Category: Photography

Celebrating Ben and Ranger.

The joy these horses have given us.

It’s almost impossible, at times, to get one’s mind around life’s events. I’m not wishing to be overly philosophical but, nonetheless, it doesn’t do any harm to muse from time to time about the nature of things.

Take our two rescue horses: Ben and Ranger.

They have now been with us for coming up to three months. Considering how terribly they were treated before being rescued by Darla Clark of Strawberry Mountain Mustangs, it’s a privilege to experience the way that these two horses have so rapidly put their past behind them.

All of which is a preamble to this photograph taken just a couple of days ago.

Ranger (LHS) and Ben enjoying our open grassland.

Just look at their shiny coats! Just look at them so happily munching away on the grass.

Now look at how they were not so long ago.

Ranger, when first seen in February.

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Ben2 when found — Ben as seen last October.

So back to present, happy times.

The last photograph is of Jean having just put a halter on Ranger so that the two of them can be taken in at the end of the day. Ben follows Ranger in without the need of a halter. Ben and Ranger are inseparable!

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Tomorrow, the celebration of another beautiful animal!

Picture parade forty-six.

Going to spoil you today! The complete set of pictures sent to me by Suzann.

Why it's good to be tall! — **Why it’s good to be tall!**

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I can't wait till they deliver the new stove! We need a new box! — **I can’t wait till they deliver the new stove! We need a new box!**

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Bake for 20 minutes, then turn over... — **Bake for 20 minutes, then turn over…**

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Frankly, I don't think it's funny! — **Frankly, I don’t think it’s funny!**

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I'm ready for my walk! — **I’m ready for my walk!**

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I love my new human! I think I'€™ll keep it. — **I love my new human! I think I’ll keep it.**

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**Always check before putting on your shoes!**

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Thanks Su!

All of you have a good week.

Picture parade forty-five.

Just a few this week for you that have caught my eye.

From Suzann:

A black deer – unbelievably gorgeous!

All three pictures taken by RJ Verge near Beamsville, Ontario, Canada. Black deer are more rare than albinos.

Deer1

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For all animal lovers a rare and beautiful set of pictures.

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Now three ‘nanosecond’ pictures sent to me by John Hurlburt.

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More of these another Sunday.

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Finally, one from a great set that Dan Gomez sent me.

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More from Dan and John over the coming Sundays.

Picture parade forty-four.

The final set of Bob’s adorable bird photographs.

(First set here, second set is here; last week’s set here.)

**No, the brown part is not me, it is my “floatie cushion”.**

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bird25 — **What an attractive hors d’oeuvre!**

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**Were you eating blackberries when you sneezed on my wing?**

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Hey, don't blame me, my mother was a Cardinal and my father was a Magpie. — **Hey, don’t blame me, my mother was a Cardinal and my father was a Magpie.**

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**Oh WOW, what a hoot. You really bought the bit about us being wise?**

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**Oh how I hate it when it itches there!**

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**Really? My mother flew south without me?**

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You all have a good week!

Picture parade forty-three.

Yet more of Bob’s fabulous bird photographs.

Carrying on from last week’s Picture parade forty-two.

**Yeh, well your eyes would get big too if someone had their fuzzy hands all over your bod!**

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**Which way did you say it was to the Xtreme Games?**

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With this disguise, they'll never figure out who robbed their nest! — **With this disguise, they’ll never figure out who robbed their nest!**

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The doctor said it wasn't malignant but I think I'll get a second opinion. — **The doctor said it wasn’t malignant but I think I’ll get a second opinion.**

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**So sorry to have to ask all of you to help but I really do need that contact I dropped.**

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Don't look at me like that, haven't you ever heard of Santa Bird? — **Don’t look at me like that, haven’t you ever heard of Santa Bird?**

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**Oh, how I love government handouts!!**

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The final set of these fabulous photographs next Sunday.

Saturday illusions, one.

They say the camera never lies! H’mm!

(Sent on to me by Suzann.)

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There were a total of twenty-four of these wonderful photographs sent to me by Su. Thus I am inclined to present them to you, dear reader, in a further two batches of eight over the next two weekends.

Picture parade forty-two

More of Bob’s beautiful bird photographs!

For those of you that missed the first set a week ago, then they are here. To the twenty-seven of you who ‘Liked’ last Sunday’s set; thank you.

Bird9 — **But Honey, what makes you think I had a little too much at the office party?**

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**I would have sworn the package said Swiss.**

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**Hello, are you the photographer from Vogue?**

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**Wow! That was one very elusive fish!**

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You idiot, don't you know you are supposed to pass on the left? — **You idiot, don’t you know you are supposed to pass on the left?**

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No, I didn't read the part in the Bible about breaking bread together so just let go. — **No, I didn’t read the part in the Bible about breaking bread together so just let go.**

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OK girls, I think we are ready for "Dancing With The Birds". — **OK girls, I think we are ready for “Dancing With The Birds”.**

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**Come on Willard, quit acting like an NFL defensive back!**

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Yet more stunning bird photographs in a week’s time.

Again, thanks Bob.

Picture parade forty-one.

Beautiful bird photographs sent to me by Bob Derham.

Row, row, my bod, gently down the stream..... — Row, row, my bod, gently down the stream…..

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Quick, I need some floss, I think I've got a seed stuck in my beak. — Quick, I need some floss, I think I’ve got a seed stuck in my beak.

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Hey guys, what do you think I am, a houseboat?

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Where is my Prozac, I'm feeling so blue. — Where is my Prozac, I’m feeling so blue.

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So? I'm just not into socks, I like the wind on my ankles. — So? I’m just not into socks, I like the wind on my ankles.

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Landing check list; gear down, check; full flaps, check; runway clear, check; alignment correct, check.

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Man, I wish I could build nests like that!!

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Just keeping an eye on those noisy magpies next door.

More of these fabulous photographs next Sunday.

(Thanks Bob!)

The wide open spaces.

Our horses, Ben and Ranger, now graze in our main pasture.

Nearly six weeks ago, we welcomed our two rescue horses to our home. Then a week ago I reported that Ben and Ranger had settled in. The final part of embracing these two wonderful horses was to offer them grazing facilities out in the main area of grassland.

Thus as soon as an electric fence had been installed, Ben and Ranger faced a great deal of fresh grass! Admittedly, for just a couple of hours a day to prevent them from getting fat.

So three photographs of two very happy horses!

Wow! This I can't believe! — Wow! This I can’t believe!

Ben is to the left in the above picture; Ranger head down nibbling grass as if it was going out of fashion!

This time it is Ranger looking at the camera in the above picture, with Ben filling his chops!

Thank you Mum & Dad! Oh, excuse me for speaking with my mouth full! (Ben to the left.)

Unlike Jean, I have had no previous experience of horses. I have been bowled over by the speed at which these two wonderful creatures, both with a background of suffering cruelty from humans, have embraced me. And Jean; of course.

Six weeks ago I could hardly touch them. Now they will nuzzle my hands and let me rest my face against their heads.

We have so much to learn from our creatures.

Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day 2014.

With some minor amendments, I have taken the liberty of reposting what was published for Earth Day 2013.

Like many others, I subscribe to Mother Nature Network.

Recently published on MNN were twelve stunningly beautiful photographs. There are reproduced below, hopefully without infringing any copyrights. I just wanted to share them with readers of Learning from Dogs.

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Earth Day photos: Celebrating the beauty of our planet

From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the surreal glacial formations of Patagonia, here are 12 stunning photos showcasing the diverse collection of landscapes found across the planet.

By: Catie Leary

Fri, Apr 19 2013 at 11:40 AM