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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

roadside attraction

Some people stop to smell the roses.

One of my favourite things to do when the stars align (ie. when I'm alone in my car, am not rushing to be somewhere, and have my camera at hand) is to stop to pet the livestock.

I was busy being nuzzled by one horse, when the thunder of hooves made me look up to see this fellow coming to check out this stranger in a toque.
 With much whuffling and snorting, he greeted his fellow-horse, and called the small herd of highland cows that were resting nearby to attention.

 (I need a bumper sticker that reads, "I Brake For Highland Cows"). The horse started interacting a little more feistily, so the cows decided to wander off to whiter pastures. They were kind enough to stop and pose for me.
 Then the horses went all wild-west on me, rearing up, hoofing at each other (is this a verb?), alternately pooping and sniffing each others' poop.
In the Ottawa Valley, this is what we call a Roadside Attraction.

18 comments:

  1. Love it!!!! I often stop to look at the horses and cows too. My little man loves it!

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  2. What gorgeous photos. The one of the two horses nuzzling each other is worthy of framing! How I wish I had roadside attractions like that around here...

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  3. The smell of horses is better then roses any day! And wow, what a performance they put on for you....love the photos you got!

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  4. Snow, cows, horses, I love your roadside attractions!
    I have never seen a cow like those, they are just beautiful!

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  5. When you find your bumper sticker let me know, I need one! Although you don't see many of them here. Love the first picture of the two horses together.

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  6. how fun was that!??! thanks for sharing!

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  7. Awesome! Love it when animals are willing to interact with you and put on a bit of a show! Lucky lady!

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  8. Beautiful - no wonder you stopped to pat them.

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  9. This is so funny as we were just talking about buying some highland cattle last night! If you are going to do it, you might as well go big!

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  10. Gorgeous! Are those Morgan horses? I was horse crazy as a child and that's what they remind me of. And the Highland Cattle, so cool.

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  11. Oh, I love cows! I've never met a Highland cow before, but I'd like to.
    Thanks for all your good wishes lately! I'm so excited (as you mentioned) about Matt's PR. It's some good news that we needed.

    Hope you are well! Do send me your Pinterest details. Also, I never did find you on facebook....

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  12. Wow! These are such wonderful images caught on film. Love the wooly cows and all that horse action. So beautiful!

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  13. Hair in my eyes like a highland steer
    Spring in my step like a whitetail deer
    Alberta Country singer Corb Lund

    Lovely photos.

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  14. Oh I love this! When my husband and I spent a summer in Scotland, we passed a bunch of Highland cows. My husband didn't believe me when I described what I had seen, he thought I was making it up as a joke. Sure enough we went for a walk the next day and there they were! I love them. We couldn't believe that we hadn't seen them before, but now I know to drive a bit south and there they will be.

    Hope you enjoyed the show!

    Jennifer@ dark blue dragon

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  15. I am pretty sure I know where those cows are. I pass highland cows every day on my way to and home from work. It's such a wonderful drive. (I have once braked for 7 deer in a half hour trip, as well!) They are beautiful cows and I have photographed them many times. I did not know there were horses nearby, so we may not be speaking of the same cows. But they're lovely nonetheless. Great post! :)

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  16. Oh oh! amazing horsey love photo...I miss my horses...be with them soon...
    xoxo

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  17. GORGEOUS photos!!!! I have seen horses biting at each other, ears laid flat - a scary sight to be sure - but NEVER have I seen any go all Wild West like this. AND YOU CAPTURED IT. Picking my jaw up from the floor...

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