November 20, Making Hay

I know it’s a silly title. I love the lines in the stall door and barn. And the horse is cute too.

Chasing Sunflare, A Tutorial

focal length: 23 mm
shutter speed: 1/250
aperture: f/25
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

Last weekend was the girl’s second meet of the year and we settled down to it like old pros. Or at least she did. I continued to wonder what a lead change was.

“Did you see that flying lead change?”

Sure I did.

focal length: 23 mm
shutter speed: 1/250
aperture: f/25
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

And I was looking for great shots of my little girl and her little teammates. I read a tutorial in iHeartfaces about sunflare and I was determined to find some. Unfortuntely, the day’s events were slightly overwhelming for me. I was tasked to also keep score for the team. I couldn’t remember anything in the tutorial except for this, have your kit lens and a narrow aperture (a big number on your aperture setting).

focal length: 23 mm
shutter speed: 1/50
aperture: f/25
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

But it was still dark so I slowed the shutter speed. Little Alexandra came in to help the girl tack up Chocolate. I love her little braids.

focal length: 23 mm
shutter speed: 1/25
aperture: f/25
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

I slowed the shutter speed even more. It’s better. Notice I should have changed my ISO but she was going to be done any second.

focal length: 23 mm
shutter speed: 1/8
aperture: f/22
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

I had just enough time to fiddle with it one more time. Slower shutter speed still, quick adjustment on the aperture. And there’s Little Alexandra again. She’s so little and so cute.

focal length: 18 mm
shutter speed: 1/8
aperture: f/22
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

A little more fumbling and the sun started to go away.

focal length: 18 mm
shutter speed: 1/8
aperture: f/22
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

By the time Little Madison came to help, the sun was gone. I guess I could have helped also.

focal length: 18 mm
shutter speed: 1/8
aperture: f/22
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

I could have done something with the ISO. I always forget the ISO! But tacking up Chocolate took just minutes and I would have missed it if I hadn’t been there with my camera.

All of these photos are straight out of camera (SOOC).

Hugs all around.

November 4, Wordless Wednesday

Oakcrest @ Home, 2009

As we open the equestrian season, I can’t help but think of how far I’ve come. Really. I’m not being braggadoshish. I have.

Last year at about this time, we were at our very first equestrian meet. I was so lost. Here’s a link to the post on my old blog. That will put things in perspective for you. But I still have a long way to go…a very long way. I have the perfect illustration of that but I can’t share it here yet. Sorry about the tease.

The girls get together before the meet to do a little football huddle.

I have mixed feelings still about the day. The girl has been ill since last Thursday. She had a high fever and the doctor said she had “flu-like” symptoms. I, of course, thought the worse. Swine! Swine! Swine! She was so sick that I thought that she couldn’t ride on Sunday. Just can’t do it. Period.

Not so fast.

I rode to the farm with the girl the day before to tell Miss Tina that she may not make it. Miss Jen, a trainer said, “All she has to do is come and ride. She doesn’t have to do any work. She can rest in between her classes.”

“(Girl), you’re one of the high point riders. We need you.”

“Of course, if you’re sick, then you’re sick.”

Uh huh.

And they play little hand games to pass the time before the meet.

We see Miss Tina who exclaims, “If her fever broke, then she should come. She can get here right before her class and ride. Just point the horse. We’ll take care of the rest.”

What is this? the Olympics?

The husband made a comment about how loose they seemed. Not uptight at all. I guess success breeds confidence.

I ask the girl if she wants to ride, knowing what the answer would be. She nods weakly and croaks, “I want to ride, I’ll be okay.”

Uh huh.

So the girl wakes up yesterday and declares herself cured of the flu. It’s a miracle.

Things turn serious in due time.

As a mom, I was really torn. It’s not as if she was playing a soccer game or a sport that relies only on her strength and capability. There’s that horse. The unpredictable beast. She has to be focused and if she’s weak, she can fall. And hurt herself. And make her mom feel guilty for the rest of her life.

So I said, “Lets see what Daddy says.” I’m a wimp.

But Dads are worse suckers than moms. Here’s her dad making out with Brave Mouse.

Needless to say, she was doing really well on her first class, that is until her horse stopped in the middle to get a drink of water.

The team and trainers watched in confusion until it sunk in that everyone else was riding except for the girl. There goes her placement. Oh well, at least she didn’t fall off.

Hello000…. Jokerrrr…! You know there’s a meet going on don’t you?

She did end up doing just fine even after being weak from fever. She won first place in her second class and she really perked up then. All better now! Better than her mom who now needs professional help with all the second guessing I did. I was so glad the day was over.

I entered her room this morning to see what the school situation was. She now has a cough…what kind of mom would have her child outside all day in the cold after having the flu? Me, that’s who. I let her stay home today. She is peacefully sleeping, dreaming of horses I’m sure.

I am gladly accepting nominations for Mom of the Year. Thank you, thank you.

Horse Doctor & Love Thursday

If the girl doesn’t become a horse doctor I’ll be surprised. Actually I won’t be surprised because I know that teenage occupational goals tend to be based on emotion rather than practicality and can be fleeting.

A horse can become lame for many reasons but a couple of weeks ago, Joker becomes lame from thrush.

“Her feet hurt,” the girl says.

She lifts up the hoof, scraps out the dirt…

…and puts on healing medicine.

I thought, “She knows how to do this?”

And to watch her do it with such confidence makes me proud. Especially since I don’t have the same tendency to love horses like the girl does. Joker will take any chance she gets to head butt me and slobber on my pants. I think she knows she can intimidate me.

But not the girl, you can’t be scared if you are going to be a horse doctor.

Doing what you love for a living. That’s the way it should be…

Happy Love Thursday.

My Favorite Things

The ladies at iHeartfaces have decided to give their weekly contest a rest and instead asked us what our favorite things were. I was just over at their place and I was inspired.

So here goes…not in any particular order nor is this an exhaustive list by any means…(that was for my husband.)

1. my boy taking control of a situation.

2. my girl taking control of her horse.

3. hot food…really hot food…the hotter, the better.

4. Mr. Monk…I love the show. I used to read Agatha Christie all the time and Mr. Monk reminds me of  the hero detective, Hercule Poirot in her mystery series. Except Mr. Monk isn’t French.

5. old furniture…especially old found furniture bought in far away places when on an adventure with the husband…like the one above….acquired while rummaging through the back streets of Northern Japan.

6. making meals for my familly and friends.

This is a fig and marscapone pound cake that I’ll write a recipe for right after I submit it to the Pillsbury cook-off. I’m not kidding.

7. Sarah Breyer art. I only have one and I love it.

8. pottery…dishes…plates…china…I can walk right by purses, shoes, jewelry (almost) but when it comes to dishes, I have a serious problem.

9. elephants. I have a collection of miniatures of these large mammals…I don’t know why but I do.

10. and finally, my newest passion, photography. And flowers. And bokeh. And photography.

Go to iHeartfaces to see more favorite things and get inspired!

Who’s The Boss Now Huh?

Hey you, lets ride.

but first we have to saddle up.

don’t make me put my fingers in your mouth.

take the bit…

take it I say…

Mom, put the camera away, you’re not helping.

Well, alrighty now, someone’s focused.

Sorry I’m late, where do I go?

Who’s the boss now huh?

Aloha Friday, Breastfeeding

I have a quick question on this Aloha Friday (yeah!) before I run out the door. Actually, this little baby has a question.

If you are a woman, and you have had the honor of going through gestation, did you breast feed while you were lactating?

And if you are a man, have you seen an infant take advantage of lactation in public?

Time for mama to eat now. I remember those days…

Posted on Aloha Friday (yeah!).

And on Mosaic Monday, when Monday rolls around…

The Horsey Coursey

She waits…is it my turn yet?

ho hum…dum de dum dum…

And finally, it’s time…off she goes!

She rips up the course…

And she knows it too…

Posted on Mosaic Monday today. Wow these mosaics are hard for me.

And Gayle’s Monday Memories for tomorrow…because she won’t be 13 forever…

Thank ya ladies. And remember I’m going to have a bloggy-versary giveaway and giving away the kitchen sink next week for all my bloggy friends and regular friends too…stay tuned.

July 28, Wild Thing

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