Sunday Stills

There is a photography website I found recently called www.sundaystills.wordpress.com.  Every week they put up a photography challenge with an example and other bloggers can accept the challenge and post their own photos.  I haven't participated much because my photography skills (if you could call them that) are limited to pointing my camera at something and pushing the button.  For every one of these good pictures, I have at least a hundred that I hope no one ever sees.  I am trying to do better and actually learn what those settings on my camera do.  I like the Sunday Stills challenges because it gives me one simple thing to try to do each week and provides some basic directions.

A couple of weeks ago, I even bought a copy of Photoshop Elements when they sent me a super sale offer.  However, I am finding that software to be a bit um, challenging.  I have no doubt it can do miracles with photos but, don't hold your breath waiting to see Photoshop wonders here.  In fact, you shouldn't even put off a menial, boring chore you have been successfully avoiding waiting for me to master the wonders of Photoshop.

If you want to see some great photography and "meet" some wonderful critters at the same time, you should check out  www.the7msnranch.com.  She takes some great photos and her subjects are wonderful.  My photography requires more of the "it's the thought that counts" attitude.  Still, I have taken a few photos that I particularly like and when I saw that this week's Sunday Stills challenge was pets, I figured I'd have to jump in.  Tanner features rather heavily here for the simple reason that he has been here the longest and I have had more opportunity to get a decent shot of him.  So, in no particular order, here are some of my favorite pet photos (untouched by Photoshop and likely to remain that way:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A beautiful donkey

Some friends of mine sent me this photo of a mammoth donkey that belongs to some friends of theirs (was that convoluted enough for you?).  She is so beautiful, I thought everybody should get a chance to "meet" her.  And no, she is NOT for sale (dang it). 

First snow

We had our first real snow here last night.  We have been enjoying unseasonably nice weather the last few weeks and really, I wish it would stay that way all year.  I hate snow.  The snow we had last night was just about enough.  After all, it's obvious that it did snow.  It just didn't amount to much and it won't last long if we don't get anymore.  It's that "if" that's the problem.  It is only wishful thinking on my part that we won't get more, lots more, of the stuff.   Last year we had so much snow and then more and more on top of that......well lets not talk about that, I haven't fully recovered from the trauma of it.

This snow is about what snow ought to be; fairly innocuous, not deep, picturesque and followed  by a nice, calm, sunny day (where lots of it melts).  I went out and did what everybody does, I tried to take pictures of the pretty snow trees (what else would you do with a tree covered in snow?).  Tanner does enjoy the snow just as long as it isn't too deep.  Actually, he loves snow, even the deep stuff, but he gets bogged down in it and struggling through it makes him very lame. 

Tessa also likes snow but, Emma, I think she is on my side.  She would have been so small last winter that not even her ears would have cleared the drifts.  I am guessing that she doesn't have fond memories of last years trauma  er, um winter either.  She spent all afternoon wandering around rather dejectedly, looking for bits of grass.  They did both came over to pose for some photos (although Emma just wanted to go somewhere warmer and if that wasn't going to happen would I, "please just get the white stuff off the pasture".  She is a desert animal after all) 

"HOW long until Spring?????"

Somedays, it's just too much effort....

A whole new meaning to "barn-sour"

Emma is only 16 months old and had never even worn  halter before coming here so I hadn't been expecting much when I first started working with her.  However, I have been continually amazed at how fast she learns and she absolutely loves doing it.  I had heard from several sources that I need to let her mature before doing too much with her.  Honestly though, I keep having to come up with new things for her to do so she doesn't get bored and go looking for trouble.  I do try to keep all our training sessions fun, interesting and include lots of carrot slices so really,  she thinks they are great games rather than work.  She looks forward to our "games" every day and will start making up her own if I don't get moving fast enough.   *Note:  Be very, very careful about letting your donkey make up her own games:)

Yesterday, I brought Emma out onto the lawn intending to work on her leading skills and play around with some obstacles.  Since we were going out by ourselves and leaving Tessa in the barn, I figured we'd be lucky to get to the end of the driveway, which is about 500 feet from the barn.  When we got there though, it was very clear that Emma was enjoying herself and wanted to keep going.  The only time she balked at all was when I tried to turn her back to the barn.  So, we just kept going.  We went all around the neighbors place, down the road and through the woods around the back of the house.....She wanted to explore everything.

Emma has completely redefined the term "barn-sour".   We went out again this afternoon and wound up stopping at several of the neighbors houses where she got to meet lots of new people (and got to eat even more carrots).  We were out for about an hour and a half and walked nearly two miles and I still had to pull hard to get her back to the barn.  I am thrilled that Emma likes going out like this.  The exercise is good for both her body and mind.  The only problem I can see, is that Tanner and Emma don't want any part of going out together.  Since I already take Tanner hiking every day, this could get to be a bit much.  I think the search is officially on to find another riding animal.  One that Emma could follow along behind.  I have a few ideas and some options and perhaps, maybe.....there is a really big, mammoth saddle donkey out there that could use a good home?????

The Dashing Donkey!

You may recall that Emma came from a not-so-good home, that she has a baby brother and parents with severely neglected feet (find the whole story here and here).  Well, baby brother has gone to his new home and finally has a real name.  Say hello to Dash (Isn't that just the best name for such a dashing fellow, I love it)!

Dash is doing great in his new home.  In true donkey style, he has charmed the whole barn and loves dashing up and down the aisle ways. 

That isn't the end of the good news though.  Finally giving in to pressure from me and Dash's new person, the owner of these donkeys has agreed to sell the jack and jenny as well.  They are going together to their new home this week where they will get the care and attention they are so deserving of. 

It really doesn't take much to have a to have a big impact on the lives of animals.  A little time, a little effort and four (FIVE if you count jenny's next baby, as I am sure she is pregnant again) have wonderful new lives.  Yeah for the donkeys!

Sunset