Monday, April 12, 2010

Wing Spur picnic



This Saturday is our annual horse picnic/fundraiser (for Wing Spur). Each spring in April we throw a picnic under the metal canopy where we eat among the wild ones. Most tend to shy away but curiosity gets the best of them and they wander in to watch the goings-on. It's a pretty time of the year out here. Also May is the annual round-up to corral everybody and give them shots and check their health. That vet bill is pretty big. And he's kind enough to realize we're a nonprofit and give us a discount! Those two days are wild and can get just like a rodeo, since we don't handle them any other time of the year, wanting them to stay wild and just 'be.' They have stuck with their tribe integrity for the most part (they are a matriarchal society), but don't have enough acreage to kick the older males out to start their own harem. We intentionally adopted two families so not to split up a family and over the years they've bonded together more or less as a group. The babies born since have grown more tame than the rest and will let you pet them.

We determined early on we wanted the picnic to be out of the ordinary so we haven't served the standard 'picnic' fare of bar-b-cue or catfish, not that we don't love to eat them both. If folks are good enough to come support the horses we wanted to serve an outstanding meal. For the first several years, we've been blessed to have the award-winning Redneck Gourmets cook for us, led by our neighbor, who also grows grapes and makes his own wine. Their dutch-oven cooking is awesome. They spend days in preparation and serve up feasts such as pork tenderloin in cranberry-chutney sauce and corn pudding, and berry cobblers and rolls...Last year it rained so hard all day it was like a Biblical deluge. Only 20 hearty souls showed up in the freezing, wet weather. It was really disheartening after all the work the RG put into the meal. They are taking a sabbatical, for which I don't blame them. At least, we hope they are, and they resume cooking in the future. But they are brilliant and beyond generous, so whatever they decide, they will always be #1 in our book.

This year, a greek friend who owned the top catering company in Little Rock is making the entree and dessert, and I am making musaka and a Greek salad. Another friend is contributing Tzatziki and pita bread, and we'll have a keg and soft drinks and tea as usual. Because we have out of town guests and the house will be a veritable food factory towards the end of the week, I probably won't be posting much more this week. I'll catch up with everyone soon. (If Excy has his heart surgery next week, it may set me back a bit longer, though...).Here are a few photos from past picnics....







14 comments:

Doris Sturm said...

Looks like everybody wins - the horses and the people by having such a feast! I hope everything will turn out well. I know the weather sure has been nice for an outdoor picnic!

Best wishes,
Doris :-)

Tracie Nall said...

My mouth is watering just thinking about it! I hope your picnic goes wonderfully with beautiful weather!

wendy said...

That's too bad it rained so hard.
IF I LIVED CLOSE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR SURE.
The food sounds awesome.

hope hubby's surgery goes well.

e said...

I hope the surgery goes well and what a fabulous picnic, even with the rain!

Jayne Martin said...

I'm so sorry your event got ruined by the rain. You're doing such wonderful work. Bless you and bless those magnificent horses.

Jayne Martin said...

Oh, wait. That was last year. In that case I wish you sunny skies and a huge turn-out for this year's event.

Anonymous said...

You are so lucky to get to experience the ‘wild’ horses and living life like a cowgirl…lol. Really you are blessed!

Believe me, if I were within a hundred miles of you I would have toughed out the rain for a shot at that amazing food!

lifeshighway said...

What a wonderful event. Wished i lived anywhere near you to attend a luncheon with the wild ones.

Chris said...

Sorry we won't make it. One year soon, for sure.

Tricia McWhorter said...

Hope the surgery goes well. The picnic sounds amazing!

ReformingGeek said...

That's awesome. I hope you have great weather this time.

Here In Franklin said...

Wow--that looks like my kind of picnic. Hope it's a splendid day for you and your guests.

Dorkys Ramos said...

Wow, that is one big feast! I hope tomorrow's picnic is a huge success :)

Aleta said...

What a cool idea to keep the horses wild. I love this!!!