Sit

Zoey has mastered the sit command with very little instruction.  Just goes to show that she's a smart cookie and we are going to have to keep her very occupied as she gets older.  Both dogs are busy bees.

Working the Barrels

Ring work with Zip

Sleep Deprived

You'll have to excuse the lack of photos today.  I'm so sleep deprived from this new puppy that I didn't get a chance to even come up with an idea for a blog post.  I have vacation days until Tuesday so I'm hoping to catch up on sleep and establish some semblance of a routine (ha!).  She is a joy to have around and does most of her business outside with the occasional mishap.  She's already learned how to sit on command and is starting to understand some other commands plus she's figured out how to walk on a leash.  I'm going back to slack on the couch.

Wordless Wednesday - Yum!

And her name is...

Zoey, after Elmo's girl friend on Sesame Street.

We thought a cute little monster was appropriate :)

The only time she's still is when she's sleeping.

Macro Monday - Exhausted

This is the as-yet-unnamed new pup that came home with us this weekend. We have been searching for another dog that could be a companion for Bandit. Who knew finding a dog could be so difficult?!?

She is a blue merle Border Collie / Australian Shepherd cross and she is very sweet. Bandit isn't quite sure what she is just yet but I predict that they will be playing full force by next weekend.

You can see other contributors to Macro Monday here.

Sunday Stills - Landscapes (Fall Foliage)

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is Landscapes (Fall Foliage). Again, not a lot of time to take pictures this week but here's what I came up with. I have a bunch of pics up from last week that have more fall foliage.

T on Zip in the woods

An Amish dairy farm

Check out other bloggers who participate in the Sunday Stills Challenge.

In Flight

Skywatch Friday, Season 4, Episode 15

The pink sky just as the sun was coming up earlier this week over a cornfield.

Check out skies from around the world at Skywatch.

Comfortable

Jet is the steady-eddie in our herd. He's the confidence booster, trail lead and the horse that anyone can ride.

Wordless Wednesday - Blending In

Fat and Sassy

Montero is finally getting to the point where he is rounding out. I joke that he's become fat and sassy. It's hard to believe that this is the same skinny, scrawny horse that stepped on our trailer almost a year ago. At last check, he has gained 120 pounds and a whole lot of muscle. No ribs visible, no prominent hip bones or tail head. His gaits have improved and he's started to do this really cool extended trot when we free longe him. Plus he can run like there's no tomorrow. He needed the extra food and a steady companion to get him back to where he should be. He is now in a herd situation and figuring out how to be a horse. He's still a goober and a wimp but he is actually not the low man of the herd. He's like the kid you send off to kindergarten - all you can do is your best and hope that he does well. I'm really looking forward to watching him during the winter months to come.

Macro Monday - Signs of Fall

For the past few days, it has been cold here and very wet - 2 Nor'Easters that hit us back to back and temperatures that are 20 degrees below normal for this time of year. My garden is starting to look barren as the flowers die off.

Climbing Hydrangea

The flowers are done but the leaves are still green

The leaves on one of my lilac bushes are just starting to turn

My ornamental pear tree only bears small fruit in late fall

You can see other contributors to Macro Monday here.

Sunday Stills - the Letter "C"

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is the letter "C" - whatever you can find that begins with the letter C, either a thing or a situation will do.

C is for Chickadee

This is part of one of my mother's drawings. Chickadees were one of her favorite subjects to draw or paint. Her artwork is very precious to me since she passed away in 2004.

C is for cube - a note cube that is

C is for Copper - part of a copper wire necklace that I am working on

C is for color - the autumn color of the trees

Check out other bloggers who participate in the Sunday Stills Challenge.

Skywatch Friday - Season 4, Episode 14

Morning sun through the trees in Green Lane Park. It's supposed to rain for the next 3 days so any glimpse of sun is welcome.

Check out skies from around the world at Skywatch.

Enjoying the Walk

T and Bandit on the road leading from the bridge in Green Lane Park. The road is now completely closed for vehicle traffic and makes for a peaceful walk.

Wordless Wednesday - Serene

A Perfect Reflection

When we took Bandit to Green Lane Park on the weekend, I was hoping to get some good pics of the leaves changing. We were there mid morning and the sky was clear with no wind. The fall colors made a perfect reflection in Deep Creek Lake.

Macro Monday - Bandit

We took Bandit to Green Lane Park yesterday. We managed to burn off some of his energy and he plopped in the grass. I consider it a major accomplishment when I can actually get a shot of him since the dog never sits still long enough for me to snap his picture.

You can see other contributors to Macro Monday here.

Sunday Stills - Photoshop

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is Photoshop - "...You don’t need a fancy program most of us just have a basic photo program and you can take a pic and play with the color and saturation to make an interesting pic..." I don't have Photoshop but I do use Picnik to edit photos. I typically don't do a whole lot of editing but I do like some of the effects. The corn crib, silos, and fields are from the farm that boarders the horse pasture.

Focal Zoom with JDR-ish effect - from last week's gymkhana
Focal Soften with Orton-ish effect

Focal B&W with some sharpening - from last week's gymkhana

Lomo-ish effect

Auto Enhance with HDR-ish effect
Matte effect - Zip

JDR-ish effect

Check out other bloggers who participate in the Sunday Stills Challenge.

Skywatch Friday - Season 4, Episode 13

Montero on a beautiful clear autumn afternoon

Check out skies from around the world at Skywatch.

The Joy of Running

The cool autumn weather has the horses feeling frisky. It doesn't take much encouragement to get them galloping and bucking across the pasture.

Zip in the lead

Zip still in the lead

Jet following close behind

Montero in the lead this time

Zip

Downhill

"Look, ma, no feet on the ground!"

Hard to believe this is the same skinny horse that stepped off the trailer.

He's gained 120 pounds since March.

Wordless Wednesday - Zip

Last Gymkhana of the 2009 Season

Saturday was Buxmont Riding Club's last gymkhana of the 2009 season. T and Jet did fantastic! She finished the night as Reserve Champion and will finish the season as Reserve Champion. She worked hard for it and she definitely deserves it! We are so proud of her!!!

Warming up

Bootlace

First Place Blue Ribbon for Bootlace!
For more pics and individual class times and placings, please visit my Shutterfly site.