Hanging out

It may not look it but it was very cold, windy, and blustery. You would think she would wear a coat...

Winter Sunrise

10 degrees here this morning and overcast before sunrise. Because of the rain the other day and the cold temperatures, everything has a crust of ice and resembles a skating rink. As the sky started to lighten, the clouds broke and we had another beautiful pink sunrise with a huge orange sun.

Believe it or not, this was taken from a car dealership that happens to also has a gas station. I took this out the window while Craig was pumping gas. That was the actual color of the sky - no retouching.

This was taken from the moving truck. The reflection of the sun on the snow created the smeared effect. A total accident but I kind of like it.

Skywatch Friday No. 29

A winter storm - snow, sleet, freezing rain, rain - all in the same day

Check out skies from around the world at Skywatch Friday

Yet another winter storm

We got hit with another winter storm. It started Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and dumped about 3 inches of snow (which wasn't so bad) and then about 1/2 inch of ice/freezing rain on top (not so good). This has definitely been the season of ice and the temperatures have been much colder than the norm.

leaves of a pin oak tree

Wisteria vine coated in ice

Playing in the snow

Wordless Wednesday - Green Lane Reservoir

Winter Moon

When it is very cold here and dry, we get very clear and crisp nights. This is the crescent moon just as the sun was coming up that I just happened to snap as I headed off to work. The sky slowly lightened and the horizon turned a beautiful pink.

Ice Fisherman - Deep Creek Lake

We have lived in this town in Pennsylvania for 8 and a 1/2 years. This is the first year that the lake has frozen enough for ice fishing, even though it was in the high 40s the other day. It was something that I have never seen in person. The fisherman were out on the lake in full force this weekend.

Sunday Stills - Potluck

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge - Potluck. Basically anything at all that we want to post. I take so many pictures that it's tough to choose.

Should it be nature?

A small buck in Green Lane Park that we just happened upon while we were driving by. He only stood for about a minute before he scampered off in the tall grass but it was enough time to get some great pics.

Maybe it should be the bat that had attached himself to the hinge at the barn that we were renting. His hair looks like a bad toupe.

Should it be one of the critters - equine or canine?

There's way too many of those to choose just one but I really like this one of Diego that I played around with.

Or maybe it should be the place that I like best - on the back of a horse on a trail in the woods.

It provides the best view!

Camera Talk

Lisa at Laughing Orca Ranch asked me what type of camera that I use so I thought it might be fun to post about what I use and see what other people use. My mom was an artist and was always drawing and creating. You name it, she did it - drawing, painting, carving, sewing, she did it all. I have lots of her artwork around my house which is very precious and irreplaceable since she passed away. I inherited some of her creativeness but in other ways. I can't paint portraits the way she did but I dabble in other things. I crochet, make jewelry, I can paint a bit, am learning how to sew, and I love taking pictures. I've always been interested in photography and try to take the camera along with me where ever we end up. You never know when you will come upon something that makes an excellent picture. I almost always have the camera with me at the barn.

The camera I use is a point-and-shoot Canon PowerShot A95. It's not something that I researched or anything. We happened upon it, it was a good deal, and Craig knew it was a good camera. It has a 12x zoom, is 5.0 megapixels, and we use 2 GB flashcard so I can take lots of high resolution pics without running out of memory. I can take video too. We've had a few others over the years (including one that met its demise when Craig decided to take pics of his fish from the top of the fish tank without using the wrist strap - that didn't end well) but this one is the best so far. I'm still learning how to really use it. I take most of my pics using the Action setting since most of my subjects are in motion. I've gotten some really good shots at the gymkhana events with this setting including a few of the horses in suspended animation - no feet on the ground at a gallop. I'm always amazed at the grace and power of this wonderful animals. Jet is by far one of the most graceful I have seen - he's goofy, gangly, has crooked legs but is just so fluid when he moves that it's like poetry in motion and it's effortless.

One thing that I have learned when shooting planned action shots - set up your shot, focus on where the action will be, and wait for it to move into the frame. That way you don't miss it by trying to move the camera and then take the pic. For instance, when I take pics of T running barrels, I focus on the next barrel, wait for her to move into the frame, and then snap the picture. Spontaneous pics are just luck of the draw. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. I'm sure that a professional photographer would have better advice but it works for me. And I'm not a pro and don't claim to be ;) Something else that I have learned, specifically when taking pics of the animals - I crouch down for the shot rather than shoot straight on, especially with the smaller critters. I take most shots of the minis from a lower perspective. Something about the angle is more flattering than taking it from eye level. It's hard to explain but it works.

Some future projects bouncing around in my head:

• taking pictures of all of my mother's artwork that I have and creating a page on my website to her display artwork
• taking pictures of the 4 seasons from the same spot by the waterfall in Green Lane Park. I've had this one milling around for years but never seem to get there to do it.
• setting up an etsy shop for my jewelry and maybe some select photos in frames
• getting a tripod to get more slow shutter speed shots
• researching for a more sophisticated camera and possibly doing some photography for others

So, what type of camera do you use? What types of pics do you like the best? Any tips?

Small Fry

fry (noun) - recently hatched or juvenile fishes

Did you know that this is where the expression "small fry" came from? T has a pair of bubblegum cichlid fish in a small fish tank in her room. The fish laid eggs about a week and a half ago which hatched and we've got little fish! Lots of small fry! It's hard to see since they are so tiny but the white specks in this photo are actual little tiny versions of mama. They swim around and when mama feels they have ventured too far, she swims out, scoops them up in her mouth and spits them out where she wants them (in this case a small Mason jar). All mothers should be allowed to do this :)

Pine Cone in the Snow

Snow pics

We had snow on Monday - a "flurry" the weatherman said - it snowed all day. 4 and 1/2 inches and a 3 hour commute home later...it's the most snow we've had in one snowfall all winter (not counting the various ice storms). Hubby took some pics for me the next morning once the sun was up (I leave for work before it's fully light). I'm impressed. He took some good pics with whatever setting I had left on the camera.

The treeline behind my house (mostly native cedar trees)

Treeline with my Mimosa tree

Mock Orange

Poison Ivy - oh look, it has buds...just great, it will be the first thing that blooms.

I.must.stay.away.

Ornamental Pear Tree

Wordless Wednesday

Peering around a tree

Lemonade!

I have been sent a glass of ice-cold refreshing lemonade by Tracey at Mustang Diaries. Just what we need in the middle of a truly memorable winter - visions of tropical umbrella drinks!


The rules of the game - for bloggers who show Great Attitude/Gratitude:
1. Post the picture
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show Great Attitude and/or Gratitude.
3. Link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Link this post to the person from who you received your award.


(Thanks, Tracey, for the rules that I totally copied!)


My nominees:

Finding Sirius

A Glowing Ember

From Hell to Heaven: Saving Argus

Laughing Orca Ranch

Thoughts from the Road

The Horseshoeing Housewife

Life at the Rough String

Gypsy Mare Studios

Just Another Day on the Prairie

Welcome to Wilmoth Farms

Now pass it on!

Videos of the Minis

Since it's been so icy and snowy, we haven't been able to do much with the horses. T decided to play around with Raider a bit today while we had a snow flurry.

Pumpkin and Raider were a little frisky.

Sunday Stills - Color

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge - color. Since the weather has been uncooperative and dreary, I have to dig into the archives. I take lots of pics of my family, my critters and just things that interest me.

Believe it or not, this is a poison ivy vine in the fall of 2007. They look beautiful but I blister pretty much at the sight of them. I took this with the zoom setting ;)

This is T and Jet at a 4H horse show in October of 2008. I took this from a hill above the riding ring. It was a beautiful warm day - the grass was a brilliant green, not a cloud in the sky, and an obstacle course was set up in the ring with fall decorations. I was able to frame the pic to really get them in action.
Same pic, cropped to really see the horse and rider. The quality isn't the best because of the distance but I really love the pic, especially since she is jumping in her barrel racing saddle on a horse she uses for gaming (not the norm for this type of show).

A bleeding heart from my garden

And this contribution is from hubby and daughter - this is the other hobby in our house. It is a baby Flowerhorn cichlid. They are trying to breed these. This is the fish's natural color - no enhancements made.

Soaking up the sun and Whiskercicles

Raider has whiskercicles this morning.

Enjoying the morning sunshine at the hay feeder

(Pumpkin is in the background hoping someone in the barn will give him a snack)

Jet was waiting up at the barn this morning. Charm placed her self on a hill where she could soak up the strong morning sun. She was listening to me talking to her but was quite content to wait for me to come to her.

BRRR!

Holy cow, it's cold! I just checked the weather - it's 10 degrees with a low of 1 tonight with a wind chill of -4. It's the coldest it's been here in 5 years. My toes are just now defrosting from checking on the horses. Jet and Charm are just fine. They got a little extra grain today and we checked to make sure they were warm under their blankets and no ice on them anywhere. Charm's fetlocks had been clipped and I find that she gets little ice chunks on the hair that is growing back. Jet doesn't have the same problem and I can't help but wonder if it has something to do with the fact that his legs weren't clipped. He's really starting to look like a Mexican Mustang now that his mane has grown in. There's a definite difference in the 2 of them. Jet prefers to be outside with minimum fuss and seems to have acclimated to life in the big herd much easier (the Mexican Mustang is showing in him except he shivers and needs a blanket). Charm is very social and would absolutely love to have a stall of her own (she's the only horse I've ever owned that actually likes being in a stall). She absolutely loves attention and being groomed. Her legs, her muzzle, and ears were clipped and her mane was pulled when we got her. She's starting to really get fuzzy all over now that the clipped hair is growing in. Jet looks more like a wild horse while Charm looks domesticated. Both are very nice animals to have around and really seem to get along well together.

The minis are snacking away at their hay and are their usual selves - Pumpkin is a love and Raider is a grump. Both seem unaffected by the cold other than the icicle beard that Pumpkin sported from dunking his chin in the water tub. Those two are like little army tanks.

Probably the only benefit of the temps being this low is that the air is very crisp and the sky is very clear. We had a beautiful sunset tonight, a blue fading into a really lovely shade of pink - no pics as I don't think the camera batteries can take the cold. Tomorrow is supposed to be more of the same frigid air but less wind and then we should see some warmer temps on Sunday (woohoo - 20 degrees!). Monday should be above freezing so we should see the remaining snow and ice melt.

Plane Crash in the Hudson

Unless you live under a rock, you have heard about the plane that crashed into the Hudson River in New York yesterday. It is heartwarming to hear of a catastrophe averted by the skill of the pilot and how all of the people involved behaved. We hear so much about the horrible things people do to each other. This is one story that shows that people can be good to one another and can work together in a crisis. It truly is amazing that no one was seriously hurt.

Artic Cold

We are literally getting an artic blast from the North Pole. The frigid air came through Canada, across the midwest, and is now in Pennsylvania. Today's high is about 15 and the low about 9 degrees. Plus the wind makes it really cold!! We had snow flurries on and off all day yesterday with a bit of sun mixed in. The wind is supposed to die down tomorrow but the temps will still be low.

Jet and Charm are warm in their winter blankets. Raider and Pumpkin also have blankets on since their pasture is much windier than the rest of the farm. Everyone has lots of hay to stay warm. I haven't even considered riding since it's been so cold and icy. The riding ring is frozen solid and covered by a thin layer of ice as are the woods. Hopefully we can get some riding in once the temperature comes back up to freezing. It's all relative...32 sounds cold in the spring but right now, it seems balmy.

Dreaming of Warmer Days and Green Grass

It is bitterly cold here with an artic blast blowing through right from the North Pole. The high over the next couple of days is about 15 with a low of 0. The horses are snug in the blankets with plenty of hay but I can't help but dream of warmer days and green grass...

May, 2008

Razzle and Diego snack on some spring grass

Razzle now has a wonderful life with my friend Penny and her daughter Meagan

Diego died July 8, 2008. He was 28.

Jet and I share a quiet moment in the hay ring

Wordless Wednesday

Isn't she cute?!?

Grungy from the mud but cute!

The Babysitter

I came across this picture the other day and wanted to share. It's one of my favorite pics of T and Diego. I took this about 2 years ago while she was just tooling around in my fleece bareback pad. Diego was an absolute peach with her and just stood still in the sunshine. He was such a good teacher for her. I really miss the old guy.

Sunday Stills - Macro

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is Closeup/Macro pics.

This is a lilac from my garden.

This is the freezing rain in December on the seed pods of my Mimosa tree.

Today's snow and Frosted minis

Today was our first real accumulation of snow all season. Before today, we have had 14 days of snow in our area but only 1.4 inches - the rest has been ice, sleet, and freezing rain. The snow was a nice change of pace (and I can't believe I'm saying that because I am so not a fan of winter and I really hate snow). Jet and Charm got quick blanket changes (one or more of the other horses keep biting the butts out of the blankets) and then back to the hay for them. The minis have blankets too but they don't really get cold, they don't shiver, and they really don't like to have them on as evidenced by the grumpy faces and attitudes when they do have them on. All of the horses have free choice hay to keep them warm.

The view from the barn

Jet & Charm

Frosted Minis

Raider

Pumpkin

(He's short but not as short as he appears - it's a step down into the barn where their run-in is).