......... I didn't mean "yawn, another donkey photo," but I suppose it would have been apt.
we actually had an hour or so of sunshine this afternoon which was unbelievably uplifting.
I tore myself away from the admin stuff I had been doing all day and took myself, my camera and my macro lens outside to take some pictures of some moss that I had been eyeing up on some wood in the field for some time.
When I had taken a few shots I made my way to the flat bit at the top of the field to feed the pigs and see what the other animals were up to. Angus and Joey Boy were both lying down catching a few rays of warm sunlight. When I first got up there Angus (the white-faced donk lying down) was fast asleep while Joey Boy was lying down next to him keeping watch. It was lovely to see these two who are both nearly thirty years old and who had a tough life in their early years before they were relinquished to the donkey sanctuary, looking so well and content.
Needless to say, it didn't take long before Jack and Lilly got in in on the act, and it looks like Jack found the relaxed atmosphere rather infectious. Well, either that or he was just about to take a chunk out of Lilly's backside anyway.
The usual order was restored when the goats started butting me in the back and trying to eat my hair when I was kneeling down to take the picture. Irritating creatures.
In the past I have only ever used my macro lens for close-ups, but really enjoyed using it for these shots - definitely something I will be doing again. Wish I had used a smaller aperture, but hey ho!
Graham is away in Rotterdam for a couple of days and this evening I went with a friend to see my niece in a production that she was doing with her college. She is studying Musical Theatre. It was frankly quite astonishingly good. These kids are all in their final year of study and currently going through the anxiety-laden process of auditioning for stage schools and university places. Such a competitive business. My niece has just been through the final round of the audition/interview process for a place at LIPA in Liverpool. She has got a couple of weeks to wait before she finds out whether she has got through from the 2000 who originally auditioned to the 45 who will be chosen from the 80 or so who are at the current stage. I am on tenterhooks waiting. God knows how she must be feeling.
Three good things:
the first nuthatch on the bird feeder this morning - almost wasn't a good thing actually because it flew into the glass doors in the kitchen and had to spend 20 minutes sitting on the lawn to recover.
talented, exuberant, dedicated and hard-working young people.
Contented donkeys...........and one funny one, there is always one!!! The sun was very fleeting.........when will it return i wonder! Where's the moss? Maybe I should scroll down more!!
Love this The golden oldies look so very contented while Lilly is behaving beautifully butJack in the back seems to say "Take my photo -- I'm smiling nicely Mum !!"
Amazing how you have caught these four donkeys in this small area... I think it looks wonderful all sitting in the sun together. The sun on eveyones backs must do great things. We have had sun for about a week now over the other side of the Pennines.....fab weather ! Love your diary of your day!
Aw, I love your donkey family portrait. That's a great composition they gave you. GOOD donks.
It's so heartwarming to see the look of contentment on Angus and Joey Boy after the rough start they had. They sure got lucky when they found you. :-)
They are obviously a happy, healthy bunch.
Great capture!
It's so heartwarming to see the look of contentment on Angus and Joey Boy after the rough start they had. They sure got lucky when they found you. :-)
They are obviously a happy, healthy bunch.
Fingers crossed for your niece.