Summer Sundays

Over at Sunday Stills, they put the word out that they wanted to see summer. I must say that around these parts we wondered if we'd get one! June was so blasted wet...every day, all day, rain, rain, rain. But then? The clouds parted and the heavens sang. Seriously. Angels singing. Everyone heard it, I promise. Or maybe it was just the horses screaming for their hay. I dunno. But it did wake me up, and the sun has been shining all of July!

Of course, the main focus of my photographic attention so far has been the little spotted wonder trotting about in my paddocks. She's too cute for her own good. I can't get a single thing done around here, and I'm certain it's all her fault!

Darling is not so easily distracted, it would seem. All business, that girl. Get the job done. Spit shine the mustang, take him out for a romp in the grass.

Ahhh....look at the baby!

My folks came home from Alaska, so we went over for pizza. The Things were there. They do the same stuff in summer that they do in winter...which would be everything they're not supposed to do! Double Trouble Things. Thing One and Thing Two...

But really, who can be bothered by disobedient things jumping into ponds with their clothes on when there's a baby needing attention? Certainly not I.

Wait...what was our topic this week? I've forgotten. Babies?

Shadows On The Wall

Sunday Stills theme this week is "Shadows"...and how excited was I to read that? Very! Because the very morning I'd read the assignment, I'd already taken the best shadow shots ever.

Well...best shadows I've ever taken, at least! You may have taken better shadow photos. You may have taken better shadow pictures today, last week, last month, or every day of your life, for that matter. But me? These were definitely the best shadow pictures I've taken. Ever.

See? The very best shadow photos you've ever seen here on Mustang Diaries, made possible by Momma and her baby.

Next week I'm hoping they use the word 'Ears' for our challenge...

Framed!

It's been awhile since I've participated in Sunday Stills, but this one sounded like fun. Framed, they said, was the theme. I love framing!

Framing is a way to bring your subject into focus. You can use natural framing, such as the trees here, to direct attention to a particular point of interest.

Despite Sandy being out of focus, I still like this one. The trees are interesting, but I see my pony. Perhaps a weak frame?

Curt, framed in a doorway.



No? Not what they meant by framing???

Well, just the same, here's little Legacy, the colt I photographed while up on the South Steens a couple years ago. Do you recall? He's Honor's son. I just wanted to update anyone who may remember him; he was among those gathered last fall and offered up for adoption at the corrals in Burns. I was so excited to find out that my friends Maggie and Farrel had adopted him! They didn't even know it was him...Farrel had wondered if this was the same little bay I'd been talking about, but as soon as they posted his photograph, I knew him instantly. Honor's Legacy...barn name Gunner, is now living in a good home where I can go visit (next time I'm in Oregon) and give y'all updates as he grows up. Are you as excited about that as me? (Probably not!)

Then Sings My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.


Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul!

Please take the time to view the video, which tells the story behind the song.
I hope it inspires you and lifts you up this Easter.

Numbers

Today's challenge on Sunday Stills is numbers. Actual numbers. No problemo, Ed. Got lots of that!

Numbers hang off the necks of those left behind.



They're spray painted on those found starving at the 3-Strikes Ranch, aka Mustang Outpost. (Thankfully, Jason Meduna, the man who starved so many mustangs to death, was convicted of animal cruelty. Too bad his sentence didn't reflect the suffering he inflicted.)



Numbers are freezebranded onto hips of those deemed 'too old' to adopt.



Even the wee ones are numbered and tagged.

Texture

My computer is having issues. I was in the middle of the greatest blog post ever when suddenly it began to complain of having a belly ache. And then it stopped. Just up and stopped, I tell you, while I was searching for new and interesting photographs for today's Sunday Stills challenge.

I shut it down and let it reboot, only to have it tell me it was infected, and something about spyware and if I continued I'd be at risk. Like any good mother, I called the computer doctor who said to put it to bed until he could see it the next day. (This particular doctor happens to live here, so yes, I get service on Sundays.)

In the meantime...what to do? Oh, yes, City Boy purchased a cute little red lap top for me about a month ago. I'd yet to pick it up and use it, but no time like the present, eh? After all, my house is sparkling clean so what else have I got to do? (BTW, I've got this lovely bridge for sale...)

You, however, may be more interested in today's challenge than all that other nonsense. Today's word is Texture, and who doesn't love the texture of a good pair of blue jeans? Faded and worn to perfection, there's nothing I'd rather pull on in the morning. Just wish mine looked as good as Darling's!


Here's a texture I love...though I'm not fond of feeling it up against my skin. It's great, however, for my horse's feet!

The drive through Brothers, Oregon, will bring you past this old building. I wonder what's on the other side of that door?

No selection of texture photos would be complete without the snarly mess of mane sported by our lovely Wadatika. Unfortunately, those are all on the sickly computer, so you'll just have to settle for what I could pull up from Photobucket this morning. A soft eye, a silky forelock, and a fuzzy coat. She's still the grand finale!

Click here to see more Sunday Stills entries!

Emotion

Today I went in search of photos that would evoke an emotional response from you. This is today's Sunday Stills assignment. Make your readers cry. Or laugh. Or scream with fear. Not in those words, necessarily, but that's what I interpreted it to mean. And you know, with the thousands upon thousands of photos that City Boy is always complaining about me saving here on the hard drive, you'd think it'd be easily done. Certainly there are plenty that have made me weep...but that's not the assignment. It's to conjure up an emotional response in you. And predicting you is like predicting which way the wind is going to blow next, or whether or not it's raining in the front yard even though you don't see any in the back. Kinda crazy hard to do some days. But I'll give it my best shot.

This really is difficult. The above image, for me, stirs up a desire to send City Boy to the kitchen and make me some great tasting food to eat. Is this an emotion? Or hunger? Is hunger an emotion? I don't think so. However...

...I really lust after a bowl of chocolate topped ice cream. But see, that's me. And I need to shake an emotional response out of you. So lets check out my next selection. (Ahem...I need you to back away from the ice cream.)

Perhaps this next photo will spark some emotion?

I call it "Two Young Lovers with Nothing Better To Do"

Or this?



Embarrassing Moments in a dog's life brought to you by the Mustang Diaries

Perhaps a trip to the barnyard will get you all teary eyed?



Help! I can't find the light switch!

Hey, look, it comes with it's own ball of yarn!



Don't hate me because I am beEWEtiful...

Okay. I give up. You'd better go visit the other Sunday Stills folks to see what they came up with. But before you leave, scroll down to the post below and enter your caption suggestion for the photo posted, please!

Best of 2009, Sunday Stills

Oh, what a difficult thing to ask! My favorite two photos from the '09 Sunday Stills? Life would have been much easier this morning had I remembered to label all of my Sunday posts.

Then again, it may have made things even worse if I'd had a larger selection of mediocrity, eh?

Thankfully, one of those that I came across was this shot taken out in my backyard. One of our little vine maples was simply ablaze with color! I love the vertical lines of the alder trees that frame those tiny little leaves. And I love their speckled trunks. I could do without the green leaves on the left side. Why didn't my gardener take care of that for me?

Selecting a second photo wasn't so easy, but I finally decided on this 'Drive By Shooting'. Not that this was the subject of the day when I posted it. Heck, I don't even recall what we were shooting that day. More fall color? Fog? Recently mowed cornfields? All I recall is that I'd been out to pick up some grain and came across this old barn in the fog and shot it as I was driving down the road.

And those would be my two favorites for Sunday Stills '09. Now, since you're here, would you mind helping me out a little? The post below this is requesting some creative thinking and titles for some photos. I'd be much obliged if you'd offer up some suggestions!

Back to the Future

Today's Sunday Stills word is Technology. Being as I live in my own little reality which appears to have more to do with the past than the future...let's face it, Living Legends doesn't exactly scream rocket science...I had to shift gears.

There was a time when technology meant a change in bit styles, or perhaps a new tree in a saddle. Or how about an upgrade from a hinge to a door that could slide across the front of your barn? Just imagine not having to kick that snow drift out of the way in order to get in to feed your livestock.

I wonder what my great-great-grandparents would think about the world today. Horseless carriages for everyone. Freezers and refrigerators inside every house. And imagine not having to hang your laundry out to dry! I bet they'd get a real kick out of how simplified we've made daily chores.

But just imagine what they'd think of this.

Or this.

This stuff scares me. I'm overwhelmed by fans and mother boards and daughter boards and modems. I'm clueless on how they work, except somehow they link me to all of you. I sit down to this screen and push a button, and instantly my words appear on your screen, in your home. No waiting months for a letter to cross the continent, or even overseas. I may not understand how it works, but I'm glad we've got it. Because not only does it connect us today (and tomorrow), but it's also my little window to the past, where I share with you a heritage that otherwise, you may never know.

This week brought to you by the letter T

T is for Trouble...that's good enough for me
T is for Trouble...that's good enough for me
T is for Trouble...that's good enough for me
Oh...Tracey, Tracey, Tracey starts with T!

So, today's Sunday Stills challenge was to find something with the letter T. I'm going to venture to guess there will be a few turkeys out there, but not here. Well...okay, there are days when I'm called a turkey, but more often I've been referred to as trouble, which also starts with T which rhymes with P which stands for pool...but that's another story.

Something else that starts with T? Temptation. Something I'm always being led into. You know, like having pie for breakfast instead of desert.

Please! Lead me into this sort of temptation again!

Terrible also starts with a T. I feel terrible some days, not because of temptation, but because of all the terrifically terrible things that happen...things like the gruesome shot you see below. Warning: You may want to simply skip the last photo here, and definitely hide the eyes of any small children...

Don't say I didn't warn you!

Darling Says Goodbye

I lay there in bed, listening to the rain spilling out of the gutters once again, despite City Boy having cleaned them earlier in the day. The rain is relentless. But it wasn't the only reason for no sleep. I was still trying to decide which photo to use for the EPN photo of the day. Our word? Action.

Now, normally this is a word I have absolutely no problem with, but yesterday seemed to be nothing but trouble. The pasture is wet and soupy. The only horse who wants to get remotely active out there is Apple Pony, but this was his last day with us. His owner (former and still current, I might add) was coming at 10:30 to pick him up. No sense sending him into the mud pit where, with my luck, he'd undoubtedly slip and hurt himself just prior to loading.

Instead of action, I asked Darling if she'd like to come out and have her picture take with him one more time before he left. A few dozen photos later, the sweet palomino was loaded into his trailer and heading back home. (For those who are curious, his potential buyer was unable to take him in the end, so he is still for sale.)

Still on the hunt for my action shot, I drove through the rain to Curt's where I found one of his two year olds in the arena. No problem motivating the boy into submitting an action shot or two, as he sprinted in quarter horse fashion from one end of the arena to the next. But with low light, everything turned out either grainy or super blurry. Had these photos been taken on 'Blur' or 'Abstract' days, they'd have been perfect! But it wasn't what I was looking for.

I had a couple of shots on my monitor, and turned to Darling for her opinion. "The mane", was her matter of fact answer, not bothering to take her eyes from her own computer screen. "I already looked."

If it had been 'Mane' day, I'd agree. And yes, there was movement there that could be considered action. But still...I'd have to think on it.

And now here it is, just after six a.m., and I'm up, with two cups of hot chocolate downed. And have I come to a decision? No...no, I have not. But one thing that I've always said has sprung forth into my mind.

Love is a verb.

Nothing has taught me that like working with these mustangs. Because the more effort you put into them, the more you can't help but love them. And that love doesn't need to be a big flurry of movement to produce the result you're looking to achieve, which is the horse reaching for you, and communicating with you, and trusting in you.

A verb is an action word...so is love an action?

An easier assignment for me today was Sunday Stills, whose word was..."Horse"!

Fur, Feathers and Fins

Today's Sunday Stills challenge was definitely a challenge! But we were told we could pull things out of our archives, so that's exactly what I'm doing!

Fur, of course, is never a problem around here. Since yesterday's word of the day for the photo challenge was hay, I brought a bit inside for the kittens. They they seemed to believe it was catnip.

Feathers flew into my yard while I was attempting, unsuccessfully, some hay shots with the horses. We heard some horrible squawking and turned to find this woodpacker screaming at the hens. Guess he thought they were going to fly up and steal the last apple in the tree from him.

But fins? Well, there are no trout swimming along in our creek this time of year, I'm afraid, so archives it was! You like?

Sunday Stills

Technically? It's still Saturday night. This is the first thing I've done all week and had finished way in advance of the deadline.

This weeks project for Sunday Stills was 'Currency'. Yeah, that's what I thought, too! How many ways can you photograph an empty billfold? Or pockets? But as it turns out, there was a wee bit of cash stashed away in...yes, that's right...the laundry room!

Uh-huh. I give you Laundered Money.

See? All the color came out, too, just like when I wash clothes. Or maybe that's because of the bleach I spilled last time. Whatever...

I'd give you more than that, but honestly? I'm pooped. I need to hit the hay, so that's it for now. Visit Sunday Stills for more creative ways than mine with currency.

Sunday Stills

Today's assignment? Halloween. From decorating to costumes, to whatever. With Darling deciding she's too old for trick or treating, and living way out in the sticks as we do, there's not much action around the place on All Hallow's Eve. Just the same...Darling insisted we purchase candy, you know, just in case.

It's a good thing she suggested that, because somewhere along the line, the candy was devoured. Look! An empty bag of dum dums. And a few empty rolo wrappers thrown in. I'm not entirely sure how that happened. Must have been the zombies kittens. It was so scary I forgot what happened. Must have blanked out from the shock of it all.

I obviously was able to get a picture of them in the act of ripping into their bag of kitten food before slipping into my diabetic coma shock after eating seeing them all the halloween candy. (Hey, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

Of course I had to play a bit with ghostly images last night.

I've got free zombie kittens to give away, if anyone is interested. One calico, one tabby with a hint of orange in her coat, and one gray with a couple small orange spots on her face. All females. All cute. I promise they won't eat your face in the middle of the night, no guarantees against nibbling toes or devouring candy.