He finally asked!

Here is last nights conversation, as I was sauteing up some broccoli for dinner;

Pat "What do you think?"
me "about what?"
Pat "About us getting married?"
me" make it official"
Pat "sure"
me "Sound good to me."

Yup, that was it... Did you really expect any more out of Pat and I..... really?

The ring is his grandmother's, we will need to have some work done with. It was missing a few stones, and we want to reset it as close to what it used to look like. We are hoping to get a few Yogo sapphires set in with the diamonds to make it our own and put a little Montana in it.

And no, we don't have a date or anything else set yet... Let us get through closing on our house first, and then we will get a bit more organized... My guess is that it will be with-in 12 months. We've already waited 7 years to get engaged, why postpone any ceremony...

I'll keep you posted!

Don't hassle me, I'm Local!!!!

Pat and I just got back from one of his oldest friend's wedding in Winona. Lew (Overhaug) and Trina rented out the group camping site at Whitewater state park, located between Winona and Rochester, MN. It was a great location for a weekend of relaxed fun.

Our flight into the Cities got us there right at dinner, so what better time to check out our friends new restaurant.... The Strip Joint, meat and fish. JD used to be the head chef at Chino Latino, Muffaletta's, and others before starting this new adventure.... If any one lives in and around the city, please check this place out... it's a quaint location in St. Paul with exceptionally good food. Yes, I am biased, but it's still damn good....

The next couple of days were spent hangin' with Lew, Trina, and their families and friends out at Whitewater. The entire weekend was catered by Tina's folks (who happen to own the Blue Heron in Winona). Great food, even better friends, and not so great weather made the weekend spectacular.

We also made time to hang with Pat's family as much as possible. It was great that Bridget and " the man cub" made it down from Green Bay for a few days, so that Pat and I could visit with them. When you only see them once a year, it's amazing how fast Patrick grows and changes. What fun.

New Home

Those of you who have followed the path of my life for the last 8 years will find this piece of news quit amazing....

Pat and I have bought a house!!!! yes, the two people in the world who have serious commitment phobias (to locations anyway), and have lived in more states than most... (at least I have)

We decided we are sick of paying other peoples mortgages, and have gone and gotten are own... We really like Lewistown and have decided to at least give it a few years.... maybe even 5????

The house is a 2bed/1bath that was built in 1948, 5 blocks from downtown, 2 blocks from the frog ponds (a great park) and one block from a hiking trial that winds through the town... We have a wood stove, garage, fenced in yard ( that Conner is going to LOVE) and a partially finished basement...

It's a small place, but more than enough room for us... We have been spoiled in our latest rental, although we never use half of the space in the place... And it will be nice to not have 3 lots to mow anymore... Nor a lot sized garden to weed....

Even though it is small, Anyone who makes the drive out to visit, is more than welcome, and there is always room.... More pics of the place will be up on my Flicker site...

Where does the time go????

So now that both June and July are gone... I still have not much to report about... I am back at work for the State, and Pat is off fighting wildfires...

June was spent traveling down to Bozeman for work, weeks at a time... Nothing against that town, but man it's getting crowded down there. It'd be nice if they would learn how to build up instead of out. That entire valley will be full of homes and industry before long. Although it was nice to be near good food and shopping for once. Not that I have the extra cash to allow for all the shopping I want to do......

Pat was sent to Yuma, AZ for a 2 week detail at the end of the month... He had an education on boarder patrol while he was there... I guess if there are any wildfires on the boarder, the fighters have to have armed guards and are called out of the field by 10pm... You can tell by the photo below, that they were hard at work on a lot of fires......

July has flown by... Pat and I spent the 4th here in Lewistown for the first time. Sadly the town fireworks sucked this year. But the fact that I hang with a bunch of firefighters, we just went and had our own show. Thankfully no one lost an appendage, even though we did have a few close calls...

We have had my Aunt Kathy and her friend Libby come out to visit on their travels East. Plus my folks stopped by on their way West out to Boise to see Greg, and will stop back in on the return trip.

Other than that... it's not too exciting out here... Pat has been fishing up in the ponds in and around Zortman. He and his buddies did pretty well during the Paddlefish season on the Missouri this year... Pat figured this one weighed in at 75lbs. A female full of caviar who was released.

Now that the Red Flag season is upon us, I believe the rest of the summer will be quite hectic. Right now Pat is on a fire up in the Sweetgrass Hills. My job won't be too stressful until Sept. For now, it's rest-up while we can.

Manic May

Here is a run down of what our May was like....

the first full week was spent in Denver.. While Pat was off in a leadership lecture for the week, I spent my days rambling about town.

I went to; the Denver Museum of Art, very cool.. a great collection of Modern Art.

the Zoo, nice, but after you have been to the San Diego zoo and Wild animal park.. Nothing seems as good as it could be...

I also took a drive up to Boulder to visit an old friend from Bedford, had a good visit, and had time to run around Red Rocks...

One evening we made it to a Rockies game... They were playing against the Cardinals... and actually won the game we were at... They lost the rest of the series games...

After the week in Denver.... Pat's Sister and Brother -in-law came out for a visit...

we had an ultimate croquet game in our yard, plus the guys got out and fished a few days... Anne and Jeremy also made a quick trip up to Glacier by themselves...

Right after Anne and Jeremy left, We had a wedding in Choteau to go to.....

Now that it is June and I have started work again... Our lives (or I should say Mine) has slowed back down... Pat on the other hand is out in Yuma, AZ working on an engine for a few weeks... Dying of heat... Hopefully when he gets back, he'll have some good fun pics of his time on the border....

If you want to see more photos of our month of May... head over to my Flicker account... there's plenty to see.....

Branding at the Barta's 2

IMG_0310
Originally uploaded by susan_hahn99

Ian and Yve, a couple of Choteau friends also came down for the weekend... they are holding the calf....

Branding at the Barta's

This past weekend Pat and I were invited to go help with a branding operation at one of his co-workers ranch... It was great to be involved with helping at a ranch again... We hadn't gone out to work at one since leaving Choteau. This Ranch was up one of the valleys, nestled in the Snowy Mountains... A beautiful dream ranch location..... I have up loaded some pics on to my flicker account if your interested....

Pat, right now, is in Missoula being trained on how to be a great leader... and then Sat. we are heading down to Denver for the week, so that he can be trained some more on leadership skills... While Pat is in class, I will be wondering the city... I am hoping to get into the many museums and art galleries across the town... I will probably also make a stop at the zoo.... I know we will try to catch a Rockies game as well, I believe they will be playing the Cardinals all week...

If anyone has any must sees for me while I'm in town, let me know... The only time I have ever spent in Denver is at the airport, and I have seen my fair share of that place....

Only 3 months after the eclipse do I get my photos up on my Flicker site... How sad.... You may ask, what am I doing that keeps me so busy, that it takes me 3 months to do this... God only knows.... I guess I'm just lazy....

here is also my super cheesy birthday Apple Pie for Pat... I know - I am quite the Martha Stewart....

there are hearts because his B-day in also Valentines Day.... if you want to puke -I understand..

A new look

As you can all see I decided the blog needed an update.... I have also added a link to my Flickr account, so that you may all browse my photos... along with a fun slideshow of a few photos that are off of the Flickr account....

As for other happenings in my life... there are none... I am on my off season right now, and usually so is Pat, but the BLM has decided to bring him back on already for the year... So I get the winter off by myself... it's not as much fun I have to say.... So far Pat has spent last week and this week in Missoula for trainings. I can only hope they have the guys working in and around Lewistown, and not living in Zortman for at least a few months of the winter.... Or I'll only see Pat on weekends... That's fine for 6 months of the year, but I'm not so sure about 12 months... I guess if any traveling will be happening this winter... it'll most likely be Conner and I...