Update

Guess I left out some critical info on the camera.  It is just a Canon Power Shot A3300IS with 16 mega pixel and 5x zoom.

  It is half the size of my previous Canon power shot.

  I've always had Canons for some reason.

  My first good camera as a teenager was a 35 mm Canon sure shot, 

 which I still have of course.

 V bought herself a very nice Canon EOS with her Christmas money.  We are expecting some great thing from her with this one.

 My father used this 35 mm canon.

 Then he got this one with the telephoto lens to take better horse show pictures for me.  Looks like I could start a small Canon museum.

New Camera

I got a new camera for Christmas and I'm trying to decide weather or not to keep it.  Sometimes I think my original 6 mp camera is fine then other times I think I need something better.  This new one is 16 mp.

 Here is regular,

 full optical zoom,

 full digital zoom.   All from the same place.

 Same here, regular,

 5x optical,

full digital zoom.  Could you even tell those were cows in that first one?  I have to say, the zoom is much better.  It would probably do great taking horse show pictures.  Can you tell I'm dreaming of the upcoming season?

Parking

I didn't even think about where the horse trailers would have to park in Pasadena for the Rose Parade. 

 With over 200 horses coming in for the parade they had to unload somewhere.

Our bus went over an overpass and there they were.  Who would have guessed that they would close down three lanes of the freeway.

Round Pen

We were able to buy some panels at an auction a couple of months ago. 

 My plan was to place them across the arena to make it easier to work Otoelene.

 I decided that that was still going to be too large to work her in properly.  So, I made them into just a 40 foot round pen.

 I worked her for the first time in it today.

 She did great.  She might be just a little lazy.  I have to keep after her to keep her from breaking.  She never once whinnied for the other horses and I was able to keep one end door open to help with the light.  We just got an estimate for water and electricity to the barn and it is as much as the entire plumbing and electrical, including all fixtures, for when we built our house 10 years ago.  I keep wanting to say, "It's just a barn!"

Anyway, so far so good with using the barn.  It was windy today but I didn't even notice it in there.  Very nice.

Rose Parade part 2

A few of my better float pictures. 

Rose Parade

Got back from California at 1:15 am Wednesday morning then to work by 8:00 am.  So, I'm just now able to say a little about the trip.  The parade was fabulous!  Our seats were great.   I'll share the horse entries first. 

 This was a mini drill team.  I was hoping for a demonstration but they just passed by in formation.

 The Medieval Times Tournament riders had spectacular costumes.

 The Spirit of the West Riders looked very authentic,

 as did the Calizona Appaloosa Horse Club.

 I imagine that if the Hermanos Banuelos Charro Team twirled their rope for 5 miles they were probably a little tired by the end.

 The Cowgirls Historical foundation sported vintage western wear of the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans era.

 The All American Chicks had 2 riders standing up for the whole time they were in sight.

 Then came the 100 palominos in honor of Roy Roger's 100th Birthday.

 The sight was truly spectacular. (even if one had to dismount because of a kicking fit)

I'll share some of the floats tomorrow.

Rose Parade

V, E and I are off the the Rose Parade for a week.  J will be holding down the farm but I'm sure not posting anything.  Hope to have some good pictures when we get back.