The Olivas
family harvested its own grapes
to make and sell wine.
|
The family
made most of its clothing. Many hours
per day were spent spinning and weaving.
|
Vaqueros (cowboys) were the backbone
of the ranching operation.
|
Someone had to clean the vaqueros up for
social occasions.
|
Several
of the Olivas men served in the US Cavalry
during the Civil War
|
Boys were taught to
rope at an early age.
|
Laundry day was a big event for such
a large family. All young girls were taught
such domestic duties.
|
Because there was no indoor plumbing, cleaning
the chamber pots was an unpleasant but
necessary job.
|
The family had to make most of its
furniture, so the carpenter was
a valued employee.
|
The blacksmith was an
important person on the ranch.
He kept the ranch tools in
repair.
|
The
family ate five meals a day, and each meal
included tortillas.
|
The
horno (baking oven) was hot from
sunup to sundown baking bread
and other pastries.
|
Raymundo
Olivas was known for his hospitality.
|
Teodora Olivas, the lady of the house,
welcomed visitors and lent charm
and grace to the ranching operation.
|
Peddlers, itinerant salesmen, provided
entertainment as well as wares
to the far-flung ranches of
the district.
|
Boys were taught how to make adobe bricks, mixing
water, clay, sand and chopped straw.
|
