A day on a Texan ranch

The reality of stereotypes can be an interesting animal. Sometimes they're scarily accurate, other times they are simply divisive. I think they're generally pointless, accurate or not. I believe people should be judged based on their current actions and motives, but that's just me.

Now, when we began the process of moving to Texas everyone's stereotype game was strong. I'm telling you, if I saw one more cactus emoji I would have burst. We told people we were moving to Austin. Austin. A big city with a skyline and a music scene, not a tiny town with tumbleweeds and fields of cacti. My neighborhood has one cactus. One solitary plant.  

I know that Texas is a big state, and I know that there are lots of cacti. Last Saturday I got to experience a new little slice of Texas at Rancho Cortez in Bandera, located on Hay Hollar road, no less. 

Honestly when mom expressed interest going to a dude ranch, I wasn't quite feeling it. I had braced myself for a cheese faux cowboy environment with stupid cheesy signs. 

My expectations were surpassed in ways I didn't expect. 

Alex Cortez, the owner of the ranch, is pretty Texan as they come. Wrangler wearing, risk taking, respect demanding, cigarette smoking older man. He and his son and staff were immensely kind and helpful. 

His ranch is authentic and functioning, and they began opening it more to the public when the recession hit.

Anyway, all this to say that this was stereotypical in ways I hadn't anticipated, but it was good stuff, let me tell you. 

I think I'd to call this one "Rural horse meets suburban dad"

And this, this is the 21st century.

This burro is so gorgeous it's redonkulous.

There was a game room that we enjoyed. This Foosball table looked like an army of Darth Vaders and a bunch of stormtroopers. So basically a dark side intramural soccer match?

This was as cheesy as the signage got, and even this is pretty fun.

We went for a trail ride and this beauty was my buddy. We meandered along the gentle inclines and through the groves of trees.

This dude is a ranch pet and gets to come and go as he pleases. He's also an experienced clothing model, obviously.

We had the opportunity to try our hand at lassoing, but I was basically a pro, and thus this picture doesn't really show how difficult lassoing is.

But this one probably does. Bless my mom's heart, she just couldn't figure it out. Alex tried and tried to help her, but mom's wrist just couldn't quite get it right. The whole situation had me on the ground laughing. Mom was so enthusiastic each time, that this would be the time, but no dice. Alex's comments just compounded the hilarity, one my favorite being "Ma'am, if you keep carrying on like that you're going to take off like a damn helicopter." Oh, it was priceless. She's just so good at everything, except lassoing, that is.

We were then set to take these draft horses to feed the cows. I was instructed to drive the team, which was an experience, to say the least. (It's not like I would tell yall that the elementary school Little House on the Prairie enthusiast in me came out and was a bit giddy)

So then mom and I ended up riding these horses?

And turning around? Yeah it was an adventure. Almost felt like being in the circus. It was definitely outside of my comfort zone. That isn't somewhere I often hang out so I think of it as a positive experience, even though in the moment I was pretty uncomfortable.

These cows were totally worth it though.

I mean, really. #modelstatus

Horses are such magnificent creatures. They posess all this power but yet they must barely wiggle their lips in your presence. They seem to be intelligent and perceptive. I'd love to know what is happening behind those big eyes of theirs.

This beautiful (or bluetiful) blue eyed horse.

Look at those icy eyes, ready to stare past all your facades and into the real you.

When we first arrived at the ranch it all looked dry and unloving, but sometimes I feel like you've got to find the beauty in the details. Do you see all the patterns in the flower? The serrated edge to the petals, the star shaped inner bit? I'll be hard pressed to find an instance when intricate beauty won't amaze me.

Everything seemed to change at sunset.

We got a nice warm fire going and listened to stories and made excellent smores.

The stars were immensely bright and vast, so I chose to try my hand at some night sky photography. This isn't the best shot ever, but I believe it's a solid foray into such a fun genre of photography.

I'm increasingly feeling like that there really are life lessons to be embraced everywhere, and this day at the ranch taught me some things I'm not sure I would have gained otherwise. Everyone's lifestyles are drastically different, so I think it's cool to expose onesself to diversity.

Anyhoo.

Horses. Sunsets. Stars.

Good stuff, like I promised.