Mini Driving

Today was another sunny, warm day for driving horses. This time it was with a mini! My friend Elizabeth (the person responsible for getting me into this adventure) brought her 2 over today. One of them - CHIP - is an old pro at driving, so he provided us with some fun as we drove around the neighborhood. Yes - he CAN pull the both of us! With no problems!

Shuttle Launch

Last month, Steve and I accompanied my brother, Bob and his wife Mary, to Florida to watch the Space Shuttle Launch on Nov 14th. He was invited by his friend - Shuttle astronaut Don Pettit, to be his guest at the launch and also at a BBQ on Cocoa Beach with the Pettit family the night before the launch. It was wonderful to meet his brave wife - Mickey, and his big family. It was a beautiful night on the beach, with the full moon rising.

The day of the launch we spent at the Kennedy Space Center, before being shuttled out to the causeway by the Banana River to view the night time launch.

Seeing this event, in person, is absolutley incredible.

STS-126 Endeavor left the launch pad at 7:55 EST on November 14. Not only does watching this huge rocket seemingly lift the Shuttle ever so slowly into the night sky take your breath away, it is the delayed shockwaves that you see and feel about 30 seconds after lift off that give you the personal touch! The sound hits you then with a tremendous roar, and on the moonlit river you can see the ripples on the water, as well as in the few light clouds in the sky.

The photos I am attaching to this post were taken by a fellow observer that was on our bus. I was looking at his photos on his camera as we road back to the KSC, and was amazed at the clarity he obtained with his shots. His name is Steven, that's all I know and he graciously emailed them to me last week. I think you will agree - they are beautiful.

A Picture Perfect Launch

Below is a 5 minute time lapse from lift off to when the Endeavor left our sight.

God Speed Endeavor.

PS .... For those interested in a more detailed accounting of this event- you can read my brother's story which he wrote for his web site. STS-126 liftoff of Endevour.

Thank you Bob and Mary, for including us on this once in a lifetime trip!

A great day for a drive!

Pardon me for the HUGE lapse in posting - I will try and catch up in the next few days.

So, I will start with today, and work backwards for awhile.......

A beautiful, sunny, crisp day here in South Texas - the only thing missing is some rain! Boy do we need RAIN! Everything is dead or dying, with no relief in sight.......we just continue to pray that some will come along soon......

A few months back - I took a driving (HORSE) lesson from Francine Dismukes of Luling, Tx.

Since I am not familiar with all the horsey folks, I soon found out that she is one of the MASTERS of training and teaching this wonderful sport. She is a world renowned judge for driving and dressage. and her barn is full of beautiful National Champion Andalusians and Andalusian Crosses.

I am learning this sport, so in the not too distant future, I will be driving Neeko, the larger one of my minis. He will be starting his ground driving soon, and hopefully will be ready to go to Francine's in the Spring for a couple of months. for his formal training with the cart.

So as not to leave Steve out of this adventure........I asked him to come along today, so he can see what he is getting into. :) :) After I did my lesson, Francine invited him to take the reins. Mind you, Steve is NOT a horse person. He will stand just out of reach from them, and I have never seen him on one - ever. Not that he doesn't like them (HE LOVES OUR MINIS) - they are just BIG animals, and he is not comfortable around them. They are not dogs - for sure!

I must say that when he took the reins, under Francine's kind instruction, he looked like a natural. I think he had a great advantage to not knowing anything about riding horses, etc, as it gave him a clean slate to begin with. Francine told me I knew just enough to get into trouble with! Boy - is that ever right!

I am so proud of his success at his first lesson! He doesn't know it yet - but we are doing the same thing next weekend! Weather permitting!

I just had to put up a couple of pictures of Francine and Steve and the wonderful, ever patient Doll, her 5 year old Andalusian. Bless her heart - she was a real trooper having to put up with 2 novices!