Upgrade your Racks! A summer craft for the Huntress or wife of a hunter.

Being the wife of an avid deer hunter, I love the horns collected and well earned through the process of the hunt. Bill, my husband can tell you where, when and how the shot was made and in all its full glory. In our home the horns carry memories, traditions and a reminder of the next hunting season.

 Decorating with the trophies isn't anything new. Many lodges, country homes and farm houses hang them proudly. However, in recent years modern homes, eclectic homes , and even up scale restaurants are using horns as decor. I've seen them gilded, with rhinestones, sprayed white, and moss covered. The problem decorating with them, is that although I personally love the covered velvet and the 80's green and red, they just don't fit our interior styles today. I have one answer to upgrading those beloved "racks" so that they have a better chance of coming out of the man cave or garage and front and center in your living areas.

First, start by removing the cap (in green) by pulling out the top and bottom nails that keep it attached and the gold metal plate. Those both pop off easily. Then sand the wood. This will help the paint adhere to the wood. 

 After wiping off the wood plaque, I paint using a Black multi surface acrylic. It does take two layers which won't take very long to dry. *Use whatever paint color and finish you think will look best. I used the black satin because my bedroom has neutral colors with blacks and grey.


While paint is drying remove the velvet from the styrofoam cover. The older racks have little staples that I saved to re-use. Then, I cut out a square piece of my new fabric. For my racks I used a basic burlap but there were many choices like grey, black and brown. I chose natural because I didn't want to match exactly. I like the contrast of black, burlap and horn color. Move around the styrofoam re-pinning and hot gluing, pulling fabric taunt as you go.  All that's left now is to re-nail the cover with the new fabric back onto the plaque. Use the same nail heads which should back into the original holes.

Here are 5 sets that hang proudly in our bedroom.  * Please note that keeping them close together and in an odd grouping keeps them a focal without being overwhelming.

The real visionary in this of course is the hunter who tirelessly surrenders to the cold conditions every year to bring me deer meat and horns. So, I'd like to thank Husband Bill!


Written By: Mandy Barkley
with River Valley Real Estate

San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo

When starting to write this blog I must tell you that it was overwhelming in that there is so much going on during the San Antonio rodeo it would be impossible to list everything along with the dates and times. I've decided to highlight a few favorites in hopes that if you were on the fence as whether to go or not that I can help convince you that The San Antonio Rodeo is one of the BEST in the U.S. I can promise you will get your money's worth and you will experience a high class Texas rodeo.

Let's start with the entertainers because the line up this year is star studded! All concerts are held at the AT&T center , performers are paraded out to the center stage and where ever your seat is you feel every bit of something intimate! There's not a bad seat in the house and with ticket sales ranging  from $12-$75.00 per ticket it makes it affordable for the whole family! Remember that a Rodeo ticket includes the two hours of rodeo attractions like bull riding, steer wrestling, Xtreme bulls and calf roping followed with the concert! http://www.sarodeo.com/explore/att-center-seating-chart

This years performers are laden with country artists (it is a Rodeo!) and we are getting some of the best of country, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Rascal Flatt's and Josh Turner to name a few. Other artist include Nickelodeons very own "Big Time Rush" for the younger crowds, the 70's classic band Heart, the dynamic entertainer Pitbull for lovers of pop and the Grammy award winning Latin group Grupo Pesado. Please check out http://www.sarodeo.com/entertainers

Now on to the attractions. There are interactive exhibits with animals, milking demonstration with cows, hatching chicks, a petting zoo, pony rides. Don't forget the "Swift Swine Sprints" where pigs compete in a piggy race which is supposedly a "pig drawal"...no pun intended! To see these attractions all you need to purchase is a grounds admission ticket which includes the carnival, shopping, and all grounds attractions. The cost for a grounds admission is $10 Adults and $5.00 Children, again well worth it. When and where else would you see baby chicks being born? http://www.sarodeo.com/attractions

The Carnival is another draw and this one is BIG! There are fun game booths, rides like the Cliff Hanger, Fireball and Spaceloop, basically everything you'd expect a carnival to have. Pricing starts with individual ride tickets, wrist band options and the "Mega Pass" plus which gives you carte blanche for rides and attractions all day! There are food booths galore with lots of typical carni food options, like my personal favorite the funnel cake!

The Live Stock Show and Rodeo exhibits include cattle, chickens and turkeys, goats, pigs and sheep. The entire show schedule can be seen on the rodeo site I've listed below. So much time and effort go into the caring and grooming of these live stock, it's fun to see them as they strut their stuff! http://www.sarodeo.com/livestock-show

For the Rodeo and Entertainment you'll need to buy your reserved seat online. All ticket prices include grounds admission (livestock etc..) rodeo attraction for that date and entertainment for that date. Prices are very affordable and money well spent!

The downtown parade on Feb1st is centered around our western heritage and the earlier cattle drives. The cowgirls luncheon and Rodeo ball are special events that raise money for scholarship programs. Check out the times and dates at http://www.sarodeo.com/attractions/category/special-events/

Rodeo starts February 6th and runs through the 23rd! Visit http://www.sarodeo.com/ for more info and we here at River Valley Real Estate hope you and your family have a great boot scootin' time!