DP Challenge – Unconventional Love

“Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart, and the senses.”

Lao Tzu

TWO AS ONE

Today’s DP Challenge is “Unconventional Love”. I chose this ostrich photo from our African safari for several reasons. First, this couple obviously shares a very close (pun intended) relationship – so much so that they actually seem to be a two-headed creature if you look quickly. Second and more importantly, ostriches really do have an unconventional lifestyle in the avian world. They mate for life, and share responsibility for their offspring. The female incubates the eggs during the daytime while the male manages them during the night. Often they share communal responsibility with one large nest (actually a hole in the ground) for all of the eggs in a large group of ostriches. Once the eggs have hatched, it is typically the male ostrich who cares for them until they are self-sufficient. Hmmm…..perhaps I should have saved this post for Father’s Day 🙂

To see more of today’s DP challenge entries, go here.

50 thoughts on “DP Challenge – Unconventional Love”

aj vosse on May 26, 2013 at 4:05 am said:

Truly great post but I have to whisper something, if you don’t mind… are my eyes deceiving me or could those be two males… 😉

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- Tina Schell on May 26, 2013 at 7:50 am said:
  
  I will admit I am not an ostrich expert, and I don’t see what apparently you do, but I do think the larger is a male and the smaller a female. Could be wrong tho!
  
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Ese' s Voice on May 25, 2013 at 3:05 pm said:

Beautiful, Tina. Endearing and…with the quote it rounds up “the crazy little thing called love” 🙂

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- Tina Schell on May 25, 2013 at 5:13 pm said:
  
  Thanks Ese – it was a fun one 🙂
  
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Dilip on May 22, 2013 at 3:13 am said:

A beautiful post. A powerful message for us humans to learn ~ “They mate for life, and share responsibility for their offspring”!
Thank you 🙂

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- Tina Schell on May 22, 2013 at 8:49 am said:
  
  Thanks Dilip, yes they are really interesting creatures aren’t they. There are many things we humans could learn from our friends in the animal kingdom aren’t there?
  
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Nessy San on May 19, 2013 at 11:45 pm said:

What a beautiful and heart warming photo! I really love the story and you just gave me an idea for a theme for a future blog post. 🙂 It’s amazing how wonderful ostriches are, really. 🙂

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- Tina Schell on May 20, 2013 at 7:42 am said:
  
  Thanks so much Nessy San! I look forward to your post!
  
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frizztext on May 16, 2013 at 12:13 pm said:

“so that they actually seem to be a two-headed creature …” with four legs = like some human couples …

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- Tina Schell on May 16, 2013 at 12:46 pm said:
  
  I thought so FT – and indeed there are some human couples you could say the same thing about!
  
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fgassette on May 15, 2013 at 3:38 pm said:

EXCELLENT SHOT! Like their idea.

BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!

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- Tina Schell on May 15, 2013 at 6:56 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Francine! I think they’ve got the right idea too 🙂
  
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viveka on May 15, 2013 at 3:20 pm said:

To take a great photo we need some luck too …. brilliant .. 2 in 1 *smile

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- Tina Schell on May 15, 2013 at 7:18 pm said:
  
  Definitely! Thanks Viveka 🙂
  
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april kanew on May 15, 2013 at 9:00 am said:

BOY…..U certainly captured this at exactly the right second…what a GREAT EYE!!!

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- Tina Schell on May 15, 2013 at 9:46 am said:
  
  Thanks April – they were quite the pair!
  
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1annecasey on May 15, 2013 at 5:19 am said:

Great post! Such a beautiful photo and lovely explanation.

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- Tina Schell on May 15, 2013 at 9:50 am said:
  
  Thanks Anne – they really were a couple in every way!
  
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Charlie@Seattle Trekker on May 14, 2013 at 11:37 pm said:

I beginning to believe that love that works is unconventional by definition, always evolving and transitioning.

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- Tina Schell on May 15, 2013 at 9:53 am said:
  
  Excellent point Charlie. Many bloggers have posted that no love should be considered “unconventional” because all love is good. I kind of like that approach too!
  
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Heyjude on May 14, 2013 at 3:53 pm said:

Great interpretation of a tricky prompt!

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- Tina Schell on May 14, 2013 at 6:13 pm said:
  
  Thank you Jude! I thought of this shot the minute I saw the subject :-). Fortunately their mating patterns are as unconventional as the 2-headed shot LOL
  
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lwyatt2093 on May 14, 2013 at 3:18 pm said:

Attached at the hip takes on new meaning with these creatures! Fascinating how they share responsibilities! Love it L

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- Tina Schell on May 14, 2013 at 6:15 pm said:
  
  “Attached at the Hip” would have been a better title for the shot! Where were you when I needed you? :-). Thanks Linda!
  
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  - lwyatt2093 on May 14, 2013 at 7:57 pm said:
    
    Thanks T…. Guess the timing of co dependency is on my mind! Back to Atlanta tomorrow with Mr. Wyatt majorly healing!!! Hugs to you and Bailey..
    
    Sent from my iPad
David Hall on May 14, 2013 at 2:12 pm said:

Great shot, well captured. Fits the bill admirably.

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- Tina Schell on May 14, 2013 at 2:19 pm said:
  
  Thanks Dave !
  
  Sent from my iPad
  
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Uday Narayanan on May 14, 2013 at 2:10 pm said:

Interesting picture Tina. That’s definitely not conventional 🙂

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- Tina Schell on May 14, 2013 at 2:20 pm said:
  
  Agreed, thanks Uday!
  
  Sent from my iPad
  
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Sonel on May 14, 2013 at 1:53 pm said:

Lovely entry for the challenge Tina. 🙂

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- Tina Schell on May 14, 2013 at 2:22 pm said:
  
  Thanks Sonel!
  
  Sent from my iPad
  
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rabirius on May 14, 2013 at 1:05 pm said:

Excellent picture.

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- Tina Schell on May 14, 2013 at 2:21 pm said:
  
  Thanks Rabirius!
  
  Sent from my iPad
  
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suej on May 14, 2013 at 11:11 am said:

Great shot for the prompt (I’m not even going to try!)…. They really do look like a two headed beastie.

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greenmackenzie on May 14, 2013 at 10:54 am said:

That’s a great photo…joined at the hip 🙂

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- Tina Schell on May 14, 2013 at 8:09 pm said:
  
  Thanks Seonaid! And would have been a great title LOL
  
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laislinns on May 14, 2013 at 10:49 am said:

Very interesting.

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- Tina Schell on May 15, 2013 at 10:26 pm said:
  
  Thanks! Appreciate your comment and visit.
  
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Marie on May 14, 2013 at 9:42 am said:

This could also be used for those inspirational office posters labelled “TEAMWORK” because, humans would need to have their feet tied to run in unison like that. It’s like they’re also sharing brains… Über great take on the prompt my friend! (Can you tell I had Swedish meatballs for sup last night? Über cool.)

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- Tina Schell on May 14, 2013 at 10:05 am said:
  
  LOL-über-cool comment! Thanks 🙂
  
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lensandpensbysally on May 14, 2013 at 9:33 am said:

Sweetly perfect for the challenge.

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- Tina Schell on May 14, 2013 at 10:07 am said:
  
  Thanks Sally! Thought it best not to mention their hissing/spitting courting ritual. A bit less sweet. LOL
  
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