Picture of the Day

Time for a new picture of the day.

Woot!  Woot!

Puppy Love

Aw.

Nothing like puppy love. :)

Flowers of Montana and Wyoming

I love to photograph flowers.  Especially ones when we travel because they usually don't grow where we live.  So when we went to Montana and Wyoming, I was looking forward to snapping some pictures of different flowers.

Flowers are the perfect subject. Colorful and they don't move.  LOL

Enjoy!

Location: Red Lodge, Montana:

Location: near the Rock Creek Vista in Montana on our way to Wyoming.

Location Cody, WY:

 

 

Jenny Lake, Grand Tetons, WY

Jackson Hole, WY:

And last, but not least, Yellowstone:

I hope that you enjoyed looking at the pictures and much as I enjoyed taking them.  :)

Owen's Flag Football Season 2011

Click here to view this photo book larger

I created this book for Owen's coaches end of the season party.  Most of the pictures of mine along with several that my friend also took.

Enjoy! =)

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Yellowstone National park is just awesome.  It's an geological wonderland full of so many different things to look out, explore and take in.  It's just breathtaking.  One of the main attractions for Yellowstone is the waterfalls.

There are so many waterfalls it's just unbelievable.  But if you go, you have to check out the big daddy of them all: the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.  It's so accessible that there's no excuse for not going to see it. 

There are upper falls and lower falls that comprise the Grand Canyon.  We'll focus on the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon in this post.

The rock formation of the canyon itself is like nothing I've ever seen before.  It almost looks like a painting, doesn't it?

Stunning.

And the falls go on forever.  Well.  They are called the "Grand" Canyon!

You always have to be mindful of the animals in Yellowstone.  They are wild after all.

Truly a stunning feature of Yellowstone and well worth the trip alone!

Shot of the Day

Wish I had this view every day.  :)

Location: Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming

One in a Million

This little flower just refuses to die.

Don't let them drag you down little flower!  :p

Picture of the Day

So many good ones from our trip out west.  But I love this one.  The composition is spot on.  :)

How They're Raised

When we were at the Cody Nite Rodeo, the one thing that I noticed was that a lot of little kids were there hanging out with the competitors.  They were able to mill around the outside of the arena with the horses and riders but their mamas and daddies continued to check on them.

Whether that was really their mama or daddy, I don't know.

But it was someone who was part of the rodeo family.

Mattress thrown down for the kids to lay on when they got tired.  Note the kids on the horse being held by his mama who was playing with a rope.

And the two that captured my attention the most were these little cowboys.

I love his little boots and spurs.  And Wrangler jeans.  :)

These little cowboys weren't quite as affectionate as the girls.  They were constantly chasing and roping each other.  Boys.  Sheesh.  tee hee

 

 For scale on just how little these rodeo kids were.  :)

And the littlest cowgirl competing.

So when Joan was mortified that the kids were doing steer riding, I said I wasn't surprised.  It's a way of life for them.  They've grown up around it.  It's just how they are raised.

What Every Girl Needs

Every girl needs a BFF.

You know.  A best friend forever who doesn't judge you for what you say or do and who is there to support you even when she doesn't agree.

But when thinks you're just wrong, she'll let you know.  But your friendship will survive.  And probably be stronger for it.

Going through the 675 pictures that I took at the Cody Rodeo, I accidentally snapped this sequence of shots of two girls who obviously had an affection for each other.

A BFF may try to talk you out of something that is not such a great idea.

But ultimately, if you want to do it, she will support you and help steady you.

 And will be your biggest cheerleader when you succeed.

Every girl needs a BFF.

This is why I love photography.  I thought that the girl was standing on a table.  When I started looking at my pictures, I realized that she was standing on her horse.

With her friend's help.

And without her friend's help, she wouldn't have been able to do it.

Like I said.  Every girl needs a BFF and this blog post is dedicated to mine.  :heart:

Ride 'Em Cowboy!

The bull riding is always the premier event at any rodeo.  It was no different at the Cody Rodeo.

What makes these cowboys want to do this is beside me.  But I reckon once it's in their blood, it's a thirst that they must quench.

Trying to hold on for 8 seconds.  Funny 8 seconds doesn't seem that long.  To us anyway.   

A cowboy must rely on the help of the rodeo clown and the pickup men.  Sometimes that's all they have between life and death.

This wasn't a good sign.

The cowboy just tries to stay on for the full 8 seconds anyway he can.

But it usually ends up the same way.

 Then the cowboys wingmen step in to help divert the bull's attention away from the cowboy so that he can get to safety.

Climbing the rails is always an option.

That bull was really after him.

But he got to safety before the bull got him.

But he was really hurt.  You could see it in his face.  He must have sat on the rail for about five minutes gathering himself together.

Even climbing down the railing seemed to be excruciatingly painful for this cowboy.  

Ever so slowly and gingerly he continued to climb off the rail.  I couldn't take my eyes of of him.  It made me sad really. 

You just wonder what goes through their minds before they climb on the back of the bull.  

That can't feel good.  :(

Ride 'em cowboy!

There's a few ways to come off of the bull.  This is one option.  Though I'm sure it's not the preferred way!

Very few make it to the full 8 seconds.

Man vs. bull.  

The cowboy is winning this second off the clock.

But for how long can he last?

Go boy go!

But alas, as I've already said, the bull usually wins the war.

I have no idea what possess these men to mount a bull and try to ride it.  Stubbornness?  A desire to push himself?  A wish with death?

I guess it's different for every cowboy.  It's my favorite rodeo event.