She Got One Of Her Wishes

One of my dreams has always been to see a performance of the famous Lippizzaner Stallions. Last night was the night that dream came true. The evening was warm, the air still. Armed with a camera, I settled down in a perfect spot to watch the show with some of my friends. The announcer entered the ring followed by a single line of some of the most beautiful horses I have ever seen.. The show began..........





The Lippizzan horses are an Austrian treasure, highly trained and skilled they have served as masters in military defense, where rider and horse become one. They set the standards of Dressage, the elegant dance and precise execution of commands. They did not disappoint.

Imagine though for a moment, how you might react if you had never known two of your closest friends were also the masters of two of these horses. How I ever collected myself from the shear shock of recognition, is still a mystery. Due to the fact that the horses and riders are in constant movement I was able to capture fairly good pictures, just slightly blurred. These two remarkable women,Louie and Darby, were the stars of the show. Louie was even wearing her pearls , very Vittonish.








An evening I will never forget, stunning horses, talented and gifted friends, truly a wish come true! Another Photoshop moment.

Oh My..........

Every year my front yard is different. Each autumn I always intend to put in more perennials and evergreen plants to avoid having a winter yard that is completely bare. I do have a few plants that hold down the fort during the winter but not enough to make it look established. So each spring and summer I run out and buy whatever is in bloom. Can't resist that instant color! Then slowly as fall advances things start to die back and there I am again wishing I had planted more "throughout the year plants". In an effort to reform, I shall post this blog as a promise I will heed my own words of wisdom this year.

In the meantime, I invite you to view my front yard and see what I see each time I drive in the driveway. This first picture shows the view towards the house with the birdbath and surrounding flowers. My delphiniums this year have been spectacular....multiplying each year and getting bigger. Of course having a birdbath right in one's front yard is hard to resist hanging around if you go by the name of Mocha or Little Girl (as seen in lower left corner).






I probably have not mentioned that my Little Girl is very talented. She has the energy of 10 cats. Once she gets riled up she can leap the highest of obstacles. Poor Mocha, being older and pretty much a "stay at home kinda guy" he wonders why she puts so much work into traveling about and leaping over tall buildings.. He is content to sit and watch. I guess he figures if she is out flying around he has the prime spot, close to the birdbath without competition. She has the energy, he has the smarts. Of course I must again give credit to Photoshop for letting Mocha and Little Girl be a part of my garden photos. It also gets credit for erasing my neighbors house in the first picture....it not only looks better in the photograph but also is something to wish for.






Geez, it is Friday the 13th of June. I like to look at Friday the 13th as a lucky day, so far it has been. Hmmmmmmm, let's see what shall I plant in my little yard this weekend??