For the Season's Giving Blog Hop, click HERE.
In an earlier blog post, I mentioned we were at the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, and that my Father-in-law (Frank Leyendekker) and Brother-in-law (Gerben Leyendekker) were pulling the Grand Marshall (Jane Goodall), and the Valley Hunt Club President using Leyendekker Friesians and my Father-in-Law's carriages. For a little background on how my Father-in-law brought registered Friesians to America, click HERE.
Here are a few pictures I took while getting ready for the parade.
Keeping the horses warm while getting them ready for the parade. We brought 9.
My Father-in-law's carriage all decorated for the Grand Marshall (Jane Goodall). Notice the monkey topiaries?
My Father-in-law, Frank Leyendekker, and Jane Goodall
Jane was so gracious. She took the time to introduce herself to my Father-in-law, the footmen and helpers, and even the horses.
Here she is meeting one of the horses along with the footman Jose.
This is my daughter's horse Abe (pronounced Aba). I'm sorry, I don't know the name of the rider.
The Valley Hunt Club President and his family. The driver is my Brother-in-law Gerben, and my nephew Frank is the footman holding one of the horses.
Here are a few of the floats up close.
Being farmers, of course I had to include a tractor. :)
Notice the amazing seed work.
See the mushrooms on the shell?
LOVE the spines on the puffer fish.
These military men were lowered to fit under certain areas of the parade. They appear to be trudging forward here. A wonderful representation of our nations heros.
I love the creative use of flowers on this float!
These are some close up shots of the flowers on my FIL's carriage.
They even decorated the back of the carriage.
The large orange and white flower looks and feels like q-tips. This arrangement actually made its way to my house. :)
You can see the tufted velvet carriage seat here.
That's it for the photos. There's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes getting things ready for the parade. It takes a lot of hands and patience. But the result is worth it. Hope you enjoyed some of the highlights.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope your New Year is off to a fabulous start!!
47 comments:
stunning and wonderful, thank you for sharing!
Wow!!! Thanks for sharing these gorgeous photos!!! The horses are absolutely amazing....thanks for sharing the history too....very cool!!!
Grew up in So California and looked forward each New Year's Day to see the Rose Parade. Your pictures are absolutely beautiful; thanks so much for sharing!
What a thrill to see our pics and read your story about the parade! I've always wanted to see the floats up close and your pics are fabulous! The horses are beautiful and I appreciate yours sharing some background info.! thanks!
Oh my goodness--love those pictures. Went to the Rose Parade years ago when we lived in S Ca. You have gorgeous pictures and loved the carriage and the horses!
Thanks for the pictures from the Rose Parade. I'm always in awe of the floats on TV and the Rose Parade is on my bucket list, but it was really great to see the close-up pictures that you took. Happy New Year and thanks for all your creations throughout the year.
Great pictures, Tosh! I can just imagine how much behind the scenes work goes on to get this all ready!! Jane Goodall looks amazing and I just LOVE that turtle!! Gorgeous horses too! TFS the pics :)
You Just made my year!!!!
Thank you so much!!!!!!
~BJ
Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! Thank you Tosh for the little tour - loved it ALL!!! Since I am not a horse person...please tell me what at 'FIL' is???
Paper Hugs,
Jan
Stunningly beautiful. You never see the floats this close up on TV. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful, thanks for sharing your photos.
Lovely photos...how exciting! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures, just amazing!!!!
It just dawned on me that FIL you are referring to is 'father-in-law'....so silly of me not to have realized that...I was thinking horses! Sorry Tosh...hope you get a laugh from it!
Paper Hugs,
Jan
What a great story and lovely pictures! Thanks for sharing this Tosh! Happy New Year!
Tosha, this is SO COOL! What an amazing opportunity to be there and to have a family connection :o)
Thank you so much for sharing these photos! It would be a dream to me to get to see them or work on a float personally! These are great photos. And how cool to be honoring Jane Goodall.
Thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures. I'm off to read the story of how your FIL brought the horses to this country.
WOW, absolutely amazing. Great photos and a lovely story.
Looking forward to your postings in 2013. Happy New Year !!
thank you for sharing, so exciting. a lovely family memory.
These photos would have to be the most beautiful things I have seen! I was born in Holland and love flowers. They are not so plentiful/affordable here in Australia where I live now. We used to have a beautiful flower display in the first week in Spring in an Adelaide Department store but they haven't done that for years. This would be fantastic to see! Thanks for sharing.
I really enjoyed the pictures. Thank you for sharing. Lucky you to have that arrangement in your house.
Tosh, thanks so much for sharing your up close and personal look at the Rose parade! How fascinating a story about your FIL!! Thanks for sharing your story and pictures!!
Beautiful photographs. Thanks so much for posting them.
Beautiful photos and the horses are so regal!! I just love their beauty!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Oh Tosh your photos are STUNNING ... thanks SO MUCH for sharing them with all of us! What an honor to be a part of this monumental parade ... how proud you must be of your family!
HUGS from OHIO!
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
What a wonderful surprise to open your blog and be taken on a field trip! Thank you, thank you!
Beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing!!
I missed the parade this year :( So I appreciate you sharing your special part of it with us! The horses are beautiful! What a great thing to be a part of!
I have always wanted to see the Rose Parade! Thanks for these photos. How beautiful!
Lovely photos of your families beautiful horses and carriages. What a wonderful privilage :) I have been to the parade twice and having been raised in the florist business appreciate the amazingly creative uses of all the plant materials and beautiful flowers. Love that tractor!
Sad that I missed seeing this on television. Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures!!
OMG Tosh, I didn't know you came from a horse farm too! I just thought dairy. How exciting with the Friesian! Your pictures are amazing and how much fun to be so up close and personal with the parade. Someday I'd love to tour your place and see the Friesians up close and personal. What a cool bit of history.
How exciting! Those horses and carriage caught my eye BOTH times I watched the parade. Your photography is amazing Tosh, thanks for sharing!
Wow, Tosh, I was at the parade, too! The day before the parade, we went to the float decorating tents and when I saw Leyendekker on the info sign for the Grand Marshall carriage, I was wondering if that was your family! I took a picture of the sign, so I can't wait to go back and read it again and also go read your post about the Friesians. LOVE your pictures. They're so behind-the-scenes up-close and personal! Amazing!
Wish I could have hooked up with you even for just a second to give you a big hug! Miss you!
Coolest pics ever! How awesome to see it up close and personal...and have a family member leading the parade, WOW! That carriage is amazing!
Thanks for sharing the photos, I really enjoyed seeing them!
Beautiful photos and inside look at the parade! Thank you!
Very interesting information. And the family being part of the history of the Rose Parade is what I enjoyed reading the most. I love the family traditions.
what fantastic photos!! Looks like you all had a wonderful time at the parade!! I read the info on your horses, and it is quite interesting!! What a great thing your FIL has achieved! Do you show the horses in any other parades? I'm here in Northern Calif, so if they ever are here close I'd love to see them. Have a great week!! Hugs from Helen in Healdsburg
wow...This is neat. I think this is awesome to make floats like this. They are so Beautiful. And what a chance to meet Jane. That must have been exciting. I know it would have for me since I worked with Chimpanzees for 12 years. Jane is amazing and such a wonderful lady.
Beautiful photos! Thanks so much for sharing!
Wow Tosh - how beautiful!! I've never seen a parade float up close like this before - it's truly an awesome site.
Hugs,
Audrey
This is my favorite annual parade and I really enjoyed your photos and up close and personal descriptions! Thanks for sharing, Tosh!
Mahalo for sharing photos and an insider's view of the Rose Bowl Parade. Love the creative use of flora and seeds, TV just doesn't show the detail in their hurried coverage. Your family's horses are amazing, as is their story.
We commented about the horses as we watched the parade. So Beautiful. Awsome story!
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