Ranches Cooking and Singing

         The Ranch Roundup, a thirty-year old fundraising effort by the North Texas Rehabilitation Center, includes almost, if not all, activities performed during the daily life of a ranch. Cowboys and other members of the ranches compete in the arena, in photography and other arts, and  . . .  cooking.

Some folks stand around in boots and spurs . . .

. . . or in boots and shorts.

In the background, a tarp protects the chuck wagon, while the cook watches his meal.

I decided that I, too, need boots, particularly jaunty boots. 

Dutch ovens sit in a row.

Taste test. 

Saddle straps fasten the barrel to the wagon.

Clint hopped underneath the tent, borrowed a fiddle, and sang, "Take Me Back to Oklahoma." (Hey!)

A handsome dog waited patiently for some of that good cooking . . . and for his master to untangle the leash. 

To and From Foxtrot Fourteen

I tagged along with MyMrMallory today, or rather, he tagged along with me to Marble Falls, serving as PIC (Pilot in Command). I sat in the right seat taking pictures of runways along the way.

Foxtrot 13 runway. See the amazing image Frances took here: FEK Photography

Graham (KRPH) Airport Runway 21.

Around Possum Kingdom Lake we spotted several airports, including a grass runway.

We flew over the private runway (19) at Quahadi Ranch. 

       Along the way we saw a few wind turbines. Guys, these turbines pollute our country air and damage our grasslands because they require specialized eighteen-wheelers to transport their massive parts to their location, roads to reach them, and more trucks to drive to them to maintain them. Think about that when you want of feel proud of your greeness. Plus, not only do the turbines kill birds and bats, they hurl chunks of ice at homes and people. In the meantime, when you are thinking green and feeling proud to subscribe to a wind turbine energy company, I, a country dweller, thank you a lot for making me choke in the fumes of the trucks. 

Burnett Airport (BMQ) near Marble Falls, TX.

An Air Evacuation Helicopter landed at Burnett to re-fuel. He landed so nimbly and confidently that I know think of him as the crotch-rocket of helicopter pilots. Wheelees? Sure! 

Runway 01 at Burnett and summer clouds that meant a bumpy flight returning to F14, bouncing from one thermal to another. But that's a part of flying during the summer season.

Tom Danaher Airport.

Wichita Valley Airport. (This photo would look less blurry if we hadn't bounced around so much in the thermals, but still, it shows the airport as it looks from the air.)

Propellers in the Background

"Bone" and Chris in their hangar.

Fred's airplane.

Bone watches a plane stopping in front of him. (Phew!)

Prelims at the Den of Sinners

       I begin my studies for the photography in a book about the stained glass windows at one of the local sinners' dens. I hope to discover and show the allusions in the Bible, and with any luck, meditations on the images by the head honcho there, who is a brilliant man; then I will bundle it up in a gorgeous-looking book to donate to them. The book might raise a little bit of money for them, but of more importance to me, it might educate the sinners who attend there, including some of the regular players in the weekly production who, one would think, would know, on what the images in the stained glass windows represent -- further than, duh, somethin' from, like, the Bible. ("Pretty, aren't they? I hadn't noticed until you pointed them out to me.") 

       It is my hope that the book will provide information about the windows and why they are there for the glory of God. If some do not understand what not to do in spite of Jesus Christ itemizing it in ten points, and the priest drumming it in to them every Sunday, surely they might understand the pictures? If they can't read, and if they can't hear, could they, would they . . . SEE? And if not, how dare they allow that fine fellow, Jesus of Nazareth, to die for nought? As the head honcho asked in his sermon this morning: "How serious are you about your faith?" And would deeper knowledge -- any knowledge at all -- about the windows serve as an inspiration to check on one's faith and relationship with God? 

Farms

Corn crop circles, each one mile in diameter.

Fifty wind turbines.

Tool Shop

I could spend hours in this shop finding angles for photographs. This shop serves one of the cattle ranches in Dumas.

El Matador

          In Dumas, in the Texan Panhandle, one can find some of the best food on Earth. Hunkering for home-made tortillas? Head for El Matador. The folks there know what to do with good tortillas. Nina, it happens, provides the tortillas that hold strips of chicken, perfectly seasoned and cooked, topped with other fresh ingredients, and served so hot it burns your fingers. Place a dollop of guacamole, if you like that, to embellish the taco. MyMrMallory said his enchilada tasted great, too.

Esfandiary Albany

        Oh, you might jump into your car, or motorcycle, or horse, and head for Albany, Texas, on a whim, for some good cooking. As I sat at the Beehive waiting for my Fort Griffin burger (hold the cheese), hordes of workers streamed through the door.
         I've always understood that large numbers of trucks parked outside a restaurant, or locals hanging around all day, or workers streaming in the door at noon determines inarguably the quality of the food and service at any restaurant, so, I beamed with expectation as I saw hungry people filing by my table.
        The waitress greeted the river of men coming in obviously accustomed to this happenstance every day at around noon. "How many ya got, boys?" One, covered in soil hat to boots, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Don' know. Twelve mayb," and then watched her expectantly, as if familiar with the routine here, ready for her instructions on where to sit, in the front room, where I sat, or in the back room with the deer heads. She commanded him to sit in the back room. She commanded everyone. She knew how to guide the flow. She knew they felt hungry and she knew she would serve good food to fill their bellies.

          This painting hanging above me seems to symbolize the restaurant: You need food and water, stop here, and dang, it's good to eat and drink after a long day's riding -- because you're hot and tired and because the food tastes good. 

          Here's the link to their website: http://www.fortgriffinandbeehive.com/index.html

Summer clouds in Texas along the way to Albany.

Hay in the sun.

Cows in the shade. 

Camels in North Texas

            Decades ago, Robert Hudson's liaisons flew to the outback of Australia, captured several camels, and shipped them to his ranch near Wichita Falls. One million dollars were made selling the offspring of these camels. His widow, an energetic and engaging woman whose love of camels has no end, continues to sell camels. The Museum of North Texas History hosted a lecture this afternoon on camels in North Texas.

This two-week old fellow greeted guests outside the MoNTH door.

In addition to looking beautiful, sensual, and soft, camel eyes have three eye lids. The three eye lids developed as protection to the eyeball from the powdery sands of the deserts. 

Robert Palmer gave a characteristically engaging lecture, this one on the history of camels in the United States, beginning in 1836, and then going into the later half of the Nineteenth Century.  

Leta encouraged the guests to enjoy drinking punch and mingling. 

Releasing a Killdeer

        Yesterday, Sunday, the Killdeer that had grown up at Wild Bird Rescue became a free bird. BirdManBob released her into the wind, but the Killdeer flew onto the grass. I was worried for a moment, but when the Killdeer began darting about the grass looking normal, and as she began chasing grasshoppers and other insects, I felt the familiar happiness of seeing a bird released back into nature. 

        Before releasing the Killdeer, BirdManBob held her against his shirt. I thought the background appropriate. It says, "Celebrate the Earth and Sky / Soar into the Wind / Let Your Spirit Fly." But the Killdeer seems to prefer to run around the grass and parking lots!

Summer Spiders

Jenny Flies Today

Larry reminded us that the Jenny, shown above with one of the volunteers, will fly today. 

Coco (below) approves.