Beagliers

This is a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel/Beagle= Bealgier. My friend's dog had pups and they got to stay with my for a few weeks, so they were my test subjects! I took the pics in color, but I changed to sepia. I love how they look, especially with the leather case and "used" straw hat.
Curious pup! I just bought a new camera bag and had it outside with me since I was taking pictures of the puppies. They kept walking around and sniffing the bag. This was when I got the idea to put the dogs "in" the bag. I love the pics of lab puppies hanging out of bags, and thought I would try it.

This is one of my favorites!

Don't believe the expression. He wasn't in there very long and he didn't even budge! He did very well and the picture came out like I hoped it would!

"Bird Dog!"

Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

In 1941, Nicholas Fouquet, the finance minister of Louis XIV bought the estate, Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte {voh-luh-vee-kohnt'}, outside Paris. The French baroque château was the model for the Palace of Versailles.

The château, built between 1956-1961, was lavish, refined, and dazzling to behold, but these characteristics proved tragic for its owner: the king had Fouquet arrested shortly after a celebration was held on 17 August 1661.

The celebration had been too impressive and the superintendent's home too luxurious. Fouquet's intentions were to flatter the King: part of Vaux-le-Vicomte was actually constructed specifically for the king, but Fouquet's plan backfired. The king was led to believe that the chateau was funded by Fouquet embezzling from him. It is now certain that there never had been any embezzlement, but just a plot to undermine Fouquet and jealousy on the part of the King. These pictures were taken during/after a nice May rain rainfall.

Every Saturday night they light over 2000 candles around the garden. Unfortunately you can't tell from these pictures, but the site is gorgeous.

Of all the places I got to see in Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Vaux-le-Vicomte was my favorite. It really paints a picture of what it looked like in the 1600's.