What a day! For a smallish Dartmoor town this was a big show. After more than a week of drizzle and rain the sun shone and the crowds turned out. An early highlight for me - I went to watch a falconry display. The man was demonstrating the skills of his bird Jacob. Then what do you know, he headed straight over to me and asked if I would like to put on the glove and let Jacob land for a morsel of meat. Would I?? So I had the pleasure of having Jacob fly in and sit on my outstretched, gloved hand. What a privilege. Sadly I couldn't take a photo but this is Jacob with his handler...
Whether I actually approve of falconry or not I'm not sure - I don't know enough about it and if I knew more I might dislike the controlling nature of the sport - but to hold such a bird for a brief time left me with the biggest smile :-)
After that I visited all the animals...
Cows
Goats...
Pigs...
Sheep...
Feathers...
Horses...
Niki and Geoff, I have so many photos of different breeds to share with you - some especially interesting sheep, goats and pigs.
There was even ferret racing (definitely don't approve of this I have to say)...
I spent some time talking with this lady. The chairs are all old ones that she has restored. I would have walked away with any or all of them if I could.
Just great to be part of such a fantastic local day :-)
Don't all of those animals look so clean and tidy in their unnatural surroundings. Good shooting tex. ;o}<
ReplyDeleteYou predicted right (in prior comment). Smiles all around at this post---and at PG's comment.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine the majesty of holding a falcon---after participating in a bird banding a couple of years ago, and experiencing the mystery of holding even a small bird---but a falcon! Whew!
I wondered why the man came over to me first and asked if I would like to wear the glove. He asked others later. I think it was because I was so entranced and it must have showed on my face or in my position or something...
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