I'm Published... not a book, a photo

That's my photo appearing in the Hemmings magazine advertisement for the car club to which we belong. It was taken 23 April 2007 at 1023. Below is the original.

A Field of Bluebonnets

Can't beat Texas Bluebonnets this time of year

Keels and Wheels Uncorked at Post Oak Motors

In order to ignite some interest in the upcoming Keels & Wheels Concours d'Elegance, a party was held at Post Oak Motors featuring some fine cars and a boat worthy of being shown at the event this year. Marque was invited to the event in 2005 and took home the trophy for Best in Class (Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars). It was an honor to be invited back this year. Marque will not enter the field of competition; however, he will be on display.

Mockingbird Bistro represented Marque. Their lobster risotto was delicioso!! Fine choice for Marque.

REFLECTIONS ~ on the Westpark Tollway and later in the street sign ~ Marque is under the "O" in Post

The cars invited to the Uncorked Event

The Flying Lady aka The Spirit of Ecstasy ~ Bentley's Flying B

An artist was on hand to sketch the cars and boat. This is the rough draft. He filled it in with colors, then it was auctioned off for $950.

2011 Pin Oak Grand Prix

At the end of a busy day, we wound down by going to the Jumper Competition at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center located conveniently less than a mile from where we live. Seven riders made it to the Jump Off round.

Here is the article from today's Chronicle.

Fenney rides MTM Centano to 1st place at Pin Oak

by Hal Lundgren
Though ladies' night wasn't on the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show schedule, the evening turned out that way.
Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound won Saturday night's $30,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix at Great Southwest Equestrian Center. The Woodlands' Meagan Nusz finished a surprising second. Fenney rode MTM Centano to first place. Nusz was aboard Banana D'ive Z.
The two ladies pushed celebrated Wilhelm Genn and his Happy Z back to third place. The Ohio rider and his celebrated mare have 46 grand prix wins, more than any other pair.
Fenney earned the top prize of $9,000. She also collected $2,400 for guiding her MTM Timon to fourth place.
Fenney, who described her two 11-year-old geldings as "very good horses," continues to make a riding comeback. She performed well in a $1 million New York grand prix last September. Then complications from a healing rotator cuff knocked her from contention.
Nusz, 23, a Woodlands High School and TCU alum, was easily the most excited of the top finishers. She has been a competitive rider since 12.
"My mother, Terri, introduced me to horses when I was very young," she said. "They've pretty much been my life."
She believed the $6,600 second prize was her largest dollar award.
Nusz will complete her homecoming week end Monday, then return to her stable in Wellington, Fla.
The veteran Genn, the first person to earn more than $1 million in grand prix events, praised the two ladies who placed ahead of him.
"They have good horses, and they rode them very well," he said.
His Happy Z sparkled in winning here last year, when a cold snap arrived for the show.
"She does not like warmer weather," Genn said. "She showed that tonight."

WWII and CAF Aircraft Show

On our way home after our foray into wildflower country, we spied signs for an aircraft show at the West Houston Airport. We have visited the small airport numerous times and were delighted to catch the show. Surprisingly I thought CAF stood for Confederate Air Force, but the planes had Commemorative Air Force written on them. Further investigation proved I was correct in my assumption; however, "confederate" is now politically incorrect, thus the new nomenclature.

You will note that I haven't identified any of these. To me, they are interesting planes and I know a few of them but it's not important to identify each and every one. Now Sneed, on the other hand, can tell you what each one of them is. So if you have any questions, ask him.

This was one weird looking plane. In layman's terms, it was used in WWII, taking off from and landing on ships at sea. Having the wings folded up allowed more planes to be on the ship. A neat idea but no longer used.

Wildflowers

We traveled some of our favorite back roads this morning to see if there truly were a dearth of bluebonnets and other wildflowers. Dire predictions of wildflower absence due to the lack of rain had us worried. Here's what we found. And, yes, I know those three little guys in the last photo are Donkeys. They were so cute and friendly coming to the fence when we stopped to take photographs of the crabapple blossoms across the street from them. Even though our conversation was one-sided they listened politely and nodded their heads appropriately.

Go Rockets! One Down, 6 to go....

In order to stay in competition, the Rockets have to win their remaining 7 games. In an exciting game tonight in which each team shared being in the lead; the Red Nation prevailed for the win. One down, 6 to go...

A nice array of food for our consumption

Action on the court ~ A time out and Yao's on the court

Score from quarter to quarter to overtime and a win for the Rockets