Sunday, April 5, 2009

Sunday Stills - Animals of Husbandry

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is Animals of Husbandry. I actually looked it up because the only animal I could immediately come up with was cattle, and there just aren't many cattle ranches within easy reach. Ironically, The Oldest was cast in Hans Christian Anderson's "The Swineherd" during drama class.

I started with the Sheep that are pretty close to my house. This is Forest Home Farms and they will be sheared soon according to the calendar.Not sure if these sheep are also a part of the same herd. They were grazing on a patch adjoining the farm. My boys wanted to go out and chase them, but I didn't want to start a stampede, and there were no ranch hands nearby to ask.
The next two shots are of a small cattle herd I caught while driving around the back roads of our area. Specifically, this was at the crossroads of Sunol and Foothill, across from the entrance to the water temple.

This last shot is for all the horse folks out there. This is about as close as I get to horses. They make me nervous!Happy Sunday everyone, and now off to see the other challenge participants!

21 comments:

iasa said...

I'm having major issues today. I read the post title 6 or 5 times before I realised it wasn't Husbands of Animals.

The cows grazing in the field is a wonderful shot.

Shirley said...

I like the sheep "inquiring minds" look in the second photo, and the cattle with the tree is a wonderful shot!

VioletSky said...

Looks like you did well. How fast can those sheep run in those heavy coats, I wonder?

The one with the cattle in the grass by the tree is very good.

Flo said...

What great pictures. The sheep are looking a little shaggy there.

Mine is up over at my photo blog.

Bagman and Butler said...

Isn't animal husbandry a sexist term? I thought that, at least in governmental agriculture agencies, it has been changed to animal spousery to be more proper. I probably need to keep up with the Sunday photo posts although it is hard enough to keep up with the Friday shootout. But, nice pictures just the same!

CTG Ponies said...

All great but I really like the one of the cows grazing and snoozing in front of the tree.

aurbie said...

You could have used those for our "wild animal" shoot out.

I like the chair beside the big fat sheep. Looks like he tried to sit in it but he was too big!

Andrea said...

Excellent shots...love the sheep!! :)

Barry said...

I like the balance in the last photo, with the large tree centered, the horse on the right and the dark shadow on the left.

Just makes a great composition. But the heart bred into me by my Highland ancestors goes out to the sheep.

WhimsybyMari said...

Great pictures I thought the same thing about the sheep sitting in the chair.

Kelly said...

I may be biased, but I love the cattle shot with the tree. So pretty!

J9 said...

OMG Iasa - you made me laugh, and several of the participants did actually include their husbands in their entries!

Shirley - Thanks. I actually think the other sheep wanted to look, but also wanted to appear indifferent.

Violet - thanks. The sheep only kind of trot, there isn't enough room there to full out run.

Flo - Thanks for stopping by, and I can't believe it's a few weeks yet to shearing!

Mark, or Butler, or Bagman - I think it is a bit of an outdated term, but who am I to tell Ed what to call his challenges?

CTG Ponies - I liked the cows with the tree the best too, the way the shot lined up was nice and peaceful.

Patty - These are hardly "wild" animals, they are marginally domesticated at best. I had a closer shot without the chair, but I thought it added just the right amount of whimsy for the ewe and her lambs.

Andrea - Thanks!

I look at sheep and think sweaters too Barry!

Mari - I think a picture of a sheep in a chair would have been a great shot too!

Kelly - Thanks!

Rising Rainbow said...

That's a beautiful old tree in the one pic. I had to laugh a bit at your comment about the horse. Lots of people seem to be afraid of them although I don't really understand why. I am so hypnotized by them I can't imagine everyone not being the same I guess.

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Lovely captures all! My favorites are the last two.
The tree and cows are just set up perfectly. Very nicely done!

~Lisa
New Mexico

Jen Mo said...

Love the shot with all the sheep!!!! Good job!!

MariesImages said...

Very nice....my favorite is the image with the cows & tree in background.

Country Girl said...

Great pictures. I would love to have some sheep grazing in our pasture!

J9 said...

Rising Rainbow - Thanks, and you are right it is weird, but I wasn't raised around horses, and they are fairly big, so I guess that's what unnerves me.

Lisa - Thank You!

Jen Mo - I think you are in the minority, and thanks!

Marie - I think that one is my favorite too.

Country Girl - I think it would be nice, except for the wet sheep smell when it rains.

Regular Guy said...

Love the pasture shot with the tree in the background. Really like that shot.

J9 said...

Thanks Regular Guy!

GingerV said...

I love the upclose of the sheep - good shots all around. Sometimes when I open your blog it makes explorer close with an error - mysteries of computers. hugs and kisses from Brasil