My Cover Girl, Arabella…..

The other thing I loved about coming home was, of course, being with my dogs, Arabella and Ezemé.

As an added homecoming bonus, we just received, in our mailbox, the latest Orvis catalogue, featuring none other than my dear friend and partner in life & adventure, Arabella, right there on the front cover. Very Exciting!!

Did you see it??

Avoir du chien = To have a certain something, to be charming, to be sexy

With the kids away, I’ve been focusing my lens on Arabella and her sidekick Ezemé a bit more lately. Both are agreeable models.

I think their love, loyalty and devotion really comes through in their eyes in these shots… and devoted they are. Even though they aren’t “water dogs”, Arabella is always willing to hop on the back of my paddle board

and both will climb into the canoe for a paddle around the lake with just a little bit of coaxing.

Quelle chienne de vie = Life’s a b*tch {get it? They’re both female dogs :}.

Arabella came to us from Elk Run Kennels in Star, Idaho {a word of caution before you click on the name: PUPPIES!!!} ERK has been a national pioneer for bringing this amazing French breed, Braque du Bourbonnais, stateside. As you may recall, I brought Ezemé home from France with me after we lived there a few years back.

It’s also been nice to reconnect with friends & family and to get back into some of my regular activities. For instance, I’m hoping to get into some French classes and movie nights with the fabulous Virginie at French Truly who offers enticing lessons in French language and culture. As an example, here is a timely email she sent out today, sharing some common French phrases that include the word “chien”, or “dog” in French. Be sure to click on the video link below to thoroughly appreciate this interesting and charming professor.

Here is the key text from the video:

“Before we start you need some context. The following expressions are quite negative but you have to understand that they are old and being a dog a century ago was not as fun as today. Definitely did not get the amount of love that today’s dogs get.

Il fait un temps de chien = The weather is really bad

Quelle chienne de vie = Life’s a bitch

Non, non, I’m not swearing! It is the word for a female dog!

Mon cou me fait un mal de chien = My neck hurts like crazy

And now some more positive ones!!!

Avoir du chien = To have a certain something, to be charming, to be sexy

Entre chien et loup = Dusk, when the light is such that you can barely see the difference between a dog and a wolf.

Nom d’un chien! = For goodness sake!”

To see the video {and you really should} click on Chien.

Are you on instagram? I’d love to follow you. I’m at Splendid7, and have been posting a lot of shots on my recent travels, please stop by for a preview of posts to come. I use the hashtag #braquesraque for shots of Arabella & Ezemé.