Sometimes you become so tired that you have to drop right where you are and take a nap. You could be on the floor, in the barn or even on a bench on the back porch. Your eyes start to droop, your muscles relax, and the next thing you know, you are out like a light. Right there. Wherever you are.
Must be nice being a cat.
Take a nap today. You've earned it.
Zach has always thought he was one of the horses on the farm. He was raised along side them and what they did, he did. If they were gamboling and playing in the pasture behind the barn, then Zach was right there with them. He ate the same hay from the same hay rack as them. He drank from the same water trough.
It is no wonder that Zach was surprised when the horses decided that today, he couldn't play in any of their draft horse games. You would think he was some kind of hog, sheep, or even worse, a goat. Poor Zach. Poor clueless Zach.
It should go without saying, but I am afraid that it bears repeating. You should always shake your tail feathers. Got it?
This morning, I stopped by the farm to check in on Belle and her baby. The farm is closed to the public today, so it was the perfect time to visit them while enjoying a little peace and quiet.
However, the moment I arrived, the weather set in. The blustery wind whipped up that cottonwood fluff and sent it flying. If I didn't know that it was late May, I would have thought it was snowing.
True to form, the rain wasn't far behind. However, the horses didn't seem to mind at all.
With a new baby, Belle has a pasture to herself until the colt gets a little older. I don't think she minds. All of that sweet spring grass is all for her.
Have a great day folks.
No, you don't dip the hens in the paint. What kind of person thinks of something like that?
If you decide you want to paint outdoors at the farm, you had better be prepared for some company. In this case chickens. The rooster was nearby, but apparently he is not a fan of The Arts.
Have a great holiday weekend folks. Get outside and enjoy some sunshine. You've earned it.
Tuesday afternoon, Belle gave birth to a fine healthy colt. When I first saw him stand, I was struck by how tall he was and the length of his gangly legs. Like his mother, he is black with the exceptions of one white rear hoof and the white blaze on his forehead. It is not uncommon for percherons to be born black and then slowly turn very light grey as they grow older. His grandmother is all light grey (almost white) and as you can see, Belle is well on her way as well.
With last week's new calf, the new lambs, and new piglets expected in a few months, Carriage Hill Farm's animal family is growing in leaps and strides this year.
No names for the colt and calf just yet. I will keep you posted. One sure bet is that the calf will be named after a flower, following in the hoof steps of Daisy, Rosebud, Lilly, and fern.
Have a great day.
Ace reporter, Libby Crenshaw knew a good story when she saw one. She spied Jimmy in the paddock and knew by the way he just stood there every time she looked in his direction that something big was going on. Why would a horse try so hard not to be noticed if he wasn't trying to hide something.
Libby wasn't shy and walked straight up to Jimmy and asked him what he was up to. Point blank. Libby is not known for being subtle. The more that Jimmy stood there in silence, the more Libby knew that she was right. And so the staring contest began.
As far as we know, Libby and Jimmy are still standing there, staring in silence. Who will break first?
Yesterday, Jim and Charlie hitched up Charlie and Jimmy to plant corn using the old 1930s era IH seeder. Farm tractors did not become common until after the Second World War and this would have been a common sight until the late 1940s. Trivia behind us, yesterday was a perfect day to be outside in the sunshine. The sky was full of big puffy clouds and there was a cool breeze. And of course, with Charlie around (the man, not the horse), there were plenty of jokes to keep us entertained.
The Charlies and Jims were planting butcher blood corn. I included a picture of the seed so that you can see how beautiful it is.
Every so often, Charlie and Noland would check the seed to ensure the old machine was working as it should. Old machines need constant watching and adjustment.
I know that you are wondering about the horses’ names. Legend has it (we only have the word of Jim and Charlie), they were visiting an Amish farmer while looking for a new pair of draft horses. When the farmer mentioned the horses were named Charlie and Jimmy, they bought them on the spot. I think it is just as likely that the two jokesters named the horses on the way home. You never know with those two.
Have a great day.
Panning is otherwise known as the biggest test to my patience. I am not practiced at it and as a result, I am not good at it.
On a recent trip to Florida, I had the opportunity to photograph an amazing bird rookery. I thought the location and subject would be the perfect opportunity for me to practice panning. Truth be told, it was good practice. However the two hairs left on my bald head are now long gone. Most of the hundreds of photos that I took on that outing look just like the one shown below.
I walked away with more than my share of out of focus bits of birds. Was the time well spent? I wouldn't have traded that day for anything. I got to spend time with my one of a kind Uncle Eddie, and at the end of the day, I walked away with a handful of images like the one below.
What do you know, my parents are right, practice makes perfect.
What part of your photography do you struggle with?
Make a point to practice. Put yourself in locations and in position to work on your weaknesses. Sure, you will shoot a lot of terrible pictures, but eventually you will get that first great shot. After enough practice, you will regularly get the great shots you you want.
Have a great day folks.
tim mcmurdo 