Typically for a summer week, it seems like I've done a lot and also not much at all. A lot like many other weeks in that respect. Continued hot summer weather has kept me outdoors much of the time, poking at the weeds when I feel mildly ambitious or guilty, otherwise lurking a lot in the yard with the camera, recording the flowers and the birds, all of which are varied and abundant at this time of year.
The high point in terms of memorability (low point in all other respects) of the week was me taking a header off my horse when he spooked in the outdoor ring. I've ridden that horse for eleven years now, mostly five times a week, and this is the first time I've ever come off him. Guess it had to happen sometime and at my age (sixty something) I'm happy that I'm not too damaged by the process. I am hard core about wearing head protection, and although my head and neck are pretty bruised and sore from the force with which my head bounced off the ground, everything is still functioning as it should, and for that I credit my hard hat. I finished the ride after I came unglued, which I felt we both needed to do, but have only had one ride since. My head still feels a little odd at any gait other than a walk, so I'm giving it a few more days to settle down. Pretty hot and very buggy (that would be biting bugs, as well) these days so it's not too big a sacrifice to miss some riding time. I still get my fix by going to the barn daily to feed goodies and tend to whatever needs doing.
I had a photo jaunt with my friend Ed to Rae-Dawn Arabians, just east of the city, to do some shots for a project Ed is working on. We needed to get some reference shots of their fancy young stallion,
Bey Ambition who is a serious contender in the Arabian horse show world. Here he is in shot one, in relaxed mode. This young stallion is pure quality, top to bottom, and a true gentleman.
Shot two shows the flower spike on one of the canna lilies in the back yard. I always plant a few of these for their showy height and the architectural splendour of their flowers. This year, most of them have failed to get more than about a foot high and show no signs of flowering, which makes me extra appreciative of this one that is behaving as the species should.
The merlin pair that were scouting the neighbourhood in the spring for a nesting site mercifully decided to set up house somewhere far enough away that we can't hear them. They are very vocal neighbours at the best of times, more so when raising their young. We get fly-overs most days as they are out hunting, but today was the first time I happened to be in the yard with camera in hand as this happened. They are very fast and focussed when in motion, and you have to have quick reactions to get a shot.
Shot four shows one of the many day lilies in bloom in our yard. They are one of my favourite flowers for their hardiness, ease of care, and their stunning variety of colours and shapes.
Shot five is one I took today while at a friend's house. I was just lining up a shot of her cat relaxing on the chair when he gave a huge yawn. That is one seriously large mouth this cat has! It's a bit of a silly shot but I couldn't help wanting to share it.
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