I am so sorry for your loss. When I was young I had a Bay that a friend of my father gave me. When his friend became ill my Dad took Misty back to him because she was so special to him. She was loved and spoiled and was never worked like the other twenty plus horses there for that purpose. I wouldn't allow it.

Yes, they leave hoof prints on your heart.

Very creative and excellent work. The last is my choice. It would make a stunning large print!

I commend you on your courage to ask the tough and right questions. In 1982 after getting out of the Army (Chief Warrant Officer 3) I had gone back to college and was required to take a course in "Comparative Values" and the only thing that was offered was a Masters level course in "The Islamic Tradition". It was taught by a Lebanese Christian with a Phd. who had converted to Shite Muslim under Khomeini while the prof was on a sabbatical at the Sorbonne in France where Khomeini was in exile.

Two semesters studying the Koran (read the entire Koran) , learning about Islamic history, how Mohamed furthered and pushed Islam to the East forcing converts at the tip of a sword reaching as far as Indonesia and the Philippines and never thought it would be of any value.

I am a Christian and therefore by definition in the Koran I am an infidel. Our President, as do the majority of liberal / progressives believe we can appease adherents to Islam. Look at the evil committed against one another - Shia vs. Sunni.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in our prison system. Why? Because there is no faith based salvation, only works and part of those works are "Jihad" or "Holly War".

Harvey, I'm sure your card will be fine!

The care you provide your disabled wife is nothing short of the ultimate of love and sacrifice. I commend you for it. The life of a care giver is not an easy one.

May God Bless You Both Richly!
You are an unsung hero in my book!

Being from Texas and looking a the color image I can smell the grass, dust and weeds. Beautiful composition and colors. It seems to fall apart in B/W.

Beayutiful image!

Beautiful shots making use of every aspect of the tool in your hand. That takes knowledge and skill as a photographer. You done good!

That is some tough lighting to deal with even when totally prepared with ND filters, etc. With the backlighting so strong the camera is bound to underexpose the subject. Maybe a small change in perspective by getting lower and shooting up and allowing the birds to be rim lit and opening up two stops. But it is easy for any of us to be back seat drivers.

I like all three images, but feel they could benefit by some cropping. If I had to choose one it would be the Blue Jay. Very nice pictures.

What fun shots! Nicely done! You live in such a pretty area and being surrounded by wildlife is a bonus!

Great shots of some amazing "Tuck and Roll"

You are right! One never knows until you ask. I spent two weeks with photographing a Russian Circus and no I wasn't the clown. It was awesome. Just had to ask!

Great shots! Now where did you leave Clyde Butcher? He has to be around somewhere! He is one of my favorites.

Oh by the way! What shutter speed do you need to stop the motion off the line? Now that puts it into a photographic perspective.

Thank God they haven't started to put those in Jeepney's in the Philippines! They are bad enough as it is! LOL!

Interesting stuff!

What a lovely horse! Great shot! I had a Bay mare growing up called Misty! Man I loved that horse. My Dad loved her more and spoiled her and would not let me use her for work so she got very spoiled. One day some surveyors came around laying out a pipe line. She promptly went over to a truck and picked up one of the rolled up maps and took off. She held them off till my Dad could get there and finally retrieve their map for them. She had quite the personality.

These were fabulous! Nothing like the wit of Scot! I got them and I'm a Yank! LOL! I'll have to try the voice mail here in the Philippines as I make unusual sounds to simulate my lack of Tagalog! They think I'm daff!