Black Jack (Orpheus)
There are no coincidences in life. For instance, consider how I met Black Jack (BJ) who is playing the part of Orpheus in my Phantom novel.
One Sunday afternoon my neighbors invited me for dinner, as they were hosting their church group. I happened to sit down next to a lady about my age and through our conversation, learned we had grown up one block from each other in Santa Monica! We exchanged phone numbers and later during a phone call, I mentioned I was looking for a black Andalusian to photograph for my book. She said, "I have a friend, Michele, that has a black Friesian (quite similar in appearance)that lives here in Bear Valley!" She gave me Michele's number, I called her and she agreed to a photo shoot. BJ (my initials) took my breath away the first time I saw him. After three sessions to get the lighting right, he was a star, had learned how to pose and loved the carrots I took to him. He is gentle, affectionate and stunning in appearance. At 16.5 hands, he is impressive, though his mane and forelock are not as long as they will be, since he rubbed them off against some metal corral fencing. He is currently being trained in beginning dressage.
Scottish Highland yearling calf
Another coincidence? I was visiting Second Chance Ranch, a rescue farm for horses here in Tehachapi. As I drove down their driveway, I glanced off to my right and saw two Scottish Highland cattle. . Now what are the chances…! I had chosen the breed to feature in my book and though I had found many pictures on the web, I needed permission to use them, no easy task. Problem solved! I learned they were being boarded there for only a few days and got the nod to take pictures. I walked over to the enclosure and this little guy was standing in his water trough (it was a hot day!) He got out, came over and posed for me, went back and got in the water trough again. Being a Samoyed owner (white dogs with lots of hair) I wish I could have groomed him first.
There are no coincidences in life. For instance, consider how I met Black Jack (BJ) who is playing the part of Orpheus in my Phantom novel.
One Sunday afternoon my neighbors invited me for dinner, as they were hosting their church group. I happened to sit down next to a lady about my age and through our conversation, learned we had grown up one block from each other in Santa Monica! We exchanged phone numbers and later during a phone call, I mentioned I was looking for a black Andalusian to photograph for my book. She said, "I have a friend, Michele, that has a black Friesian (quite similar in appearance)that lives here in Bear Valley!" She gave me Michele's number, I called her and she agreed to a photo shoot. BJ (my initials) took my breath away the first time I saw him. After three sessions to get the lighting right, he was a star, had learned how to pose and loved the carrots I took to him. He is gentle, affectionate and stunning in appearance. At 16.5 hands, he is impressive, though his mane and forelock are not as long as they will be, since he rubbed them off against some metal corral fencing. He is currently being trained in beginning dressage.
Scottish Highland yearling calf
Another coincidence? I was visiting Second Chance Ranch, a rescue farm for horses here in Tehachapi. As I drove down their driveway, I glanced off to my right and saw two Scottish Highland cattle. . Now what are the chances…! I had chosen the breed to feature in my book and though I had found many pictures on the web, I needed permission to use them, no easy task. Problem solved! I learned they were being boarded there for only a few days and got the nod to take pictures. I walked over to the enclosure and this little guy was standing in his water trough (it was a hot day!) He got out, came over and posed for me, went back and got in the water trough again. Being a Samoyed owner (white dogs with lots of hair) I wish I could have groomed him first.
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