Got my camera back...and it will be going back again!

Okay, as you know, took camera in, they replaced lens, I got it back and the zoom did not work. Got phone call that said it worked for them - nothing was wrong. They mailed it back to me - as in by UPS! They did not send it back to the store like they usually do....
Anyways, the zoom still doesn't work! Oh it does if you are already up close to something then zoom in on it. The whole reason I picked this camera was for the zoom and the size of the camera. Mostly the zoom. I hope they are open tomorrow...and if not, I am headed back to the store on Monday with camera in tow!

Here is an example...this shot is at normal distance. When I tried to zoom in I would get about to the 1/2 way mark, and it would not focus. It tries...and you can see it focus for a second, then it goes to blurry. If I was standing close to her, I would have been able to zoom in just fine.



The chunky rooster is the one I tested with me being close. I got zoomed in on his head pretty good. When I maxed out the zoom is when it got blurry, but I was only a few feet away from him. This is the white chick that was so big when he was little. He is kind of a goofy guy...he got to stick around. We took a bunch of chicken to the Amish to prepare for the freezer. There are 3 roosters that I just love, and he is one of them. As long as they don't fight, they are all safe.



Flash is a large pony we rehomed during the summer with the agreement that he comes back here if they can't keep him. They are going thru some family 'stuff' and could not keep him, so he is back. He is the best trail riding horse and will do about anything you ask, but he is kind of a tank with no manners. He had a couple other big horses and several acres of thick grass as friends...now he is back to grass hay and mud. Good! He could stand to lose a few...he is a chunk!



Took this when I was camera testing...he's a pretty boy.



This really makes Brian mad! Hee hee!!!! Sometimes I let the donks, Tandee and Batman in the yard to eat grass and fertilize. Do you think the donks would munch on the grass? Yes, for a short while, then they head to the round bales stored in the front. They had been eating on the back side of this one, so when Brian gigged it with the tractor, the other side was eaten out like a donut! HA HA HA!!!! And here the donks are munching away!!!! HA HA HA!!!



I hope everyone had a wonderful day!
Hug your horses today...and tomorrow...and every day after! :-)

Until later...Karen and Tripp who loves hugs!

Eat Beef...or Pork...We don't care as long as it isn't us!

Vanilla Ice and Pimp Daddy escape the season for the 2nd year in a row!



Vanilla Ice got in the habit of attacking Brian and his kids so he is lucky he is still around. He doesn't bother me - he knows who the Alpha is around here! :-)

Until later...Karen and Tripp who is glad he isn't a turkey, cow or pig! Ha ha!

Crazy Woman on the Loose!!! Look out!!!

That would be me! The crazy woman on the loose...



I am having withdrawl from my blog - and my camera! I am just going crazy! We have had an overly wet season and the mud won't dry out because it isn't warm enough on the the dry days, we have over 2 weeks of hunting season so I can't head out to the trails to ride, and did I mention I don't have my camera???

You know how it is, when things work, they are great, but when they don't - argh! The computer broke - thankfully it was a quick fix that warranty took care of. My photo printer has been acting up for a while - won't feed the large paper thru without being force fed - but it started making lines on the photos and that is when I took it in. They said nothing is wrong with it, that maybe it is the ink cartridges. That won't fix the paper issue that they say isn't there (I have had to force the paper thru for a while now). I also don't see how the ink cartridges would cause lines, but when it gets here, I will try new ones. I am not going to say it is operator error on this one...I have had it long enough and know better. But I will check just to humor them. And if the cartridges fix it - I will admit I was wrong. :-)

The camera - now this one is driving me crazy the most! I took it in, they replaced the lens, I got it back and the zoom would not work, and once in a while the shutter door would not close when I turned the camera off. I took it back in 2 days later after playing with settings, etc., and two people tried to help me, and one of them saw the shutter door get stuck open. They said I needed to send it in again. I was not happy, but what can ya do?
After they had it another two weeks, I get a call and they said nothing is wrong with it, that the zoom is working and holding the focus. (it was a message on the machine so I could not ask questions) My theory on this one is they fixed it and they are blaming it on the crazy woman who doesn't know how to work her camera. That way it doesn't mess up their percentages on 'come-back' items. At this point, they can call me crazy all they want as long as it works when it gets back.
Why I don't have both items back yet - I don't know. I am hoping this next week...
What I am thankful for is for having problems like this - because in the big scheme of things, these really are not problems. It could be a whole lot worse, and I know that.

So, I am going to make lemonade even tho I don't drink it...I picked a few random pictures to post....I love photos!

Mustangs in the woods...



My sister used to live south of San Francisco and we went out to visit a few times. We loved it out there! Driving up and down the coastal highway, stopping to whale watch (can't find those pictures...will keep looking), and heading to Santa Cruz to hang out on on the pier....TO EAT ICE-CREAM! YUMMY!!! The sea gulls hang out close, and there are seals at the bottom of the pier and bark constantly...it is so cool! My sister and her husband have moved to Maryland, so will have to find cool stuff out there.



This was a summer shot of course - and before Flash went to his new home. Flash is the paint, then from left to right we have Nevada, Stormy and Epona.



Then of course I have to sign off with Batman! He is still doing well, and he is a roly poly right now! He was showing off his new teeth this summer...



Today I spent all day out in the barn cleaning and Batman hung out with me. I sat down on a pallet and rubbed and scratched on him for over an hour...it was all about him and he was happy. Okay, so was I! I was remembering his birth, his discovering his legs, his zooming around, and then the stress of having to take him to the auction. I was really counting my blessings again today...I am so very lucky! He is 28" tall now!
Funny Batman story...when I was inside the barn cleaning, he was in there too. I had turned around then heard this "thump thump thump" and when I turned around to see what was going on, I see that Jester the donkey is standing there and Batman is double barrel kicking him in the chest! Jester did not even twitch, but Batmans ears were back like he meant business! It was so darn funny! Brian thinks we need to get him a mini friend...but you can't pick friends for them. What if we get one he doesn't like? He insists on having a mustang buddy, so for now that is the way it will stay.

Well, this is it for now...
Hope everyone is doing well!

Until later...Karen and Tripp who will get his picture taken once his person gets her camera back. :-)

Sunny day for horse time and building time...

Today was the day of starting the new addition to the barn. It is just a canopy that will consist of extra shelter, place to park and store things, and hay storage. Brian and his Dad started that, and I made a few minutes for horsey time. I missed out yesterday and did not want to miss out today too.

Nevada is a mustang we acquired a couple years ago and he was already started. He is as big as Copper, but already filled out. I worked him on the ground a while, then got on him bareback and with a halter. He did pretty darn good for not being ridden for a long time! He has a dreamy trot...it was fabulous! Brian hollered at me and said "You are doing a great job with my horse." (Brian wanted me to get Nevada warmed up so we can go riding together) After riding Nevada again, I am thinking he should be my horse. Hee hee!

Look into my eyes...



Nevada kept walking towards me when I was trying to get a picture of him. A good problem to have! How many people do you hear say "I just can't get away from my horse, he just keeps following me!" It is usually the opposite! Ha ha! He is a big pretty boy, and such a pocket pony! He loves people!



After Nevada I worked with Tripp a while. The little stinker did not want to get caught, so I followed him around until I could get around to catch his eye. Once he looked at me and I could get him to face me as I moved around, I knew we were in business. He fell right back in to the old routine.

He has these scabby things all over his back, so when I hopped on he seemed uncomfortable. Once when I tried to reposition he brought his head and neck straight up and he grunted, but he did not move. I slid back into the place I was and he relaxed. He has forgotten how to walk forward. I don't know if he really forgot, or if he was uncomfortable and just did not want to move. I did move his front end around, and his hindquarters around, then I called it a day. He had done enough ground work and he did not give me a playful buck when I got on...life was good. I will work on those scabby things then get on again. He is a luv bug too, and he and Nevada are good friends. They will do well on the trail together.

Look at his mane. At the 2008 EMM it was mostly scrubby and sticking up. I never trimmed it...it grew out even by itself. Yay!



I was playing with Photoshop...this is called Glowing Edges...



Look into my eyes....and ears....



Body shot...looking all cute!



And what is a morning of fun without a self portrait? Don't know because I have never NOT done a self portrait while having fun! HA!



Jester the donk was not to be left out. Actually he was my victim when I was trying out the zoom on my camera. It still does not work. Brian was right, it is the settings, but when I change them, they go back to the old settings. I will be taking it in tomorrow! I am still not saying it isn't user error, but I think I am doing the same thing I did when I first got the thing.

Look into Jesters eyes....



It was a great day! Lots of sunshine, light breeze, we got a lot done...life is good!

Until later, Karen and Tripp who loves his girl! (that is me!)

Fixed camera...donated hair...enjoy sunshine...

My camera has been out of commission for quite a while - had to send it off to get fixed. Even tho it is only 5 months old and I bought a service contract, it still had to be sent off. I was not happy...BUT I AM NOW!!! I got it back, and it all works except for the zoom. I need to pull out the manual and check the settings before I over react about having to take it back again. :-)

Last week I went to lunch and got my hair cut. I am one of those lucky old people - my hair grows fast. Okay, I am not old .... only mid 40's, but it still grows fast for my age. I have donated it twice to Locks of Love and headed back in this time for the same thing. I found out that the place does not support Locks of Love any more because they found out that LoL was selling the hair for profit. Now they donate it to Wigs for Kids. The whole point is donating it to the kids, so I was on board.

I went from a pony tail that looks like this.....



To a pony tail that looks like this...please take note that Batman is helping me sport my new do...



Usually they just wack off the pony tail, but this time they put it in 4 braids and then cut it.



It feels weird, it is shorter than I thought it would be, but I still like it. In a couple of years I will be able to do it again unless the growth starts slowing down. I had to donate at least 12 inches, which means I lose about 14 or more. It takes 60 pony tails to make a wig - amazing!!! I am grateful that I have never been in a position to need something like that, and lots of thoughts and prayers go out to those kids who are having to grow up way too fast.

We have had a week full of sunshine...and it is WONDERFUL! There are still some muddy areas believe it or not, but I can at least navigate around them...

Look Ma, no rubber boots! I was so sick of wearing my rubber mud boots - made me want to spit nails!



Batman and my older mare Tandee are buddies. Tandee does not tolerate anybody else sharing out of her feed pan. He does have his own right next to her, but he chooses to eat out of hers...



And she doesn't hesitate to push him out of the way when it is her turn. She is a messy eater and it ends up on top of his head. He is like a mini hoover vaccuum...he also eats up what she drops. It is the beet pulp that is so messy.



Last night I was testing the camera...Tripp and Millie look like they have in inner glow...



These are all going to be out of order...just camera testing. Close up shots turn out okay - just the zoom is having issues focusing.

Of course I have to test the self portrait setting...hee hee

Me and Batman...look at those bangs of his...the wind just swooped them back!



Another self portrait...



Remember that big white chick we raised? This is him next to one of the young but almost grown up turkeys! Look at his little beard sticking out...isn't he cute? I thought he got sent to the Amish to get butchered, but Brian saved him for me! Yay! Thank you baby!
So far this guy doesn't cause any problems, and as long as he doesn't fight with anybody, he can stay. He is not totally huge, but he is pretty big. He is getting black tail feathers. Of course when I tried to get pictures of him he skedaddled himself the other direction.



Yesterday the yard was firm enough to let the small group out to munch on grass...Batman is hanging out with the donks and Chase the llama.



Today Ajax and Zjax were just hanging out on the dirt pile.

"WHO? US?"



Last night Ace (rescue mustang from last Fall) and Susie wanted to know what I was up to, and they offered to help.



Today we spent the whole day building a large shed. In my head, these kinds of jobs go so quickly and without any problems. In real life they go very slow...but it will be worth it when we are done. Brian's Dad is coming down tomorrow to help set posts for an addition on the side of the barn, so more work that will be worth it. Plus we get to see his Dad - it has been a while. My Dad died in 1984, and Brian's Dad reminds me of my Dad in a lot of ways. :-)

I did get a Copper update. Copper has been at the trainers for a few days, and yesterday they walked, trotted and cantered! YES! CANTERED! Matthew said that he cantered him on the lunge line the day before and he did some crow hopping, then when he rode him he did it too. I asked if Copper committed to the buck, or was it a light crow hop? Matthew kind of half laughed and lightly said "Well, he committed..." OH! Bad Copper! I have to tell you I was so excited! That is just in a few days...imagine what 30 days will do! They are going to call again in a week or two, and they are going to try to get some video for me. I am so happy for Copper! Getting that much more training is going to help him be a successful mustang! :-)

Hope everyone is doing well!

Until later...Karen and Tripp who is glad the competition is gone! Ha ha!