Pumpkin Pancakes! Westward Ho china! Life is good!

Maria whipped up a batch of spectacularly delicious pumpkin pancakes for breakfast this morning, served on my favorite Wallace China Westward Ho Boots & Saddle plate.

The Westward Ho series of dinnerware was created by cowboy artist Till Goodan. Here’s what the True West company says about his work:

Till Goodan designs appeared in virtually every medium. But, the most famous was the four lines of dinnerware produced by Wallace China: Pioneer Trails, Longhorn, Boots and Saddle, and Rodeo. The "Rodeo" pattern was a tremendous success. The wonderful action drawings of Rodeo events surrounded by authentic cattle brands appealed to Westerners of every persuasion. "Rodeo" dinnerware graced the tables of restaurants, hotels, and ranches. Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Bing Crosby owned sets of "Rodeoware." Today all the dinnerware patterns are prized collectibles.

All but the Longhorn pattern feature a border of cattle brands. The Wallace China Company operated in Vernon, Calif. from 1931 to 1964. The company specialized in hotel and restaurant china and was eventually bought out by the Shenango China Company.

My parents took me to Yellowstone National Park in the summer of 1956 and we ate in restaurants that used the characteristic Westward Ho series of dinnerware with the cattle brand border. I was fascinated with it then and I still am.

The True West company of Royse City, Texas bought the rights to the Westward Ho series and continues to produce the Rodeo, Boots & Saddle, Little Buckaroo and Christmas patterns.

I bought a bunch of True West Rodeo Pattern stuff on Ebay several years ago.

This is the only original Wallace stuff I have and I used it for breakfast today.