived for our visit. Lutra was (I assume) communicating an important dog message. Perhaps establishing something along the lines of packs and boundaries and this is my house. I’m obviously just guessing here. But after their noisy discussion they came back into the house…entered the living room and chose seats. And that was that.

Thankfully, the Singing Santa had mercifully stopped its journey across the rug.

Neither one of them moved during the many shots I took.

A Quiet Moment of Dog Detente.

Published by oneletterup

25 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Challenge: A Quiet Moment”

  1. Wonderful reflect of the gazebo in the pond. Even a bench to sit on and enjoy the quiet moment. ❤ Great storytelling of how the two dogs came to a peaceful resolution of territorial rights. 🙂

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  3. Beautiful photo of peace. Dogs have a way of working things out between them and even after nearly 30 dogs, I can’t say I understand it completely. Sometimes it involves barking. Sometimes body language. Sometimes worse but rarely somehow.

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    1. Thank you! It’s a peaceful spot. And the dogs…it really was so interesting to watch the interaction and the process (?) towards co-existing. There was such a change after all the barking. A different energy. As you say, they worked it out. 🙂

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  4. First, I’m totally In Love with the gazebo shot!! If you’re okay with it, I will definitely want to write for that one in future. It’s gorgeous in and of itself–but the added image, “reflection”, really gives it the WOW-factor!! And I thoroughly enjoyed the dogs’ story–fascinating! I’m not a pet person, but I suspect there’s a lesson in there…if I can just suss it out 🙂 Excellent post!! :

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    1. Thanks Leslie. That pond often provides really nice opportunities for reflective images. I’m glad you like it and yes you may use it if so inspired. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed my dog tale too 😉

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  7. Love the opening photo and the story of the two dogs. Everyone of our kids have dogs and we have two. Getting them together is always interesting – such different personalities. All but ours are big. Guess who’s dogs are the most anti-social. Yep, our little pipsqueaks, lol.

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    1. Thank you V.J. The different personalities of these dogs are striking, but they get along/tolerate each other. At least that’s my sense the short times I’ve seen them together. There are many small dogs who live in our condo development and they each have their quirks 🙂

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  8. Funny the way dogs work it out. The same happened when our old rescue dog moved in on our 3 year old puppy. She tried to rule the roost but the old rescue sorted it one day (not sure how) and she now gives in to him on everything – unless we go mad at him which she thinks gives her permission to add to our wrath. We are obviously top of the pecking order.

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