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| United States Dressage Federation - Recognized Dressage Competition - June 2009, Horseheads, NY |
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This year, 2009, we made our second foray into a United States Dressage Federation sanctioned competition. During our first attempt, June 2008, I spent almost all of my time recovering from the previous disastrous movement. No time was left for breathing or thinking, yet it was fun. I was at the bottom rung of understanding, unconsciously incompetent. This year I had the sequence of movements memorized. We rode the line, that is followed the prescribed path of the movements, and I didn't grimace once! There's still much work to do after all I've only been at this for 6 years. My knees were bent back placing my calves somewhat north-west of their proper position at Tyler's sides. His head position was, well how to put it ... terrible, with his nose sticking way out, my fault. I've climbed to the second rung of understanding though, conscious incompetence... messing up but conscious of the fact.
Show photos courtesy of Joyce W.
Once more Tyler's favorite gate is The Halt. At the end of the Training Level II test, upper left, we stopped squarely on our mark. The judge gave us a (well-deserved) score of 8 out of 10. In a sport where 6 out of 10 is considered a good score an 8 is a real treat! Rain held off Sunday but Saturday's heavy storm left the competition rings with 4 inches of mud to play in. Before our first ride, notice the absence of mud on his majesty, my instructor Donna loosens up Tyler while calming me down. Bottom right we practice in the warm-up ring where, momentarily, I get Tyler's head into position. Bottom center we're leaving the ring after performing the Training Level I test. You might not believe it but that's a smile on my face. Bottom left we turn the corner for our run down the centerline of the ring prior to the last movement, halting and saluting the judge.
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| Ithaca Festival Parade May 31, 2009 |
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Ithaca's been described as ‘ 10 square miles surrounded by reality.’ The people's parade which kicks off the annual IthacaFest celebration supports that proposition in spades. The parade begins at Stuart Park on Cayuga Lake ending at Dewitt Park near the center of town.
Ithaca's known throughout upstate New York as the home of the extraordinarily tall. This claim to fame is evident in the photo, above, as the Tall Person's Anonymous Club leads the parade.
Each year critters, real and fanciful, are among the most popular participants in the parade. Would I pass up an opportunity start with a picture of horses? If your answer is yes then you don't know me very well! Eric Carle's ‘ The Very Hungry Caterpillar ’ is acknowledged to be the most popular of his 70+ children's books. Ithaca's the home of (way too) many seagulls. This one was delightful to watch as it fluttered along the line of march. The last time we saw a Chinese Yellow Lion Dancer was during our trip to Scotland in the summer of 2008. It was nice to see an old friend again.
The people of Ithaca are the real stars of the parade. The town's population is ethnically diverse. This is due, in part, to the presence of two world class schools, Cornell and Ithaca College, drawing visiting scholars from all over the world. In addition the town's churches and civic associations actively support relocation of refugees from many of the world's trouble spots.
Upper left dancers bring a beautiful piece of Central America to upstate NY. Upper right the He-Man Chainsaw Band, expanded to include women, lawn mowers and trimmers in the ranks, are a crowd favorite in their traditional position at the end of the parade ... perhaps so other marchers are spared inhaling the fumes? Pictured lower right are members of the Volvo Ballet Company, complete with tutu's and accompanied by the music of Swan Lake. The Mini Cooper car club has the right idea. Why walk when you can ride?
Only in Ithaca ...
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| Ashokan Civil War Days Weekend - May, 2009 |
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Joyce is on the mailing list of the Ashokan Center in the Catskill region of N.Y. On Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday Ashokan Civil War Days was a featured May event.
We stayed at nearby a B&B that was, well, serviceable. We shared sinks and toilets with an adjoining room. One of the pair in each room did not work. Watching the first floor through a hole in the second floor offered an outlet for voyeurism if one was so inclined. More than making up for these foibles were the first night fire pit complete with roaring fire and two morning breakfasts offering delicious French quasants and coffee. I plead guilty to poaching left-over crouissant from vacated tables before the host cleared them.
I've attended many Civil War reenactments but had never seen participants interpreting sailors, photo upper left, of that era. These reenactors portrayed a naval landing party because, as one explained to me, it's hard hauling a boat along. Upper right, Union skirmishers reload their muzzle loading rifle muskets before the final charge on the Rebel works. The Johnny Reb position on the brow of the hill was overrun and the survivors fled. Lower right the Southern reenactors demonstrate fire by volley. Lower left, two well accoutermented reenactors survey the scene in the Union camp.
We both enjoyed the music. Upper left, the Ampersand Heritage musical group joined The 77th New York Regimental Balladeers singing and playing music of the time. Upper right Kim and Reggie Harris perform in the evening concert. Earlier they presented "Music and the Underground Railroad" to an appreciative crowd. Molly Mason, of the husband and wife team Molly Mason & Jay Ungar , entertained us with her sweet voice. Lower left the "The Iron Jacks of the USNLP", Dave Dziewulski, right, and Bob deLisle, left, entertained us with Sea Shanties including a haunting "Leave her Johnny, Leave her."
Upper left, Joyce crosses a wobbling bridge on the Ashokan Center site. Each step resonated with the structure building the bounce higher and higher! We tried in vain to catch up with a sponsored nature walk but, along with a half-dozen other lost souls, had to settle for one self guided. Upper right, a dragon fly posed long enough for me to take its' picture. Lower right, rocks and flowing water caught our attention. Lower left, well, some folks never follow directions. "Can't you read the sign? NO Pedestrians."
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