Sunshine, Play & Love

A little sunshine

A little bunny play

A little sibling love

Looking At The Light

Sidney has been spending time running around with my camera taking shots to come up with a theme for her photography entry at fair.  I've said before, how impressed that I am at her eye.  I haven't really spent much in the way of time coaching her on how to take pictures.  She just picks up the camera and starts taking shots.



Well last night in about 20 minutes she took these shots (SOOC) and I was just floored.  As she, B and I were gathered around the computer looking at them she said "I just like looking at the light."  It made my heart leap when she said that, because it is one of the things that I am most taken with too. 


I can't wait to see if this interest of hers continues to grow.  Hmmm, maybe time for mama to upgrade cameras and pass my trusty Canon on to Sid.

Skill and Imagination

 

Beginning with being enchanted by  Legolas, then moving on to Katniss and Merida, these are some of the archers that the kids have loved over many years.  This year, they began archery for 4H.  The last month has been quite an education on stance, eye dominance, sights, finger tabs, arm guards, draw length, bow tension and the list goes on. 

 

The first great challenge was getting our heads around the little tidbit that my leftie (Charles) is right eye dominant and shoots right handed and my right handed one (Sidney) is left eye dominant and shoots left handed.  Talk about switching things up!  The shoots, twice weekly for the last three weeks, have been to develop an average of four shoots, leading up to their fair shoot for a ribbon.   Since the weather has been incredibly hot here, the last two weeks have meant shooting in 90 degree heat.

 

Last night in a gorgeous (and it appears short lived) 70 degree temperature, they had their final fair shoot and both bested their averages gaining them blue ribbons!  The fair isn't until the last week in July, but the shooting sports compete outside of fair and have their results and photos posted in the 4H barn.  

The experience has been wonderful.  I suspect that we will become regular members of the bowmen and participate in many future events.  This sport is a great combination of developing skills while living in imagination.  What is better than that?

Meet Topaz & Shade!

 Today we trekked up to Mequon, WI to meet one of the few Silkie breeders in the state, and as we found out, this part of the U.S.  We ended up with a pair one female and one... we'll see.  Due to the nature of the breed they can be difficult to sex when they are young.  They are both 2 months old and adorable. 

The breeder is the state representative for the American Silkie Bantam Club, incredibly active in 4H and was happy to give Sid some tips for showing. She also let Sidney know that her birds always show well and, any show they have been entered in have yielded 1st or 2nd place ribbons.  We learned a couple of new things right away....Silkie's have 5 toes!  Crazy to see, especially since we are so used to our little three toed flock.  Also, we learned that the roosters are very broody! 

So the little ones have been settled in, had their first baths (yes these are birds that need to be groomed) and are happily nestled in the basement.  Sidney has also already drawn templates into her 4H journal to use as introduction cards for them when they are shown. A new adventure has begun!