Water Horses

We have a large pond in our field.  Initially the horses pretty much ignored it but as time went on, we would find them drinking from it or standing at the edge.  We've had a hot, dry summer so the water level is low right now.  Zip and Rosie have taken to standing in the water and playing with the duck weed, sometimes up to their chests.  We've been waiting for just the right time to catch them in the act.

Macro Monday - Hummingbird

Earlier this month, we were walking into CVS when I noticed what looked like a small bright piece of paper fluttering in the breeze on the ground just in front of the doorway.  Upon closer inspection, it was this little fella who had apparently flown into the glass doors.  He was still breathing so Craig scooped him (he's better with birds than I am) and checked to make sure that nothing was broken.  He seemed to be just stunned so we walked over to a grassy area to give him time to recover.

He perked up and before we knew it, he had flown away.  

I've never been that close to a hummingbird before.  It was a pretty cool encounter.

Sunday Stills Challenge - Statues or Figurines

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is Statues or Figurines.  I scrambled a lit bit this week to get pics taken but here are my selections.

Weathervane on the barn

Our school district's mascot is a bear.  There are lots of painted bears

scattered around the school district in front of various businesses, schools, and memorials.

The Doctor Bear

The Flower Bear

You can see a list of all the bears here

Horse on the barn

Skywatch Friday - Season 4, Episode 7

We've gotten some much needed rain which has 

brought along thunder and lightening

Craig took these during one of the recent storms

Wordless Wednesday - Dogs in Motion

Frisbee Dogs

Every morning I play frisbee with Bandit and Zoey.  Being Border Collies, they can be pretty obsessive about toys and there is a definite routine that requires two frisbees.  The first frisbee gets thrown for Zoey who chases it.  As soon as that frisbee is thrown, the second frisbee is thrown for Bandit.  Once Bandit catches it, Zoey drops hers and chases him with the frisbee.  And on and on it goes until they get tired.  If you mess up the sequence, nothing works right.  Bandit will let the frisbee hit him in the head if you throw his frisbee before Zoey's.  I wonder who has who trained....

Waiting for the frisbee

Wile E. Coyote, Super Genius

Not a care in the world

The orange frisbee is actually Bandit's, Zoey's is pink

T took these pics while I manned the frisbees

Macro Monday - Wood Planks

Sunday Stills - Metal

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is Metal - This can be any form of metal you would like, the challenge is to try to come up with something noone else can think of.

Door hinges on the barn

We believe the barn was built in 1895 and 

the hinges seem to be original

Old hitching post

Lightening Rod

Driving Miss Rosie

We are still figuring out what Rosie is all about.  She has gained 75 pounds so far, is really filling out, and is shedding like there is no tomorrow.  We were told that she had come through the Lebanon auction in April and we had a sneaking suspicion that she had been a driving pony at one point.  Craig and T used the surcingle and the driving lines to figure out what she can do.  She was a champ and it’s very obvious that she knows what she’s doing. She was well behaved with really good manners (she has excellent ground manners to be begin with).  I think that she was probably driven a lot but not ridden very much so at least we have a game plan and a path forward.  I’m looking forward to doing some ground driving with her.

Skywatch Friday - Season 4, Episode 6

The corn's getting high

Wordless Wednesday - Just Annie

Munching

It's been such a hot and dry summer that the grass in our pasture is just about done.  We've starting giving the horses hay which they very much enjoy.

The girls quietly munched their hay while Zip was getting groomed and getting his toes painted in the barn.

Macro Monday - Clover

A little bit of clover at the horse farm

Sunday Stills Challenge - Smoke and Fire

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is Smoke and Fire - Either Smoke or fire or both can be in the pic, bonus for creativity.  We have a burn ban in effect so no outside fire and I was totally out of ideas so all I could think of was candles.

Brenda Photo Challenge - Dirt

The theme of this challenge is Dirt - Dirt....Yes, Dirt! As usual, YOU decide about what's dirt or dirty! AND I DO NOT MEAN PERVERSE!!!LOL....I MEAN, dirt on roads...dirty faces...dusty trails...etc. Get it??

T and Zip kicking up some dirt in Pole Bending

Zip rolling in the dirt under the late afternoon sun

View other Challenge participants

Skywatch Friday - Season 4, Episode 5

Hazy, Hot and Humid

Her Favorite Toy

Zoey's favorite toy is a rubber spider that you can stuff with treats. 

She knows the word "spidey" and will seek out the toy and throw it on your lap so you can fill it up.  We routinely play fetch with it and sometimes even tug-o-war although I don't want her to pull Spidey's legs off.  Bandit won't even look at Spidey since he's knows it's Zoey's toy.  Spidey kept her company while she checked out the neighborhood.

Wordless Wednesday - The Best Peanut Butter Ad

Bunny Ears

Zoey doing her bunny imitation

I'm a little under the weather so I haven't been taking pics or working on my blog posts.  Please bear with me while I catch up.

Sunday Stills Challenge - Clouds

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is Clouds. I love taking pics of the sky so it was hard to choose which ones to use but here's what I selected. 

The edge of a storm

Early morning sky yesterday after the heat and humidity dropped

Rosie, One Month Later

I can't believe that it's been a month already!!  This little pony has come a long way in a short time.  She has gained a remarkable 65 pounds and doesn't even resemble the skinny little thing that stepped off the trailer.  She is sweet and very friendly and we are starting to see more of her personality.  I took her for a walk the other day and I guess I was standing still chatting for too long since she reached around and nipped me in the butt (yes, I corrected her for it).  It was her not-so-subtle way of telling me to get moving.  She's definitely a people pony.  She's the first one to greet you and will hang out with you in the pasture.  I am still taking pics of her weekly to chronicle her progress.  She's going to be a stock, sturdy pony when she's at her full weight.

She wanted to see what I was doing and she was 

keeping track of the horses in the shed behind her.

The hair on her face is growing back and you can just 

about see the little white star on her forehead.

Her ribs are barely visible and she's actually got some substance to her

 Wondering what I was doing back there

 

We're off to the tent sales at various tack stores this weekend.  I'm starting a mental list of the things that we need for the coming fall and winter.

Skywatch Friday - Season 4, Episode 4

I just love the colors of sunset this time of year!

Surrounded by Girls

Somehow my little herd consists of 3 mares and Zip being the lone male.  Kali gets along with everyone, Annie thinks Kali is her best friend and really doesn't like Rosie, and Rosie really just wants to be around the other horses.  Zip is pretty easy going and most days isn't overly concerned with which girl decides to keep him company (he was gelded a long time ago).  Sometimes they even smell good    :)