Mom receives a lot of questions on how to photograph black Scotties.  First of all, her only camera is an IPhone.  Right now, she is using a 6+ but she is seriously considering going to the 6 when the next phone comes out because the 6+ is just too unwieldy in one hand.  The SRL cameras are wonderful but for pictures of daily living, they are just not feasible.  Mom said by the time she sets up the shot with one of those, the moment is lost.

Of course with black Scotties it is all about the eye.  Unless you can see the eye, the Scottie would look (as some people have described their pics ) like a lump of coal. Our house has a lot of natural light which is fantastic for photographing our faces.  This picture was taken with the sun is shining in a southern window lighting my face.  On the  IPhone 6+, when you touch the photo screen, you can see a square with a sun to the right.  You can move that sun up and down to adjust the light.  Mom doesn’t use it often but she has on occasion; she never uses a flash.  After you have taken a photo, at the bottom there is an edit, click that.  You have four symbols.  The first is crop and Mom is a BIG fan of the crop.  The 3 circles are filters; she never uses those.  There are many photo apps that are much more fun.  The third symbol looks kind of like a clock.  If you click it, you will see  the word light.  Click light and you can adjust your picture.  Especially useful is the shadows where you can slide a bar illuminating them.  This is terrific with Scottie faces but be careful because it adjusts the whole picture and can wash it out.  There are many photo editor apps.  For our daily posts on our FB page and this blog , Mom just uses her phone; it is quick and easy.  Sounds to us like the cooking thing, not too many steps.

All the lighting tips above work outside too.  Mom prefers early am pics or evening.  She tries to get the sun behind her.

She tries to shoot on our level also.  She might take 10 pictures as fast as she can (sometimes she doesn’t even look in the viewfinder) and usually she will find a good one.  She loves this picture; she says it is so us.  We were running around playing chase with the toys and she picked up the phone and took a bunch of pictures.  For this one, she just leaned the camera down and shot it from where she was sitting on the couch.  Remember, take a bunch, delete what you don’t like. Happy shooting and aim to please yourself. ~ Indy and Lucy

The peeps were busy in the yard this weekend mowing, mulching, and that sort of thing.  We are not allowed outside while that is going on.  Safety rules.

We played some ball.  It was a beautiful day; it wasn’t too hot with a light breeze.  Then Dad said: “Who wants to go see Miss Robbie?”  That’s the code for bath.

Dad grilled and Mom fixed some corn on the cob.   It’s summertime in Oklahoma.  Tomatoes here will be ready in a couple of weeks.  Sister loves them.  Hope you had a good weekend where you are. ~ Indy

Mom saw this on Pinterest and thought it was cute; fits a Scottie she said.  She read about another cute idea involving little boys’ shirts.  You get the shirts from a garage sale, thrift store, neighbor kid…whatever is handy.  We would take a size 13 but we are not very big Scotties either.  Mom always carries a tape measure in her purse so she just measures it.  Be sure it has a top button.  Collar also needs to have an interlining or it will be floppy. Cut the collar off under the interlining and ta da…cute Scottie accessory.  We might even wear it cause it is collarish.   You can use the rest for bandanas or something.  Mom said she is going to try this.  We say it is going on the ‘list’.  Does your Mom have one of those?

We have had all kinds of critters this week.  Obviously they are paying no attention to the signs we have posted.  Enter at your own risk. ~ Indy and Lucy

The 4th of July is almost here.  Mom got us some new patriotic collars.  For so many of you that have asked, Mom purchases our collars from a shop called The Monogrammed Mutt on Etsy.  Many times they have answered the question: “Which one are you?”

Mom made me a red, white, and blue fetch toy too.  It is the perfect size for throwing in the house.

She finally found a Scottie that will wear a bandana and she is absolutely thrilled.  Whew, takes the pressure off me. ~ Lucy

There are many well-known dog breeds but the Scottie is instantly recognizable except to the misinformed who occasionally confuse us with a schnauzer.  Our iconic shape is on quilts, purses, jewelry, and dishware to name only a few.  Really, what kid wanted to be the shoe in a Monopoly game?

Presidents found Scotties an ideal dog;  Barney Bush displays our quirky temperament here..  FDR’s Fala  had his own editorial cartoon series entitled “Mr. Fala of the White House”.

Movie stars loved Scotties.

Bette Davis, Shirley Temple, Ali McGraw and Humphrey Bogart were all Scottie fans.

Rue McClanahan of the ‘Golden Girls’ had a Scottie named Harrod.

This beautiful lady was famous in her own right.  R.I.P. Sadie

 Mom thought this a great picture even though to her knowledge David Bowie did not have a Scottie.

Mom’s darling duo: us!

 Love ya. ~ Indy and Lucy

I love a good stick.  How about you? ~ Lucy

Mom and Dad have been thinking about this for awhile and when the pickup and 5th wheeler were sold, they decided now was the time.  Mom picked her favorite color and Dad loaded it with all the rest.  Mom said it does have more storage room which is important when you travel with Scotties.  BOL.  More storage to carry her purchases would be more like it.

I am ready to roll but Mom says not without the safety seats.

Mom did say there is probably room in the back for her to sit between me and Brother if we wanted her too.

Look for us on the road. ~ Indy and Lucy