So the big deal over here at the worldwide headquarters was that the final part of our long remodel was completed -- the back yard. Now we don't like to let the boys out unattended... especially Kiwi, who in his former life before we bailed him out of the local city shelter was as a stray. Supposedly 3-years-old at the time, I think younger, but the boy likes to roam. So he had a new area to explore, though, let's face it, he tired of it soon.

I read somewhere that tuxedo cats roam the farthest of all cats so I'm not real keen on letting him get time outside without an escort, know what I mean? Still, he jumps our walls and fences, ends up in the neighbor's yard and all kinds of mischief. I bought him the Tile device to wear on his collar. He must wear a collar when he goes outside. The Tile doesn't have great range but we've found him many a time because he was wearing it. He does tend to sneak away and it doesn't take any time at all to lose sight of him.

The new landscaping now has a path in our tiny back yard. A friend calls it the jogging path and Kiwi likes to walk it and quite often he'll sprint. Mango really is a scaredy cat and it took him a month to venture to the back part of the path. And I'm telling you, our yard is small. Maybe not tiny, but you know, he can see the back door from wherever he goes. He's wound pretty tight in the fear department.

OK, I just said Kiwi must wear a collar but the other day when I was at the kitchen door, not the door he usually goes out of, he ran out. Before I knew it, he was on the back wall. But instead of pulling him off as I would normally do, I ran back inside and got my camera, my Fuji X-T2 with a 50-140 lens on it. It was on the table, loaded, good to go. And lo and behold I got the most charming photo of Kiwi nestled amid the greenery and these gorgeous flowers growing in my neighbor's yard. He looked beautiful.

It was nearing sunset, the whole yard was in shadow, and I was also able to get a few images of Mango, too. Readers of my Facebook posts know Mango really gets the short shrift when it comes to photos. Like many non-professional photographers, I, too, find it difficult to get a good photo of a black animal without any additional lighting, especially if I take it with my phone. And in all honesty, Mango wasn't particularly cooperative, it's just I rarely get photos of him.

By the way, for those keeping track, Mango healed quite nicely after his emergency femoral head and neck ostectomy. While we were in the hotel during the remodel, his femur came out of his hip socket and he was in incredible pain and needed surgery, stat. It was quite awkward trying to nurse a cat back to health in the hotel we were staying in. We had to buy a big dog crate to keep him immobile. Traumatic for all, but especially for him. You know, it's a salvage surgery and they cut off the tip of the femur and it's not attached to the hip socket anymore. The muscle keeps things together. Don't ask me, I'm a photographer, not a vet, but it seems to work and he's out of pain and moves and jumps well.

That was a sidetrack. So here are a few photos of Kiwi, Mango, and for good measure, the back yard just after it was landscaped.

Finally over the rush of the holidays? Why not schedule your pet photography session with me? Hit that contact button or give me a call at 818-481-5214 and let's do it!