FAQ Friday, episode 7

Welcome back to another episode of FAQ Friday, which you all are gracious enough to help me write by posing thoughtful questions during the week. Thanks, everybody!

From Brenda:
Q. I would love to see some of your sunsets with the animals... Just a request.
A.

I had some of you fooled with those encore pictures of Smooch doing her trick...

From Leah:
Q. Tripod and time lapse?
From C in WI:
Q. So who was the elf that sat above the cupboards taking the photos?
A. My sister was visiting when I posted those pictures originally. I had her stand on the counter and shoot down at us. Let this be a warning to any of you who might ever visit in person – we take advantage of our guests.

It's still unusually hot here for this time of year, and Wynonna is still seeking refuge in whatever mud she can make...

From Nancy in NC:
Q. So how many times do you have to fill her bowl on a daily basis?
A. Around five. Wynonna has me trained very well. The more I go out to check her water, the better her odds for getting an extra treat because I feel sorry for her.

From Carolynn and This DVM's Wife's Life:
Q. Wasn't it really cool just a short while ago...?
Q. Ugh.....that is very hot indeed. But is it humid?
I was still building fires in the woodstove the first week of May, so Spring lasted all of three weeks before the unofficial start of Summer. Yes, it's a dry heat, but so is a blast furnace. The strange thing is, even when it's over 100, there's no dripping sweat involved because it evaporates instantly. I guess that's a good thing?

From Maria and Elsewhere:
Q. These weather posts just made me wonder how the goat is doing in this heat?
Q. How's Willie? Haven't seen him in ages...
A. *Gulp* I last wrote about Willie here, on February 3. One week later, he fell while walking to his supper, and he couldn't get back up. I watched him struggle, then moved his food over to where he had fallen. Then I went inside to call the vet and make Willie's last appointment. I had been expecting this for awhile, but that didn't make it any easier. Anyway, a week after that and before I could bring myself to post about it, I lost Lyle. I couldn't handle any more sympathy at that point, so Willie never got a proper obituary. My bad. But I know he understands.

I was surprised by all the interest you showed in the Photoshop posts. I feared I might lose some of you forever after that...

From Cheryl:
Q. Will you teach me how to use Photoshop? Or at least Elements?
A. Ummm .... no. But only because there are excellent free tutorials available by the masters who actually know what they're doing. Seriously, I've been using Photoshop since 1995 because of my paying job, and after 10 years, I STILL have barely scratched the surface of what it can do (I'm now using version CS4). It is the most powerful and complicated software I have ever worked with. For those of you who are itching to make your photos better, Photoshop is probably way more than you need and I'd encourage you to look at Photoshop Elements instead. Many of the popular Actions that are available for Photoshop are also available for Elements.

From Penni:
Q. I feel very ignorant asking this, but what is PW? Actually, there were two programs that you'd mentioned were free -- where do we find them?
A. PW is Pioneer Woman...Penni, you need to get out more :-). The photography section of her blog contains free downloadable Photoshop Actions and a slew of tutorials on digital photography basics. She taught me something just yesterday about a button on my camera that I've been ignoring for two years because I hate reading manuals. You should see the bruise on my forehead from slapping it so hard. That's the thing about digital photography and Photoshop - you can learn something new every stinkin' day. Anyway, if you use any version of Photoshop, you'll want to check out PW's free Photoshop Actions right here. And Jodi at MCP Actions also has a blog with tutorials and actions available, some for free and others for purchase.

Speaking of free...

From kadfoto:
Q. That font you're using on the pictures is great.
A. Talk about a find ... you've got to check out Kevin and Amanda's free fonts.


From deejbrown:
Q. Tell us why the "final version of George is perfect the way it is." What are your parameters for a good photo overall?
A. I don't have a freakin' clue – at the moment – because I never tried to explain it in words. I just know a good photo when I see one. But I'll ponder this for awhile, then tackle the question in a post of its own.

Deets continues to work his charm wherever he goes. Dang, I love that cat...

From Shirley and Bibi:
Q. How did you come up with his name?
Q. As a devoted member of the Deets fan club, can you tell us why you named MY cat Deets?
A. My favorite book and western of all time is "Lonesome Dove," and Deets is one of my favorite characters therein – a loyal friend and expert tracker who happens to be black.

From Slingback:
Q. Is he getting skinnier, by the way? (I'm not saying you're not feeding him ...)
A. He does look a little lean standing up there on the edge, doesn't he? Like all good gymnasts, I think he was exaggerating his leg positions on this particular apparatus to achieve those long, graceful lines the judges love.

From Linda and Sam:
Q. My mammoth jennet ate a recently deceased blue belly lizard. She did this quite intentionally and methodically, first looking, then sniffing, then tasting, then crunching it up like a carrot. She liked it. Holy herbivores, Rancher-Woman, what am I to make of this?!
A. We've got blue belly lizards out the wazoo over here, and George and Alan don't touch them. Maybe because they are strict vegetarians? Or maybe Deets and Smooch get to them first?

From Carol Lane:
Q. Have George and Alan lost their wooly coats?
A. They're working on it. Burros have a strange way of shedding – they sort of work from both ends toward the middle. Right now, their butts and chests are wearing summer attire but their backs, sides and bellies are still wearing fur. Quite the fashion statements, those two.

Thanks again for your questions, everybody. We'll be back next Friday with more answers and behind-the-blog scoop for your inquiring minds.