Dripping Springs Mountain Man Rendezvous

“Sometimes it does a soul good to think of the olden days and to visit there.”

Have you ever seen a cuter mountain man? This elderly fellow was friendly and festive in his beadwork and suspenders. His hatband was made of snake skin. I had a nice talk with him beside his campfire where he was cooking his supper.

Knives and guns were sold and it felt like I was at the Tulsa gunshow except thiese were on blankets and the sale was out by Dripping Springs Lake. Notice the spectacles, the fur cap and the beadwork. The knives below have deer horn handles and leather sheathes.

The children and young people enjoyed the Rendezvous and the nice November weather. One group had hatchet throwing competition going.

This man sold hand sized puzzles, whistles, and toys of wood for chidren.

Beads and buttons were for sale or trade as well as thimbles, mocassins, candles, and soap.

This mountain man sat in the shade of his tent possibly tired out by the wind. He wore a nice beard, didn’t he? And a leather costume decorated with feathered tassels.

Here’s another friendly old gentleman with a fine vest and three -cornered hat. He sat by his tent tending his fire and trying to cook impeded by a festy wind. He had a head of fine white Albert Einstein hair under that hat. Don’t you like his buttons?

At this firepit a man was cooking rou for a kettle of squirrel gumbo. He was adding sausage. I’ll bet it was delicious! How would you like a steaming cup of coffee from that black pot?

Stacks of felt hats made a nice displayas well as bead work in a glass display case. These caught my eye. I liked the star designs and the spider. See him?

Some mountain ladies made the Rendezvous too. One was selling shirts and skirts she had made. Some were beading, sewing, or leathercrafting. Some tending fires and selling handmade goods. Some were busy cooking at the campfires and caring for children.

Every fall I like to visit the Mountain man Rendezvous, talk to all the participants and see what they brought to sell and trade. I like to talk with them and take their pictures. They are considering a second camp in the spring. That would be fine.

---

---

I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all your doings;

I muse on the work of your hands.

Psalm 143:5

---