Yesterday morning I met one of my good friends in Holland to photograph the completion of his latest custom built trailer. He owns New Holland Overland Co. and with the help of his dad, they build luxurious off road trailers, bed racks, swing out tire carriers, and much more. It’s been a wonderful business to support and to document their journey and products through photographs.
To squeeze in a photoshoot with New Holland Overland Co. I had to get up extra early, which left Winston pouting in bed because he didn’t get his morning snuggles. When I came home, he was still in his bed (as we call the guest bed “Winston’s bed,” because he will often put himself to bed in the guest room between 8:30-9:00 PM and then complain that we aren’t coming to snuggle him). I gave him some smooches and told him to cheer up, which in return he gave me a exasperated sign and flop back to the bed, clearly still upset that I one, didn’t stay in bed to snuggle him, and two, went to go see one of his favorite people and didn’t take him.
I checked the weather app, making a quick judgment call that the nasty ice storm incoming this weekend may still be over the lake, and asked Winston, “Wanna go to the beach?” OH BOY did his attitude change!! I shook my head at the silly boy and followed the bouncing corgi to the car.
We love our beach, only a few miles away, and continually providing us with a quiet oasis, almost always empty of fellow dogs and people. With having had several dogs - big and small - bully Winston into a cloak of fear as he grew up, we always double check the beach before we get out. Once the door is opened and the release to go be a wild child is given, he’s off like a rocket!
We took the dune trail to the beach this time, following the winding sand trail through the dry grass, down to the bottom where the rain collects and up again to where the dunes seem to touch the sky. Winston zooming here, then there, then over that way. Sometimes I get distracted by the beauty that surrounds us and have to give him a call to figure out where he is. He knows his boundaries and how far he can go before having to check in, and every time he looks back over his shoulder, he seems to be say, “Mama! Come on! Let’s go adventure! … Mama! Are you coming??!”
As the storm approaches, the temps have dropped, causing the beach to shiver into a frozen landscape, being chiseled away by the relentless waves. Even Winston was shying away from the rouge waves that reached out in attempts to grasp him in it’s chilly embrace. It doesn’t help that majority of any waves at the beach are his size, but he usually will curl his lips and snarl back at the waves. Not yesterday. He tucked his bunny ears and trotted away, respecting the brewing waves on the outskirts of the storm.
Earlier in the week, Winston played hop scotch across the break water rocks, and learned quickly today that that is a game for the warmer days, as the lake has licked the rocks into an icy tomb, one which Winston can not hang on to. After he sat through my explanation of safety and that he can not be on the rocks today, he scampered off to play amongst the canyon trails in-between the rocks.
On our way back up the beach, lost in my own thoughts of shipwrecks, realizing I was in absence of the wild child, I turned around to see where Winston had hauled off to. Directly behind me - blowing bubbles. I almost tripped over my heavy muck boots laughing at him! It was if he ate a bar of soap, alternating between sticking his little tongue out and blowing big bubbles at me.
”What are you doing you Goofball?!”
“Look Mama! Look what I can do!! …*lick lick* … BUBBLES!” He seemed to laugh along side of me at his incredible silliness, and after he was satisfied with my happiness over him, he scampered off, tick-tocking his stubby tail up the beach to continue his adventure.
Every so often, Andy will take Winston for a run on the beach and the last few times, has told us of a hollow log. Winston and I often get distracted and wander in random directions as we play on the beach, so it wasn’t until yesterday that we found the log Andy spoke of. It was worn, rough, and just hollow enough for Winston to fit through it. Having been through the tree trunk tunnel before with Andy, Winston ran right through it! Coming from a pup that is lacking confidence with other dogs and loud noises, he surprises me some days with his confidence in his adventures.
He wasn’t ready to come home, but after a long romp, he agreed to be my shadow as we made our way back to the car. As we wait for the snow, my photography season slows to a ghostly whisper, but the organization, prep, and planning for a busy season ahead keeps me busy in the office. So home we went. Soon again we will return to the beach, hopefully next time with a white landscape of snow to play on!
Lake Michigan, North Muskegon, Muskegon State Park, Michigan Dog Photography
