Picture Perfect

I won a prize! Well, not really a prize, a drawing for a painting, but I still won it and I'm still very happy about it.  I follow an excellent equine artist named Linda Shantz on Facebook, and saw that she was having a contest to give away one of her beautiful paintings. The painting is of a filly named Polly, and lo and behold, it looks a lot like what my girl may have looked like as a filly. (Let's just all pause and acknowledge that Skye was probably the cutest filly in the history of the world. ) So I said that in my comment, and shared it, and some of my FB friends also liked and shared it, which increased my chances.  Then we were in the mountains to experience some snow and when I finally got some signal I saw that I had won it. And it is so beautiful, don't you think?

"Polly, Two Days Old" by Linda Shantz
Copyright Linda Shantz 2013. All right reserved.
Reproduced here with express permission.

Just gorgeous, and that photo doesn't even do it justice. It almost feels alive. I jumped up and down when I opened it, as it is so pretty, and the expression in the filly's eyes is so much like my Skye. I'm having it framed this week, and I'm going to hang it beside my desk at work to remind me why I'm working - to pay my horse bills (and other bills, but the horse bills seem to be the only ones I don't mind paying).

If you want to see more of Linda's work, her website is at lindashantz.com. She also has a cool blog at lindashantz.blogspot.com. You can also follow her on Facebook at Linda Shantz Artist. Consider yourself warned though: you will start wishing for some of her paintings.  The way she captures the life of the horses is just amazing.

In other news, Skye has a new boyfriend.  It is Leo, whose stall is beside hers. Yes, the one I said I wanted her to marry.  He was put in the gelding herd, but those toughies (who are actually among the sweetest horses I have known) were whooping up on him, so Erin wisely moved him into Skye's pasture. Skye runs a tight ship! Tammy, who owns Leo, said it was love at first sight for him (and who could blame him?). He got right by her side and wouldn't let anyone near her. She said she thought Skye was indifferent to him, but when I saw them together, I can see that ain't so . . . . .

Note how he is allowed to drink with the Queen.
He does seem to feel appropriately honored by her presence.

Yes, she is allowing him to DRINK WITH HER! As Queen of the Water Trough, her usual stance is that no one can drink or approach when she is drinking without risking her signature headswing with ears back reprimand.  It is a big victory for Reebok every time he sidles up when she is there, and she usually gives even him the hairy eyeball. But as you can see, Leo has special privileges.

I'm slightly worried that this love affair will affect my relationship with her, as her love for Magic caused me so much grief. But I love Leo so much, and the herd dynamics are good in this pasture, so I hope it works out.  Reebok and Ginger are not so sure about the whole thing though.

They were so funny, just standing right there motionless.
They are never allowed to do what Leo can do with her.

Aren't they hilarious? So cute even when suspicious.

And finally, for your viewing pleasure,  a dinky shot.

I call it "Portrait of the Dinky as a Young Man."
This is Bravo, the big daddy.

I have seen that Erin is officially letting people know they are up for adoption. It makes me sad, but I trust her completely to place them only somewhere where they will be well-treated, and perhaps get more attention than we can give them. (Neither Dave nor the city of Charlotte will consider allowing me to keep them in our backyard. Just in case you were wondering.)

I now need to get off this computer and go see my horse.