Friends, Photography, and Horses- What more could a girl want?

While my hobbies are many, I do happen to have my favourites. Horseback riding and photography just happen to be two of them. This past Sunday Megan and I drove out to see her horse on her Aunt/Grandmothers farm. Here I met several new people and four new horses. Legend was the old man, Chance was young and spirited gelding (who by the way stole my Dr. Pepper bottle), while Daniella was the big tough looking gal who actually was just a gentle giant retired from therapeutic riding, and then there was Megan's baby girl, Smooch, the smallest of the herd. (Don't let that fool you though, Smooch was "DA BOSS!")

Before I get ahead of myself, I don't want to lose you. Megan is one of my best friends. We met in 7th grade and have been joined at the hip since. Megan and I are constantly being told by people that we have twin personalities- and apparently we sound the same on the phone. Megan keeps her horse, Smooch, out on her Aunt's farm, which we decided to visit and take pictures on a typically-hot-but-fortunately-not-too-humid-Sunday-afternoon. It was suppose to storm all day long, but luckily it didn't and we only had to deal with sweat and horseflies.

I believe one of the best ways some one could spend their Sunday afternoon is on a farm hanging with a great friend, riding horses, and holding a photoshoot to help broaden my photography porfolio. Megan couldn't of been a better model, add a few horses and *one of the best (horse and model) photoshoots I've done so far, got even better. Unfortunately in our gallivanting around a gorgeous Carolina Farm we lost daylight and the camera had to go up. Nothing lasts forever right?


Megan, like me, has been riding horses for quite a while. We both enjoy riding bareback, Megan loves riding bareback so much, it's how she typically rides. So I taught Megan how to ride two-point, a valuable skill for riding English. Megan caught on quick and did wonderfully. Smooch (Meg's horse) on the other hand, wasn't to pleased with the fact she had to work. Her annoyance was obvious between her longing glances at the other horses in the field and her killer glares at me. But just like any good horse, Smooch trotted on. I think she did it more for her mommy rather than her mommy's best friend. (Of course.)

Before we completely wrapped up for the night Megan's grandmother rode with us to The Peruvian Paso (Flynn) Horse Farm, just up road. At this point the sun had sunk behind the pine trees and I wasn't getting enough natural to come up with good shots. I didn't want to turn my flash on in case it would spook the horses, but with adjustments and finally giving in I switched it on a got a few shots of their less than a year old stallion. Of course when I wasn't clicking away he ran around and showed off, but if I raised my camera to take a picture he had to come over and check out what I was doing. Figures, right?

Around eight o'clock we decided we should head on back to the farm so we could put the horses back up to the stables and so we said our goodbyes, thanked them for allowing our unannounced drop in and promised to return so we could see (and possibly experience) a Peruvian Paso under saddle. I believe we are expected to return to the Paso Farm this Sunday. (I suppose I should check with Megan!) We enjoyed our trip to the farm so much, we plan on going again this coming Sunday, and of course, I'm going to take my camera along with me. :]

*The Sunday afternoon before this shoot I had done a shoot with three friends and horses at Dobson Stables. A great photo op I will be writing about soon!

Meet my little Siamese kitten, Kao K'o Kung. To shorten his name and make it easier to my easily tongue twisted being, Koko. But don't let his innocent and beautiful features fool you, he's a little devil in disguise; aren't all felines?
Koko has developed a bad habit of waking me up several times a night because he's decided that my nose makes a wonderful chew toy. I am up for what seems like hours fighting him off of my face, but I'm sure it really is only for a few minutes. He seems to enjoy his teething little game, but I'd rather it stop.
To make it better, there is another one of him. Yes, he has a twin, and they both love chasing my feet under the covers. If my toe twitches just barely, they wake from a sound sleep and jump to the foot of the bed and attempt to chew my toes off through the covers. If I was playing with them, great, if I'm not playing with them, not so great.
Kitten antics are just plain cute, until they start chewing on my $20 headphones(totally worth the money.) But the good thing about having twin kittens is they each have some one to keep busy. So for the most part they tire themselves out chasing each other around and harassing the older animals in the house.
I definitely love this little guy, but I need to work with him on breaking some nose biting habits.

I'll have to post a picture of his twin brother, but this will have to do for now :]

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

The World Equestrian Games of 2010 are being held this year in Lexington, Kentucky at the Kentucky Horse Park. Ticket Prices start at $25 and of course, "Times, dates and pricing are subject to change."
http://www.alltechfeigames.com

I would absolutely love to go to the WEG this year. I mean LOVE to. Buttttt, it looks like I won't be. I guess I'll just have to wait another four years and wait to find out where they will be held next.The World Equestrian Games are held every four years. This is the first year the Games will be held in the United States of America; the Games have been previously held all over Europe for the past 5 years.

It would be awesome to be able to go watch the jumping competitions and dressage; I also think the para-dressage events would be pretty cool to see too. Para-Dressage includes riders with physical disabilities to compete with other riders from all over the world. This is the first year Para-Dressage is being included in the WEG. The disciplines included in the Games are Dressage, Driving, Endurance, Eventing, Jumping, Para-Dressage, Reining, and Vaulting.

Here is a video of the 2006 Games of the Freestyle Final by Andreas Helgstrand riding Blue Hors Matine.


Unfortunately Blue Hors Matine will not be performing this year due to a tragic accident where she had to be euthanized back in January of this year. (But she had been retired in 2009, so she still wouldn't be performing, butttt it is still sad none the less.) ---->Don't let that get you down though because it should be a great event. I'm really looking forward to watching it... From a TV, not live... Like I had hoped... BUT there's still time so maybe.... (I really shouldn't get my hopes up:/ ..)

Anyways, here is the link to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010's own Blogspot.
http://www.2010alltechweg.blogspot.com/

Why Do You Ride?

http://ariat.votigo.com/ariat/

Do You Ride?

"A bond with a rider and a horse is priceless and irreplaceable."

It's addictive. It's good for you: mentally and physically. It's a stress reliever. It's a passion. It's a love. It's a way of life.

I ride. I love it.

It's my way of life.
Now.
&Forever.






"There is something on the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."
~Winston Churchill

Derby Fever!

Got Derby?

So this Friday is the Kentucky Oaks and Saturday is... The Kentucky Derby!
Also known as "The Run for the Roses!"
I rootin' for Awesome Act and Lookin' At Lucky.



Since I'll be away from the TV Saturday evening I'm going to have to find something that keeps me up to date on Derby News!

Nikon D3000

So, recently my family and family friends went to this annual camp out called, PWYP or Practice What You Preach! It's a week full of catching up with friends, relaxing, and enjoying the great outdoors! PWYP takes place up in the mountains of North Carolina.

The whole place is just absolutely beautiful! I love it- 100% breathtaking!
While I'd love to talk more about camp, I'm going to post a few pictures that I took and added to my "Photography" folder.

I've just discovered how when I enlarge the photo the picture quality goes down quite a bit. One of these days I need to set up a Flickr or something of the likes to display my photography.

I was really excited when I figured out how to hold my shutter open, which is how I took the photo to the left. I love waterfalls and wanted to take a photo like that one for a long time; that's when I just happened to adjust the settings just right, and viola!

I don't own a portable tripod (Birthday present maybe??? Mines coming up soon!) and with these types of photographs the camera has to be held 99.99% still. I was getting slightly frustrated with myself because I just couldn't keep my arms still. Then I had the brilliant idea to find a large-ish rock--- that was dry, as to not get my camera wet! :} And let me tell you- it worked! And I was sooo happy! I don't think I've ever been so excited about taking a picture in my life!

(My sister took a picture of my rock/tripod.)
Nature photography is something I really enjoy. The thing about nature photography is really the same as any type of photography, you might take 60 photos and only end up with one really good one, but it's that one good photo out of the 60 that makes you feel accomplished. I know I took a dozen or more of the waterfall but only about 3 or 4 turned out really good. And I was (and still am) really excited about it.



Rosco, my older sisters boxer is a favourite of many people everywhere! He's such a sweet boy and he has one heck of a personality! When we were at camp a few people went out towards the range and Rosco and I decided to head the opposite direction. While we were on our fun "field trip", I couldn't help but take some great shots of my "nephew"! One of my favourites is over here to the right. I don't know how long he stood like that but it was for a while. He probably knew right where his mommy was even though he couldn't see her; and I'm pretty sure if she were to call him he would of taken off and have left me behind! He's such a mama's boy! :P


Jessica, (my older sister), Laura, (a good friend of ours), and I had gone on a hike one afternoon up to the top of Chestnut Mountain. And let me tell this, that was one heck of a hike! It wasn't too steep but it was so much fun. There were a lot of fallen trees and we moved some of the smaller ones out of the way and went around the rest. At one point we even used a handkerchief to mark a fork in a trial that way we wouldn't get confused on our way back. I loved how we worked so well as a team and considered all ideas we had and all the information and experience and combined it all.(That was a lot of "and"s! lol) We made it back alive and unscathed! Even though we were almost worn out once we reached the top, the breath taking view was worth it! (And we didn't get eaten by a bear so BONUS!) On our way back down Jess pointed out this purple flower, so of course, I snapped a picture.

I definitely enjoyed this years PWYP (always do!) and look forward to next years.

Winter take your bow, Exit stage left.--

"This spring as it comes bursts up in bonfires green,
Wild puffing of emerald trees, and flame-filled bushes,
Thorn-blossom lifting in wreaths of smoke between
Where the wood fumes up and the watery, flickering rushes.
I am amazed at this spring, this conflagration
Of green fires lit on the soil of the earth, this blaze
Of growing, and sparks that puff in wild gyration,
Faces of people streaming across my gaze."
- D. H. Lawrence, The Enkindled Spring

Spring- is one of my most favourite seasons. I absolutely love spring. I love the smell. I love the feel. I love the colours that are brought with it. I love the birds that come back with spring. I love Easter. I love spring.

Spring is fresh. It feels fresh. It feels new. Spring feels fun. It makes me feel adventurous. Spring is happy. Spring is like a rush of adrenaline.

I don't know if I'm making any sense. It's hard to explain how spring feels. Spring is like opening a present. You untie the bow, then pull off the wrapping paper, then inside it's summer. I can't wait for summer, but I don't mind spring lingering. I'm tired of Winter.

I'm not going to pretend I love the muggy-ness that comes with Spring, I hate it. I hate humidity and it being muggy, BUT I LOVE spring and summer endlessly. I love the way the grass get's really green and flowers blooming, the birds seem to come more alive, colours are brighter, flowers bloom. With Spring comes Summer and with Summer comes.... THE BEACH!

I'm a beach girl, I love the beach. I also like walking through parks while Spring blooms. I'm crazy, I love the warm/ hot weather. Hot temperatures don't bother me as much. I hate being cold. Spring is amazing.

With spring comes more camping opportunities. Spring brings the Flowertown Festival. I've gone a few times and loved it. I don't normally like crowded busy areas, but I love it during this time. The roads leading through a beautiful part of town, walking it on foot looking at the different booths, and seeing all kinds of different people.

Spring is when I like laying out in a grassy area with a blanket and a book. I love taking spring photography. I love being able to leave my window open and feel the "Spring breeze" come through it. I love it all. Even the rain seems to smell better.

I think I've gone off enough about spring. But I'm just so excited for it. I'm tired of the cold weather. Winter has worn out her stay. I went off on a spring rant because today felt amazing outside. I didn't have to wear a coat or jacket outside today. The weather was warmer than it's been in a long time. It felt good. I've been seeing robins and blue birds everywhere. So pring must be close right? I think if it gets seriously cold again I might just cry. : / I REALLY want spring!

Okay, I'm done.:]

"Spring enter stage right."