Sunday Stills ~ Nature's Frames

I stuck close to home for this challenge, and had a hard time finding frames in nature...the first two are from my backyard, and the last shot was taken down at the farm. Looking forward to seeing other Sunday Stills Nature Frames!

Tree Framed Sunset

Nested Ice(bird nest frame, early sunset)

Hide-n-go click
(Nemo, tree framed and sporting a snow mustache)

Sunday Stills ~ Birds

I knew shooting birds was going to be a true challenge for me. I do not own a long lens, and can never get close enough. I love birds, and have numerous feeders at home. I've tried for years to get decent shots of my feathered friends. I didn't even attempt it this time. Instead, I drove into the city to the only place I could think of that would have open water during below freezing temps - the locks. 

Locky Ducks

I used to take my kids there to feed the ducks, with bread crusts we had saved. Feeding creates such great photo opportunities, but the city has since banned it. Not wanting to chance paying a hefty fine, I stood as close to the banks as I could on a very bright, sunny cold day...

Duck Flapper

Incoming Geese

Lone Mallard

Mates

Hello, got bread?

case of the missing pan

Four horses, finds us needing three pans and one pan-in-tire.  This past week we've had to go pan hunting, and improvise. The pan-in-tire is easy to find. One or two of the pans are never far, but one pan in particular goes MIA on a daily basis. We've lost it for days at a time. Nemo, our neatest eater, has graciously agreed to eat out of a bucket - perhaps out of guilt? Our daughter claims he is the culprit, and has seen him play fling-a-pan.

After days of looking hubby finally found the MIA pan down by the woods, um no graining going on down there! We pick the pans up most days as soon as they are done munching, but some mornings it's feed and run. When evening chores roll around, it's dark all over again and lately it seems we just can't find that one pan. 

It's gone again. The ground is white, the pan is black, the pasture isn't huge - where could it possibly be hiding? We walk the pasture, and end up pan-less. Now, at a distance those black pans are easily mistaken for piles of poop, but really how far can one pan go?

Sunday Stills ~ Corners

Unless round, most things have a corner. I looked & thought about all the corners around me. They weren't very interesting. I thought about driving downtown to the Capitol, large majestic buildings with windows make for a grrreat photograph.  But who wants to deal with traffic, not me. Sometimes the easiest subjects, can be the most challenging.

I found an interesting light pattern, on the corner slats of our table - and then decided it was time to bundle up for a road trip in search of corners at a New England style covered bridge, built by the Amish.

table slat corners

corner of wooden bridge structure

corner on opposite side of wooden bridge structure
amazing how different the light is on the same end of the bridge, only a few feet apart

roof corners

wooden bridge, with many corners

View other Sunday Stills corners

helping horses

I received the email below from a co-worker. Thought I would do my part to pass this info along, incase anyone in the WI area can help or knows someone who can...it's so sad. They are being offered free. I have contact info for anyone who is interested. They sound like nice horses, that find themselves in a bad situation...

"Hello, I apologize for such a large mass mailing but I am reaching out to my friends and colleagues who may be interested themselves or may have connections to someone who may be willing to help out my family. I am trying to put the word out to anyone who may be willing and able to add one or more horses to their family. My brother has several horses and is unable to properly care for them.  He said if they are not able to find a new home for them asap, they will have to have them put down so they don't suffer and starve.  My brother, is a fireman and works very hard. He had an unfortunate accident in the Summer of 2010 where he endured a life threatening brain injury.  He has made a miraculous recovery and is back to work, but his finances have suffered greatly.  I'm sure he is probably feeding his horses before himself, but there is really nothing more he can do.  I understand the economic times are hard all around and it is expensive to care for a horse, but if you or anyone you know has room to add one or more of these beautiful creatures you would be saving their life.  I told my brother I would do what I can to get the word out.  Here is a list of the horses he has. 

Age	Breed	Sex	Trained
3 yrs	50/50 Arabian, Checkner	Male	No Training
2-6yrs	Arabian – Black	Male	Halter Broke
2-6yrs	Arabian	Male	Halter Broke
2-6yrs	Arabian	Male	Halter Broke
2-6yrs	Arabian	Male	Halter Broke
14-15yrs	Thouroughbred	Female	Trained
9m	Saddlebred/Arabian	Male	Halter Broke
3-10yrs	Arabian	Female	Broke
3-10yrs	Arabian	Female	Broke
3-10yrs	Arabian	Female	Broke
3-10yrs	Arabian	Female	Broke
3-10yrs	Arabian	Female	Broke
3-10yrs	Arabian	Female	Broke

Sunday Stills ~ Light Painting

Interesting challenge, Light Painting. I have had happy Light Painting surprises upon occasion, but I've never done this on purpose. I shot some new, and included a couple of my favorite from archives.

My favorite Christmas decoration, a Star.
It hangs on the outside of our house. My hubby made it for me, years ago when we couldn't afford an overpriced decoration. He surprised me with something better, a homemade star that twinkles so pretty!

Christmas Lights on our house

Written with the moon

My daughter riding Harmony in a Drill Team
(2009 Archive)

My daughter and Harmony flying, in a Drill Team
(2009 Archive)

good mornin'

Heading for the good stuff
(Koda)

Morning Steam
(Harmony on left, Cierra on right)

Muddy Faced Clean up Crew
(Koda)

Good Mornin' Big Guy
(Nemo)

ride my horse

My new years goal is the same as last years, ride my horse. That's it. Might sound too simple for some of you. For me it's a challenge. Time, location, weather conditions and dependency constantly get in the way. It's a goal that while achieving, makes me feel fulfilled in sooo many ways.

Come to think of it, I've had the same goal for several years now. I'll never forget the look on our friends face at a New Years dinner when asked what my goals were for the upcoming year, my answer was "ride my horse". Of course that year, it had yet to ever happen - but that's beside the point. After jaws closed, "goals" were added for me "and see your son (fill in the blank) and...." um, no - those are expectations, not my goals. The subject was quickly changed, and interestingly enough our friendship has distanced. They don't get it, not to mention our values are very different. My goal was achieved that year, as it has been in subsequent years. It was the first year I ever rode Koda, and I'll never forget it. The feeling of riding ones very own horse for the first time, is beyond words.

Sure I would like to lose weight, change careers, write a book, finish scrapbooks, make more jewelry, make more cards, get back into fine art, clean the basement, re-do my zillion gardens, do more photography, organize everything, fix up the basement, etc etc etc - but those that know me, know I am into too many things and setting these as yearly goals, would be self defeating. I still intend on achieving some of these things this year, but truly my goal for the year is simply to ride my horse.

Perhaps setting more concrete steps would help, like learning to drive the trailer. I could load Koda and take him up to Iron Horse or wherever, to ride on those occasions when hubby can't/isn't interested. That would surely help squeak a few more rides in. I would also like to take lessons, I miss so many things about them. However that's complicated, and may or may not involve riding my horse.

It bugs the crap outta me to have such capable horses as pasture pets. I haven't ridden since black Friday, yep that's late November. It was 41 and beautiful yesterday - that's a heatwave for a WI winter. No riding for me, it's dark before I even leave work in the winter. Maybe not riding is the norm for rough board around here, but I don't have to like it. Thankfully the weather and situation will eventually change. I will look forward to achieving my goal, one ride at a time. Wishing you all safe rides in 2012!

it's all about Nemo, almost

I truly enjoyed reading all the year in reviews, and would have liked to have done one myself. However,  my thoughtful hubby had plans for us to take a New Years trip north to rejuvenate, and so we did - ending the year and beginning the next in tranquility. My year in review will remain throughout my blog.

Before we headed out, I took some year end photo's - and they are all about Nemo. Over the years I've really come to understand, and love him dearly. He is such a special horse. Altho truly Brad's, he takes care of us all. I know he loves me, back atcha big guy.

It's about time you got here to feed.
Feed first, then hug - that's how I like it.

That's my guys truck, why is it parked waay over there and where is he anyways?

I literally only took one photo of Koda...what can I say? He melts my heart.