Special Events with Special People

There are some times in this work that you can tell a very special event is happening with some special people.  A recent wedding weekend was like that – when the family and guests are very nice and very friendly people.  In these events, I’ve felt more like a welcome guest to the event, rather than a staff member at the ranch.  When families and friends are as nice and friendly as many are, this is no longer work, but rather it becomes an event filled with good feelings, enjoyment, and some very special energy making up some memorable good times.

A special wedding participant

Bobbie hints about this experience sometimes referring to when she gives tours.  It’s an experience of taking a work event and turning it into something where the word “work” doesn’t even enter your mind, because you enjoy the people so much.  Blessings are going out to the brides and grooms and their families – not for being readers of my blog, and I know they’ll see this, but for making it “not work”.  Thank all of you for making it an enjoyable and memorable event for me, too.  My wish for you does happen to be similar to what I hope for all couple’s though.

May God bless your lives.  May your love and joy of being together grow more every day, and may you have long and happy lives being husband and wife.  I hope we see y’all again some day.

Jodie, the Innkeeper

P.S. Of course, I could be imagining this and simply reacting to people reading my name tag and calling me by name . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nyaaaaaaa.

BBQ challenged

We had one guest, (a former Texan) in from Seattle who was lamenting that he can’t get good BBQ brisket in the NW Pacific area unless he cooks it himself.  The sad but true fact is some areas of the west coast have the unfortunate experience of not having good BBQ.  To use a PC term – they are BBQ challenged.  I’m sure some will disagree, but I’ve tried a lot of both west coast BBQ and Texas BBQ.  All I can say is, unfortunately, I looked but couldn’t find good BBQ in Northern California, either, when I lived there.  For real Texas BBQ, you have to be in Texas.  I tried to comfort him, but he was inconsolable.  So, we fed him.

Jodie, the Innkeeper

P.S.  BBQ, of course.

Reviews of Red Corral Ranch, 3

I’m not always sure about posting written reviews of Red Corral Ranch, because I wonder if there’s a question for some about whether they’re real, or if some might think I make them up.  Still, being a Texan, I’ve learned a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, nothing I do or don’t do will change how a person thinks when that’s how they want to think.  Has anyone else experienced that, too?  So, I don’t make them up, and I promise to post the written reviews when they arrive.

This one is from a woman who stayed recently, and enjoyed a wedding here at Red Corral Ranch.  She writes, “Everything was perfect.  Five “star” in my opinion.  We had the most enjoyable stay.  Can think of nothing that would have made it better except more time here to enjoy the scenery and deer.”  L.T.

And another one, “What a fabulous place your Red Corral Ranch is!!!  We “girls” enjoyed every moment in your establishment.  You guys should all be proud of your efforts to satisfy the customer.  We all give you a 5 STAR RATING!  Thanks” J.T.

A quick word from me – even though we have guests that love the place as it is, we work to keep the best parts at the same time that we strive to bring new and creative ideas and ways that can add even more to the ranch.  Whether large additions that may be noticeable or small additions that no one will notice, we are grateful, and encouraged to solidify the best, while exercising our creative efforts by the wonderful comments people give us.  And because these comments inspire us to continue to bring forth a wonderful place for our guests, I extend our thanks back to our guests for their appreciation and comments for what we do at Red Corral Ranch.  Your expression of gratitude and appreciation is a very real gift you give back to us.

Thank you,
Jodie, The Innkeeper at Red Corral Ranch

The Stars at Night are B & B (Big and Bright)

With Red Corral Ranch being the wedding venue/B & B, that it is, deep into the countryside, there are no city lights or even small town lights that block the viewing of the stars.  On clear non-moonlit nights, the sky is dark and as Arthur C. Clarke puts it – it’s full of stars.  It makes for a great time to see the night sky and the many stars that seem to fill the night almost to an infinite degree.

I used to live in the San Francisco Bay Area and with all the metro lights filling up the night, trying to see stars was all but impossible.  I mean, Robin Williams even lived in the area, and I didn’t even see him once.

So, being at Red Corral Ranch, back in the Hill Country countryside, away from the drowning city lights is a great time to see the constellations, the meteor showers, any UFO’s in the neighborhood, and all the stars that show themselves to us viewers.  As an astronomy fan, I’ve enjoyed finding the constellations and planets, as well as identifying stars and galaxies.  It’s fascinating to me to try to find non-star items in the heavens with the naked eye – like the nebulae in Orion’s sword.

The Nebulae in pink.

And as far as seeing and identifying specific stars, well, I still haven’t been able to find Robin Williams in the night sky.

Jodie, the Innkeeper.

P.S. At Red Corral Ranch, “B & B” also describes the stars – big and bright . . . and beautiful.

We support the Settlement Home for Children

The Red Corral Ranch is very honored and happy to continue our support for the Settlement Home for Children in Austin, Texas.  As part of our support, we want to mention the annual charity garage sale, going on at the Palmer Events Center of Austin, from November 6-8, 2009 (and every year in November.)

The Settlement Home opened its doors in 1916, and has been helping girls and boys for many, many decades with Foster programs, Adoption programs, therapeutic programs and more.  It is a wonderful organization with many fantastic people helping children in need.

The garage sale is one of the Settlement Home’s fundraisers, and you have to see this to believe it.  The saying is true in this case – “Everything is bigger in Texas.”  This is the biggest garage sale I have ever seen anywhere.   It fills the Palmer Events Center and with items beyond your imagination.  It can easily be said that it has something for everyone, so don’t hesitate to attend.  You’ll definitely find that item you’ve been looking for all this time, unless someone else gets it before you do.  All the information and location is at the Settlement Home’s website or call (512)836-2150.

As big as this garage sale is, the hearts of the people that work and volunteer with this organization are even bigger.

Jodie, one of the many Settlement Home for Children supporters at Red Corral Ranch.

Review of Red Corral Ranch, 2

We get comments from many sources and via many avenues.  A mother of the groom sent us a card saying,

“Just a short note to say thank you for letting [my son and daughter-in-law] have a wonderful and beautiful wedding at your gorgeous place.  It was a great time.  We had perfect weather and a wonderful place…The staff was wonderful and helpful in anything we needed, and very pleasant and kind to all involved.  God bless.”

Thank you for the wonderful words and may God bless your son and his new bride, also.

Jodie, the innkeeper

Red Corral Ranch on TV

Timmeron Culinary of Wimberley, Texas, with Chef Christopher Cristof has been picked for several cooking shows for one of the Television networks, (I don’t know which one, yet, but hopefully we’ll find out soon.)  They used the Cookhouse at the Red Corral Ranch as the kitchen setting for one of the shows.  Christopher is very familiar with the Cookhouse kitchen here at Red Corral Ranch, having given many cooking classes, and catered many weddings here in the past.  We look forward to watching the show; after all, we got to eat some of what he cooked during the show.

Preparing the Meal

Yes, it was very good.

Jodie, the Innkeeper

The Big Tree

How do you take something great and make it better?  We came up with a way.

We took the big tree that **WAS** lit with so many twinkle lights that it lit up the whole area – that so many people thought was wonderful – that helped couples make the choice to pick Red Corral Ranch for their wedding – that helped to make Red Corral Ranch the #1 Outdoor Wedding Venue in Texas in “The Knot” magazine – and ….

And… we changed the twinkle lights to LED lights.  It looks even better than it did before!  Plus, we’re walking the walk – living the green way – cutting back on the electricity use, and ….

basking in the light.  I’ll post a picture as soon as I get one.

Jodie, the Innkeeper

Wedding Magic

When present during the setup in the afternoons right before the wedding ceremonies, an unsuspecting person might think that the event scene has work people freaking out like chickens with their heads cut off- what with people walking (or running) fast in all different directions at once.  However, it only looks like a herd of cats escaping their captors.  An untrained observer will see people who appear to be in panic mode.  They will also see a few standing around seemingly doing nothing.

But, all of these people who seemingly are in a state of chaos, in fact, are all fully aware of what they need to do, where to go, and how to get things done.  A trained observer will see a 3-ring circus of worker bees all following a well-practiced path of accomplishing all the things that need to be accomplished. Inside the chaotic look is a well-thought out order called a “Wedding”.

The ones watching may ask “How is it that it always works out?”  To the unsuspecting observer, it’s wedding magic.  And just between you and me, we’ll let them think that way – especially here at Red Corral Ranch, since it may actually be just that – magic – the magic of a ceremony celebrating Love.

Jodie, the Innkeeper

Summer and Winter

I’m going out on a limb here and saying that this coming winter it will be cooler than this summer has been.  So, if you’re wanting a venue for anything, we still have a few weekends and other availabilities during December, January and February.  I’ll risk it, and say ‘I guarantee the winter won’t be scorching heat like this summer.’  

Jodie, the Innkeeper

Happy Birthday at Red Corral Ranch

It was happy birthday time at Red Corral Ranch for one of the members of the couple that owns the ranch, James, and one of the staff members, Felipe, Jr.  It was also a special July celebration, because we just wanted it to be.  We spent a day at our very own Big Red Barn, playing horseshoes and washers.  (I won my horseshoe match in the last nail-biting play where it was her or me.)   We also had a piñata for the kids.  And yes, they were successful at having the fun task of getting the candy from the piñata.  For lunch, we were served some of the best fried catfish cooked right on site at the barn by Bob Riley and crew of Riley’s BBQ out of Blanco, Texas.

The whole day was fun and relaxing.  The people were great to be with, the games were enjoyable, and Riley’s food was fantastic.   (Although, their BBQ turkey is still my favorite.) It was a wonderful combination.  Even the sun cooperated and didn’t burn us out of the place.  We used Dripping Springs Party Rentals’ giant outdoor coolers that have been lifesavers at many weddings.  The only downside – … hmmm, let me think…  hmmm, I’m still thinking…. still thinking.  I’ll have to let you know.

Oh, I know – I brought two jars of my home-made pickled okra, and they were so good that they were gobbled up by everyone. There was almost none left at the end of the party for later.  I guess the old axiom is true, you can’t have your pickled okra and eat it, too.

At the next staff meeting, I’m going to recommend we have an owner’s birthday once a month.

Jodie, the Innkeeper

Texas size heat

Everything is bigger in Texas – including the numbers on the temperature gauge.  It’s hot!  Everyone in the Texas Hill Country knows it.  The peacocks are thinking the same thing.  They’re trying to cool off in any way they can.   The temperature was down in the high 90’s a few days ago, and everyone was commenting on how cool it had gotten – even the peacocks.  It reminds me of how gas prices are thought of.  Either way, it’s hot.  I even heard a request for prayer and visualization help for all of Texas put to George Noory and his audience on the “Coast to Coast AM” radio show on Wednesday night (KLBJ here in Wimberley).

On a related side note about “hot” and “gasoline”, if you didn’t know this, it’s always a good idea not to fill up in the middle of the day with heat like this, if you can help it.  It’s also a good idea not to top off the tank when we have heat like this.  The reason why?

When gasoline is in the ground, it is cooled because underground tanks are a lower temperature from being deeper underground.  The temperature underground is always cooler than the heat-filled air of above ground.  When the gasoline is pumped into the vehicle, it then heats up and expands to fill more volume.   It needs a little extra space (usually automatically provided in gas tanks by anticipating vehicle engineers).  Topping off the tank defeats the purpose of the extra space in the tank.  When the gasoline expands, if there’s no room to expand, it runs out of the tank through the filler neck and onto the ground creating a dangerous situation.  I’ve seen this happen to people who don’t know this and top off in the heat.

This expansion factor is also why a vehicle will get better gas mileage in the summer.  The volume of gas expands to be greater after it is pumped and the vehicle then goes further on a tank of gas.  The opposite of this is why a vehicle’s gas mileage can get worse in the winter.

You didn’t know you could learn so much just by reading the Red Corral Ranch blog, did you.

Jodie, the Innkeeper

Red Corral Ranch as a midwife

Helping provide a venue for weddings is like helping give birth to a new “couple”.  We can say that we have helped give birth to many married couples.  It certainly is a real birth of a kind – it is the birth of two people creating a new life together – not as two individuals together (only), but as a “married couple.”  This is a birth as we know it.  There are many amazing things about being a part of this.  One amazing thing that I’ve noticed is just how many of these births require BBQ to come into this world.

Jodie, the Innkeeper

Reviews of Red Corral Ranch

I want to truly thank so many for their very nice comments that they leave on the comment sheets.  I also want to thank guests for what they say to me personally, too.  For instance, one of our Spring, 2009 grooms was kind enough to let me know at the end of Saturday night before they left the next morning – “We fell in love with this place when we first saw it, and we love it even more now.”

All I can say is – thank you for those wonderful words.

Jodie, The Innkeeper

Longhorns on the Move

I could say the title of this article refers to the Longhorn baseball team, but no.  The longhorn cattle we had at Red Corral Ranch have checked out and moved on to greener pastures – in a very real sense.  They gave their compliments, enjoyed the stay, and said, “Thanks for all the grass.  It’s time to moooooove on.”   (Their words, not mine. )

Their impact is noticeable because so much of the dead grass is gone, and we’ve had green grass growing.  The longhorns took care of the dead grass, and the rains helped the new grass to grow quickly.

So, now, bring on the rain.  .  .  . The Rain!

I said, “CUE THE RAIN!!”

(No rain, no rainbows.)

Get me ‘Special Effects’ on the phone.

Jodie, the Innkeeper