Stone Dragon Farm

Well, It's Mother's Day 2010

2010-05-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

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

2009-12-26T09:40:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-17T21:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-14T21:34:00.000-07:00

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

284 - Silly

2009-08-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-01T20:24:00.000-07:00

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?

221 - Outdoor Seating

2009-07-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

Someone was having a good time on a Saturday night! (And a fun ride home.)

1- One Hundred

2009-07-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

Four days old . . .
One Hundred days old . . .

Symphony is 100 days old! My how she's grown, and the things she's learned! Still fuzzy, but less so. That fuzzy baby coat is almost gone. The coat under it is still a little fuzzy, so no slick, summery coat this year! When she sheds her winter coat next spring as a yearling, then she'll have that nice slick shine. Look at that face! Huge difference in 3+ months, don't you agree?

Free Theme #5 - Against All Odds

2009-07-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

On the ledge running below the roof level of the historic Collin County courthouse in downtown McKinney, pigeon spikes--intended to prevent pigeons from landing and roosting on the ledge--hold in place . . . a pigeon nest!

Using the spikes to keep the nest in place, it is protected from being blown off by storms or attacked by aerial predators. The very thing put up to prevent the nest is the thing that keeps it safe -- against all odds.

54 - Closed

2009-07-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

Ski shop? Snowbird store? No merchandise that I could see inside, but I loved the sign and the sentiment!

53 - Clocks

2009-07-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

County courthouse, downtown McKinney, Texas. Another Photowalk photo. (That was just so much fun! I'm going to try to do it again next year!)

196 - Navigational Aids

2009-07-24T15:27:00.000-07:00

This is the bit of a carriage horse in McKinney, TX, photographed during the Photowalk last Saturday. The bit (and the reins attached to it, of course) are the lines of communication with which you navigate your horse. So, I see the bits as navigational aids. It's a stretch, but this was one of my favorite shots (don't know why!) from the walk. (And I love that you can see the shank part of the bit of the nearer horse, out of focus.)

85 - Entrance

2009-07-21T19:46:00.000-07:00

This is one of the entrances to Chestnut Square in McKinney, Texas. Chestnut Square is a combination museum of old houses, farmer's market on Saturday mornings through the spring and summer, and party/festivity rental (there was a wedding about to take place when we went through there during the Worldwide Photowalk).

This lovely little brick walkway takes you into the very nicely kept, eye- and spirit-pleasing grounds. I always get the feeling that those houses may not be historical landmarks, but rather lived-in homes. As long as their dogs don't bite . . .

145 - Heart's Desire

2009-07-12T14:51:00.000-07:00

It took me 4 years to get a Miniature foal of my own breeding! She is definitely my heart's desire!

293 - Solitary

2009-07-06T09:49:00.000-07:00

I just can't seem to get the timing right to get a good shot of a red-tailed hawk! I was driving home the other day, and saw this guy taking off from the top of a telephone pole. (Would love to have captured the takeoff!). I stopped the truck and got out as quickly as possible, but by then, of course, he was soaring high. I snapped a few anyway, and I kind of liked the look of this one, with him backed by all the little clouds. (The ongoing challenge to get a good close shot is still fun.)

I just love the red-tails. They are so majestic. (But they are one of the reasons I haven't gotten any chickens yet, which I want very much to do. Red-tails love chicken, feathers and all!) I miss seeing the pair that used to nest in the trees by the lake. A runway, directional windsock, etc. has gone in for radio-controlled airplanes. A couple of idiots chased the hawks with their planes, so the birds relocated to the other side of Lake Lavon.

I do have to wonder WHY humans have to be so stupid sometimes! (Sorry! Every time I think about that, it makes me angry all over again!)

But watching this fellow, and hearing his calls to his mate, who showed up just after I started driving again (of course!), eases my spirit. To be nonviolent and vegetarian, I don't understand why I'm so enthralled with predatory birds (and cats--I love the big ones as well as the domestic type)! But I am who I am. I love 'em!

195 - National Pride

2009-07-04T21:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day!

352 - Watch

2009-07-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, I'm being watched. Horses have an amazing field of vision. The only blind spots they have are directly down their nose (which means those fantastic jumping horses you see in the shows or on TV can't actually see where the bar is, or where their own feet are!) and directly behind them.

Although Symphony is turned away from me, she is watching every move I make from her left eye. Her ears are locked on me, which tells me where her attention is. If the ears had been forward, she would have been watching the geldings running and playing in the pen in front of her. Where the ears are, there also is the mind.

239 - Power

2009-06-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

I know you're thinking "Power? Ducks? How do those two things go together????"

Here's how: Ducks are deceptively calm on the water. We see a serene bird gliding effortlessly across the water's surface.

What's real is that their feet are pedaling with great speed and force (if they're in a hurry, that is), and only rarely do you get to see and to realize just how much they are working below the surface for that "effortless" propulsion!

I chose this photo because behind the duck, you can see a bit of his pedal power, water churning, like a mini inboard motor on a boat, a bit of whitewater and a flashing orange leg. Seemingly serene, but peddling like hell below the surface!

32 - Boy

2009-06-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

I've no idea what the next door neighbor's son was watering down with his Super Soaker. Probably some unfortunate insect got an unexpected shower.

This little guy is usually well watched after by his mom. Apparently he escaped the close confines of her ever-watchful eyes just long enough to sneak out back for a bit. Shortly after I took this photo, she came looking for him and took him back inside. (He's 3.)

I was wondering how I would be able to get a decent shot of some male immature human (a terrifying species to me), and this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up! From the safety of my pickup truck (I just got home from errands.), I managed to get this single photo of the local human wildlife, and escape unharmed. Whew!

205 - Obsession

2009-06-28T20:29:00.000-07:00

This is the focus of my world! My little horses. They are my hobby, my friends, my entertainment, my sanity! Obsession? Oh, no! (Not much.)

203 - Numbers

2009-06-27T16:42:00.000-07:00

Is this a happy medium? Eight and a half years ago, gas was under $1.00 a gallon. Last year, it was over $4.00. A couple of months ago it was just under $2.00, but began to climb again. Now, though, it's hovering around $2.50. Too high? Too low? Maybe a "happy" medium. (I can remember pulling out of a station without buying gas because it was just TOO expensive . . . at 39¢ a gallon!)

BTW: Why doesn't anyone round up when quoting gas prices? That little 9 to the right of the dollars and cents numbers means 9/10's. Seems to me that's closer to $2.43 and $2.50 than the number we see. Wouldn't it make sense to say (and think), "Oh, $2.43 a gallon!"? Even a penny a gallon makes a difference. My truck holds 24 gallons. Four fill-ups and that's almost a dollar! (I still see $2.42, too!) Those little numbers we forget about add up, too!

342 - Underneath

2009-06-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

In this 101ºF heat, even the birds are seeking relief! This grackle found a bit of shade underneath a car in a parking lot. It's hot enough, he's panting to keep cool. Seems like he'd be cooler in a tree (but he didn't ask me)!

Only four more days of triple digits, then we get a real cooling trend: 96º!

308 - Summer

2009-06-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

I got some more photos of my baby yesterday, the first day of summer. So while we suffer 98º heat with 65% humidity, everyone else has to suffer through a few more baby pictures! And since they were taken on Summer Solstice, I thought the theme "Summer" would work. (I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel for horse-related themes now! Eeeek!!)

She's 2 months old now!

110 - Free

2009-06-21T19:32:00.000-07:00

This pigeon has managed to find a free lunch. Someone apparently dropped a peanut on the parking lot, and this lucky bird managed to find it before the grackles did. What's that saying?

"The early bird gets the . . . peanut!"

305 - Street Scenes

2009-06-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

Trapped behind a road-stripe painting convoy, I played around with my camera a little. After all, when you can't get around, it makes more sense to relax and look at the world around you rather than get your knickers in a knot! So, I photographed the trailing truck of the convoy, and the other side of the road. Not much of a photo, but it made for a much more pleasant wait than impatience would have!

335 - Transparent

2009-06-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

This walkway is part of a hospital complex in Plano, Tx. The tract of land the hospital was built on wasn't big enough, so they bought the tract across the street and connected the two by this walkway. Ingenious! And a very odd sensation (to me at least) to stand in the walkway and watch the cars go under. At least it's not transparent underneath. I don't think I'd be brave enough to step out onto it! (I'm not so good with heights as it is!)

I always love driving down that road and going under the walkway. Don't know why. Just one of those little things that flavor life a little happier. (Like the dragonfly that landed on my windshield wiper yesterday when I was stopped at a stop light. He rested a moment and took off again just as the light turned. Do you suppose he was watching the light, too? Wish I'd had my camera!!)

319 - The Games We Play

2009-06-17T20:36:00.000-07:00

Next door neighbors' kids must've had a soccer game while I was at work. Here is the evidence. I'm sorry I missed it! Few things are more entertaining than kids playing "organized" sports. All I get to see is the abandoned (temporarily) ball! (sigh)

286 - Skeletal

2009-06-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

Bet you thought this was a theme for Halloween! Well, this one's for summer. This is a radio tower that's visible from my back yard. I've been threatening to photograph it for ages (goodness only knows why!), and so I finally did. It's kind of anorexic looking, such a skinny, boney thing to be so tall! So: Skeletal is the theme for today!

343 - Unfinished (Compost)

2009-06-15T08:11:00.000-07:00

This is my compost tumbler. Kitchen scraps, grass clippings (and yes, the backyard needs mowing!), some horse/donkey manure, leaves and garden waste all go into the tumbler. A few turns everyday (well, every two or three days, to be honest), and in a few weeks, we have lovely fresh compost for the garden!

There are two compartments: one for filling, one for "cooking" compost. At this time, both sides are unfinished. The "cooking" side needs a couple or three more weeks, and the filling side isn't full yet. (As soon as the cooking is done, I'll empty that side. Then it will become the filling side, and the other side will begin its "cooking" process. I've no doubt it will be full enough by then!)

114 - Fruits of the Season

2009-06-13T20:51:00.000-07:00

Two little Roma tomatoes developing on my lonely little Roma tomato plant. (I have 3 other tomato plants, but none are Italian. Language barrier, you think?)

Lost one of the tomatoes in a nasty storm Wednesday night (along with a bunch of roof shingles), so now there's just one. Gonna be a very SMALL amount of spaghetti sauce made from that!

19 - Backlighting

2009-06-12T19:51:00.000-07:00

Almost sundown. This is Crimson Spirit, my 32" gelding. He is sun-sensitive (very rare in a healthy horse), so when I clip his winter coat off as the weather gets hot, I leave it over his back and hips, to help protect his skin. By the time it sheds out naturally, he'll be having to wear a fly-sheet (which he hates), or staying in the barn during the day (which he hates much worse). Every morning he gets his flysheet put on, and does a short little rodeo routine--just enough to make me happy he's not big enough to try to ride!

I love the way the late evening sun highlighted the hair in his bright red tail, turning it a luminescent gold. Makes him even more handsome than he already is! (No bias, here!)

116 - Futuristic

2009-06-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe that this is a 40-year-old water tower in the formerly very small town of Fairview. The shape is so unusual, it looks like it just landed. There's a lot of construction going on all around it. They've put a cyclone fence up around it, which gives me hope that it will be spared destruction in the encroaching "progress". I've always thought it was kinda cool.

24 - Bent

2009-06-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

Self explanatory!

Free Theme: Ladyhawk

2009-06-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

Ladyhawk is mama to my baby Symphony. She's a great mom and a lovely mini Appy mare. She's also one tough cookie, and she's had a really tough week.

Wednesday a week ago, Ladyhawk apparently was attempting to scratch an itchy eye on her hay rack (which is made of rebar). In the process, she caught and tore her eyelid, and scratched her eyeball. The injury required a trip to the vet ($234.00 vet bill!), and was the first outing for Symphony, who acted like a little pro in the halter!

Then this past Wednesday evening, Ladyhawk showed signs of colic. I was gone running errands, and when I came home, she was in obvious pain, rolling on the ground, kicking and biting at her belly, standing with her head almost on the ground. So, another trip to the vet ($250), and an all night vigil for me. Everything looked just fine until 4:00 am, then the symptoms returned. At 4:15, we were on our way back to the vet, where she & baby spent the day, undergoing treatment and observation. By 4:00 pm, I had picked her back up and headed home. A second all nighter yielded more promising results, and she is finally doing better, although she's tired and gaunted from her ordeal.

For those of you not familiar with horses & colic, it's common and often deadly. About 60% requires intervention, and 10% requires surgery (over half of those needing surgery are poor candidates for it by the time it's necessity is determined). Of that 10%, 60% don't survive. Colic is the biggest cause of equine euthanasia (in part due to the expense--$5,000 to $8,000 is not uncommon, with complications of course, raising the cost significantly), with laminitis (what ailed Barbaro, during and after his recovery of severe fractures during the 2006 Preakness Stakes) close behind. Seeing the symptoms of a colic attack strikes terror in the heart of every horse owner. So far, I've been lucky. Ladyhawk's was the most severe I've had, and the first one I haven't managed to catch early. In most cases, the earlier the better, as far as the final outcome. For the horse's comfort, regardless of the outcome, earlier is definitely better!

So, I decided to dedicate this posting to my lovely Ladyhawk, to honor her for all she has endured in her short 9 years of life. Quite a lady, she is!

364 - Works of Art

2009-06-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

This may be a bit of a stretch (which I reserve the privilege to do!), but this photo relates to Works of Art on several levels.

First: The horse is a gorgeous Appaloosa miniature.

Second: The driver's attire is artfully assembled and color coordinated (even with the horse).

Third: My piece de resistance -- the horse's name is Thousand Oaks Yashica's Monet (Barn name is Monet). A pretty good artist, wasn't he? Monet?

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

162 - Jumping, Leaping, Bouncing

2009-05-31T20:42:00.001-07:00

This theme lends itself to one subject (in my book, anyway). Bet you can't guess! (Yeah, right.)

Hey, she's six weeks old now!

176 - Look Alikes

2009-05-30T17:53:00.000-07:00

OK, so it takes a little imagination. This big gnarly piece of tree (the rear one) was at one time part of a combination of trees that, when the water level was just right, looked like a dragon playing in the water.

The head was just breaking the surface, there was a loop of the back, and then the tail, which came straight up out of the water and swung off to the east. The bridge builders took out a lot of trees where they were going to put the new bridge. The dragontree was not in the way, but between their machinations, and the drought in 2006, the dragontree was broken up, and this part washed ashore on the south side of the new bridge. (I do believe there was a dragon in the lake, her spirit living in the dragontree. On a full moon-lit night, you could see her out there, playing in the silkenlight of the moon on the water! When they destroyed her tree, she chose to leave the area. I miss her.

If you look really hard, and let your imagination loose, you can almost see the spark of dragonspirit that once inhabited this bit of log. That's a dragon's head! No one will ever convince me otherwise!

353 - Water

2009-05-29T20:23:00.001-07:00

This is the edge of the shore, beside where the old FM 3286 bridge still stands (its skeleton, at least). It was a bit windy, and the waves were leaping up the side of the shore. I just kind of liked the leaping water, and the theme title was just made for this theme (or vice versa). (View it at full size for the full effect.)

36 - Broken

2009-05-28T16:28:00.000-07:00

This old tree was hit by lightning four or five years ago. I thought it was surely dead, but it just wasn't ready to go! The dead part shades the sheep in the heat of the afternoon, and the live part shows that it ain't over 'til it's over. Best lesson "broken" has ever taught me (other than don't jump on a board that is not supported in the middle--I was ten, OK?).

183 - Metallic

2009-05-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

This big house went up on top of a hill not far from my home. I never even realized they were building it, but when the sun reflects off that dynamite copper roof, there's no missing it! It's set far enough back from the road, and with a rusty barbed wire fence surrounding it, that this is as close as I could get. I love that copper roof, and can't wait until it gets the lovely patina that Mother Nature will give it over time!

What a great view of Lake Lavon they have, too. (It's on the other side of the hill.)

273 - Seeds

2009-05-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

There are still some dandelion seeds clinging to the puffball, but it looks like my front yard will soon be sprouting a few more dandelions! My husband thinks they're weeds. I think they're beautiful! Cheerful and smiley face yellow, they persevere even in the face of the lawnmower!

74 - Dangerous

2009-05-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

This innocuous looking grass is tall fescue, and it is the cause of a great deal of trouble and expense for me. This grass has a parasite called an endophyte (a parasite to the plant--a symbiotic relationship which is beneficial to both the grass and the endophyte). This endophyte is a real problem for breeders of horses, sheep and goats, although it doesn't appear to affect cattle. (Sheep and goats get the worst of it--I won't go into the gory details, and they really are gory.)

In horses it causes a number of issues related to the hormonal disruptions it causes. I lost a gorgeous Appy colt in 2006 because of some hay that had a lot of fescue in it. This year, I discovered a drug called domperidone (brand name Equidone) which counteracts some, but not all, of the effects of endophyte toxicity. The result was my Symphony in Silk. The expense is $100 a month until the foal is weaned. I can't imagine the expense for a large horse! Ladyhawk weighs about 350 lbs. At 1100 or 1200, the dose is increased proportionately! OUCH!

Anyway, this lovely batch of fescue was photographed in my pasture, grown from seeds that were in that hay. So innocent looking. So dangerous for baby horses, lambs, kids . . .

48 - Childhood Favorite

2009-05-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

I've always loved dragons! (Not as much as horses, but when's the last time you petted a dragon?) These are two of he dragon figurines I've collected over the years. Most of them have gone on to other homes, other dracophiles, but somehow these two guys, along with a tiny pewter one, have stuck around. They were always my favorites.

325 - Things That Go

2009-05-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

Ladies' Single Pleasure Driving class. Yes, those little horses sure can go!

208 - On the Road

2009-05-16T21:50:00.000-07:00

This is the first half of a sharp s-turn that I tackle every day, to and from work. Amazing how often they have to replace or repair that guard rail. (And those are million dollar + homes on the other side of those bushes--those 10-foot-tall bushes!) There was no guard rail at all until they built the first few of those homes.

BTW: Those 10 ft bushes were less than 18" tall when they were planted. My husband worked for the landscape company that put them in, and put most of them in himself! (That was 33 years ago!)

Speed limit's 35, I usually take it around 40, but never if the weather's bad. Wet weather, it's a 25 mph turn.

177 - Looking Down

2009-05-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

This is Symphony on her first day out of the stall (four days old). A horse's lips are equivalent to a human's fingers, so mouthing and tasting everything is the first thing they do. This brat, I mean filly, has only her four milk teeth (and I have the bruise on my arm to prove she can use them!). She's checking out the semi-dried dirt clods, lumps, etc. in the front lot.

The camera setting was all wrong, and the picture was way too dark. Once I lightened it up to where it was readily visible, the color noise was so loud I had to plug my ears (eyes?)! B&W does wonders with photos that would otherwise be a wash, so I gave it a try. I use the Black and White on Photoshop, rather than Desaturate, because it gives me the ability to enhance or diminish each color separately, which allows me to get the best possible B&W image.

223 - Pair

2009-05-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

I'm running out of photos! But the sun is out today (finally!!) and I'll be out later with my trusty sidekick the D80, making like the photographic big game hunter: looking for anything worth shooting! My way's much better: No blood!

Horse show pic again. Single Pleasure, Under class in AMHR show. (The "Under" means under 34". "Over" is over 34" to 38". They used to call it A and B divisions. I prefer that. Under/Over implies imperfect height to my mind. No one ever said my mind was normal!)

183 - Living the Green Life

2009-05-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

Can't get much greener (or oranger???) than a ladybug on a weedstalk. When I was photographing the unusual green butterfly (a few posts back), I saw this little lady on a nearby plant, slowly making her way around and down, on her way to ?? where? I don't know where ladybugs go, but I'm always glad to see one on her journey.

127 - Grass, Lawn, Turf

2009-05-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

A neighbor around the corner has a lovely stand of bluebonnets in his side yard every spring. I had to get a shot or two, and this is the view from the street. His three little trees (about 7 or 8 feet tall now) are ankle deep in bluebonnets. They may be common here in the spring, but they're beautiful. I think they're about the best thing about Texas!

235 - Places of Worship

2009-05-10T14:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Some people think church/synagogue/mosque is where you go to worship whatever deity you believe in. If he/she is truly the creator of all, isn't "all" a place of worship, as well? I find myself closer to spirit in nature, rather than in a manmade building. If you can't see your God in these places, then where? (A very small god indeed, if a building is the only place he/she resides!)

63 - Concrete

2009-05-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

Here's the one set of girders they removed from the bridge before removing themselves from the scene. Kids play on them while their parents fish. (Scares me to death--too many rough edges and holes, but I'm a paranoid grandparent! I'm always complaining that today's kids are too protected for their own good, so here I am complaining about kids not protected enough. I think the overprotectiveness of our society is rubbing off! Aaaarrrrrggghhhhhhh!) Still, it doesn't look like the best playground equipment . . .

217 - Out of Date

2009-05-07T05:33:00.000-07:00

The remains of the old bridge on FM3286 still stand beside the (much wider & safer) new bridge. I wish they could have left it available for foot traffic and the many bicycle races that come through this way. There are "No Fishing From Bridge" signs on the new one; the old one would have been ideal for that!

Right after the top layers were removed, and one section of girders, the construction crew abandoned the site. (Although yesterday, it looked like they may have returned--after two months--or it could be a new crew. Rumors are that the old crew ran out of money and shut down, but I don't know how much truth there is to that. Rumors fill any informational void!)

Anyway, Out Of Date seemed to fit the old bridge, which was built when Lake Lavon was filled, back in 1953 (that bridge was as old as me!). It was narrow two lane, with absolutely NO shoulder. Where the yellow outside line was, the bridge rail was an inch away, and the bridge was a mile long! Could get scary sometimes!! I'm glad it's gone! (Well, sort of gone.)

67 - Costume

2009-05-06T06:45:00.000-07:00

The pleasure harness classes at any horse show require various levels of dress-up. The Ladies Single Pleasure sports the most elaborate and elegant of all. This lovely lady is dressed to the nines in her Single Pleasure costume (with jeans hidden under the long dress coat!). I just thought she was so beautiful in that had and red coat, I just couldn't resist snapping a few shots off as she drove by. (Do you believe it? A horse-related post with NO HORSE in it!!!)

351 - Warnings

2009-05-04T21:51:00.000-07:00

A warning sign for underground power lines -- do you suppose that scissortail swallow is reading the warning? He seems awfully unconcerned, and quite comfortable, too. From the looks of the sign, it's a frequent rest stop for birds of one kind or other!

172 - Lines

2009-05-03T15:21:00.000-07:00

What are reins for a riding horse, are called "lines" on a driving horse. The lines should keep the bit in contact with the horse's mouth, but not nagging him (in other words, firm but not tight) Unlike a riding horse, you can't use your legs and body as cues to the horse. Those lines are your only means of communication--other than your voice, which is one way communication--the lines are two way. You learn through your fingers to "listen" as well as to "talk" to the horse. That's called "feel", and it's one of those things some folks come by naturally, some don't. I never had a good seat on a horse, but I do have good "feel."

170 - Legs

2009-05-02T19:52:00.000-07:00

I chose this photo of 6-day-old Symphony because . . . well, no explanation needed!

86 - Environmental Portraits

2009-05-01T20:53:00.000-07:00

I don't know what kind of butterfly this is, but it is the first green one I've ever seen. I thought it was just exquisite, with almost translucent wings (which don't really show up on the photo). A beautiful creature! (View full size to get a better look.)

"Have you ever seen a sunset in a perfect sky?

Or noticed the masterpiece we call a butterfly?

We are a witness to these miracles each day.

May it always be this way!"

--We Share the Earth by Mary Ann Kennedy, on her album The Road Less Travelled

237 - Polka Dots

2009-04-30T06:14:00.000-07:00

This is such a wonderful little Appy stallion (from the same farm Ladyhawk, Kittyhawk, and Mustang came from, and home of Symphony's sire!), I had to include his photo somewhere! Polka Dots seemed to be the perfect theme for him. Look at that color! He's a work of art. (His name is Monet!) Reserve World Champion Single Pleasure Driving Stallion in 2008.

84 - Empty

2009-04-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

This is one of two horse barns at the Somervell County Expo in Glen Rose, TX. This differs from the Stock Show barn photo, in that these stalls are empty, but they were in use. These exhibitors were through showing, so they packed up and went home. There were a few empty, unused stalls (always are), but no barren aisles. That's a good sign, if not for the economy, then certainly for the AMHR (American Miniature Horse Registry) and ASPC (American Shetland Pony Club)! Sorry I missed seeing all the beautiful tiny horses and elegant ponies, but I'm happy to see they were there!

357 - What's for Dinner?

2009-04-28T06:52:00.000-07:00

Another "catch-up" photo, for yesterday! Out behind the show barn, a barbeque cooker is ready and waiting. Dinner, anyone?

119 - Gatherings

2009-04-28T05:51:00.000-07:00

A reprieve from the baby photos, but not from horse photos! Back to last weekend's horse show: A discussion between trainers and owners about the upcoming Single Pleasure Driving class. Everybody gets input except the horse. Looks like he's used to that, with his, "Alright, already! Let's get moving!" expression.

47 - Childhood Antics

2009-04-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

Yes, another Symphony picture! (You're all gonna get sick of 'em, if you aren't yet!)

She was playing in the dry lot yesterday afternoon, and was apparently convinced that the water hose was really, really BIG! She wanted to make sure she cleared it! (All she lacks is wings!)

34 - Breakfast

2009-04-25T19:13:00.000-07:00

Some of us like variety for breakfast. Symphony, on the other hand, at this point, anyway, is happy for the same breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks! The only choice she gets is, left nipple or right one?

304 - Stop the Action

2009-04-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

Symphony was full of herself when she got a little time outside this morning! It was sprinkling--the first raindrops she ever felt! She had a good time, and there may be some reining horse trainers wishing she was a bit bigger--she's got some amazing rollbacks and sliding stops, and her, only 23" tall!

The photo below is catch up for yesterday, so I get, er, have to post another one for today! Yea!! (I'm not proud of her, or nuthin'!)

17 - Baby!

2009-04-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I got Ladyhawk and Symphony home yesterday afternoon. I turned them out for a little while this morning. It was dark and grey, as it's supposed to rain (for the next week +), so I grabbed a few quick shots of baby Symphony. Here's the first at-home shot of her. (Isn't she gorgeous? I just can't take my eyes off of her!)

Mama Ladyhawk has a funny hair cut. It's called a foaling clip or belly clip, and it's to keep new babies from getting mouthsful of hair when they're looking for meals. Too much hair in a foal's tummy can cause serious, even fatal, problems, so a foaling clip is pretty standard for miniature mares. In a few weeks, you'll not be able to tell she ever had a bare (or nearly bare) tummy!

27 - Black & White

2009-04-22T09:44:00.001-07:00

I wanted this to be "Silhouette" but I've already used that one! That's a part of the Challenge that's really challenging: Do I use this photo for this theme, or will a better photo come along later? Oh, well. "Black & White" works well, too, I guess.

This was taken Sunday at an AMHR/ASPC show (with the title Daffodil Dandy--their fall show is the Spooktacular!) This trainer was adjusting the harness after a warmup, getting ready to go into the show ring.

In case you're wondering, AMHR is the American Miniature Horse Registry, one of two mini registries--the other is the American Miniature Horse Association--and ASPC is the American Shetland Pony Club.

Introducing: Symphony in Silk

2009-04-21T05:22:00.000-07:00

OK, here she is folks, twenty hours old. Her name is Symphony in Silk. She is definitely worth the trouble, expense, and worry I've gone through to get her!

She's 23" tall, which is above average for miniature foals (18-20"), and should mature around 34" or 35". Sorrel (redhead!) with star on her forehead and four white feet (can't tell how far up the legs the white goes until she sheds that baby coat).

I didn't take these photos, but I think I'm going to use them for today's post, as I've got so much to do to make ready for mama and baby to come home! I'll get my own photos when they get here, so expect more to come!!

Thanks for all the well wishes I received on behalf of Ladyhawk and Symphony! Y'all are super!!

233 - Photographer

2009-04-20T06:55:00.000-07:00

Oh, to be doing this for a living! Out in the middle of the arena, photographing all the beautiful horses! I photographed between the red bars of the arena fence, so the flash unit was obscured at the top (darn it!). I would like to have his setup! (And his job!!)

Ladyhawk

2009-04-20T06:52:00.000-07:00

Ladyhawk had her foal last night at 9:45 pm. A beautiful (live!) sorrel filly. (That means a little redhead girl!) I won't get to see her until I go pick them up, which will be probably Wednesday, and OF COURSE, I'll have pictures!!

She's very tall (at 23"! lol) and long legged. That makes for a great driving horse prospect!

I'm thrilled and relieved! Just wanted to share the news!!!

339 - Trio

2009-04-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

Equine parking lot? Waiting to go into the show ring, it's social time for the warm-up drivers. These three were parked perfectly in alignment (probably without the drivers being aware of it!)

355 - Weights and Measures

2009-04-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

Aluminum racing plates, each a precise weight, size and shape. A portion of an ounce, a quarter inch longer/shorter, a rounder or squarer toe, so many things that can give a racehorse the tiniest of edges. It's a science, modern farriery, especially when it comes to racing. Precise weights and precise measurements can mean the difference between winning and losing.

Amazing how much difference a horse shoe can make. "For want of a horse, the kingdom was lost . . ."

103 - Flowers

2009-04-18T07:42:00.000-07:00

I couldn't make up my mind which photo to use, so I used three!

A field of Texas bluebonnets down the street from my house. Amazing, aren't they. They started as a small patch about 5 years ago. Look at them now!

A sickly bluebonnet. It's pale, so it MUST be sick, right? These have started showing up occasionally just last year. These are the only ones I saw this time, but I didn't wade through the field looking for them, either. Almost as pretty as the originals, eh?

OK. Here's my iris photo (first of the year). I took it from my truck, as the owners had a large, hungry-looking dog, and I didn't desire to become lunch. I do prefer to do very close-up photos of irises, just not this time!

.Never saw this color before! I love the deep indigo blue of these.

Not Part of the Challenge (again)

2009-04-17T05:31:00.001-07:00

Well, my lovely little preggers mare, Ladyhawk, and I will be on our way to Shenandoah Miniature Horse Foaling Center in a couple of hours (in the middle of thunderstorms). That's where she goes to have her baby. Brandy Carpenter, the lady who runs it, is one of the best equine "midwives" out there, when it comes to the littlest equines. She saved Ladyhawk's life the last time, when the foal was stillborn and not turned correctly.

This one is still alive so far. I felt it kicking at its confining walls last night. Ladyhawk's getting tired of it in there, I think. It kicked, and she backed her ears and gave me a dirty look!

She wasn't due to go until next Wednesday, but I'm beginning to wonder whether she'll make it until May 1st. Seems a good idea to take her a few days early, rather than chance a foal arriving when no one's here to help if need be. So, off we go today! It'll be a long day (2 1/2 hour trip back, but about a 3 1/2 hour trip down there--I drive much slower with a live passenger behind me!). I'll be much relieved when she's in Brandy's capable hands!!

211 - Oops!

2009-04-17T05:10:00.001-07:00

This is out in front of the PetSmart stores in the area, in the midst of a small grassy area. I laugh every time I see one, because the name is so fitting. (Better on the grass than in the store!) I have yet to see one without the long tail of plastic pick-up bags waving in the wind. (May be because it's almost always windy these days!) An upscale bathroom for the canine customers!

340 - Turkey or Fowl

2009-04-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

OK. This post is playing catch up for last week! This should have me back up to date. (I hate being behind--on anything!)

The same feed store that has that John Deere puppy for sale also has baby turkeys (and chicks and ducks). The turkeys were 2 days old when I saw them. Slow shutter speed indoors (even under the heat lamps) made clear photos difficult, but I got a couple that were passable (barely). These little guys were just at the edge of the lamp, and trying to doze, even though there were others in there who thought it was playtime. I wanted to take one (or two) home so bad! But sanity prevailed (if I don't have a safe place for chicks, which I want dearly, I don't have a safe place for turkeys!) (sigh)

41 - Canine Companions

2009-04-16T05:44:00.000-07:00

With 14 cats inside, and a recalcitrant donkey outside, I just could not do that to any dog! So, I don't have a dog, which made Canine Companions a toughy. At least that's what I thought until I saw this little guy in the feed store yesterday. He's just sitting there quietly, begging to go home with some loving human. He's quiet. He doesn't eat much. He'll never tell your secrets. (And his neckerchief says he runs like a Deere!) Please, can he come home with you?

(He's not quite in focus. It was indoors without flash, so my shutter speed was slow. Steady of hand I am not!)

58 - Coin Operated

2009-04-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

These are all the papers available in McKinney, TX. Some are obviously free (coin-less operated, I guess), some are not. Colorful, one and all. I thought it was an interesting collection!

121 - Ghosts, Ghouls, Goblins

2009-04-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how this happened. A double exposure of a photo above the mantle, and a cat (who?) sitting (?) somewhere (?).

The cat in the framed photograph is Dragonflower, a lovely tortie Oriental Shorthair that I bred. She was my last regional winner (missed national top ten by a narrow margin), and she died of liver disease at 5 1/2 years of age. I still miss her dearly after all these years! (She died in 1994.) The ghost-cat in the photo -- do you suppose . . .?

95 - Favorite Things

2009-04-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

OK, this is playing catch up. Posting the Furricane (or the female half of it!) was today's, and this is yesterday's (or the day before's, take your pick). Tomorrow I'll post tomorrow's and the other catch up (or it may be Tuesday or Wednesday for that one.)

This is my magnificent cobalt blue KitchenAid mixer. I've wanted one for many years, and a few years ago shortly before Christmas (and my birthday, which is very close to Christmas), they had an infomercial selling the cobalt blue one. I decided to give myself a really really nice birthday/Christmas present, and ordered it. I love it every bit as much as I thought I would! I use it several times a week, as I cook almost everything from scratch nowadays. (Hate the thought of what might be in the processed foods! Can you say "salmonella"--or "listeria"??) Slow food is so much better, anyway!!!

My kitchen is a popular spot in the house. (And that's the way it should be!)

179 - Magical or Mystical (+ Mischief!)

2009-04-12T15:21:00.000-07:00

These are the three daughters of my rescue-turned-barncat-turned-housecat, Firefly. They are Magical, Mysticfox, and Mischief! Rarely do I get them all close enough (and still) to get in one photo! They are sweet, but rambunctious, and with their three brothers (the one black one is Merlin--yes, there's a theme going there!), they are collectively known as the Furricane. This is the feminine side of the Furricane.

I hadn't intended to keep any of those kittens, but it looks like the six are here to stay. Shelters are full and hurting for adopters (and money), so these little monsters, I mean, darlings, may well be permanent residents. (sigh)

I'm two days behind on my posting! (Oh, no!) I'll be playing catch up this week. (I'm on vacation! Yea!!!!!!!!)

13 - Architectural Detail

2009-04-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

This strange little purple house is a thrift store for a homeless shelter. I haven't figured out what this brick column was for. I thought fireplace, but it's too long and narrow, and there's nothing inside, except a small divider of brick. I'm not sure that it was ever a house to be lived in, because it's in a retail district, but a lot of houses were torn down to put the retail stores in. I can't imagine a use for the column, but it's interesting, anyway (to me at least)! Now, the purple is something else again . . .

180 - March to a Different Drummer

2009-04-08T06:56:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty nice, solid wood bookcase I got on freecycle.org. Someone had a, uh, vision (nightmare?) of what it should look like. My intention is to sand it down and paint it--ASAP! Seems to me this paint job is definitely by someone who "marches to a different drummer"!

44 - Chains

2009-04-07T22:14:00.000-07:00

Saw these lying about on a construction site. I bumped up the color and raised the contrast drastically, because the original was a dull brown dirt with dull brown dirty chains lying around. Now they're more colorful chains lying around! Never did see anything they would be using chains on at the site. (I'm sure there was something.)

225 - Partners

2009-04-06T20:03:00.000-07:00

Bonfire and Spirit, buddies, stablemates, and partners-in-crime! What one gets into, the other isn't far away (and usually with that "Who, me? I'm totally innocent!" expression) These guys aren't related at all, but they are the same height (even though you can't really tell in this photo), the same conformation, and certainly the same spark of mischievousness! They could be twins (except for the pinto-ness of Bonfire!)

71 - Curly

2009-04-05T16:52:00.001-07:00

Thought we were through with stock show photos, didn't you! Here's one last (well, maybe) that I just couldn't resist. It's the coiffure that's all the rage at the stock shows in Texas!

73 - Cutlery

2009-04-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

Lunch today consisted of a whole grain wrap with shredded lettuce and carrot, and sliced mushrooms and olives, along with chopped onion, tomato, and cabbage. Add a little salad dressing and voila! Sorry, no pictures of lunch! (Tasted good, though!)

Out of a drawer full of knives, this is the one I use the most--for everything except chopping. It's one of those Ginsu ones they advertise on TV cutting an aluminum can and then a tomato. Never saw the sense in cutting up a can. Wouldn't put that in my wrap, would you? And the guy didn't even rinse it off before cutting the tomato! Care for some tiny aluminum splinters with your tomato? (yuck)

283 - Silhouette

2009-04-03T21:11:00.000-07:00

Cold, wet, grey in the morning, partly cloudy sunset in the evening. Silhouettes of trees, still waiting for their spring clothes. Makes it worth the morning rain (but not necessarily the wading through the mud to the barn and back)!

Look at this one full size for the full color effect. No filters, this is SOOC.

2 - 9:00 a.m.

2009-04-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

Guess what our weather was this morning? Yet, here it is, 10:07 a.m., and the sun is out. It's windy, so it should dry things out quickly--not that it got that wet. Sounded like a LOT of rain, but the gauge showed .15 inch. I would have expected half an inch, at least! Walking to the barn, the dirt was damp, and it stuck to my boots, so I left DRY footprints behind. (Wish I'd had my camera!)

This is playing catch up, as I missed yesterday's post. My garden is shaping up, planting begins today. Those beautiful tomato and pepper plants are going in first. By May or June, I'll have most of the vegetables that I'm buying in stores now, just a few yards' walk from my back door! Can't wait!!

152 - Hours, Days, Months, Years

2009-04-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

My 2009 calendar on the wall beside my computer desk. Surprised at what's on it????

Unfortunately, it's a cheap one (well, the $1 price was just right!). The paper it's printed on is too thin, so the pages curl forward after a few days. Nice photos on it, though, and one of my favorite subjects! (Didn't know that, right?)

334 - Toys

2009-03-31T09:19:00.000-07:00

All I can say is, I'm glad I didn't spend a lot (or any) money on this little cat tree with the toy puffball on top! Took the furricanes less than 12 hours to change it from the photo at left to the photo at right. Hard to believe they're sweet little cat children when they're in my lap or on my shoulder . . .

(I got the unfortunate cat tree on Freecycle.org, where you can join a local group, and get things you want or need--if you're lucky, and fast!--or get rid of things you don't want, but don't want to add to a landfill! As the name suggests, there's no buying or selling. Everything is free, and the one receiving is responsible for picking it up. I did, however, get a pallet and a half of bricks, with the young man nice enough to deliver and help me unload them!)

106 - Food, Glorious Food!

2009-03-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

Well, OK, it's not people food. But the cats think it's the "cat's meow"! It's the only thing that keeps me from becoming cat food myself. I've 14 of the furry felines flitting around, two of which weigh 14 pounds apiece. They could gang up on me! This little selection at suppertime (plus free-fed dry food at breakfast time) keeps me safe from small carnivores. (And it's their hair on my keyboard. Sneaky little things. I wondered who ordered that case of lobster FedEx'd to my house!)

62 - Computer

2009-03-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

My link to sanity during wet, dreary days. (Notice the wisdom of historical figures--some of whom I've never heard of--plastered all over the thing! These are the ones my cat Shadowolf hasn't yet discovered and plucked off! He has a thing about adhesives . . . yum! Weird cat!)

Do NOT look at this full size. That is NOT cat hair between the keys of the keyboard. It's NOT! (OK, it is. sigh)

Sun was out today. Will be tomorrow, too. Tomorrow's Friday for me. My mood's getting better, can you tell??

249 - Rain, Rain, Go Away!

2009-03-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

Well, after getting 5 1/2" two weeks ago, it still hadn't dried out--the surface was dry, but underneath was not. We got another 1 1/2" this past week, and the barn flooded--again. That's twice in March that I've had to move horses to the center aisle of the barn to keep them dry! Ladyhawk's stall is 4" underwater. Normally, it's just wet inside when it floods, but this time, there's water standing. Means a big cleanup when the water goes down and I can get around with the wheelbarrow (and it gets warm enough for me to want to do that!)

This shot is the top of my gardening table in the back yard. I thought the texture (read: dirt) on the tabletop with the rings from the raindrops was pretty cool, so I brought my trusty D80 to see if I could capture the look. This is the result. (Look at it full sized to see the jumping droplets! They were a happy surprise--I couldn't see them with my bare {aging} eyes.)

250 - Rainbow

2009-03-27T19:14:00.000-07:00

OK! OK! Obviously this was taken a couple of weeks ago, when the sun was shining. (I can barely remember what that looks like anymore!) A windy, sunshiney day. I thought it was kind of cool the way the water drops and spray are suspended in mid-air. It wasn't until I got it on my computer screen that I noticed it had just the slightest hint of a rainbow on the bottom left side of the fountain spray.

360 - Who Put That There?

2009-03-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

I'll never understand why people throw trash out of a car window. Why litter up the whole world? I saw this piece of whatever-it-is floating (just out of reach) at the edge of a pond. Sad commentary on the thoughtlessness of our species. (In case you were wondering, it's been raining again, day 4!) (sigh)

Playing catch up again! I was just too tired yesterday to post anything. Just found out the foal I'm expecting May 1 is going to be a high risk birth, due to a type of grass I found growing in my pasture. Fescue sure causes a lot of problems. (It cost me a full brother to this foal in 2006--I'm desperately hoping not to repeat that experience this year! Lost the baby, almost lost Ladyhawk. Don't want to come that close again!!)

319 - Teeth

2009-03-25T18:41:00.000-07:00

These are a few of the baby teeth lost by my horses as they matured, and found by me. Two in feed troughs, and one in the dirt. Big teeth for such little guys!

Don't get grossed out, now!

350 - Wall

2009-03-24T06:10:00.001-07:00

Back to yesterday's pet peeve story. Man made ponds, man made road, man made retaining wall. Artistic. Unnatural, but made of mostly natural materials. I have mixed feelings about this. They made it look nice, and the ponds attract water birds (at least until all the houses are built and filled), but they had to do an awful lot just to build the ponds to hold the water, which includes a lot of runoff from the land. When they get the lawns laid, how many chemicals will go into the runoff from the landscape maintainance? What will that do to the birds?

We're seeing animals that normally people in "civilization" wouldn't see. Coyotes, bobcats, etc. They are forced to come into more populated areas to hunt. They are trying to survive, too. But sometimes I see them killed on the road. And sometimes I see them (coyotes, anyway) with their citified catch for dinner: someone's pet cat or small dog. At least, dumped animals don't last long enough to starve out here. They become coyote poop in short order!

Sorry about the rant. (Something tells me I'm not in a great mood today. Raining again. Ugh!)

It'll be better later. I think I'll go out on the porch and get a "Rain, Rain, Go Away" theme shot! My camera always improves my mood!

188 - Monuments or Memorials

2009-03-24T06:05:00.001-07:00

This is a monument of sorts, a monument by a housing construction company to themselves. A monument to their pride in destroying what used to be farmland so they could profit from the ridiculously large homes they are putting on small lots (bigger lots than in town, though--those you could mow with a pair of scissors!). How long before there's no farmland left? All of our food will come from foreign companies. What would that do for our homeland security, then? (Sorry, this is one of my pet peeves!)

I'm playing catch up on this one. I was just too tired last night to even turn on the computer, so I'm doing yesterday's and today's today. (Confused yet?)

224 - Pampered

2009-03-22T19:20:00.001-07:00

Show animals, be they dogs, horses, sheep, or whatever, are such a pampered lot. Just look! This lamb even has her own cell phone. I can hear her now:

"Hello, McDonald's? I want a to go order of fresh corn, and a pound of alfalfa. You don't have alfalfa?!? Well, then, how about some crimped oats . . . ?"