 |
| Posters are in all the Kingsville, Texas shop windows. This one was spotted at the King Ranch Saddle Shop |
 |
| Other activities are 'happening' in the town as well as on the ranch grounds. |
 |
| We arrived bright and early, just as the sun was rising over the landscape. It was a beautiful day, a little on the cool side but perfect weather for this outing. |
 |
| We have our ticket--what a great price for a full ranch hand breakfast! |
 |
| Tents are up and volunteers are waiting to serve a delicious breakfast to the waiting. |
 |
| Hubby and grandson chow down on fresh made tortillas, scrambled eggs, refried beans, sausage, biscuits, gravy and OJ. There was lots of coffee too! |
 |
| Grandson Josh wasn't too eager to get out bed early but he was enjoying this feast on a cool morning. In the background, you can see the arena for roping competition. |
 |
| Our first stop was to visit with cowboy as he branded the King Ranch ranch hand aprons. |
 |
| The brand was the running "W" with an added date of 2012. This guy was quite a character and gave us a good cowboy poems. |
 |
| Moving on, we stopped at this chuck wagon and talked to the cowhands as they prepared their breakfast over the open fire. |
 |
| Yummy! nopales (cactus pads) with scrambled eggs with little chili powder for seasoning |
 |
| And to fold into your fresh flour tortilla--calf fries! and refried beans! |
 |
| Their dutch ovens are hot now and being greased ready for the baking of bread--we'll come back later for that taste. |
 |
| Hay bales supply seating arrangement for the music tent. |
 |
| Sorry to say I didn't catch the name of this band, but did hear that they had won a Grammy for one of their recordings. The far musician is playing a washtub! |
 |
| We visit the arena for team roping but first there is a tribute to our country and state with the posting of the flags, a prayer and National anthem. Team roping consisted of three riders--header, heeler and then one rider who, after the calf is roped, jumps off his horse to hog tie the calf. They have three minutes to complete this process. All the competitors were ranch hands and the stands were filled with family members cheering them on! We sat with three generations, all who had been born and raised on King Ranch. |
 |
| A display of eating utensils and books about Western life and King Ranch life |
 |
| And what ranch would be complete without guns? |
 |
| Another chuck wagon group, Come and Get It, proudly displayed their wagon and flag |
 |
| Fresh hot coffee perking on the fire. It is pride for these chuck wagon competitors to have the best display |
 |
| On the front of the wagon yoke rests the bridles and harnesses for the horse team that pulled the wagon |
 |
| Their wagon was nicely decked out with all necessary supplies needed for the meals to be prepared. |
 |
| Even a coffee grind |
 |
| Parts of the wagon use feed sacks for their cabinet closures |
 |
| And when we see a weaver we must stop and visit. |
 |
| This is Robert with Robert's Handwoven Art. Robert who lives in Kingsville makes custom saddle blankets. |
 |
| His father and grandfather were weavers in Mexico and all of his designs are his own. He said his father's designs are his father's designs |
 | ||||||
His saddle blankets feature the running W brand symbolizing King Ranch.
|
.
