The Fair! 2013

 Move-in day at The Fair, 2013! Started bright and early with moving the hogs. Early is important. It isn't too hot, and isn't too crowded with trucks and trailers to be able to back up to the gates and move the hogs right in- without escaped hogs galloping all over the fairgrounds, or town.
Then, back home to collect sheep, ducks, chickens, and geese. In all, fairly easy move in this year, uneventful, delightful. Afternoon brought a new addition- a Queen Candidate in the Fair Royalty Contest. Eldest threw in her hat this year- her last in 4-H.

Eldest answers, eloquently, the question "What would you say to someone about the Pickaway County Fair who'd never attended?"

The 11 Queen Candidates, and the 2 King Candidates.




 

While the judges deliberated, the County Extension Agent for 4-H took the stage to award the "Heart H Award for Outstanding 4-H Girl". This is the top honor in county 4-H, given to the member who has stood out for their accomplishments in local, county and state 4-H achievements and contributions. Our extension agent, Joy, got choked up as she read the extensive resume of the recipient. And it was impressive. It became clear to me, as she detailed this person's 4-H career, that she was definitely reading about Eldest.
 

The King is crowned, the representative from our very own Saddle and Sirloin.

And, the Queen as well, from our ever-so accomplished club.

Eldest poses with her Heart H plaque.

The Royals.

Now time for the Fun Contest! Our club fielded 4 teams of 6 in the field games. Here, Youngest pair up with a youngster from another club to do a three legged relay.

Eldest and Sarah G. get in stride.

Eldest jumps through a hoop.

Toss those balloons!

"Egads! This is FUN!"


Most of all, I am appreciative of our older members who jump right in a play with the littles. Great role modeling, solid mentoring, fabulous kids.

 

The Whip goes on- Parade Season Begins!

 Parade season has begun in Ohio. And, as I have said before, we do love our parades. The High School Marching Band is compulsory if you want a great parade. This march about town was led by none other than our Youngest, holding up one side of the banner, and then conducted by Middlest in her first time starring as the Assistant Drum Major!

Youngest tries, valiantly, not to smile; but he's having the time of his life.

Middlest has a game face. She's on! And, there is NO SMILING in band.
:-)

Parades have old cars. Fancy and Keg optional.

Girls on cars. This is our very own 4-H'er Ashley P. Looking glam in blue.

Tractors. Can't have a parade without 'em.
And, it being our first time at the Commercial Point Fish Fry Days Parade, we were wondering why the spectators had mostly arranged themselves about 15 feet from the road. As the parade drew near, a few of us traveled to the curb- where you stand for a parade, natch?
Well, we found out why you don't stand on the curb for Commercial Point Fish Fry Days.

The trucks full of softball, baseball, cheer....well, teams, were armed and dangerous.

The Whip- Dressage and Show Jump Rally.

"The Whip"
On my way to work this week, I called my mother on the cell phone. This is the only time I seemed carved out that I can have a conversation with my mother. The best time to talk might be illegal, but I do put on the speaker phone, and sit the phone on my lap....
Anyway, I described how my life is right now with the analogy of "The Whip"; the childhood game that involves everyone joining hands and running around the center point, with the child in the middle staying in one place and the one on the end flying around until the grip is lost and the child is hurled into the air.

 This is the painting, by Winslow Homer, of the very game. But, like the other famous piece of art.....

Groundhog Day....

 

 







I seem to interminably be the one on the end in a repeatedly hurled state.

 

Thus, I will not share the everyday flying of my life, but some of the more exciting parts of the flight.

This past weekend, Middlest and I traveled north in the company of her teammates to compete in the Regional Pony Club Show Jumping and Dressage Rallies.

We bunked in a tent with a fellow Pony Clubber and her mom, great tent mates, they were, and although I could've spent quite a bit more time sleeping, the schedule did not allow.

Home, sweet home.

Friday night was cold, and the girls toasted marshmallows over my camp stove. But Saturday was beautiful!
Huz and Youngest left pre-dawn to travel up to the event and watch Middlest do her jumping rounds.

 This is the pair in the "neutral zone", an area where parents are allowed to fraternize a bit with the competitors!
The day starts out with a briefing for all the competitors, followed by a long day of working hard to make sure they are turned out spotlessly, their barn area is kept equally spotless and safe, and they ride to the best of their ability.

This is, I think, a hug.

7 am briefing. Horses fed, stalls clean, ready to start the day!!!

Nell and Middlest navigate the course, photos courtesy of fellow Pony Club Mom- Jennifer Hilaman. Her jobs were Chaperone and Photog, my job was Coach. Didn't have much time to pick up my camera, so I'm super-thankful to Jennifer!!

 

The two Hunters Run Pony Club teams did a great job all day, and were rewarded at the end with some pretty ribbons to commemorate the achievement.

 

 

 The extra blue ribbon in the photo is for the Equitation award- the top equitation rider on the course all day. Go KZ!!!!! We also had a third place Equitation rider and an Eighth. NICE.


Back to the tent to fall in and crash hard in preparation for another 5 am start the next morning for the Dressage competition.

First to come is the Formal Inspection, where each competitor is carefully judged on their turn-out. In this photo, team Stable Manager, McKenna, makes sure there isn't any dust on Middlest's boots. Also note that the straps on Middlest's dressage girth are not in their keepers- this she noticed and rectified before her turn-out judge spotted it. Good Save!

 Middlest finishes her Formal Inspection with no faults, and "exceeds the standard". A great start to the day.

More excellent photos of Middlest in her dressage tests, courtesy of Jennifer Hilaman. The resolution isn't as great as it is in reality, as I copied these off Facebook. So, FB friends, you have seen them already, in high-def!  Middlest rode Intro B and Intro C tests, the latter being her first dressage test with canter. She did a great job, and Nellie looked beautiful. She turned out the fifth highest score of the day in her canter test, scoring a 78. Wow. This is 78 points out of 100. An astronomical score!

 

The girls gathered for awards, late,late,late awards....and again were full of rewards.

 The first Hunters Run 3-man team bringing home a third in horse management and a second overall.

 And the other Hunters Run 3-man team bringing home the blue in Horse Management. This win rests largely on the shoulders of the Stable Manager- the one in charge of all things HM at the stable area. This team had a great one in McKenna, the petite blondie next to Middlest, who worked tirelessly all day. Top Notch Job!

 And consistent high scores garnered a third place finish overall for the team.

Extra individual awards were given for the stars of the Musical Freestyle competition, where a competitor designs a dressage test to music. Our team had two Musical Freestyle entrants, and the Training level winner was none other than our K.S.!

The first level and above competitors were judged against one another, making the competition fierce.

 

So, there was great excitement when our very own K. VW was announced as the winner!  

Amazing job, ladies. I was impressed by all our riders.

 

Love, "Coach".....

Graduation- The Big Day!

Graduation

Girl

Part 2!

 

For the brave that made it through the first Graduation blog, and are waiting for the pictures of the actual big day....

 

 

Middlest sat with the band to play the processional Pomp and Circumstance, the Teays Valley Alma Mater and the finale. (She is right of center in photo, in floral dress and sunglasses).

And the grads file in!

The Graduating Class of 2013.
The gentleman on the far left, in the cap clapping, is our neighbor and wonderful HS teacher- who is retiring this year. I am sad he won't ever teach Youngest, but both Eldest and Middlest managed to get in his class.

Eldest stands to be recognized for graduating with honors.

D'ya think she could find me in the stadium in my pink hat?

This is the photo op, with a great cardboard box background. Attention to detail, people!
 

Whoop!
 

Proud Papa. It took us about 15 minutes to get out of the stands and onto the field to find our Graduate. Worth it!
 

Nana and Opa with their first grandchild High School Graduate.

Best pals and sisters.

Me an' my gal. The photographer informed me that my face was in shadow because of the hat. Kinda the point.

The fam. Youngest looks like he is in pain, because he doesn't do into the sun; he is pained.  You can see the ominous clouds that danced around the ceremony, and dropped nary a drop while we were out there. And, you can see Huz is carrying a trendy vintage wicker bag in dandelion yellow with Lucite handles. It takes a real man to accessorize. (And, a wife who keeps handing him her purse.)

Eldest with friends.

This is what most of my pictures of Eldest look like with her friends all finding her for hugs and her family- and Mamarazzi- stuck high in the stadium, fortunately with a pretty killer telephoto lens.

Colorful girls!

And for a P.S.:
This is a photo from Eldest's camera of the Senior Top Ten Dinner in which they all invited the most influential faculty member of their career. This is Eldest with her chosen teacher- Smith. Thank you Smith for all the support, the demand for excellence and accountability, for choosing what you believe to be best for the band and the students, not always the easiest route.

And, walk safely my dearest daughter on the path you have chosen and the paths you have yet to choose.
I am so proud of you!