Photos of Carmel

my drawing of Carmel's scrapbook, from my 'My Dog Carmel' bookI 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.


a dog's-pawprint dingbat

Carmel's mother Kim, playing the piano - July, 1974

Carmel’s mother Kim, playing the piano – July, 1974

 


My friend Deirdre holding Carmel's father Sandy - October, 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 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

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, 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

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

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

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

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

Small Carmel casts a tall shadow – October, 1974

 


Smokey and young Carmel sitting on the fence in their sweaters - sometime in 1975

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 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

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

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

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

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 wearing one of her presents at her first birthday party – August 15, 1975

 


The Englewood Herald-Sentinel's article about Carmel's first birthday party - August 21, 1975

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.

 


Carmel and Snowy - sometime in 1976

Carmel and Snowy – sometime in 1976

 


Carmel and Gato - sometime in 1976

Carmel and Gato – sometime in 1976

 


Carmel waiting for a fancy dinner - 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

Carmel and Smokey on Deirdre’s family’s riding mower – sometime in 1976

 


Smokey and Carmel in the grass - sometime in 1976

Smokey and Carmel in the grass – sometime in 1976

 


Carmel in Deirdre's family's tree - 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

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.



{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Look Out May 15, 2012 at 7:33 pm

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.

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Tané Tachyon May 16, 2012 at 1:01 am

Awww … :-)

So do you have any pets these days?

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Look Out June 6, 2012 at 2:49 pm
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