Round Up Week '09

I think I shall start this blog posting by backing up in time just a few years. Actually I will backup to September 9, 2001 - Round Up Sunday. It was a beautiful afternoon, we had lots of family and friends around Kittee and I when we went to the Breaks of the So. Fork Walla Walla River. There we did our "I do's." Since that time we have seen allot of comings and goings of family, friends and horses. We have had some very good times together with all.

This year we had a bit of a conflict with schedules on our September 9th anniversary date, so as we have a few times in the past, we declared Round Up Sunday to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

This year we again had a most beautiful day to head for the Breaks of the So. Fork and celebrate our day of eight years ago.

After having our berry hot cake and sausage breakfast, we proceeded out to the barn and pastures and visited with and fed / watered the herd. Then as the morning was getting quite warm, we loaded the car, went to town for some hard bread, cheese, and grapes. We were given a bottle of champagne by a friend earlier in the week. After getting our needs, we headed for the hills. It was a most pleasant ride heading up Hwy 204 and then riding through the forest out to the breaks. There we grabbed our "stuff" and headed out to the rock near where we were married. Really nothing has changed, as we hope it will always remain the same... for us.

We laid out our comforter over what appeared some very bumpy ground that was covered with hardened elk hoof prints. We popped our bottle of champagne and proceed to toast, relax and enjoy our day basking under the sun, with a cool breeze blowing over us. Here it was most comfortable with the breeze, as in the valley this day it was to be in the mid-90's.

This was pretty neat, being back in this place, laying out under the blue, blue skies with a great view of the Walla Walla, Snake, and Columbia River(s) valleys at our feet and hawk flying, screaming over our heads.

We spent about 3 hours at our wedding site this day and then decided to head back to the ranch for an afternoon of refreshment and relaxation with the herds. Going home we took the road through the back country - Lincton Mtn. Road which come out on Walla Walla River Rd. a few hundred yards from our home.

After settling in at the house we stirred up a couple of root beer floats for the afternoon refreshment and a little cool off. Yep, it was in the 90's when we got home. We took the afternoon to sit out in the backyard to watch horses.
It was cute to watch Summer and Jasmine scratch each others withers over the paddock fence. Summer is now slightly taller than 6 year old Jasmine and they are good pals.Wednesday, Kittee had business in Pendleton and our dear friends Ed and Bill were in La Grande on business and heading for Pendleton for dinner with Kittee and to watch the show at Happy Canyon. They were going to eat at the Pendleton's -City Center- Rainbow Cafe --- that is truly a relic from the past... cafe with greasy grill, bar, nicotine covered walls...

but when they found out that all they were serving for Round Up week was pre-packaged cold cut sandwiches and chips with beer or whiskey, they opted to go to dinner at Raphael's a truly fine eating establishment. There Kittee found a treat in her wild huckleberry martini.

After dinner they made it on to the Happy Canyon open air pageant for their evening's entertainment. I am sorry that I missed dinner at Raphael's, but I have seen the Happy Canyon show and since I had taking a bus load of kids to Pendleton earlier that day, I didn't feel the need to make another trip to town. Anyway, all plans were to go to Rodeo on Thursday.

Thursday, we met Bill and Ed at their motel room and headed for The Saddle restaurant for breakfast. They had spent the night in Pendleton to catch the flavor of Round Up week and this their first rodeo. Again it was so good to see these guys as we enjoyed a great breakfast at The Saddle complete with a red-beer for me and Bloody Marys for Ed and Bill. Mmmmmm good. After breakfast, Kittee being designated driver we headed for City Center and strolled the streets waiting for the "Let'er Buck" rodeo start time.

While walking the streets of Pendleton , we stopped at Hamley's for to view some of the high $$$ hometown saddles, arts and craft works housed there...

and this little jewel below sold right out from under Ed and Kittee's viewing for about 800 bucks.
















Wouldn't this statute make a fine mantle piece?

After looking over Hamley's saddle and western store, we headed for the World Famous "Let'er Buck" Pendleton rodeo...


From here I will share these pictures that Bill took of this occasion as he has a good eye and trigger finger for some great shot of...

Thursday's Party Time...
















Bareback bronc riders riding, and bouncing off the ground...


Indians racing...

You might notice, all Indian racers ride bareback... very fast

Cowboys roping...

Ed with his love for a pink Cadillac...

There were tribal leaders leading...

and portions of different tribes from the Pacific Northwest dancing...

There were the outstanding barrel racers running the course...




Now believe it or not, Bill and Ed went and spent some time in the Let'er Buck Room well equipped with bar-flies along the wall...

and playing grab ass with assorted lounge lizards in the hall.

After all the rodeo was said and done, everyone headed back to the ranch. Bill and Ed beat us getting home as Kittee and I stopped by her Pendleton office, so when we got home the guys had pulled out some avocados that Bill had brought back from Florida and quickly stirred up a wonderful guacamole dip to enjoy we all went out to our favorite Mexican dinner. Oh, Oh, I almost forgot; somewhere between the rodeo and sitting down for dinner our friend Miriam showed up in town and joined our party for dinner. After a delicious dinner the fellas went on to spend the night in Walla Walla. So they said... " we came expecting to have a good time at the Round Up, but it was much more entertaining than we had ever expected". They plan to return for next year's 100th Anniversary Special Show of the "Let'er Buck" rodeo.

I will be buying tickets in mid-October for the 2010 World Famous "Let'er Buck" Pendleton Round Up. If you would like for me to get you a ticket please RSVP --- asap.
North Grandstands has already SOLD OUT!!!

The rest of this year's Round Up week we spent with Miriam. She and Kittee headed for Pendleton on Friday to shop the town. She, Kittee and I on Saturday after breakfast breezed over to Walla Walla for her to shop the town. Sunday everyone just crashed and relaxed after breakfast until it was time about mid-afternoon for Miriam to hit the trail back to the Westside and her city life.

And that's the way is was around the ranch and in Pendleton during this year's Round Up Week.

Will you join us for the party next year?????