My Best Shot Monday - Curiosity

Horses are kind of like babies in that they use their mouths to explore their worlds. Sometimes you just really can't get a feel for something unless you roll it around on your tongue.

I guess.

I mean, that's how I would guess they feel about it.

I can get by just fine without putting a hairy horse cinch in my mouth. Just fine indeed.

I spent the better part of the afternoon on Sunday working with the horses, followed by a photo shoot of sorts. I left my saddle on the fence rail so that Drifter could look (lick) it over. He is far from wearing one on his back yet, but I think it's good to let him get familiar with it just the same.

Before I went and got my camera (of course) he was really gnawing on it and licking it and it was pretty funny. Once I had my camera in hand I took shot after shot, but really didn't come up with too many that I was especially happy with. The clouds kept on moving over the sun, not over the sun, over the sun, not over the sun, and it was really messing with my shutter speed setting every couple minutes, so I kept having to fidget with the camera. Then my subject kept passing his own dark shadow over me as he came to inspect the camera.

What? Am I complaining? Complaining that I got to spend a beautiful spring day in the sunshine taking pictures of the horses? I'll be quiet now.

I am quite happy with the one above, though... Really liking the reddish brown tones in the saddle and in his coat. I also made out with a few 'outtakes' that I think you'll enjoy...

 

I've Fallen Off My Horse

Figuratively, not literally, thank the Lord.

I've been in a bit of a funk the last couple days... Stalled creatively, quiet, introverted.

And I've been thinking about the first time I ever fell off a horse (or pony, Chico, as was the case for me) thanks to Hip Mama sharing how her daughter has fallen off a horse for the first time.

I still remember it like it was yesterday... I was about 5 years old, and my friend and I were cowgirling our ponies around in one of the horse pens. I got a little big for my britches and told her that I wanted to ride outside the pen -- I felt, wrongly, that I was more than capable of controlling my pony outside the confines of a fence -- and asked her to open up the gate for me.

She obliged, and my pony took that opportunity to bolt through the gate and down the hill with me in tow, discombobulated and flailing. I can still see the jumble of reins in front of me, like a puzzle of leather that I just couldn't put together. I can also see the dirt coming up at my face and feel how it went up my nose as I careened to the ground when Chico suddenly decided to stop.

Chico had obviously dealt with over-confident and under-skilled tots like me before.

It was fairly traumatic. I had never been a part of anything so violent or uncontrolled before. And it hurt. And it was embarassing.

It took me quite awhile to get back on.

What I learned from that episode and many to follow, was to get back on the horse, but not to thoughtlessly climb back up there. There was something to learn from those lessons.

So on days like today when I feel like I've sort of hit the dirt again, I like to think that God is trying to get me to step back a bit and listen to what He's trying to teach me. This morning as I went down to feed the horses, the birds were singing -- a song that is never as sweet as it is in the springtime -- and a herd of mule deer trotted down the road in a stream of hazy sunlight. I felt like I was getting a message. Or a blessing. Both. It fed my soul.

Now I'm off to get hay for my horse. No, that's not any sort of metaphor (although I'm sure I could make it into one!) Our horses just need hay.

Look for something lovely today, wherever you are.

My Best Shot Monday - Wild Eyes

With all this time change business, I'm feeling a little wild-eyed and frazzled today, so I thought it only fitting to choose my 'best shot' this week to be the photo I have named 'Wild Eyes'. I took it a couple months ago up in Nebraska while visiting family.

It's one of those pictures that invokes an emotion in me when I look at it... I can feel the cool air and hear the breathing of the horses around me (there were more than just this fellow) as I was photographing. I'm in love with the simple colors... It makes me want to use the color palate to decorate a room in my house. It is SOOC (straight out of the camera) other than a little cropping and adding the drop shadow.

You can find this photo, along with other beautiful photos, over at Shutter Sister's photostream on Flikr as part of this month's 'One Word Project'... The word of the month is... Can you guess? Beautiful.

Hop on over to their site to read all about it. I'm afraid I would just confuse you with my rambling here.

Thinking of Spring

The weather has been so beautiful here lately that I actually had to remind myself that it's technically still winter. It's been over 50 degrees and sunny.

One of the things I love most about spring is the birds, how they brighten the days with their sing song chirping, returning to the feeders and providing a glimpse into the wonder of nature, all right outside our window.

To peacefully sit in a porch swing with the sun on your shoulders and birds singing in your ear, that is to be in the presence of the Lord.

However, last summer I had this huge, pesky black bird (I believe it's called a 'Big Bellied Black Beauty') that kept approaching my feeder, driving all other birds away -- out of fear due to it's sheer size and ominous presence, no doubt -- and easily devouring the contents of an entire feeder in just minutes.

It really put a dent in my bird seed budget. I sure hope he stays away from my feeders this year.

Despite the inconvenience and lack of compatibility with other birds, he was a majestic creature to observe. Luckily I snapped a few pictures of him at the feeder.

My Best Shot Monday - Taking Flight

I know, I know, I know... It's Tuesday.

(Actually, I kind of forgot it was Tuesday and thought it was Monday for awhile this morning, but I'm all straightened out now.)

I just came across Tracey Clark's blog, Mother May I, and this thing she's started called 'Best Shot Monday'. And I just so want to participate because I always have pictures that I love that don't always necessarily work into any of my posts. So, this is my contribution, and I shall try to keep up each Monday with this fun little project.

So, here's my best shot this week...

In all honesty, I didn't take it this week. Or last week. Or the week before that. I took it a couple years ago. But I really wanted to share it as my first picture because I am now and always have been in love with it.

What I love most about it is that all four of her hooves are off the ground. It's like she has taken flight. And you can see how strong she is. I'll let you draw your own conclusions, but obviously she speaks to me.

I also love that this was one of the horses that was part of the team that my husand drove, doing sleigh rides and wagon rides at the resort where he works (and where I used to work). They since have been sold, but they ended up going to a very nice family, which makes us both feel good.

And I was pregnant with Little Blue Eyes when I took it.

Anyhow, that's my best shot. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.