Adventure Abilene...Spring Meet

Day 1 - Caravan to Abilene

Some of us met at Love's Truck stop outside of Katy to caravan to Abilene. Dave's attempt to keep rocks and bugs off his car didn't last more than a mile or two once we got on the interstate at high speed.

                   Beautiful Texas countryside with fields of poppies.

We were joined by some members from San Antonio and Austin in Lampasas where we stopped for lunch. Great photo op in front of the Lampasas County Courthouse.

Steve's welcoming banner

Do ya think they could have made this any simpler?

I had a cough that had gotten down in my chest. Since we are leaving for Abilene tomorrow morning for the TX Spring Meet, I want to be well. So I went to see the doctor and this is what he said..."you have bronchitis".
And this is what he prescribed....methylprednisolone.  Even a pre-schooler could follow these arrows...two tabs are missing as I had to start treatment right away...

A beautiful Easter Sunday

The drought didn't keep the wildflowers from blooming.

Bluebonnets ~ Indian Paintbrush ~ Prairie Brazoria

Field view

Green Milkweed ~ Primrose ~ White Bluebonnet
The White Bluebonnet is the result of a mutation in one of the genes responsible for producing the blue pigment of the flower

Washington on the Brazos (River). The birthplace of Texas. On this ground, Texans created a new nation, founded in liberty and self-determination. When the Convention met here in March,1836, most Texans favored independence from Mexico and the formation of a new Republic.

A ride through the country to retrieve Big Red

We'll be on the road again soon and need Big Red to haul vehicles. This was a perfect day to drive to Caldwell and get the trailer from the ranch. The wildflowers are starting to emerge which is so exciting since we worried how last year's drought would affect them. So far, we are well pleased with what we saw.

It had been awhile since we left Big Red at the ranch, almost a year. There were a few changes along the way.

This mega mansion wasn't here the last time we drove through just north of Brenham.

L>R Indian Paintbrush, Bellardia, Prairie Spiderwort, Wine-Cup

This beautiful butterfly (moth?) was brushed off a board from under the trailer. Sneed thought it wasn't going to make it. With a lot of encouragement from me, it first flew about an inch, then a few more. I was going to pick it up and place it on some flowers. Evidently it heard me telling Sneed because it gathered all its strength and flew directly to the flowers, a couple of yards away. I was so thrilled. I'm a nut... I know it.

The view in the monitor showing what is behind the trailer and the view in the side mirror out of my window - Big Red following behind, obedient as ever.

Another $30K Grand Prix, Another Win for Tracy

Tonight was the Grand Prix IV competition at Pin Oak. I love these horse jumping competitions and more than that, love watching Tracy Fenney win and win and win. She had 3 horses in competition as her is wont, and qualified for the jump off round with all three. Once again, riding MTM Centano, Tracy took 1st place. On MTM Timon, she took second place, and MTM Genau, a young 7 year old mount, won 4th place. Tracy is the winningest jumper in the state of TX.

The course was designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral of  Portugal who is the gentleman on the left in the above photo.

The program for the two week event and the roster for tonight's event.

The Bayou City Pipes and Drums, founded in 2004, entertained us before the competition.

The Catelena Cowgirls from Bryan, TX, on their beautiful Paint horses paraded in with flags as the National Anthem was sung.

Tracy Fenney on her winning mount, MTM Centano. This is the jump-off round. Tracy's winnings tonight were $18,000.

$30,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix

The Grand Prix course - a sweet Border Collie was my next seat neighbor

The field had 19 competitors. A few were riding more than one horse. After the first run through, only 4 made it to the jump-off round.

Tracy Fenney, a perennial winner, rode 3 different horses in the first round and qualified with 2 of them for the jump-off. Here she is riding MTM Centano winning first place. She also took third and seventh places. Tracy's share of the $30,000 Grand Prix was $14,100!

A Vision in Purple

After Aedin's softball game, Dylin came home with me to have a sleepover. After lunch, while Taylor was working on a sewing project, Dylin and I went to Target. Here she's modeling her new outfit this morning before going home.