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03-20-2009, 02:38 PM
Sunrise Roundup
At The Carrizozo Cowboy Days Celebration
The Bar W Ranch, Carrizozo, New Mexico
By Roland Castor
<center><table border=0 align=center><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>Cowboy working the herd at dawn...</font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/cowboy_sunset.jpg border=1 align=center vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="Cowboy working the herd at dawn..."></td></tr></table></center>
<table border=0 align=right><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>Antique photo of cowboys ropin' a cow...</font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/historyCowboys.jpg border=1 align=right vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="Antique photo of cowboys ropin' a cow..."></td></tr></table>Carrizozo, NM - As we stand marveling at the breathtaking pinks and blues in the sky, the sun rises quickly over Bald Peak chasing the shadows of night away from the trail. Behind us, some 3 or 4 miles away, the cowhands have saddled their horses and started moving the cattle toward the holding pens.
Crowds of onlookers, holding mugs of steaming cowboy coffee, wait expectantly near the cattle pens. A cowboy minstrel strums his guitar and sings "Drifting along with a tumblin' tumbleweed..."
Hot buttermilk biscuits, (I know,..... they used to eat Sour Dough biscuits,..... maybe next year), are heaped on the serving table beside the 10 gallon kettle of hot, sausage gravy made from a secret recipe known only by 2 ranch girls and 5 dearly departed cowboy cooks.
The tranquil morning setting is blanketed by a deep blue, cloudless sky that knows no end. The horizon shows a few mountain peaks in the distance before it travels on into space.
Time stands still as we gaze westward for our first glimpse of cattle, cowboys and horses. The stillness of the moment has possessed us and one begins to wish it would never end. The world we left seems centuries away or maybe nothing more that an illusion.
Then someone calls out..................... "Here they come!" The moment is so poignant that many reach up to wipe tears of emotion from their eyes. Hearts quicken their beat and many hold their breath.
<table border=0 align=left width=415><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>Old painting of cattle drive into western town...</font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/CattleDriveStreet.jpg border=1 align=right vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="Old painting of cattle drive into western town..."></td></tr></table>All faces turn to the west, Excited people climb to the top rail for a better view, mothers bend to whisper to their children "Look at this, Look at that...", husbands squeeze their wives hands as they smile to one another sharing a moment of thrill that will quickly pass but never be forgotten. A calf darts here, a cowboy races after him, another rider slaps his coiled lasso against his leggin's and shouts: "HEE YAHH!"
The movement is a symphony in motion, a ballet of riders dashing from place to place, ever keeping the herd together and headed to the pens. Now we can hear the lowing as momas call to their little ones to "keep up".
And then they are here, amidst shouts of "move along doggies", "hee-yaa" All five hundred head, driven into the corrals. Clouds of trail dust move over us. The mooing and bawling is overwhelming and reaches deep within each person, holding us spellbound, our eyes transfixed on the surging mass of cattle. The moment blazes into our hearts and gives rise to the burning sensation in our throats as we are quickly moved to an overwhelming emotion that sends tears running down our cheeks.
This is the West! ........................... Long May It Live..............
<hr width=50% bgcolor=black height=2 align=center>
You are personally invited to attend the second Carrizozo Cowboy Days celebration on June 12 and 13, 2009. The Carrizozo Cowboy Days committee has worked for over a year to present to the public a Cowboy celebration that honors the cowboy, preserves the heritage, and offers a taste of the “Old West” with a balance of fun and entertainment.
There'll be a Ranch Rodeo, Parade, Stage Show, Cattle Drive, Kid’s Rodeo, Cowboy Dance, and a big shoot out on the streets of “Ole Carrizozo”. For more information or space reservations call Fran at 575-973-0571 or visit: www.carrizozocowboydays.org (http://www.carrizozocowboydays.org/)
The friendly folks of Carrizozo are lookin' forward to seeing you there. Y'all come now... Hear?
At The Carrizozo Cowboy Days Celebration
The Bar W Ranch, Carrizozo, New Mexico
By Roland Castor
<center><table border=0 align=center><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>Cowboy working the herd at dawn...</font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/cowboy_sunset.jpg border=1 align=center vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="Cowboy working the herd at dawn..."></td></tr></table></center>
<table border=0 align=right><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>Antique photo of cowboys ropin' a cow...</font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/historyCowboys.jpg border=1 align=right vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="Antique photo of cowboys ropin' a cow..."></td></tr></table>Carrizozo, NM - As we stand marveling at the breathtaking pinks and blues in the sky, the sun rises quickly over Bald Peak chasing the shadows of night away from the trail. Behind us, some 3 or 4 miles away, the cowhands have saddled their horses and started moving the cattle toward the holding pens.
Crowds of onlookers, holding mugs of steaming cowboy coffee, wait expectantly near the cattle pens. A cowboy minstrel strums his guitar and sings "Drifting along with a tumblin' tumbleweed..."
Hot buttermilk biscuits, (I know,..... they used to eat Sour Dough biscuits,..... maybe next year), are heaped on the serving table beside the 10 gallon kettle of hot, sausage gravy made from a secret recipe known only by 2 ranch girls and 5 dearly departed cowboy cooks.
The tranquil morning setting is blanketed by a deep blue, cloudless sky that knows no end. The horizon shows a few mountain peaks in the distance before it travels on into space.
Time stands still as we gaze westward for our first glimpse of cattle, cowboys and horses. The stillness of the moment has possessed us and one begins to wish it would never end. The world we left seems centuries away or maybe nothing more that an illusion.
Then someone calls out..................... "Here they come!" The moment is so poignant that many reach up to wipe tears of emotion from their eyes. Hearts quicken their beat and many hold their breath.
<table border=0 align=left width=415><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>Old painting of cattle drive into western town...</font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/CattleDriveStreet.jpg border=1 align=right vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="Old painting of cattle drive into western town..."></td></tr></table>All faces turn to the west, Excited people climb to the top rail for a better view, mothers bend to whisper to their children "Look at this, Look at that...", husbands squeeze their wives hands as they smile to one another sharing a moment of thrill that will quickly pass but never be forgotten. A calf darts here, a cowboy races after him, another rider slaps his coiled lasso against his leggin's and shouts: "HEE YAHH!"
The movement is a symphony in motion, a ballet of riders dashing from place to place, ever keeping the herd together and headed to the pens. Now we can hear the lowing as momas call to their little ones to "keep up".
And then they are here, amidst shouts of "move along doggies", "hee-yaa" All five hundred head, driven into the corrals. Clouds of trail dust move over us. The mooing and bawling is overwhelming and reaches deep within each person, holding us spellbound, our eyes transfixed on the surging mass of cattle. The moment blazes into our hearts and gives rise to the burning sensation in our throats as we are quickly moved to an overwhelming emotion that sends tears running down our cheeks.
This is the West! ........................... Long May It Live..............
<hr width=50% bgcolor=black height=2 align=center>
You are personally invited to attend the second Carrizozo Cowboy Days celebration on June 12 and 13, 2009. The Carrizozo Cowboy Days committee has worked for over a year to present to the public a Cowboy celebration that honors the cowboy, preserves the heritage, and offers a taste of the “Old West” with a balance of fun and entertainment.
There'll be a Ranch Rodeo, Parade, Stage Show, Cattle Drive, Kid’s Rodeo, Cowboy Dance, and a big shoot out on the streets of “Ole Carrizozo”. For more information or space reservations call Fran at 575-973-0571 or visit: www.carrizozocowboydays.org (http://www.carrizozocowboydays.org/)
The friendly folks of Carrizozo are lookin' forward to seeing you there. Y'all come now... Hear?