KING’S RANCH PART I
We had a fantastic time at the Ranch Breakfast yesterday. It was almost perfect. Tho, it would have been better if the sun would have been shining! It was overcast all day, and quite cool. I went dressed for a chilly morning; even took a jacket with me, tho it was in the high 40′s. ALL day, cloudy and cool. We got rain once we arrived back home, but at the breakfast, we stayed dry. We left home shortly after 6:30 a.m. It was early, I know, but I don’t like driving at night much, so I tend to drive much slower. And we took the highway to Alice and Robstown before hitting the highway to Kingsville because it’s lighted much more. The back way would have been way too dark for me. LOL
Once we got to Robstown, we hit highway 77 and headed southwest into Kingsville. Luckily, after we hit the ranch land, the gates were opened and they were welcoming only a few. [By the time we left around 10:30 or so, it was still jammed packed, and where we parked at the time we got there --four rows of cars, but as we were getting in the car to leave, the entire field was filled with cars...no doubt about 100 rows of cars and people still driving in!!!
Bud and I have gone to the ranch's museum on the land itself a few times. And we've taken the bus tour that they have available at a cost where they take you into the more 'secret' areas, like the cotton wagon rutted road where Richard King smuggled cotton to the waiting Mexican ships on the Gulf during the Civil War. Of course the tour guide tells you a lot more of the local area of the ranch and stuff like that, that you don't read in history books. Things you don't see when you're invited into the ranch for the annual cowboy breakfast.
Okay, so once we arrived, they had shuttles [wagons on tractors] to take you to the area where the place is set up outdoors. [And by the way Pea, yes the cowboys were SO CUTE directing traffic in the field where we had to park...the one especially showing me where to park the car...cowboy hat, sitting tall in the saddle...and calling me Ma'am!!! Whoa, boy...so virle, so handsome....so YOUNG! LOL] Bud and I walked the distance so we could ‘scout out the place’. While walking, we saw for what the ranch is famous! The Texas Longhorns. I love this breed!!!! I was hoping the brindle marked steer behind the spotted one would have paid attention to me and looked toward me….his horns were MUCH longer. He was not at all cooperative.
I would so love to have a tanned hide from one of these beautiful creatures!! Have you ever felt their hair under your bare feet? Trust me, it’s smooth, silky and oh so nice and cool! Some day, Anni….some day! We actually HAD one that we had tanned and made into a rug, but believe it or not, it was stolen from our home!!! [I have a photo of it with Irene...I'll have to scan that some day]
With our tickets in our hands, we got in line…as I said there weren’t that many there yet, maybe about 300 or so people meandering around, along with some girls with coffee pots! That pleased Bud. He’s the coffee drinker. We got up to the ‘chow line’ and they dished up the grub!!! Sausages, beans, eggs, biscuits with sausage/cream gravy, and tortillas. There was orange juice served also. [The only thing that wasn't more or less 'authentic' was the plastic dinnerware and the paper plates.] There were upright ‘tables’ at which you stand, just like the ranch workers do…OR straw bales!! So rustic, and so fun actually.
By the way, the cost of the meal is all donated to a children’s charity. Food is either raised on the ranch or donated by the local grocery chain.
See what was beside me on one of the straw bales? LOL…meet “Freckles”. No, it’s not mine. A cute little girl had this with her while she was eating her breakfast. She introduced me to her best friend. Her mother told me that her daughter got that at the ranch’s visitor’s center a while back and has never parted with it. I just had to add this photo.
While I was taking a photo of Freckles the young girl was so interested in seeing her pony on my cellphone that she asked if she could try it. Of course, I had to show her how and let her take a photo of me while she was standing on a stack of straw bales…she was thrilled and all giggly from being allowed to use the camera. I think she was probably about 5 or 6 years old. She followed my directions well. Such a sweetie!! [the little girl, not the old hag on the straw bale]
Now, to keep the post from getting out of hand…way too long, I will break this up into three posts. [I took about 30 photos!]. Tomorrow or real soon, I’ll post the ‘entertainment’ part in part two. Part three will be some of the ranch itself that I stopped and took pictures of as we drove out. So, stay tuned to the next installment….
RANCH HAND BREAKFAST FACTS
People served: Typically more than 4,000
Food served:
15,000 eggs
550 pounds sausage
5,000 biscuits
100 gallons of cream gravy
4,000 flour tortillas
350 pounds refried beans
25 gallons of hot sauce
185 gallons orange juice
150 gallons of coffee
Source: King Ranch
Play along with your subconscious; Sunday’s Word Association.
Join here.
I say … and you think … ?
1. Spit it out :: Talk to me!!!
2. Shadow :: of your Smile [song]
3. Database :: computer info
4. Expression :: feeling – emoticons
5. Boss :: Hogg [TV - Dukes of Hazard]
6. Baby :: face Nelson [famous criminal]
7. Mystic :: River [good book, good movie!]
8. Kate :: biography [about Katherine Hepburn]
9. Boobies :: LOLOLOL —titties I guess.
10. Raid :: Kills bugs dead! [an old commercial]
