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