About Sobremesa Ranch

What is Sobremesa?

Sobremesa is a Spanish word that means, "over the table". In the simplest of terms, even a linen tablecloth can be sobremesa.

Yet in the vibrant and traditional Hispanic culture, sobremesa has taken on a much deeper and more symbolic meaning -- it is the time spent in conversation and comraderie "over the table" at the conclusion of a festive meal. This is one of my favorite aspects of life, whether it is shared by a close-knit group or with a certain special someone. Above all, it's the welcoming, joyful, and intellectually inquisitive atmosphere I want to engender at my ranch as I share the humble bounty of my life with friends and family.

In terms of geography, especially in the Spanish-influenced American West, a mesa is of course a 'table' of high ground bounded on all sides by steeply descending terrain. It is doubly fitting, therefore, that the Sobremesa Ranch house is perched high on a hill, encompassing breathtaking 300° scenic views of the Wyoming and Gros Ventre mountain ranges. The house itself is situated, quite literally, "over the table".

The most poignant and colorful description of sobremesa I've ever read was written by (of course) a native Spaniard, here.

The Firebird Logo

My initial two cars were Pontiac Firebirds -- the first, a 1967 model, carried this badge. As a lifelong 'car guy' and motorhead, I cherish the memory of that vehicle -- it was my high school ride.

In September 2018, about a year after I purchased this property, a wildfire devastated the community. By the time the flames were brought under contral, over 62,000 acres of forest were destroyed along with over 1/3 of the 150 homes in the general vicinity of Sobremesa Ranch -- including 5 of the 10 houses of my immediate neighbors.

The prairie grasses in my pasture burned right up to the foundation of my home -- and then the flames roared by in search of other opportunities. The peaceful grove of aspens behind the house, and a patch of wonderfully scented sage to the downwind side likewise survived unharmed. I was blessed -- many lost everything.

A few weeks later I came across a vintage Pontiac Firebird logo in an antiques store -- and immediately knew I'd have to adopt that iconic image of the Native American West, with its indestructable nature, as the symbol of the resiliance, resolve, and resoluteness of Sobremesa Ranch.

Nature, meanwhile, heals.