GETRUNTAH

nature walks and wild horses

My {same} grandparents owned a different farm with horses when I was growing up. Walking the woods, discovering tadpoles and eating the oats out of the barn is where I felt the most alive, full of wonder and revelation as a child. I dreamed of riding those graceful beasts and galloping through the forrest.

My uncle Matthew took me on my first ride, no saddle, no protection- and he told me just to grab onto the mane. I can still remember the feeling of rough, thick textured strands in my hands and the fear and awe of running through the pasture on a wild stallion. My aunt Voneda later showed me really how to ride, how to care for the horses and that it was ok if I wanted to taste their feed. I loved to scrape out their hooves but was always so afraid of hurting them.

My aunt Voneda had long, straight dark hair. She was always so beautiful to me and sometimes I felt like her daughter riding the horses and petting their noses.

Voneda passed away several years ago, but left her last, beautiful show-horse to roam in the mountains at my grandparents. And every time I get near any horse, but especially Lacey, I feel like they know me. Not because Ive been around them, but because their mystery is so intuitive and strange I feel like in front of them they see the child in me- that dreamed of having long, flowing hair and galloping in the chill of the air; free and wild.

So even if Im uptight, or dressed differently, or bitter about life, I feel like they know- the horses know, deep inside the wild stallion that kicks and neighs.

That little beauty, holding her tiny hands up to pet the horse, is Vonedas granddaughter- my 2nd cousin, Leighton, and even though she never met her grandmother, I feel like when Im around Lacey, Voneda is somewhere close by.

Available link for download

Nature Walk December

We often go for walks, I just usually dont think to bring my camera. On this day, I did, and was able to capture some of the magical and exciting aspects of a winters day nature walk through the woods. For little ones, the snow provides an abundance of clues and evidence about life in nature that often goes unseen. It is magical to spot these clues and leaves a sense of wonder and awe about the animals and the places they live.


Passing through the meadow we spot our Halloween Jack O Lanterns. They are still there shrunken, wrinkled and under the snow.



We find the first set of tracks. Deer- we think. My oldest daughter follows them and runs back excitedly. They led to the apple tree.




Swinging from low branches and climbing as high as possible, we take a few minutes to enjoy the wild apple trees.


Another track. We wonder what this is. It curves this way and that.



We follow it through the snow. Now we see where this little fellow was going.



Evidence of other walkers, we are not the only ones to enjoy a winters walk.



Our favorite stand of old maple trees. We wonder what animals live inside this great tree as we notice its trunk and branches that the leaves once covered.



The old tree is fun to climb and balance on. Its bumpy and knotted, with crevices and holes for the animals to use for shelter from the weather or a predator.



For now it seems empty... or at least quiet.



These tracks lead us in a straight line through the trees.



With the leaves and plants gone we notice things we never noticed before. Mushrooms, fungus, and moss.



We notice the sound of ice crunching and breaking under our boots. We stop to slide our feet on the ice and investigate the large pieces.



Bird tracks. We see lots of movement in these tracks and imagine the birds hopping in the snow. The tracks leave so many clues. Sometimes they are close together showing us movements that are slow. Sometimes they are further apart indicating a larger animal or an animal moving quickly.



Weve sledding down hills, walked and been pulled in the sled. We notice our own tracks as we head home. The wonderful part is that each time we head out into the woods there is something new and magical to be found. New tracks, new clues, new discoveries to be made.

Available link for download

Nature Photography and Quote Design

The Project: Combine a quotation with an original photo

Examples

Step 1: Take a nature photo

Directions

Types of shots

Using camera angles to take better photos
The science of camera angles

Step 2: Chose a nature quote

Find quote here: Brainy Quote, GoodReads, QuoteGarden
Make sure you attribute the author

Step 3: Design in Photoshop

Available link for download