onward!
I’ve seen many blog posts that start with “oh boy, has it been that long?” or “wow, time flies!” Heck, I’m guilty of both of those!! I really do love writing and am starting to hope more and more that maybe one day I can do something with all of this. But I’m learning that hours 10 and 11 in front of a computer are less desirable than they seem like they will be when I’m at the beginning of hour 1. When I get home at the end of my day all I want to do is play with the girls, relax with a glass of wine, pump up some tunes and wander somewhat aimlessly from room to room ‘organizing’ which Murray called ‘getting things really, really lost.’
I certainly have been staying busy the last few months, which is amazing!
+ I’ve played with a handful of pups and kitties, each one totally fantastic in their own way.
+ I’m working obsessively to finish my first quilt! It’s comin. And to give you an idea how much time I’ve spent on it, I have now listened to 5 books, countless episodes of This American Life, watched almost all of House of Cards and plan to probably start in on a bit of a Harry Potter marathon. For the record, serious quilters are amazing. This is an INCREDIBLE amount of work!
+ And because I caught the quilting bug, I have also started on #2 and #3. I can’t wait to see those really take shape!!
+ I turned 27.
+ I used my brand new Le Creuset pot for an amazing meal I want to make once again … Thank you Barefoot Contessa. You’ve done it once again.
+ I got through another wave of birthdays and holidays I didn’t really want to face. And while I ‘faced’ them in the respect that I woke up each morning and went to bed each night, I didn’t really do traditional holiday things. And I’m ok with that. One day that will all work out again.
And now? Well, I have so many things up my sleeve for 2013 that I am almost busting at the seams. One thing that is really important to me again this year is to keeping writing all this stuff down. I am hoping to post more and more but if my girls demand some attention, I think they are going to win. I want to live in the ‘now’ and embrace and love everything around me.
If you aren’t already a fan of my facebook page I would really recommend it! I post a lot more on there than here these days so you’re guaranteed to get peeks at the latest, greatest 4 legged kiddo before they grace these pages. Seriously – go like it now! 
But to catch you up, here are some of my favorite images from the last several months
phew! well maybe ill find that getting the first post in a long time completed is the hardest step?
brooklyn :: minneapolis pet photographer
one thing I’m really not shy about on here it going on and on about how much I love rescues and rescue animals and the people who rescue animals and so on and so forth. that’s why when this pretty girl’s dad contacted me for photos I was over the moon to do them! not only had I wanted to photograph Brooklyn when she was in the rescue, but I love success stories
Brooklyn is a gorgeous pittie who was found by St Paul Animal Control and taken in by the MN Pit Bull Rescue. And once she got to her foster home she never left I remember seeing her on the roster of available animals and was excited to get a photo session lined up! She was so pretty and looked to have such a lovely soul, I just couldn’t resist. However she was scooped up too quickly for me to do that, which of course is more important While it’s incredibly rewarding to work with the available rescue animals it’s amazing to get to see the relationship with a parent and their animal kiddo.
Isn’t she such a beauty!?! Another success story in the books
the cutest corgi around :: minneapolis pet photographer
Every time I see Wylie I can’t help but giggle at the proportion of his body. Those tiny legs and that long body … so stinkin cute!!!
You may remember him from his photos last summer? On top of his awesome proportions, he makes some pretty great pup faces virtually on demand!!
… I definitely have some new favorite Wylie photos out of this batch! Happy Saturday!!
I am off to photograph a gaggle of pups at The Great Minnesota Pet Together who are currently up for adoption with the Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue. I am so excited to see the turn out, meet these amazing animals and hopefully help them find their forever home!! If you are looking for your next perfect pup or kitty, maybe today is your day!! Come on down!!
mountain pups :: minneapolis pet photographer
… these guys are my favorite Montana dogs
just seeing these photos makes me miss them, their parents and the mountains!!
Read MoreSandy! :: minneapolis pet photographer
Guess who was crowned THIS month’s dog of the month at the Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue???
… this girl. Miss Sandy!
And when asked to describe herself she replied with:
Hi! My name is Sandy which pretty much describes my coloring. My foster family keep telling me I’m beautiful but I’m trying not to let that go to my head. They say I have some pretty wonderful wrinkles on my head but since I can’t see them, I’ll let you judge for yourself. I’m about 2 years old and a bundle of love! I have the wiggles so sometimes I have a hard time sitting still but it’s only because I love you THIS much! I love, love, love people and am a good cuddler who also really loves treats and snacks.
She is such a sweetie!!! You may have seen a few of her photos on Chocolate Moose’s facebook page or possibly the Pit Rescue’s facebook page … but even if that’s the case, I bet you’d like to see more
Seriously … look at those eyes! And that cute forehead!!! She is a doll and a champ for enduring the heat and bugs for these photos Her foster mama gets that award too!!
As I always do, I encourage everyone thinking of getting a dog to adopt and not seek out a breeder. There are so many amazing dogs out there in need of homes and I have my fingers crossed that YOU might be Sandy’s amazing new family If she strikes a chord, please contact the wonderful people at the MN Pit Rescue via email … adopt@mnpitbull.com.
a lot of fantastic in one spot :: minneapolis pet photographer
Hmm – I don’t think I’ve blog-talked about my amazing and bestest friend Tay, which is a bit surprising. Part of that is probably because we see each other just once or twice a year, if we’re lucky. She is one of those people that despite how long it has been since we’ve talked to each other we can pick up right where we left off. And no matter what we do together, it’s an amazing time. She lives in North Carolina on what sounds like an amazing piece of land with lots of animals and expansive gardens, and I am hoping to get out there to see it all before too long.
I was over the moon when a few months back she told me she was coming home and surprising her entire family. And what was even better for me was that she said she had a lot of free time! I joined the fam for homemade pizza and after great food and great conversation I convinced Tay and Matthew that they should let me take some photos of them and their beautiful dog, Cole. They are all so lovely (including Cole) that I can’t wait to do photos on their land when I’m out there. I have all sorts of ideas a-brewin! But for now, I hope you enjoy these …
She definitely works for treats
It was one of the HOTTEST days we have had all summer so I’m pretty impressed Cole put up with my antics for as long as we had light. Thanks friends!!! Lots of love and I can’t wait to eat and cook with all the deliciousness at your farm. Until then BIG hugs
so many pups!! :: minneapolis pet photographer
since the summer is flying by at a rather alarming rate, this post (like so many others to come) is past due… You may remember a post I did several weeks ago about an upcoming event to support the Friends of Stillwater Dog Park who are trying to raise money for a dog park? If not, it’s here and with a title called ‘Canines and Cocktails’ it was a rather popular one on here I was so thrilled to be able to take part in this event and definitely had a blast!!
While the event has come and gone and I’ve been so excited about all the different pups I met ever since! There were so many amazing ones – big and little – and lots I wanted to take home with me I believe there were over 50 dogs, nearly double the people and it was definitely a cluster of furry fun! Here is a sampling of the images from the event. If you were there and haven’t gotten a chance to see your pup(s), please refer to the card you received at the event or please shoot me an email and I’ll send the link over right away! jessica{at}chocolatemooseimages{dot}com . Thanks everyone!!
Meet Pebbles and Daisy … going with an earthy combo here
I sure love pugs and was LOVING the name choices!! Daphne and Violet (in the photo below .. well just part of Violet) and Bismark and Honey Bunn. Come on, who wouldn’t love a pug named after a donut??
These little ones are Mia Tia and Maxwell … I had never seen a hairless pup, but Mia Tia was beautiful!! And she had a pretty rockin collar! Maxwell was just cute as a button! He was rather interested in a piece of sushi when I came up to see him and after getting a full belly was willing to pose. It was so neat how the bistro was making sushi for the dogs and bringing it around as snacks. Some dogs were super into it and some had no interest… pretty sure the girls would have gone bonkers if there was fish inside
Then there was scruffy Ricki who had the BEST hair and tiny (but soon to be HUGE) Memphis! He is a great dane puppy who is going to grow like a weed, I’m sure.
Such a variety, huh? It was so much fun!! And there are gobs more to look through so if you were there and no longer have the address, please send me a quick email and I’ll send it your way!! jessica{at}chocolatemooseimages{dot}com.
Thanks again to EVERYONE involved!!
Read MoreJackson Family!! minneapolis pet and family photographer
oh my goodness. I don’t know WHY I don’t do more family photography!!? I LOVE it especially when there is a dog involved!!!
This is the beautiful Jackson family of 5!! Amanda is one of the amazing women behind the Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue and when she asked me to come and photograph her family + pit I was over the moon excited!!! After a few delays due to someone showing up a little earlier than planned (hint hint … he’s 2 months old in the above photo and named Roscoe) and a slew of crappy weather days, we finally made it happen. I don’t think we could have asked for any better weather!!
They had a few ideas up their sleeve for their family photos which were great! When I got there, Grady was instantly hoping to play … we set his dogs up on his hammock, played with his Legos and he even helped me photograph Charlie!! He was right over my shoulder (or next to my waist because he’s just 5) and was really interested in everything I was doing. I sense he will be a amazing little artist and may even be after my job in just a few years
… what an awesome little man!!! he LOVED his crown and tie and was such a good sport the entire morning!! he laughed and laughed and gave me nothing but sweet and silly faces or biiiig smoochies for his mom and dad.
and we can NOT forget Paisley. She is one of the prettiest pits I’ve EVER seen!!! And she is an amazing jumper!!
… I got a LOT of this combination … pretty, happy and focused dog who all of a sudden decides “I want to nose your face!!!”
but we definitely got some calmer, lovely shots as well
Thanks Jackson family!!! … pt 2 will be ready to rock very soon!!
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