Random Jumping Pics from today.

Part 2 of Can We Keep Them?

Okay it is cool golf carts this time - not doggies! I have not yet included the pink golf cart with the "Princess" sign. The Mexican groom loves it when he has to drive it around. Also there is a golf cart with Texas Longhorns on the front. No I am not kidding!!!

Can we keep it?

Too many cute doggy friends that we have met. Can we keep them.

Jack Russell Gymnastics

This new neighbor loves water. No Jeff is not spraying the JR on purpose. This is it's entertainment. And ours!!

Third Week

Well week 3 is underway. Both horses have moved up in their division heights and pinned in all classes today. A good start to the last week. Weather improved after the "4" layered morning. Thanks goodness for shopping and my new fleecy which came in very handy today. 80+ for the rest of the week. Yeah!

Marlene and Jenn make friends!

Tombstone - The Horses

O.K. Corral- The Gunfight

The Cowboys

Tombstone, AZ

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place on October 26, 1881. It began in the 18 foot wide lot behind the O.K. Corral next to C.S. Fly's Boarding House and Photo Studio. This inevitable showdown over control of Tombstone climaxed months of threats, romantic rivalries, stage robberies, pistol whippings, and arrests. When you visit Tombstone you are treated to a reinactment of that day in history as well as stepping back in time on main street. You can even visit Boothill Cemetary where the dead cowboys are buried.

Police chief Virgil Earp deputized brothers Wyatt and Morgan and Doc Holliday to help him disarm the cowboys who were waiting to confront Doc when he returned to his rented room at Fly's.

When the shooting started, unarmed cowboy Ike Clanton ran into Fly's and kept on running. In the next 30 seconds nearly 30 shots were fired. The three cowboys who stood their ground were all killed.

Tom McLaury, who may have been unarmed, was cut down by a clast from Doc's shotgun. Frank McLaury stumbled onto Fremont Street and was shot in the head. Morgan Earp shot 19-year old Billy Clanton.

Both Virgil and Morgan Earp were badly wounded, while Doc Holliday suffered a superficial hip wound. Only Wyatt Earp walked away unscathed.

The Lawmen

Aztec Dancers

The Mission - The Hillside

The Mission - The Courtyard

San Xavier Mission - The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary Gardens had the seven stations of the cross around the courtyard.

San Xavier Mission - The Restoration

An earthquake in 1887 knocked down the mortuary wall and damaged parts of the church. Extensive repairs began in 1905. The next round of restoration followed years after a 1939 lightning strike hit the West Tower lantern.
An international team of conservators cleaned, removed over-painting, and repaired the interior painted and sculptural art. The Patronato continues the exterior preservation work begun in 1989. Its restoration team is removing the earlier coating of cement plaster, repairing the historic brick beneath, and re-finishing the exterior surface with a traditional lime plaster. The sooner the cement can be removed, the greater the amount of original fabric that can be preserved.

San Xavier Mission Interior Shots

San Xavier Mission - The Architecture

Constructed of low-fire clay brick, stone and lime mortar, the entire structure is roofed with masonry vaults, making it unique among Spanish Colonial buildings within the U.S. borders.

Little is known about the people who decorated the interior. The artwork was probably commissioned by Fr. Velderrain's successor and most likley created by artists from Queretero in New Spain (now Mexico). The sculpture was created in guild workshops and carried by donkey thourgh the Pimeria Alta to its destination at the Mission. Craftsman created gessoed clothing once the sculpture was in place.

The church contains numerous references to the Franciscan cord both on the facade and throughout the church.

The shell, a symbol of pilgrimage after the patron saint of Spain, Santiago or Saint James the Greater, is replicated all through the structure in window treatments, the sanctuary, the facade and other details within the interior.

The Baroque architecture style features playful dramatic elements such as theatrical curtain displays, faux doors and marbling and an overall sense of balance.

Mission San Xavier Part 1

A National Historic Landmark, San Xavier Mission was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. Construction of the current church bagan in 1783. The oldest intact European structure in Arizona, the church's interior if filled with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings. It is a place where you can truly step back in time and enter an authentic 18th Century space. It is widely considered to be the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States. The feeling that you get when you walk in to the church is hard to describe. It is a breathtaking, spiritual experience that I will remember forever.

More Random PIcs!

Yes it is a giant lemon. That would be the lemonade stand.

Yes it is a parrot. That is Lima who is a 'horse show' parrot.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Here are some of the friends you will meet at the museum. The kids were treated to lots of interactive displays and hands-on experiences including the holding and touching of lizards, snakes and spiders. I prefer the larger furry friends myself.

Winners!!!!

Another good week for Ragman Rose Sport Horses and Mah Showjumping picking up a Championship for Lakeside Clover who had a win yesterday in the Derby and today in the Stake. There was also a Reserve Champion for the four year old jumper prospect Watermark II (he was champion last week in a lower division). Lots of fun courses to ride. All lines. All related distances. Many jumps. You needed a pen and paper to remember all of the counts. Michel Valliancourt is the course designer this week. A different plan than last weeks course designer Hector Loyola who had many many bending lines and huge jumps. The picture of Clover with his angry face is after hitting a rail. Watermark is exhausted and needs both Steph and Marlene to hold his head up.

Scenery

Hi Girls. I know how much you are all missing Tucson so I thought I would take some special 'scenery' pictures for you. Hope you enjoy!

Clover

Our Clover jumped amazing today and I was able to capture a few moments of his talent.

Real Estate

Marlene and I toured some of the country side looking at real estate. Just in case we do not want to come home we thought we would browse. One of the property's had garage doors made of copper. One was built by Paul McCartney for his wife Linda when she was going through her cancer treatments. One of the houses had so many wings we could all live together and never see each other. We thought we would share a few photos.

Halloween

Okay I am a few days late but here are some pictures of Halloween 'Tucson Style'.

Saguaro Cactus

Saguaro Cactus - Carnegiea gigantea

The saguaro cactus can attain heights of over 50 feet tall and live to be over 250 years old. Symbolic of the desert in Arizona, saguaros add a distinct silhouette to the landscape, as well as the saguaro cactus blossom being recongized as Arizona's state flower.

More of Grand Prix Day

Election Day

Well here we are in McCain Country. The discussions at the back gate of the Grand Prix Ring have been quite heated and mostly pro McCain. One trainer has worn the same McCain - Palin shirt all week. There is a large military presence here in Tucson and John McCain's war medals are at the Air Museum (and there are many). One bumper sticker read "McCain-Palin - USA Dream Team - Tough Patriots". Another bumper sticker read "Peace Through Superior Firepower".
Some of the younger people have said they support Obama. We will see tonight. Should be fun at the back gate of Grand Prix land tomorrow.

Grand Prix Day Winner

17 Competitors. Winner was an old friend from the past Janine Carhart. Janine is originally from Omaha Nebraska now living and training in Nevada. She was first and second. Great Ride Janine!

Random Pics

Holistic Health Day Part 3

Still more treatments to come. After the Grand Prix was over - Dr. Barb Truex came back to the barn for an accupuncture treatment on our Clover. He did look a little funny with his small blue needles sticking out of some strange areas. It was interesting that when "his body" was done with the needles they just came out. Some of them he shook out and some just fall out. Very interesting to watch.

Holistic Health Day Part 2

Next was our friend Lori (actually her name is Laura but she was named after one of her grandmothers who was not a nice woman so her other grandmother called her Lori instead).

Watermark was treated first to the Octassager (a green plastic type contraption) that simulates an 8 finger massage. It was followed up with further massage; accupressure; and stretching. He was then able to choose he aromatheraphy oil. WM clearly preferred "Relieve It" which is for tired muscles. Yes he has worked hard this week. He also enjoyed the pelvic tilt exercise. (Sounds like an exercise from our Physio Goddess Sandra). Clover's spa day started with a workout "The Chi Machine" which uses different wave lengths that stimulate a different part of the body. The idea being that you "confuse the body" and "shake it up" so it starts the energy moving in new patterns instead of the ones which have "protected itself". This was followed by his massage; accupressure; several adjustments (a very loud C7 one); stretching; and the "pretty neck" exercise (I don't know if Sandra has a corresponding one for this or not).

He then enoyed a 15 minute session with Bio Scan hock boots. His choice of Aromatherapy was "Elevate Your Purpose" to help him concentrate. This was applied on his chest and his forehead.

I chose some "Valor" for patience and calming. Clover also had some of this as well.

Jenn chose "Joy" which she applied over her heart. Marlene chose "Peppermint" for pain relief and energy and also "White Angelica" which she rubbed on her shoulders to ward off negative energy. It was a great education and fun morning for us.

Holistic Health Day Part 1

Don't get excited Girlfriends. This was health day for the horses. We did not get to the spa (yet). The morning started with our friend Phil Ratliff from The Rite Bite who is a professional equine dentist. Phil had a rough day yesterday when one of his instruments slipped and tore his fingernail almost all off while he was working on a young horses' teeth. We were not sure if he was going to be able to work on the boys but as you will see in the pictures the man is amazing at his job and a gift to horses. We appreciate your knowledge; kindness; wisdom and willingness sto share. Thanks Phil.

Champion!!!

Marlene and Denis Drews' wonderful jumper prospect Watermark II (who was bred by Two Willows Equine Centre and Janine Olson) was Champion for Week 1 in his grand prix ring debut. Okay the jumps were not very big yet but

he jumped the banks; steps; and all the impressive fences with no hesitation. We are all so proud.

For Fern

We know that Shelby's grandmother is Kyle Timm's biggest fan so we are sending a very special message to her from all of us and Kyle. Wish you could be with us. (Sorry for the picture with Marlene but you can always change your face where hers - all you need is a little computer magic!). Hope you like my photo montage. Will it keep Fern happy until Kyle comes back to Canada? Stay tuned!