I had a great time selecting my photos for this week’s Sunday Stills challenge.  Although I only participated once in 2009, I had several photos that I absolutely loved so I chose from those!  I have to admit, I cheated a bit – I just couldn’t narrow it down further than this.  Hope you enjoy!

I chose this photo of Tiny’s eye because it signifies so much to me.  When I look into her eyes, I see her soul and it reminds me why I love her so much.  Plus, in my opinion she has the most amazingly beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen on a horse.  I guess I’m biased though!

This photo was taken on one of our many trail rides.  I love the way it captures the moment of connection between Tiny and that cow, just that silent acknowledgement of each other’s presence.

This photo was my first foray into the world of photo editing.  I took this photo of Abby one day at the barn and I loved the way the light played off her form.  With a few editing lessons from my artist buddy Luke, I was able to enhance that contrast even more.  Although this photo might not have the best composition, it entrances me every time I look at it.  It inspires me to improve my photography AND my editing skills!

Check out Sunday Stills for other entries, as well as Laughing Orca Ranch, The Skoog Farm Journal, All Horse Stuff, and Baba Yaga’s Mirror,  all of whom frequently participate in the challenge.

Once again, it’s time for Thankful Thursday! I hope this post inspires you to consider the things in your life that you are grateful for. If you have a blog, consider posting about it there and link back here. If you don’t have a blog, please feel welcome to comment here on what you are grateful for in your own life. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, then just take a few moments to reflect on all that you have. If you’d like to tag other bloggers that participate, feel free to do that.

This week, I am thankful for all the love I am surrounded with every day:

Happy Thursday to all and please visit these other sites that frequently participate in Thankful Thursday:

Akal Ranch, Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, and Tired Dog Ranch.

I’ve had many requests for more photos and news on the zoo.  I aim to please, so here they are….

Many of you have met Grady before and know what a charming little goober-flinger he is.  Bet you didn’t also know he’s a personal friend of the Easter Bunny (thanks to the Tampa Humane Society for the photo!) and a certified therapy dog!  The photo on the top right is Grady and I at Give Kids the World Village not long after his certification was completed.  Grady LOVES children and this venue gave him a great opportunity to mingle with tons of kids and their families.  It’s a lot of fun and for a great cause.  Every weekend the Village (which is a resort style complex that is a fantasyland for terminally ill children) hosts a street party in the square with dancing, music, and food.  Children sing and dance and forget their troubles for a short while and it’s great fun for everyone involved.  The bottom photo is Grady getting his butt whooped by his sister, Bella Dog.  She doesn’t live with us anymore, but she may turn up now and again around these parts! 

Milo is definitely the more photogenic of my two cats.  I have tons of photos of him in goofy positions or doing strange things.  You never know quite what you’ll find with him.  In fact the photos of him wrapped up in the sheet were just taken this morning as I watched him flopping around in there trying to free himself.  As you can see, Grady was not particularly amused.  The bottom left photo is Milo as a kitten rubbing noses with my old Neo, Otis.  When I got the kittens, Otis was elderly and infirm.  He didn’t get around well and he served as an excellent jungle gym for baby Milo and Bella.  This photo is one of my favorites of the two of them together. 

I had a lot more trouble finding good photos of Bella.  She’s so independent and low-key that she tends to fly under the radar a bit more than the others.  I’m hoping that changes now that we’ve moved.  I have been so pleasantly surprised with how she’s dealt with it – nothing at all how I expected her to!  She’s willingly given up her freedom (they were indoor/outdoor cats prior) and now languishes in her various spots around our tiny little apartment.  Her favorite place is curled up on the cable box or my lap.  I’ll be sure to get more photos of Bella for future Zoo editions. 

And now…just in case you’re not yet convinced of my insanity, check out the former zoo in its entirety.  Before the four of us moved in July, we lived with a total of 6 cats, 2 dogs, 1 horse, and an occasional visitor of some variety (whatever creature came to visit via the cat door, or needed rehab for some ailment).  I know it seems crazy to have so many animals in one house (and yes, it felt crazy sometimes!) but I love each and every one of those guys and I miss them dearly.  Check out a somewhat common kitchen view:

From left: Bubba, Frankie, Milo, Minge, Bella Cat, Bella Dog, and Grady. Tiglet is AWOL.