Horses, horses, horses and a cat

The theme for this week's "Perceptive Perspective" is "Outdoors".   It has rained a lot and has been really hot and steamy.  The haze in the background in the photo above shows how hot it has been - a typical southern late-May afternoon!  I love how the dirt road and fence winds its way through to the trees.  I had a hard time deciding which one to submit for the challenge as I really like these first two.  The mare and foal photo lovingly depicts how her neck protects her baby and that "motherliness" is what I was trying to capture with the perspective I used.

Hmm... I submitted the first one as I think it speaks more to the theme of "Outdoors".

I also adore this one:

A few weeks ago I mentioned we GAVE UP our house cleaning lady (I haven't been without one in YEARS) so we could lease two ponies.  So far,  it seems to be a great swap and I really don't mind cleaning up a bit of horse dodo now and then.  The photos below are a few snapshots from today.

The Donkey Next Door

I just love this little guy.   It is often really hard to get a candid shot of this donkey as he is so friendly he will walk right up and visit.  He tends to get very close and gets out of focus.

I just love his ears!

I love the idea of this shot, but it is out of focus.  I will try again!

This last shot is for tomorrow's "Black & White Wednesday".

"Comically Courageous", a poem

Comically Courageous

A bit comical I appear
as agile explorer I claim
all high ground.  But life is no game.

It's important I show no fear!
Warrior's heart, Thor's chariot
it pulls.  Chinese zodiac year

am I.  Willfully wild, my aim.
More courageous do I appear?

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, May 23, 2011

This is for One Stop Poetry's "Monday's One Stop Poetry Form".  A bit silly and I like last week's attempt a lot better, but I wanted to use these photos today.  This little goat lives next door to us and is quite a character!  I tried to do a double, or "High Octain", which was suggested, but I ran out of time AND the poem got a bit CRAZY.  Visit Luke Prater's poetry blog, "Word Salad".  He is the creator of this poetry form.

* * * * *

And for my favorite animal, the horse, I submit the first photo below for this week's "Creative Exchange".  I had a tough time deciding which one to choose.

"Come Back Tomorrow", 200-207/365

Kell's daily poetry prompt is to: Make a list of ten images of things you have seen in the last 24 hours.  Use all of them in a poem.  Well, I narrowed it down to our walk across the street - I easily found more than ten images.  This is a VERY free-flowing "poem".  The following photos were taken with my old camera as it was raining and really windy.  I am surprised how well they came out as I was hard pressed to keep the camera still.  I heard a tornado hit and destroyed a Lowe's a couple hours away from us.

Come Back Tomorrow!

Three girls practically flew 

to the farm, eager to see

the pony we hope to lease.

A welcoming whinny said "Hello",

Tabby smiled and scratched,

Hammock offered relaxation,

Tree and tire swing beckoned "Come play"!

Peacock preened,

Goat nodded,

"Salt & Pepper" stared

and "springtime" entered our hearts.

But storm clouds gathered; "Tornado Watch"!
Back home we trod, downhearted.

We'll come back tomorrow.  And wonder until then, which one is our new friend.

I will be taking a "Blogger Spring Break" 

and will be back on Tuesday, April 24th. 

I hope to show you a photo of the pony

we will be leasing.

Until then, Happy Easter!

"A Couple of Cows"

A Couple of Cows

This is for the Alphabet Challenge - the letter C.  I played around with the light right before dusk and I put my camera on the night time setting - and I had to rest my camera on the fence in order to get a clear enough photo.  This is a little blurry, but I love the grass hanging from their mouths.  I moved to get a better shot but they all ran away scared ! ... except one.  And I'm saving that photo for the next "Reflection Challenge" as there was a pond in the background ...