What a Happy Day

[Auld Manriva]

I woke to watch The Tournament of Roses Parade. Nothing cheers me more than Marching Bands and Equestrian Groups.. One Band was new to the Rose Parade. They were The Liberty High School Grenadier Band from Bethlehem PA. These kids are amazing! Have a listen to Scotland The Brave Black Bear. The only high school in America with PIPES! I had tears in my eyes... There was The Salvation Army Rose Parade Band and this year for the first time they visited from Wales! The US Marine Band was there too of course and as a Marine brat (admittedly many years ago) my heart was in my throat.

 

The Charros and USMC Equestrian Squadron (who train and ride their own American Mustang horses) were but two of the Horse riding groups..

 

But the kicker (and I'm not a big "kids are cute" fan) were the faces of little rugrats in the stands when a HUGE float with a 40 foot tall Big Bird from Sesame Street rolled past... I was kaphlempt for two flamin hours watching this thing.

 

Even better than that I watched three football games at once. No one here but me! And then tonight after Miznean got home we watched the New Years performance on PBS of The Vienna Philharmonic with Daniel Barenboim conducting.. Haydn and Strauss and The Blue Danube! Oh My!!

[Mayleigh Aes Sedai]

Awh manny I'm so happy that you had such a good day!! I would have liked to have seen the big bird float!

[Auld Manriva]

Let's see what we can do about that...

 

 

OK, wasn't quite as tall as I remember (lol) but me and the little kids thought it was gigantic!

 

May sugar.. Not sure if you know but all Rose Parade floats are covered in naturally colored organic materials (except for costumes and in some cases even those), flowers, petals, seeds (even mustard seed), citrus peel, seaweed etc... every visible surface must be such material.

 

This one won The Sweepstakes Trophy for "most beautiful entry with outstanding floral use".

 

 

And this one won a trophy for the most beautiful non-commercial float, "Bollywood Dreams," made by volunteers in the City of Sierra Madre, CA

 

 

Oh.. and here's Mateys' little buddies, Twinnie and Tay might appreciate this as they remember Matey pulling a cart when I first showed up.

 

The Dunkin Acres Miniature Donkey Six Hitch (their carriage was draped in flowers for the parade)

[UrsulaLV]

My New Year's Day morning is always in front of the TV watching the parade. 

 

I loved the Bollywood float.  The inventiveness of some is amazing.  The flowers are beautiful.  I LOVE the horses.  I usually leave it on most of the day, since we have a station in L.A. that shows it continuously, all day. :)

 

 

[Mayleigh Aes Sedai]

Oh their amayzing!! we have notting like that over here! *sigh*

Thanks for the pics hon!

[Jaydena]

LOL I watched it three times, it was an amazing parade. I loved the floats and the bands. The opening was great as well, I loved the dancers.

[twinflower]

LOL  BIll and I always watch the New YEars parade and have waffles for the celebration!  LOL and if a band is on when bill is cooking bacon it's going to be crispy!!

 

I loved big bird too manny!  *grins*  may every feather was made individually to give BB that puffy look!  Every individual one covered with flowers!  I gotta say I loved the robot guy at the beginning!  He was pretty impressive raising up so high!!!

 

LOL thought of you pirate love when i saw the six horse mule hitch!!  But..did you see my Fresians dancing down the street?  They were beautiful!!

 

I must admit my favortie float was the Camelot  Knights Tale one.  The king and queen looked REAL!  skin tones and the gown looked like gossamer and silk!  from flowers!  I would love to design these!

[Auld Manriva]

I posted some of the equestrian groups pics at The Bands offsite Twin. And a video from the parade of The Liberty High School Grenadiers.. Which I suppose I could do here if no one objects...

 

[Samuraiflip05]

Hmmm, I missed the festivities this year.  I worked third shift New Years Eve and slept in the next day.  :-\

 

Looks like it was a good one though.

[twinflower]

psst..I'm not part of the bands offsite anymore...

 

Thanks for that!  i LOVED that band!!  I think that is one of our favortie parts..there was another really good one this year..can't remember thier names...dang!  Hey did you see the band with the really funky helmets that looked like bird beaks?  Holy Cow!  I would have hated that uniform..