Here we are, into another month (almost half-way into the year, as well, however the heck *that* happened) but not much in the way of dramatic change from last week, or the week before that. That's one way of saying it's still chilly, dark, cloudy, wet and windy most days.
We haven't actually had a snowfall this week (yet) but there is a severe winter storm/blizzard warning for the southwest of the province in effect at the moment, and I suppose if it gets colder overnight we might just wake up to snow here as well. The same southwest area also reported a severe thunderstorm with hail and high winds about an hour ago. Not sure how that meshes with the projected heavy snow, but all in all it sounds grim. That's ranching country and this is calving season, so it's going to be tough for the cattle and ranchers, that's for sure.
I remember hearing from a rancher friend who lives in that part of the province a few years back, during an unpleasant spring much like this one. There were large deep puddles everywhere on the range and in the areas around his buildings, and he had to keep a close eye out that calves didn't drown immediately after they were born if they weren't on high ground. That was also the year that he was almost literally fighting the coyote packs that were preying on the newborn calves if they were born a little too far out in the field. He said it was often a race between him and the coyotes to see who could get to the newborn first. It's still pretty much survival of the fittest out there a lot of the time, and traditional ranch life isn't for the faint of heart, either human or animal.
I've had a "hunkered in" kind of week, due to the prevailing weather conditions. I did manage to ride outdoors on the one decent day with dry footing last week. Now the outdoor riding rings are pretty well under water. Luckily for me, I'm pursuing a new art direction with my usual excessive zeal, so I've been quite content just to settle in to the studio, work on the learning curve, and figure out what exactly I should be doing and how I should be doing it. You'll learn (and see) more when I feel I'm getting somewhere, which for the most part isn't happening just yet. I have to say being able to order art materials online from all over the continent is a dangerous thing!
Shot one was taken mid-week during a brief break from the downpour. It's pretty self-explanatory.
Shot two shows a typical day of late in the field just south of the stables. This is about as bright as it gets by early afternoon, and on days when it's actively raining, it's a lot darker. I've been missing my big "fast" (large aperture) lens that is good for low-light conditions, of which we've had an excess, but it's off being checked out along with my main camera body, the theory being that the two are somehow not getting along together as well as they should. It's been a few weeks since they departed, and although I'm managing well with my remaining system, I'll be glad to get them back. There's a train there in the background along the horizon line, but it's a bit hard to see.
Shot three shows some of the water accumulation in one of the show rings at Ebon. It's pouring again now and is supposed to carry on overnight, so by tomorrow there will be even more water here. I always appreciate the nice lines and patterns made in the ring surface when it is groomed, and which are more noticeable when filled with water as in this shot. This is a sand ring, and it takes a lot to get it to hold water.
Shot four features a couple of the new neighbours on the east side of the grid road near the barn. They have a nice little body of water in the ditch for recreational dabbling, and a handy grain field with lots of leftovers to feed on.
Since I've been trapped indoors more than usual for the time of year, I've been playing a bit with Photoshop and my image collection. This is a "war horse" themed piece featuring Random, the Friesian stallion, with whom I have taken some liberties. Most of the contemporary European Warmblood breeds had their origins in the heavy warhorses of the Middle Ages, and I'm assuming (although I have to confess I haven't researched it so don't know for sure) that this likely applies to Friesians as well. There is an ancient map of Friesland laid into the background here for context and content, although it's pretty hard to make out. The knights and the medallion were accessed through Dover copyright-free images on a CD I bought. I try to work mostly from and with material I have generated myself, but sometimes that just isn't possible.
