A Visit to Gonzales, Texas

My husband David had some business up in Gonzales, Texas today and asked if I

wanted to go along for the ride.  Well of course I did because I love going 

anywhere I have not been before.  So we all loaded up in the pickup truck

(Bentley too of course) and drove about an hour north of us to the small town

of Gonzales.  Let me tell you ~ I fell in love with the place!  We had to stop 

here at the Cow Palace Restaurant to meet a company employee.  Although we

did not stay for lunch, I wish we had because the special was chicken fried steak,

mashed potatoes and green beans.  The place was full of real cowboys and their

families and I heard the food was good.  

Now this is not just a restaurant.  No mam, it's also a place where livestock is sold.

It's the Gonzales Livestock Market and the place was packed.   The parking lot

was full of pickups and cattle trailers.

This is the back of the restaurant.

I got out of our truck and saw some chickens run under this fence.  I did not get

a chance to get a picture of them so I went up closer to the fence and quickly

noticed that a big Long Horn steer was staring at me, so I decided to back off.

I would have been much braver had I been wearing my boots, but since I

was in my pink flip flops, I felt like a pansy and backed off ;-)

After that we drove into town and I spotted the Emporium.  Enough said.

Y'all know I am going in here.  Flip flops and all.

I am thinking ~ why don't we own a ranch?  I would love to bring

this saddle home and display it somewhere!

Even David and Bentley decided they needed to explore this place.

The place has everything!

For those June weddings …

And don't forget the groom.

Well, what can I say?  We are in the south after all.

There are glass door knobs and old tools.  Rusty hinges, old bird cages.  Coke bottles

and Pepsi too in little metal carriers.  Old vinyl records ~ tons of them.  It is one of those

places where if you were to walk in with an item that was missing a part, the shop owner

would probably tell you he has just what you need.

This butcher block is ancient.  Love it!

And just when you think there could not be anymore ~ there is.
Y'all know everything is bigger in Texas.

After taking a tour of the second floor, I took a pic from the staircase.  

I asked the owner about the history of the building.  It was built in 1880.

Originally the first floor was a saloon and the second floor ~ well you

can probably guess what went on up there!

I restrained myself and did not buy anything.  David bought a 

large framed photo of a four star general from WWII.  He is going

to hang it in his office.  I'll tell you what, I have travelled the US and

the globe, but Texas has some of the most interesting small towns

anywhere.  So many of them with charm and interesting sights.  And

every one of them has sweet little houses with front porches and 

rocking chairs where I can just envision an "Aunt Bea" getting some

green beans ready for dinner.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you who are lucky enough to be

mothers and for those of you who still have a Mother to honor

tomorrow.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley