Saturday, February 28, 2009

Who Are These People?

You'll have to excuse the quality (or lack thereof) of this photo. It was taken very early yesterday on an overcast morning, and I had to enhance the light artificially in Photoshop. This massive entryway in progress is on Hwy. 922 in Tioga, Texas, a little further west from the McQuay and Hendricks ranches.

It's difficult to gauge the scale and materials from my rotten photo, but those lions are at least 30" tall. The walls are gorgeous, hand fitted red rocks, not a facade. You can see an existing home way back in the distance, but they are working on the land down in front, which tells me this place is not connected to that little ranchette. With an entrance like that, what will they build?

Inquiring minds want to know: while we're literally struggling to stay in our home, who are these people who can afford such an ostentatious entrance? And what do they do for a living, because I'm obviously in the wrong line of work?!

Edited later 022809:
Mr. Fry and I went to Tioga this morning unexpectedly, and I took another pic in the daylight.

I thought those lions were concrete — not so! They're bronze. And yes, that is a Ferrari sitting there in front. The car had Boyd Bros. lettered on the left front fender — who does that to a Ferrari anyway? — and Mike said that was the name of the construction company. Maybe it's his place? There were several pieces of earth moving equipment grading and digging way to the left of the gate. Curiouser and curiouser. Stay tuned.

Edited still later 022809:
The last thing I needed to get so that I have complete gear for two horses (and riders) was a second helmet. I could borrow one from Heather, but that's a long way to go to borrow a helmet. I used the excuse to visit Smith Brothers, on 1-35 in in north Denton, TX, for the first time. Cool store — there is a small roping arena in the store! There was a dad in there showing his boy how to rope. Duh — why did I not take pictures? And I have wanted one of these since before they were for sale.


Troxel put a lot of thought into the design of this helmet. The cloth liner has tabs that allow you to adjust the fit. A letter comes with it that says the cowboy hat has a larger profile than a standard Western hat, even though the helmet inside is a low profile — read that: smaller — certified safety helmet. The helmet is dishy, like a sporting helmet. They say it appears more in proportion when you are in the saddle.

Oh yeah, and this is what I got when I googled Boyd Bros. Contracting. They're building the entrance, but it could also be his place. Gorgeous stuff and that website is slicker'n snot, ain't it? It will be neat to see what else they're going to do, or at least, I'm intrigued.

9 comments:

Funder said...

It's kind of frustrating to see that kind of ostentatious wealth on display when you (and I, and most everybody else!) are really struggling... but at least those workers have some income. The guys who cast the lions, either in a factory somewhere or in an art shop, got a much needed payday. And I'm sure the stonemasons were really glad for the work too!

My best friend has a very small business doing high quality home renovations for wealthy people. He's had about a solid week of work in the last two months. My dad is semi-retired from doing normal-quality renovations for normal folks, and he's worked two days in the last two months. For the craftsmen's sake, I'm really glad the Ferrari guy is building a house.

Leah Fry said...

I don't know yet who is building this place, so it's all conjecture. Could be the Ferrari guy's or he could just be the contractor guy. I certainly don't begrudge anyone a living, but DAY-UM! I'm mostly just nosey about the new "neighbors" down the road a piece. Maybe another high dollar horse facility?

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Paint Girl said...

Ooh, I love Smith Brothers catalog! That is so cool you can visit the store and how bout that arena inside! Way cool!
I live in a very pricy neighborhood with alot of million dollar homes (mine is not one) and it does make you wonder what they do or did to have that much money! One of them is a 26,000 sq ft house and the guy has his own helicopter and a helicopter landing pad in his back yard! I know what you mean by being nosy, I love to hear all the neighborhood scoop around here.
And as soon as I get a decent weather day off I will try the bridle on one of my horses, I think I have decided that it will be Fritzy's bridle. The color matches her saddle and will look good on her coloring (black and white)!

cdncowgirl said...

The car probably qualifies as some sort of tax write off (or partial one at least) because he has the company name on it. Therefore he can count it as a company vehicle and/or advertising. (still seems almost sacriligous -sp?- to do that to a Ferrari!!)
While it is good to be providing work in these hard times something that ostentatious does almost seem to be rubbing people's noses in their lack of security.

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

We had a place like that built near us and it turns out to be one of many homes owned by Paul Allen who was the original partner will Bill Gates in Microsoft.

I've been interested in those helmet hats. They'd do a better job keeping the sun off the face than a regular helmet with a visor.

Leah Fry said...

Nuz, that's what Mr. Fry remarked. I'm going to work on shaping it to be even more so.

ezra_pandora said...

Woooooow. That's all I can say. I'd definitely start being a stalker. Is there an address posted anywhere yet? If so, I know on our county website, you can go and look up who owns the property :)) Yes, I've learned many a stalkers tools of the trade by working in a law office :)) hehe. Give me an address and the county and I can probably look something up for ya.

Jo said...

That's some website. I have a feeling they're building the entranceway, since that seems to be one of the things they specialize in.

Curiouser and curiouser...

But interesting!

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Hmmmm...I bet it's gonna be some kind of fancy subdivision. Seems that what goes up everywhere these days. bah!
Nice Ferrari, though. It's funny to see yellow cars, though. Remember when yellow was connected to 'lemon' cars? lol!

I'm not sure what to think about that helmet. I really wanted to see it on someone before I made up my mind and considered buying one.
Maybe it fits more appropriatly on a man's head? It just looks so HUGE and odd...obviously not a cowboy hat. gah!

I think I'll just stick with my basic white riding helmet. Not many people wear black around here anyway. One: It's too dressy. And Two: It attracts the sun and makes you too hot.

~Lisa

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