Members of the Texas Club gathered for an afternoon of friendship and ice cream. Left to right and clockwise: Jerry Dodson, Celia Vertnik, Judy Dodson, Bill Fisher, Consuelo Melhuish, Bernie Vertnik, Linda Zoellner, Irene Keil, Janelle Authur, Bill Keil, Judy Fisher, Nancy Heck, Bobbie Vertnik, Jim Spiegel, Tony Zoellner, Larry Burchfield, Flo Kirchner, Ron Heck, Tom Kirchner and the Dodson family dog, Jefferson. Photo by guest Bob Authur.
Janelle Authur
Ranchers who lived in Texas agree that two of the things they miss most about Texas are the fields of bluebonnets and that Texas favorite, Blue Bell ice cream. While members of the Ranch’s Texas Club couldn’t figure out how to reproduce the fields of bluebonnets at the Ranch, they could share a bowl of Blue Bell. Thus, the Texas Club’s second Ranch event, aptly titled “Bluebonnets and Blue Bell – An Afternoon of Ice Cream and Texas Hospitality,” was born.
Twenty Texas Club members were greeted by the Texas flag flying crisply against the blue Arizona sky as they arrived at the home of Judy and Jerry Dodson on Sunday afternoon, June 23. The Dodson’s home was decorated in a Texas style to reflect the day’s theme, including logos, bluebonnets, ice cream, flags and the welcome of Texas hospitality.
Bob Authur and Jim Spiegel scooped up Blue Bell in four flavors; vanilla, chocolate, mint chocolate chip and cookies and cream, while club members added their favorite toppings. All enjoyed their ice cream while swapping “Texas-sized” tales of their time in Texas.
Why Blue Bell ice cream? Blue Bell has a long history in Texas. In 1907, a group of local businessmen from Brenham, TX founded the Brenham Creamery Company to make butter from excess cream brought in by area farmers. A few years later, the company started to make ice cream as well, delivering it by horse and wagon. In 1930, the name was changed to Blue Bell Creameries after the native Texas bluebell wildflower, and in 1958, Blue Bell began to focus full-time on making ice cream. It wasn’t until the 1980s that Blue Bell ice cream became available outside of Texas. Now, it’s sold in 22 states and, fortunately for the Texas Club, that includes Arizona.
Co-hosts for the event were Judy and Jerry Dodson, Linda and Tony Zoellner and Janelle and Bob Authur. If you are interested in joining the Texas Club, please contact Judy, Linda or Janelle at their personal email.