Deck the halls...

Well, more like "deck the facade..."

We're all decorated for Christmas. Last night was the Lighting of the Square, and we made sure we were prepared for the big event. We had over 350 people in the Museum last night. There was music, children could make their own snow globes, and we were packed!

Next week, we've got two big events planned: Bob Brinkman will be here for First Friday (December 5) to sign copies of his new book, "Round Rock," and the Christmas Stroll is on Saturday (December 6). We'll be open until 8 pm both days.

And, we're done!

We opened our latest exhibit called Charting History on Friday, November 7. The exhibit opening was held in conjunction with First Friday, and about 250 people attended. This temporary exhibit includes historic maps from the collection of Don Martin, owner of an Austin-based public affairs firm, that date from the 1680s to the 1880s.

A great, big THANK YOU to Central Texas Questers who funded the exhibit and to Gatherings who loaned us the historic doors!

One down, one to go.

We installed the traveling From Småland Sweden to Big Land Texas exhibit this morning at the Round Rock Public Library. They reopen on Monday, November 4, after being closed for renovations, and our exhibit is part of their opening celebrations. I think that the panels and the hands-on trunk turned out very well. I'm excited for the public to view it. Below are a couple of photos taken by Dana as we were installing the exhibit at the Library this morning.






Up next is our special exhibit featuring historic maps dating from 1685 to the mid-1800s. It's called Charting History: Maps from the Don Martin Collection, and it opens next Friday, November 7, at 6:00 pm. Join us at the Museum for the exhibit opening, First Friday, and some refreshments.

Back to our normal daily grind...

We're done with our two big events-- Up the Chisholm Trail and Archeology Day, which were held within two weeks of each other.

This is sort of our quiet time of the year...the time where we try to catch up on things that were put off while we were planning for the two events.

What do I have going on? A lot.

We've got a temporary exhibit that opens in early November featuring early maps of the world, the United States, and Texas. I think it'll be a really nice exhibit. I know I enjoy looking at maps.

I'm working on updating our main exhibit that talks about early Williamson County-- new maps, new labels, new photographs. Dana is pulling together an exhibit for one of the exhibit cases.

The traveling Swedish-Texans exhibit will be done soon...very soon. I've designed exhibit panels, received permission to use photographs from other institutions, and am almost ready to send it all to the printers.

We're still accepting artifacts. And, we're still working to get everything (and there's a lot) into the database-- catalogued, numbered, and photographed.

There's always something to do.

Chuckwagon Cook-off Results

The results are in and we had another successful Up the Chisholm Trail event. This year, 11 chuckwagons participated in the cook-off.

Drum roll, please...and the winners are...

3rd place Beans: Rodgers Ranch
2nd place Beans: M bar S
1st place Beans: Wagon Wheel C

3rd place Biscuits: Bertie Belle
2nd place Biscuits: Bear Creek Ranch
1st place Biscuits: M bar S

3rd place Dessert: Bertie Belle
2nd place Dessert: Bear Creek Ranch
1st place Dessert: Rodgers Ranch

3rd place Meat: Bear Creek Ranch
2nd place Meat: Texas Stampede
1st place Meat: Rodgers Ranch

Best Wagon: Wagon Wheel C

Overall scores are based on 40% wagon scores and 60% food scores.

2nd place Best Overall: Wagon Wheel C
1st place Best Overall: Bear Creek Ranch

Congratulations to the winners, and a big thanks to all the wagons who participated this year. I know that Dove Creek made my morning with their fresh brewed coffee and very tasty breakfast burritos!

Thanks everyone! We hope to see you all again next year.

Up the Chishom Trail!

This weekend is our Up the Chisholm Trail event at San Gabriel Park. We hope that you're planning on joining us Friday evening and all day Saturday, because we've got lots of activities planned.

Friday:
4-6pm Watch chuckwagons cook authentic desserts

6-9pm Sample delicious desserts, vote on most hospitable chuckwagon, and enjoy a performance by Grady Lee

Saturday:
9am Grady Lee at the gazebo

9am-3pm Check out the authentic chuckwagons

10:30am Evelyn, the Yodeling Cowgirl, at the gazebo

11:30am Stick Horse Rodeo

11:45am Cowboy Poetry Contest Awards

12pm Children's Costume Contest

12:30pm Shirts and Skirts Square Dancers at the gazebo

1:30pm Randy Waller, Cowboy Poet, at the gazebo

1:30pm Chuckwagon food samples available for the public (must by wristband; limited supplies; wristbands go on sale at 9am; $5 each)

2:30pm Evelyn, the Yodeling Cowgirl, at the gazebo

3pm Chuckwagon Cook-off Awards Ceremony at the gazebo

3:30pm Cullin Lane at the gazebo

4pm Charlie Bishop at the gazebo

4:30pm Jim Gough & the Cosmopolitan Cowboys at the gazebo

5pm Trick Roping Show

5:30pm Cattle drive along San Gabriel River

7-10pm Ranch Rodeo* at Sheriffs Posse Rodeo Arena

10:30pm Rick Trevino* live in concert at Sheriffs Posse Rodeo Arena

*Tickets for Ranch Rodeo and Rick Trevino are available at www.upthechisholmtrail.org until Friday. Tickets will be available at the event (in San Gabriel Park) on Friday evening and all day Saturday.

For more information visit the Up the Chisholm Trail website or call the Museum at 512-943-1670.

Have you bought tickets, yet?

It's so close! We can feel Up the Chisholm Trail, now. While I'd like to say it's all Up the Chisholm Trail all the time, truth is we've got a museum to run, too.

So, Dana and I are working on collections. I've been working on designing panels for the traveling Swedish Texans exhibit. Mickie's giving a cub scout tour as I write.

But, really, for the most part we are all Chisholm Trail. Getting packets together, sending out sponsor information, gathering supplies, ordering the PA system...you name it, we're getting it done.

That said...Have you purchased your Ranch Rodeo and Rick Trevino concert tickets, yet? They're a very reasonable $15 for adults and $5 for children. You can buy them now on our event website at www.upthechisholmtrail.org, or you can buy them the day of the event-- September 27 at San Gabriel Park.



Either way, make sure you get yours before it's too late!