Introducing - Tweeds

Ok, so I'm finally updating with pics and info on the new addition to our family
Swiftcreek's Hi-Line Tumbleweed. Aka - Tweed

For those of you who don't know. Tweed is a Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon, from our friend Tom Healy's kennel - Swift Creek Griffons http://swiftcreekgriffons.com/

He is to be Pat's bird dog, while Conner continues to be my "best friend, fishing, etc...." dog.

So far Conner has been pretty good with him, after his initial 2 day hunger strike. If you sneak a peek outside you just might catch them sleeping together. But if Conner sees you then he has to act indifferent...

here are just some random pic of both dogs.

Love Conner's "look" not a lot of trust there.

Bright Lights; Big City

To celebrate Mom & Dad's 40th Anniversary, We all traveled to Vegas for the weekend. Nothing says way to go with sticking out 40 years together like gambling, great food, and debauchery....

Dad was kind enough to get us all a brand new airstream to stay in at the Circus Circus KOA. They have them available for you to rent, so instead of being in a hotel, we got our RVs and a nice patio with furniture and pink flamingos. (although we never found the flamingos....)

Pat and I arrived first on Friday, so we had a few hours to run around a bit. So we headed up to the Wynn and had a few drinks. $20 for 2 tonics..... Wake-up call for us Montanans.... Then we met up with Greg & Julie and another guy (Pat) and his girl (Macy) (Pat worked on the Helicopter here in Lewistown last summer and lives in Vegas). The 6 of us then headed into Old Vegas for dinner. We had some good Irish food and a few Black and Tans while suffering through the band that was there that night. What band has 2 basses? That one.....

Sat. was then spent wondering up the strip with the whole family. We had lunch outside at Trader Vics across from the Belaggio water show. Pork sliders, lobster pot stickers, crab Rangoon, and fun alcoholic beverages in bowls..... Then we made our way (gambling the entire time) up to NY,NY and stopped in for a pint-o-Guinness at the 9 Fine Irishmen. A great bar that made you forget you were even in the City that made Neon famous. By this time our feet were all falling off, so we heading over to MGM Grand to make reservations for Sun. dinner at Craftsteak (Tom Coliccio's Vegas restaurant - the Bravo's Top Chef head judge )

Then jumped the monorail (which as Greg pointed out - is not a mono-rail it was a duo-rail) to head back to the KOA. Greg and Pat went for food and came back with sushi. So we ate while lounging outside our Airstreams and enjoyed the warm desert weather.

Sunday was Easter along with Mom and Dad's Anniversary. So we started off with a huge breakfast at Peppermill, where they make 10 egg omelets. After that we strolled down to The Saraha and watched Dad do the "Spin The Wheel Dance" while playing Wheel Of Fortune Slots.

After Dad won about $60 we headed over to the Stratosphere. Were we went up to the top and again had a few drinks while enjoying the view of the entire city. Our lunch was a few appetizers of salmon, Kobe Carpaccio, and cheese in the Top of the World restaurant. Next we headed back to our RVs and caught a quick nap. We had to rejuvenate for our dinner plans.

Dinner was at Craftsteak, Tom Colicchio's Las Vegas Steak joint. We had the Spring tasting menu with the wine pairings. There were 3-4 options for each course served family style. We started off with fresh buffalo mozzarella topped with a red pepper concoction, fennel salad, Persian cucumber salad, and Vermont Quail w/ vincotto. The Main course was Angus skirt steak, Angus flatiron steak, Diver sea scallops, baby shiitake mushrooms, yukon gold puree, and sugar snap peas. Dessert was; Warm apple spice cake with maple crunch ice cream, Cinnamon Monkey Bread with pecan toffee & caramel ice cream, Vanilla bean cheesecake, Liquid chocolate cake with pistachio cardamon ice cream, and a strawberry shortcake. The style of the food is good ingredients prepared simply. The food was incredible, especially the quail and the scallops. Pat's favorite was the buffalo mozzarella, Mom's was all the desserts. The design of the restaurant was sparse wide open space with a ton of wood elements and industrial bare lighting. The down point of the event was the music.... it was loud and some mix of bad Kenny G.

After dinner Greg and Julie went back to sleep off dinner, while Pat, Dad, Mom, and I went to the Crazy Horse Paris Cabaret show. It was tastefully done and a very entertaining.

Monday we flew out.... and came home to rain mixed with snow..... oh, to be back in the warm desert. Now there is at least 6 inches of sloppy wet snow onthe ground....

Smell This

You know how when someone comes up to you with a hand full of stink, and says " smell this"... You know you shouldn't but yet, for some strange reason you do... And Man it STINKS...

Well, this is how I have come to finally watch the movie version of Mamma Mia. And yes, IT STINKS... How could it not with the casting of Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan... I mean Really.

The sad part is that I love ABBA, I do... and I have seen this show on stage and loved it. But then again, they had professional Broadway singers. And yes, as hard as this is to believe... The movie was WAY cheesier than the Broadway show. Streep over-acted her way through the entire thing, and it was just gut-wrenching to have to listen to Brosnan murder ABBA and even worse to watch him dance in ABBA style clothing.

I knew from the moment I heard the casting for the show it would be bad, I kept away while it was in the theater, no way was I going to pay $7 bucks to see it. It's the damn Red Box that let's you rent movies for a buck. (and the fact that Pat is away on a detail ) I can spend a buck to knowingly watch crap. And yet, you hope with all your heart it won't be as bad as you think, and then as the credits are rolling, you think to yourself... Dumb Ass, you knew it was going to be bad, and yet you just had to watch it....

Yes, this is the way Hollywood destroys Broadway... You take a great show and instead of casting actual talent, (not that I'm against Merell Streep for her talents in Drama, or even Comedy) They cast "names".... don't have them sing for you whatever you do....

Not that it matters anyway... Can anyone name a great Broadway musical that has become a good movie (minus The Sound of Music)..... Rent - nope, The Producers - nope
Nothing takes the place of seeing a good show in a theater and all the drama that comes from that. Sorry Hollywood, I know you are all excited about the comeback of the musical, but shouldn't you spend your time and money saving where the musical came from instead.

It's Official!!

Well, Pat and I took a walk to the Justice of the Peace today....

Yup, that's right... I am now a married woman... Wow... that's a bit crazy.

We are still reeling from the event, as easy and relaxed as it was. Just the idea of after 8 years together, we finally decided to make it official in the eyes of the law and with the Big Guy upstairs.

and it feels good....

Our Announcements will be sent out hopefully sometime next month. With all the details of our plans for Celebrations.

Yes, we are doing this a bit differently than most... but we do still want to celebrate with everyone.

The Holidays

Jeremy & The Dude singin' Christmas carols!

The Holidays have been good to us this year. Pat and I hosted my family for Thanksgiving. Greg, Julie, Mom & Dad all came out to Lewistown for a MT bird and some good rich food. It was nice to see that our new little house can host at least 6 people for a dinner. Mind you we had to re-arrange the living room into a dinning room. But it worked.

Then we headed to Winona, MN for a few weeks over Christmas. We hadn't done the drive for a few years, we thought with gas as cheep as it is, why not... Then we were reminded why we had stopped driving in the first place. Winter is not the ideal time to drive from MT through ND into MN. After being chased by a winter storm into MN, we had great snowy weather the entire time we were there. A true White Christmas. (again - not ideal for driving cross country - but pretty)

While in Winona, we were able to get up to the new Krage Farm - up in Ridgeway. Pat's Dad and step-mom Debbie just bought a new place with 43 acres. 10 tillable, the the rest pasture and woods. A deer heaven. (or a horseman's' paradise - however you see it....) More photos are on Flickr. This is also the proposed site for our large family reception party! More details to come as the Wedding Parties get planned.

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...

The first snow!

Ok, so I'm a bit late with the date of this... The first snow actually happened back in October... but the first big snow happened a few days before Thanksgiving... and these are the picks of that day... by 10am we had 10 inches and by nightfall it had reached a foot!!!!

'Tis the season of Catalogs....

Yes, it is that time of year when you end up drowning in catalogs... Every time you look into your mail box all you see is a mass of them.... And if your unlucky enough like I am ,there are 2 or 3 of the same one....

Fear not.... I believe I may have found a cure....

http://www.catalogchoice.org/#welcome

it is an easy site to navigate where you can register to have your name removed from any catalog you receive for free.... You can follow my link here or the one to the right... What a brilliant idea... kudos to you Catalog Choice....

Other than being covered with a pile of unwanted catalogs... Pat and I are good... Working a ton... and trying to get some play time in as well... Pat has had a great hunting season... lots of birds, and a couple deer... We shall be well fed this winter at least. Right now we are trying to not be blown off the earth with 65 mh winds... strong enough that Pat got a fire call last night from a telephone pole getting blown down in the Moccasins...

We have yet to have a good hard freeze, so I am still driving half of the State of MT for my Job... Although there is a chance for that to change today... Still waiting to hear the answer from my boss..... The Snow Geese and Swans are flying in and past in great numbers... Always a fun time of year.... I have heard a few Sandhills as they fly buy, but have not seen any touch down...

Hope you all are working out to stretch your tummies for the great feast of Turkey Day!!! Pat and I will be flying to Winona for a few days to hang with his family and friends... Looking forward to being on the Mississippi for the Holiday....

4th of July

I thought I better post a few photos of our 4th here in Montana... If you go to Ellen's web site you can read more about their adventure when she and Steve came to visit... These are just from the concert....

Steve, Ellen, and Me in front of Willie's stage

WILLIE!!!!!

the sunset made an even better back drop....

Goodbye Choteau

The last hurrah is this weekend. Pat and I will be officially out of the house in Choteau. After loading the rest of our stuff, (you can't imagine how much crap we had packed into this little place) we will have one last BBQ with our friends on Sunday. Our next trip to Choteau will be for the big 4th of July celebration... which will be HUGE this year... "the redheaded stranger"is coming to town this year..... thanks to Mr. Anonymous supporter.

“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.” --- Dr. Seuss

The Big House

The move is in progress.... Pat has finally started work for the BLM out of Zortman, MT... He received his permanent appointment this Spring. He is based out of Zortman, but the main field office is in Lewistown. So we will be living about 10 min. outside of Lewistown in Moore, MT... My boss is working with me to get me transferred to the Lewistown field office from Great Falls office... We chose Moore because housing prices were quite a bit less... Some could call it a "suburb" if you ignore the large mass of farmland in between the two towns. We are no longer with-in walking distance of amenities, but there is a small bar in Moore that we can get to...

This place has a 4 car garage (we have access to 3 bays), two very large gardens (on veggie, one perennials), a huge sun porch, full basement, 3 bedrooms, 2 & 1/4 baths, a wood stove, and a propane mock wood stove. Thus we have dubbed it "the Big house"

So you can see we have plenty of room for all who want to see what middle MT is all about... We have the Snowy Mnts, Judith mnts, and the Missouri breaks surrounding us... There is no lack of recreational opportunities.... Come on out....

What a Wedding...

Pat and I just went to one of the best weddings we have been to yet.... It was up on Teton Pass, a local ski hill. http://www.skitetonpass.com/index.html

Rentals, food, and beer were provided for the entire day... With the wedding guests and participants having the entire hill to themselves. The actual ceremony was at high noon on the front steps to the lodge and lasted not more than 10 min. ( if that) With a lunch of 3 different Chilies and corn bread after. ( yum) Then it was as much skiing and sledding as you could take. I have to say.. I have never been more confused as to what to wear... Wedding attire or ski clothes??? The groom had a tux top with snow pants and ski boots below... The bride was in full ski gear with a white stocking cap.... The get-a-way car was the chair lift with a just married sign and beer cans.... which they then attached to themselves for the ski down the mountain...

Pat was one of the few who chose to sled. Being it was a death wish I chose to stick with skiing.... The sledders were able to ride the lift up to the top of the mountain, then bomb their way down, while trying not to kill themselves or us fellow skiers...

What a fun day.....

On Monday we were in Bozeman catching The Jerry Douglas Band concert.... If any of you get a chance to see them in concert.... you shouldn't pass it up... I had seen Jerry Douglas play with Allison Krauss before, but he is amazing with his own band... I love Allison, but Jerry's fiddle player leaves her in the dust....

Well it's off to play poker tonight at a friend's place. Then over to the "west side" next weekend for some x-country skiing. (Whitefish)