I hear ya! I usually bring home a rock or two whenever I go out hiking or backpacking. I have a lot of "interesting" rocks, but I don't really have any "valuable" rocks. I have an uncle who is a bigtime rockhound. He hits the road for weeks on end and comes back with thousands of pounds of rocks that he uses to make arrowheads and spearheads. He uses authentic tools and methods and the stuff he makes is virtually indistinguishable from real arrowheads, except that they're shiny new and he doesn't try to pass them off as authentic. He just appreciates the skill it took to do what they did back then and he takes pride in carrying on the craft. Anyone else who knows their stuff knows the amount of effort and skill that goes into making a 8" spearhead, and the heartbreak that comes when you accidentally break it in half after investing 40+ hours into it, and have the cuts on your hand to prove it. One day another one of my uncles bought a few of those arrowheads you can buy at tourist traps and tossed them on the ground for his wife to find. She was sooooo excited that she found a couple of arrowheads. The next time she ran into my rockhound uncle, she showed them to him. It took him all of five seconds to say "Where'd you buy these?"
Great photos all around everyone. There's already more responses than I thought I'd see by the deadline. Most are "like" worthy, but I take my duties as judge seriously, so I'm holding off until the deadline before I "like" any of the submissions. This is also a good way for everyone, especially me, to get to know some of you. If you wouldn't mind adding a little information about where and when the photos were taken, that would be greatly appreciated. Keep em coming!
Hey Here is a photo from Ireland! Taken on my yard (see the concrete below and gate half way up) It is half over-looking the border really in the distance is Co. Londonderry (Derry) in Northern Ireland, and to the right is a small hill in Donegal!Taken on a nice sunny day (for once) which was today 4/18/2012
You wouldnt want it if you knew the amount of work is put into maintenance, hedge cutting, grass cutting but its worth it I just looked at the photo theres some bad grass
My sister runs a farm for rescued horses. This picture is of two Arabians and I took it about a month ago.
What does she do with them...adopt them out? My Arabian, Ariel, is out of a rescued mare. Ariel was to be put down, shortly after her birth, due to some health issues (from the malnourished mare) so I 'adopted' her . Straight away then, at six weeks old, to MSU Large Animal Hospital. Went real slow with her for four years, to give her the time she needed to overcome her medical issues. Today, she is ten years old, she can do all the things they said she never would be able to do! She is a miracle. She had a strong will to live, which is what I responded to. The name, Ariel, means Lioness of God. My Ariel looks a lot like yours, on the left in your photo, complete with 3 white socks.
Here's my favorite out of about 400 photos taken at Reno's Hot August Nights last year. My favorite Chevelle.
I took this in my backyard a couple weeks ago. The robin was splashing about, just taking a bath when the sparrow landed next to him. The robin shot him this look and I can just imagine what he was thinking. "Can I get some privacy please!"
That is awesome Lucyray. I have the utmost respect for people who rescue and nourish animals back to health. My sister has been dealing with horses her entire life. She has twice visited Monty Roberts at his home. She basically takes in malnourished (mostly Arabian) and usually keeps them for a year or so. She has her main pack of 4 which she will always have, but overall there are usually 20-25 Arabians there at all times. Many of these horses were forcefully broke in and some have terrible rope burns upon arrival. She lives outside of Bowling Green Kentucky, and usually keeps them for about a year before carefully selecting a home. As much as I love them, I really don't know that much about horses (I live in Maryland). =0
Great idea, blaubart! Photography is my only other hobby and there are some truly spectacular photos posted here... I'll add one of my favorites that I took 2 summers ago. You kind of have to blow it up to see the inchworm -L
