....glad to be me

An attempt to be someone else is an act of futility and it can only make you frustrated.  Trying to emulate someone's good qualities though is a good thing and if successful, it can improve the way you think of yourself.  When it comes to the end of the day, always be happy who you are and celebrate your life.  Take this good advice from an old dog like me..............I am the Ralphy and I am glad to be me !!

...singular beauty

The simple and singular beauty of a flower has its own unique characteristics.  People also possess the special glow of their own individuality.  It would not be a terrible idea for us to look at others in the manner we appreciate a spring daffodil.  If you are able to accomplish this, the world will be a better place in which to live.

...leapin' for love

You have to admire his tenacity.  An exciting athletic leap with his eyes on the prize...Rocky the Squirrel...Ralphy is a joy to watch.  I obviously have no idea if he actually thinks by leaping he will catch his adversary, but I really am pretty sure he is just having fun on this warm spring morning.  I make it a point everyday to appreciate and love him so there are no regrets. Making that same commitment when it comes to family members and friends is advisable and makes for strong, comforting, and satisfying relationships.  Leap with gusto as does Ralphy, toward making your ties with others stronger than ever.  It is a good thing. 

Happy Easter................jimmy

.....Happy Easter from the Easter Pears

...old pic..........different look

...early evening April moon

...bloomin

...tiptoe thru the tulips

...time for peace

It is time to end our military conflicts and create a U.S. government of peace.  You do not have true peace until you lay down your weapons.  Our young soldiers have paid a heavy price and have endured enough.  Bring these brave citizens back to their families..............where they belong.

....a new leaf

Well the trees are just starting to bud, so I would guess in about 2-3 weeks the leaves should start to pop out and greet a new season of life.  If it is a new time for the trees, it is also one for us......time to reevaluate what is important to us and turn over the proverbial "new leaf" to a new season of understanding ourselves and others.....hopefully for the better.  Ciao......................jimmy

...thanks for the photo class

............fast  shutter speed makes this pic  lots of fun

...different perspectives

The nice quality about diversity, is diversity itself.  What is pleasing to our eyes differs with each individual, so with this one photo I changed it up a bit to see what you might like............or not.  I am more particular to the bottom photo, but I enjoy them all.  What do you think?.............................hey its just a bowl of fruit.
See ya.............jimmy

...on the look out

...colors

...just getting ready for the color explosion spring is about to bring to us

..squaring off

Oh, not to be alarmed.  Ralphy and Bear are just trying our for a role in NatGeo.  They are best of friends and even though it looks dangerous, they are just playing.  Not once have they bitten each other.  I do notice they take turns being the alpha male.  Now that Bear is much bigger, Ralphy usually gets a bit more aggressive at first to remind Bear he is still boss.  In the coming years, this may only be a pipe dream for Ralphy, so it is good they are friends.

.......purple haze

It is a typical Sunday afternoon and I am doing what I do best...........naturally.  But I am here with my family and we will be all sitting down for dinner soon...........then catch the Detroit Red Wing game.  As I have said so many times before, the importance and significance of family is everything and it just doesn't get any better.  When you are surrounded by familiar faces and you know how much you are loved, well what can a dog or a person ask for.  I am fortunate and wish for everyone to enjoy the company of their  family.  Time moves along without a second of hesitation  and it would be  a waste to miss the special times your family.   See ya..............Ralphy

..duck duck

...not sure what these duckies were doing on the garage of my neighbors, but they seemed to be enjoying each others company.............hope you like the photo shop..........I like it..............jimmy

...the "little stuff"

The simplest things are often the least enjoyed because by the time we realize how special they are...well... they have passed us by.   When I was younger, the simplest of things most assuredly were  ignored.  I was working hard and always looking at the big prize while not paying attention to all of the "little stuff".  For me at least, age has brought on a new perspective.   Maybe because I now realize the road of life I have been traveling on for the past 58 years is clearly coming to its final destination, that I now notice life's little subtleties.  I do feel terrible  for the times in my life I ignored the beauty of a blue sky  morning or the new life of a baby robin on my backyard lawn.  Examining the unnoticed especially when we are young, is unfortunately par for the coarse, but maybe if enough of us "older" folks spread the word, finding joy in what we have and  see in any phase of our lives will be more the norm than not.  I still fret about  the "big stuff" in my life, but I now find the time to look around and see the wonders that surround me in my small little universe.                  always..........find peace in your life.................jimmy

.............hello everybody

 Just to  let you know, I am still around taking photos as usual.  If you have anything to say to me, please blog me and tell me if you enjoy onthedoorsteps.blogspot.com..  I am a photo hound.....no pun intended.............see ya
Ralphy

......springtime real estate

Here we are the last day in March  2011 and the real estate business is starting to get hot....particularly if you are a member of the fair feathered clan.............you know.....birds!!!!   Anyway I have got a pretty blue cottage  for a reasonable price and an slightly used but open nest design for birds on a budget  (BOB).  Also for the bird with all the dough, I have a  fancy pants condo with a super view.  Hey, these cuties will not last, so act now..................the bird that snoozes...........loozes.

...hey it's the Bear !!!

I know it is hard to believe, but in just a matter of months, I have grown into a rather handsome fellow.  I was cute as a young pup back in the good old days, but now just a few months from being a year old, it is plain to see how much I have grown.  Playing hard is my game as my family will attest to, and my good friend Ralphy has taught me a lot.  I cannot wait for the spring and summer to arrive, because I have got lots of plans.  See ya....

Bear

....in bloom

Maybe it is a bit premature, but I can't help getting excited for the springtime to arrive.  Granted, the temps tonight are expected in the mid teens, but it doesn't hurt to think warm, flowers, robins and new life inching its way thru the soil toward the sun.  Plants naturally worship the sun because it gives them life and their purpose to exist.  For tens of thousands of years, perhaps millions, human beings have also looked to the sun with a reverence much deserved.  Our very essence  is dependent on this wonderful star and with its burning inferno, all of what we know of as life... is... because of it.  So let's look forward to those warm days when we can look up into the sky and feel the warmth on our face and revel in our lives.  Spring is here.........it just might not feel like it yet.  See ya...............jimmy

...spring training

You know I love the snow, but the white stuff has been around here long enough and it is time for me to get my spring legs into action.  There is nothing better than spring training.  Just like you look forward to opening day at the ballpark, I see spring as an opportunity to get myself back into shape.  Let's face it, the winter time is a lazy time and my four legs just don't get enough movement.    Except for the four legs, does this sound familiar?  That's right it is not just us dogs that need to get outdoors and start getting ourselves back into tip-top form.  Hopefully my action photo will get you motivated.  See ya...........Ralphy

...photo session with the O'Ralphster

St. Patrick's Day is special to people of Irish decent. Parties are thrown and it is a wonderful way for family and friends to enjoy each others company. You don't have to be Irish though to celebrate your loved ones. Pretend you are Irish for the day and have a good time! If you had a lot of fun, maybe everyday you can try to appreciate the ones you love instead of picking a few holidays to show it. Of course you cannot "party" every day, but the idea of knowing what you have all of the time is a "good thing". I know I am just a dog, but wisdom can find its way to you in many ways. Hope you like my tie.

see ya................O'Ralphy

.......yum yum

MJ's cupcake delights.......................2011

...thanks Tom

...thought for the day

...if you are holding a grudge or are angry with someone, especially if friend or family, what would it take for you to make things right?
I can assure you...fix the problem and you will feel good about it.............so will the person on the other end. Enjoy your life !

see ya...........Ralphy

...the better days are still ahead of us

 

The thing about time, is it never goes back and it never stops moving forward.  This is a truth where there is no dispute. Possibly our lives should be lived the same way...don't fret about what has happened but move ahead to better things yet to come.  

....sleep deprivation

...fooled ya......................actually I am just yawning.................only had 20 hours of sleep the other day..........hey it's a dog's world and you just live in it.

...did I hear Summer ??

..........forget spring............why not just jump into summer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...my kind of town

...was born in Detroit............it's not pretty, but it is part of me

...the sprint

I recently celebrated my 32nd wedding anniversary and it astounded me how fast the years went by.  At 26 years old, I had so much ahead of me, yet it was impossible for me to realize the "thing" about time.  Of course now "I get it", and I am acutely aware that from beginning to end, my journey in life is actually a relatively quick sprint.  So maybe it is the quality of time lived, and not the amount of time spent that is the most valuable.  I have quoted James Taylor..."the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time," many times, because it makes a lot of sense and I want to practice the simple philosophy of what it means.  So this is what I do.....write a little, enjoy my children, love MJ, interact with friends, appreciate my family, and of course love my Ralphy who brings to me nothing but joy.  Not only is this way of life simple, but it is effective in helping me understand myself and has given myself an appreciation of what you and I call life.

Peace................jim

...winter is still here