Well, It's Mother's Day 2010

My 2009 Challenge died and went to photography heaven about half way through the year. With all the things that were going on in my life (and most still are), I just no longer had the energy (or time!) to photograph or post on a regular basis.

Life is still overwhelming right now, but I have a little time--I'm on vacation this week (yea!!!). I'm doing body-clipping on the horses. It gets hot way before they're shed out, so clipping helps them keep cooler during the spring and early summer.

So far Buffi, Bonfire, Ladyhawk, and Spirit are done, although Spirit still sports winter hair on his back and hips. (He has sun sensitivity, and must wear a flysheet during the summer--which he HATES--so I leave the protective winter hair until Mother Nature rids him of it. That way he wears his flysheet about a month less than he would if I clipped him like I do the rest of the horses.

Kittyhawk will not be clipped, as she is shedding out so nice and slick already. I cleaned up her head, lower legs, and bridlepath (the mane right behind her ears), and am trying to help the winter coat remaining shed out quicker. She's almost done!

Mustang and Symphony remain to be done. Since yearlings don't shed very well on their own for some reason, Symphony will be left till last. Mustang will get his started tomorrow if it stops raining. (Not getting much, just enough to make me NOT want to run an electric cord from the house to the barn!) Cool mornings like yesterday and today require that everyone clipped wear a blanket (which Spirit also hates), so I'm busy this time of year pulling blankets off in the morning and replacing them at night.

BTW: Symphony will not be known officially as Symphony in Silk, as originally planned. She has turned into a lovely bright red sorrel with a flaxen mane and tail, and will be registered as Sunrise Symphony. Seems to fit her better. Photos coming after everyone's clipped!

To all the mothers who read this (whether you have children or pets!), HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

166 - Larger Than Life

The same day I took the pigeon photos, I captured a hawk moments after he brought down one of those same pigeons for a big dinner. Unfortunately for him, a much larger hawk was gliding nearby, and decided to nab a free meal. He landed near the smaller hawk with his catch, and proceeded to intimidate him with his superior size. After a moment or two, the smaller one conceded defeat and left the kill to the big one. This is the imposing stance the big one took to obtain his pre-caught feast! Might impressive thief, isn't he?!?

157 - In My Neighborhood

A flock of pigeons have moved into the rural area where I live, much to the pleasure of the red-tailed hawks (and feral cats). I managed to get my camera out (for the first time in a while--life gets in the way sometimes) and get a few shots of the pigeons' aerial dancing. I just missed a red-tailed hawk bringing down a pigeon, but did get a few of him on the ground with it, and a bigger (much bigger!) hawk laying claim to it.

This photo is part of the dance. Amazing that they just don't run into each other--although when the hawks showed up, they got a little crazy, losing the rhythm and direction synchronicity. Still, no collisions. Fascinating!

197 - Neglected

This is a true old-fashioned (and just plain old) picket fence. It surrounds one of the houses making up Chestnut Square in McKinney. The house has been refurbished, so it looks almost new (even though it's over 100 years old), but did someone forget about the fence? It has that benign air of neglect, somehow seems a bit more inviting and friendly than a pristine, newly erected picket fence would have. I just love this old fence!

212 - Open

Well, that's what it says! (Window of a restaurant in McKinney, TX.)

284 - Silly

There were several funky frogs placed throughout downtown McKinney. I'd guess that each was done by a different artist, though I have no ideas what the purpose of the frogs is! They're cute, anyway!

49 - Chores

All right, so it's been a while since this has been used for any chores! How would you have liked washing clothes in a machine such as this?