Christmas 2009

Seen here (left) is a photo of Frank and Runner, Frank, Deb and her husband Bill (center) along with her painting (right) done from the first photo. This painting is named "Tender Trust", signifying the trust between a horse and his rider. Actually to us it means much more. The life of this painting came about through the hands of three sets of friends. First of all, the horse, named Runner, owned by our friends Terry, Bob, and Chuck, who allow Frank to ride Runner. The photo from which this painting was made was shot in December 2007, by our friend Ron. And finally the painting itself, beautiful and skillfully done, was painted by the loving hands of Deb, another dear friend. Deb and Bill presented the painting to Frank when we returned home after his heart attack.

Shortly after we sent off last year's Christmas CD, we attended the annual Christmas Party at the farm. Shown here are some of the guests, as well as some of the farm's critters. Please note the similar pose of Trooper, the dog laying down, and his best friend, Chuck, also laying down...but in a recliner. Both sleeping. You can ignore the guy in the Santa hat...he was just clowning around.

In January we flew to Phoenix, AZ, to attend their rodeo. Then in February we flew to Las Vegas, NV for IGRA rodeo University which teaches how to put on rodeos and run an association. Here are some of the photos we took of the nearby mountainsides, as well as a photo of Frank at the University. Finally there is a photo of Frank and the President of IGRA, Brian.

In April, we flew to Florida for their rodeo, and had the time to re-visit the Everglades. Fortunately, this time of year there were few mosquitoes, but many, many alligators. The wildlife there is spectacular and does indeed need to be protected.

While in Florida, we had the opportunity of stopping by and visiting old friends, Curt and Ellie. They are managing a Corps of Engineer campground in central Florida....and having a ball. Their campground is adjacent to a Corps of Engineer's lock system which crosses Florida. Great scenic vistas. Nearby was a real herd of cattle which was being moved from one grazing field to the next to rotate the field's usage.

We stopped by the winter homes of Thomas A. Edison, and Henry Ford. They were friends and wintered here for over ten years as neighbors. We can just imagine the conversations they had around their dinner tables. There were beautiful flowers, as well as interesting older Fords and some of Edison's inventions. These homes were the top of the line for their day, as well being directly on an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico...absolutely beautiful.

Next we had the opportunity to visit with Frank's sister, Sallie and her husband, Ray, in Seminole, Florida. Here are two pictures each of Sallie and Frank at Sallie's and Ray's home.

A day later we visited both Sallie's and Ray's work areas, and had the chance to walk near the hotel where Ray works. Ray is the head of the audio/visual department of the hotel's meetings and conferences. An important job, because meetings are the lifeblood of the hotel and the reason they have conferences and therefore guests.

In April our rodeo association, ASGRA, held a rodeo school in Pennsylvania near Gettysburg. Can you believe these grown people enjoyed themselves wrestling steers in the mud? They did, and even smiled afterward...and then went back and did it again... and again... and again. I hope they sent their clothes out to the laundry...or at least washed one item per load at home.