The Englewood Herald-Sentinel’s article about Carmel’s first birthday party – August 21, 1975
Five years later I was a reporter for the same newspaper.
Photos of Carmel
I took these photographs of my dog Carmel and her family and friends during the years 1974 to 1976 — you can click on any of them to see larger versions.
All pictures were taken at my mother’s house in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, and my friend Deirdre’s back yard, which was basically attached to my mother’s front yard anyway.
Carmel’s mother Kim, playing the piano – July, 1974
My friend Deirdre holding Carmel’s father Sandy – October, 1974
Carmel’s mother Kim is a race-car driver – July, 1974
Carmel’s mother Kim and Smokey “drive” a little lawnmower-engine-powered Model T-style car – May, 1974
My mother had gotten this car at a garage sale, and it really did run on gasoline.
Carmel’s mother Kim, very pregnant with Carmel and her four brothers and sisters – August, 1974
Carmel’s mother Kim, immediately after giving birth to Carmel and her four brothers and sisters – August 15, 1974
Kim watches as three-days-old Carmel and siblings are lined up for a photo – August 18, 1974
Back in those pre-digital-camera days, where before you could see your pictures you had to fill up a roll of film, take it somewhere to be developed, and then pay some scarce $$$ when you picked your photos up a few days later, being unable to immediately upload timestamped photos to the nonexistent Internet I had to include objects like the three pens above in my puppy photos, to indicate how many days old the puppies were.
Carmel and her brothers and sisters are ten days old – August 25, 1974
Young Carmel and her brothers and sisters and two guinea pigs — now that’s a REAL puppy pile! – August, 1974
Small Carmel casts a tall shadow – October, 1974
Smokey and young Carmel sitting on the fence in their sweaters – sometime in 1975
I had bought these sweaters at a pet store, but I also sewed some outfits for Carmel and Smokey myself, such as a zebra-striped jacket with yellow trim, a rabbit-fur coat, and, strangely enough, a Phantom of the Paradise costume.
Smokey and Carmel at Carmel’s first birthday party – August 15, 1975
Smokey with some of the presents at Carmel’s first birthday party – August 15, 1975
Patrick holding Carmel’s father Sandy at Carmel’s first birthday party – August 15, 1975
Regina with Felix and Carmel at Carmel’s first birthday party – August 15, 1975
Michele and Tyson holding Rascal and Sandy at Carmel’s first birthday party – August 15, 1975
Carmel wearing one of her presents at her first birthday party – August 15, 1975
Carmel and Snowy – sometime in 1976
Carmel and Gato – sometime in 1976
Carmel waiting for a fancy dinner – sometime in 1976
I had mixed berry pancake syrup with water to try to make something that would look like wine. :-)
Carmel and Smokey on Deirdre’s family’s riding mower – sometime in 1976
Smokey and Carmel in the grass – sometime in 1976
Carmel in Deirdre’s family’s tree – sometime in 1976
I had the idea of teaching Carmel to climb trees, but she wasn’t too interested.
Carmel the director – July, 1975
This photo dates to when I was taking a summer high-school photography class where we developed our own black and white photos in a darkroom.
Keith Olbermann reads James Thurber's "Memorial" (about Thurber's poodle 'Medve')
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I once disparaged poodles as a breed. You replied, “I had poodles when I was younger. They’re very smart.” I took your word for it without further argument (and later wondered about my ignorance and rudeness). It’s nice to read how smart they were.
Awww … :-)
So do you have any pets these days?
Meow?