Thursday 10th July 2008

Another hot humid day today but at least Larry got me outside to work with Cayenne and ride her a bit, withouut the kick up the butt I would just not get it done Sigh!! I actually enjoyed it but this is the nature of this illness, lack of motivation.

My first photo today is one I had entered into a challenge on the DP Challenge forum so I didnt want to put it here as I know some of those members come here to look see but it is one of my best hummingbird shots so far. The sunlight was just falling on the bird and he turned the right way to catch the rays because right next to him is under the eaves of the house and it is very dark. I have some others but part of the bird is in the shadow and it doesnt have as much impact.

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Walking to collect mail this morning I finally photographed this flower which has been growing there every year since I first came here 7 years ago but it just hasnt got any bigger.

The pic below is the full size of it now and it has the most blooms on it that I have seen so far. I have seen this tree once before and it was a great big tree. Anyone know what it is?
I got a snap of this little butterfly sitting on a milkweed plant flower but his one rear wing is damaged which is a shame. Didnt see the moth today but will keep watching out for it.
One of the downsides of having spotted horses, or paint horses is that the skin underneath the white hair is pink and very susceptible to sunburn. Last year Wiggle got sunburned quite badly out at the pasture down the road but I started spraying her with sunblock and she got better.

What you see below is what the three brown fillies' muzzles loook like, I believe it is also caused by the red clover that grows in the fields here and the dampness of the grass in the early mornings. I am going to have to start wiping something on them to keep them protected. Any suggestions anyone. Larry's potion is Baby Oil and Betadine which seemed to work last time but I know I am going to struggle to get this done because these fillies have had no training other than casual contact with me every day so I wont be able to restrain them by tying them up while I tend to them, they will just panic.

That is another project for the rest of this summer, trying to get these 3 fillies lead broke and having feet picked up and trimmed and hopefully a saddle on them as they will be 3 year olds next year.

Well that is about it for today, hope all of this made up for me missing yesterday and that you are all well, nearly the weekend again can you believe it! ((((Hugs))))) and my thoughts, prayers and positive vibes to everyone who has troubles at the moment, there seeems to be so much suffering all over the world at the moment and I know people from as far away as Africa to here in the USA who are having hardships because of flooding, fires and other things.

C Y'all tomorrow

Lori

xx

13 September 2007

To make up for the other day when I didnt post a picture I am posting three shots of flowers from today. The pink ones are called Four O'Clocks. They usually stay tightly closed during the heat of the day and start opening in the evening so I was quite surprised to see them open this afternoon. They are in the garden at the place where the we rent the pasture for the horses down the road. Larry was up for a few hours today and he hasn't been over there since I moved the horses over at the beginning of May. He has known the owners since he was a small child and hadnt seen them for a long time so we decided to go and pay a visit and catch up a bit. It was a lovely day and while they chatted I snapped some shots of her flowers. The other one is a giant marigold, so pretty and bright. Wiggle is looking a bit better and the cooler days are helping. I am keeping her sprayed with special conditioner and sunscreen so hopefully she will continue to improve. BB and Cat are also looking better.

We got a late start this morning so by the time we had gone and had some lunch after our visit it was 3pm when we got home. We spent an hour or two on the wooden fence and I am getting there slowly but surely. Now that I have a better idea of what I am doing (thanks to Larry's instruction LOL) it is going a bit quicker. I think it is going to look really nice when it is finished. Can't wait so that I can put the three boys out in it. Blue, Gee and Taxes will all take their turns out there too. At least they will be able to let off a bit of steam safely without the fear of one of them getting tied up in the wire because they cant see it.

I have a stack to do tomorrow, I am behind on everything as usual. Feeling a bit better today. ((((Hugs))) everyone.

Lori

xx

6 July 2007

Hi guys, hot hot hot today. Started off really nice but by this afternoon it was around 90F. The one saving grace was that it wasnt so humid and tomorrow will be as hot but again the humidity will be lower.

This is a "flower" (not sure what it is we get a lot of flowering weeds here which made great colorful subjects) along the side of our drive between the lane and the field fence. It looks like a sputnik LOL. If anyone can shed any light on it I would be grateful.

I took this shot of the baby birds yesterday. The first two had ventured out onto the cross beams. Later they both returned to the nest. Today all but one were out and later this afternoon I could only see 4 so I dont know if one took his maiden flight and then they leave the nest immediately? I need to research that a bit to find out . The parents fuss around them singing and chirping and swooping to show them and they are still feeding them of course.

I got most of the old fence taken down today, now I just have to pull the metal posts out, go to Muncie to buy the timber I need and start digging holes to put the posts in and cement to set them well. I am hoping to find someone with an auger because this clay is rock hard at the moment. I will be relieved when it is built because the babies are getting a bit cranky being cooped up and I cant put Gee out in the bottom of the barn because the yearlings are there and I cant let them out. I worked a bit with two of the yearlings today, they did really well, I dont think it will take them long to learn what I need to teach them in order to be able to take them out to the bigger field.

Brat baby, Taxes (Mike's little buddy) is doing really well, he is growing daily. I am going to have to think about weaning him after the next week or so. His momma really needs the break but I dont have any company for him so that worries me and I dont want to wait until end September when our mare with the baby will come back from Iowa to wean. I think his momma might be fed up by then LOL.

It has been another long day but at least I achieved a bit today, will carry on catching up tomorrow. Hope you all have a great weekend. (((((Hugs))))) to all that need them. You are all always in my thoughts.

Lori

xx