"The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home." ~ Stephen F. Foster

                       

Today finds us scurrying around, preparing for our annual Kentucky Derby party. A number of years ago we decided that we wanted to throw an annual party, but we wanted to steer away from traditional holiday ones, and do something a bit different. Hence - The Kentucky Derby! We have had a lot fun with it over the years. Early on, elaborate (and funny) hats were the norm. These days, most folks forgo them, and today I will as well. And yes, we do sing "My Old Kentucky Home"!

Last year, when we purchased our Florida condo, we acquired some additional Derby party decorations. The condo came furnished (99% of which we did not keep). Along with the furnishings, several metal pieces were left behind, including the vase above (I think it's a vase, and it will have flowers in it later today) and the horse head statue below. The vase weighs about a thousand pounds - heaven only knows what it's made from. The horse-head is made of metal and wood. Much of the metal is rusted. It's huge!

The last couple of years have shown us that things change. Kids move away, parents downsize, we buy a condo and begin the plans to downsize ourselves. We have therefore decided that this Derby party will be our last. We would like to think that down the road we would stay a bit later in Florida, like possibly past the Kentucky Derby later. We don't know when that will happen, but it will.

We will have plenty of opportunity to gather with our friends, just not this party. I will have a supply of Kentucky Derby decorations if someone else would like to carry on the tradition! It's all good!