Ranch Hand Breakfast 2010

Each November, the King Ranch holds an annual breakfast that they allow the public to enjoy. They hold it on the King Ranch at the arena.

Each year the head count grows and grows.

You stand in line, and volunteers from the community serve your breakfast, you grab an orange juice from a feeding trough, you find a hay bail to sit on and you chow down on eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy and bacon. Yummy!

There is so much going on at once. Different tables and booths - well, not booths really more like old fashioned wagons - offering a myriad of thing to enjoy. There was a demonstration on how a horse blanket was woven, there was education on the different types of guns that were used in the "old west". And, what I love, REAL VAQUEROS!

Vaqueros=cowboys.

These two young men are probably some of the oldest living today. I grew up seeing them around town. I knew they were cowboys. Not sure how I knew - just did.

At the different wagons were different freshly made "cowboy" foods such a camp bread, or Pan de Campo. If you've never tasted pan de campo. you are missing out. It is SO GOOD. It is very simple. It is sort of like a cross between biscuits and tortillas. But, freshly made off the griddle they are wonderful!

At this particular wagon, this family was making fresh biscuits, peach cobbler and apple crisp - ALL IN DUTCH OVENS. OH MY! It was so wonderful and tasty.

Fresh coffee...for those who drink it. I heard it was delicious.

Then there was this kind gentleman. He let me snap away as he rolled biscuits while his lovely wife served peach cobbler to everyone.

We got to carrying on a conversation when I asked, "So, what's your name?"

He looked up from what he was doing and quite seriously said, "________ Ellis" (I don't remember his first name - sorry!)

Here are the biscuits - yummy!

While this was going on, there was roping in the arena.

I just had to snap this beauty. 1946 Dodge Fire Truck - the King Ranch had it's own (not sure if they still do or not).

We went with our friends, Jared and Kiersten and their three small children and naturally they didn't want a photo - they wanted to run around and play.

They also had a band - I took this picture only because I wanted to remember the song they were playing, which was "Pancho and Lefty" by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. It reminded me of Samuel. And I got all swelled up inside.

As we were leaving, I finally got to see a couple of these beauties. Oh, do I LOVE horses. I don't ride them often at all, but I have a few times and it's a wonderful feeling.

I asked this kind man if I could get near. He was apprehensive. At first he said no. He started to explain. But I already knew why. The King Ranch is very particular about the treatment of their animals. But then he said, "go ahead but don't let anyone see you." So I did. I approached with care.

All in all a really great time. I was glad Jared and Kiesrten and Co. were able to join.