and they're off...

It's funny how some life experiences just scream to be validated with an image. Had I told you that we attended a pig race at our local pumpkin patch a few weeks ago, you might not have believed me. It's casual captures like this that visually document the quirks I love about life in the south – a place where we'll gladly leap at the chance to squeal with a few swift-moving swines.

Share an experience or a place that might surprise us today.

Comments

[Martha]

Here's a competition that surprised us when we happened upon it!
http://flickr.com/photos/14756941@N08/2688814305/

[Marcy]

While in Switzerland we were able to witness a traditional cow fight. Yes, cows. Fighting. Don't worry, they rarely ever hurt each other... usually just butt horns a bit (this is a type of cow with horns) and then one of them "gives in" by turning away.

It was awesome. =)
http://flickr.com/photos/mightymarce/2562373550/in/set-72157605502024242/

[m. heart]

surprise - a capacious crustacean!
http://secretnotebookswildpages.blogspot.com/2008/11/lobster-rama.html

[Brett]

Great shot, its not everyone that thinks in pictures.

[Elizabeth Harper]

I caught this image in a place where I never expected to see something like this.....

http://www.giftsofthejourney.com/Elizabeth_Harper-Gifts_of_the_Journey/Blog/Entries/2008/9/20_Inspiration.html

[Jody]

I couldn't believe my eyes...
and they came and slept for 3 nights while it rained.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/3004375220/in/set-72157607029502356/

[Marcie]

Your image of a pig race is just TOO FUNNY!!!
I am surprised by something everyday:

http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=584

[shelli]

Well, how can I not share my own pig races photo? (Although, it's not a great photo - yours is much, much better.)

http://web.me.com/pabis/Mama_of_Letters/Camera_Happy/Pages/Nikon_D60.html#42

But my favorite part of the day was the petting zoo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spabis/2960615211/in/set-72157608095266881/

[Angie]

I recently wrote a post about an apple seller in western North Carolina. You can see his best friend here:

http://angienewsome.com/archives/324, also seen here http://www.flickr.com/photos/anewsome/2985550038/

[Puna]

I wish I went to a pig race! I do have a friend who is a savant. It may surprise you.

http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/rain-man/

[Kath]

I love a pig race. I've posted one of my photos in the photo album marked "Kath's Photos" at our site.

http://3yrplan.typepad.com/soeursdujour

[Kate at LIttle House Monday]

I Heart Trees.... and they heart me :)

http://littlehouse-monday.blogspot.com/

they also grow strange things too..

http://littlehouse-monday.blogspot.com/2008/11/bucket-tree.html

LOVED looking at the other picturers.

[Lu]

I have no words...I have no words. Except to say this image makes me miss my times in the South. Seriously...and it makes me want some bacon right now. Maple flavored bacon...and some grits with lots of butter.

[margie]

i was surprised by what i found at a "totem" pole park.

http://3yrplan.typepad.com/photo_du_jour/

[spread your wings]

I've never seen a pig race, but have you ever slept in a wigwam? I'll share photos later. you have to see it to believe it. hahaha

[maya]

i was taking pictures of the bubbles my husband was blowing and when i downloaded them, i found that, when cropped tight, in one bubble you could see our house and the 3 of us.

http://flickr.com/photos/springtreeroad/2768359142/

[Glad Doggett]

In Guanajuato, Mexico, there is a "Museo de mommias" - Museum of Mummies. Apparently, the earth there is filled with salt, which dried up the bodies of the buried. In times past, if families did not pay for the plots or burial, the landowners would dig up the bodies. Very odd and gruesome -- but there was a line out the door to view the more than 100 mummies.

http://airynothings.com/2008/11/10/museo-de-las-momias/

[CarrieJ]

I was surprised to read that our local Pumpkin Patch had a pig race too ... titled The Pigadega 500! I only caught the "tail end" of it. Literally. No time to snap off a pic. Yes, life in the South can be interesting .. and somewhat embarrassing :)

[Heather]

It's not only in the south! We were at a pig race this summer too - at a corn maze in Alberta, Canada, quite far from your pig race. Perhaps it's a growing trend.

[Cartwheels At Midnight/Paige]

Wow. This was a hard one today. This is a photo of a photo of me in flight:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cartwheelsatmidnight/2331490301/in/set-72157604074052883/

[DonnaG]

I didn't see the *subject* of this photo until my face was about 8 inches from it. yikes!

http://handmadebydonna.typepad.com/whatisee/2008/11/post-7.html

[Diane Schuller]

While on vacation last year, I watched a group of seals fishing for salmon. It was spectacular to watch -- here is just one of the several hundred photos I took of that

SEAL EATING SALMON
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27458974@N00/2108516607/in/set-72157603452342211/

and this summer on an extremely hot day I came across this cow moose and her calf and watched for nearly 20 minutes as the two swam and kept cool in a prairie slough

MOOSE and CALF SWIMMING
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27458974@N00/2860573274/in/set-72157603452342211/

[Wanda]

This surprised the heck outta me. I was driving at the time and had to keep moving so this was the best I could do:

http://whatwouldwandado.blogspot.com/2008/11/just-stroll-in-park.html

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

I hate that I couldn't get a photo, but we fished an OWL from our fireplace this weekend!

[Kate Baumert]

http://happyinthehamptons.blogspot.com/2008/11/sunday-evening-i-did-something-that-ive.html

[Jean M Fogle]

I have seen swiftly running swine and they are too funny! Great capture. My suprising moment was when I was photographing donkeys and the owner's goat meandered out. Bently was quite the trickster being a clicker trained goat. He knew how to pray, wave, retrieve objects and dance. You can see Bently at my blog
Pixels-N-Pen
http://pixels-n-pen.blogspot.com/2008/11/clicker-trained-goat.html
Jean

[Angie]

I was leaving school one day when, to my surprise, I got on the elevator with Abe Lincoln. I had nothing but a cell phone camera to take his picture with, but I couldn't let the opportunity pass.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29143067@N04/2810332332/

[JeanaMarie]

A memory - (the second photo in my post)

http://unbecominglily.blogspot.com/2008/11/parcel-of-books-arrived-for-us-today.html

your photo of the pigs is fabulous!

[Just Jinny]

Well, I've lived in Texas all my life and I don't think I have ever seen a pig race. Now an armadillo race is a whole 'nother story.

Here is mine:
http://realworldgirl.blogspot.com/2008/11/just-look-up.html

[Miss B.]

Hysterical!

[jfrancis]

Young pigs race well,
old pigs appreciate the odds.
Those in between___
eat heartily.

[Julie Alvarez]

My surprise was to find so many tomatoes below the cherry tomato plant leaves... (here are showed only a few):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3017910630/

[Gail]

That looks like fun! A great pic too..

I'll share a surprise I received one day when we went for a sail...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22733432@N08/3020658353/

[melody is slurping life]

Ooo, ooo...southern gal here who's been there, done that. Oink!