Catching Melinda checking in on the new calf that was born two weeks ago. The wee bull is a male and is not normally named as they will be sold at market.
Melinda on the other hand is a keeper. Big Laugh, bigger heart.
Music on the Farm
There was a lot of music on the farm over the weekend. The fun started on the back porch and ultimately ended with a cake walk in the big barn.
Unfortunately, the rain was steady all day long and the crowd was small. Still, we managed to have a great time. I actually like when the music is officially over, but the musicians hang out and continue playing on their own. Playing for each other and themselves.
Debbie Has a New Hat
Debbie has a new straw hat, complete with big black bow. She’s pretty happy about her new acquisition too. Congratulations, Debbie!
Pinning Hems
Melinda and Debbie have been working hard on a new ensemble for Melinda. The final outfit will consist of top, underskirt, and over skirt. Debbie is pinning the underskirt, a job best done with Melinda up on a short stool.
There has been a lot of hand stitching as well as sewing on the hand crank machine. Next up, buttons and button holes for the top and assembly of the over skirt.
On another note, I just love the light in this house. There is no electricity, so all of the light comes from large windows that can be found in every room.
Deep in Hot Water
Before butchering hogs, you first need to scald their carcass in water so that you can scrape the bristles off of their hide. At the farm, we use an ancient steam engine to heat the water.
Then a team of men get to work scraping the hair from the animal. It’s not pretty or pleasant for modern sensabilities. How easy it is to buy our food from the market and have no real idea of how it got there.
In the Breeze
I wanted her to notice me. To see me for the first time and perhaps recognize that I was present. But in her world, I was less than a shadow. Less that the light breeze that teased her hair with the prospect of flight…of freedom.
The Experience of Joy
Sometimes it is possible to experience another person’s joy just by seeing them doing something that they love. A sort of happiness by proxy. When Mary dances, I often wonder what is in her head. But, I don’t want to dwell on the thought for fear of losing that sensation of enjoyment of the moment.
Charley’s Lambs
Some of the ewes at the farm had twins and that means a few extra lambs that were not getting fed by their mothers. That’s where a team of workers stepped in with their giant bottles of milk and hand fed them until they were old enough to eat on their own. As you can see, Charley has taken to a few of them. Or is it the other way around? Either way, there is plenty of affection going around.
It’s the first time that I’ve seen lambs act like dogs.
Here are more images of sheep to get you through the weekend.
Joshua Thomas McMurdo
Josh recently surprised me with a week visit. You can safely bet that I was out of my mind with excitement. He and I share the passion of photography and we spent the week shooting all over southern Ohio and parts of Kentucky. Here he is ready to roll before one of our daily adventures. Yeah, I think I’ll claim him.
The New Mustache and the Agony of the Selfie
It’s been a while since you’ve had a good look at me and I’ve grown a mustache since I created my last self portrait. Sounds like a good enough reason to set up the tripod and take a selfie.
I’m not one to take a lot of portraits of myself. It’s hard. There are the technical issues of setting up the gear and using a light stand as fill in so that I can set the focus and the exposure manually. The need to stand in the right spot and make adjustments until I am happy with the results. Then come the truly difficult parts of creating a self portrait. How do you stand, what kind of expression do you wear. How do I avoid looking like an idiot and make my personality come through? What should I do with my arms? What should I wear?
Twenty or so shots later, I have the image you see above and I am fairly happy with the results. And then the t-shirt begins to bug me. It pops out and draws my eye. It’s stark white in a portrait that is made up of gorgeous greys and charcoals. The eyes are not quite sharp enough. Did I say the t-shirt bothered me?
Change out of the t-shirt, get dressed again. Re-check the gear Try to remember where I was standing, make adjustments. Try to not look like an idiot again and you can see the results above. Not as much personality, but by this time, I am tired and want to move on.
What do you think? Does the t-shirt bother you in the first image? Are the images too dark? I never question my judgement when I am creating portraits of others. Which is the keeper? Is the mustache a keeper?
This is one of the few times that I open my work up to your suggestions. Let me know what you think.
tim mcmurdo 