A Scarecrow, A Ghost and A Presto-bot 2007

Angela made the kids Halloween costumes this year. I think she did a great job! The kids sure liked them.

I just couldn't fix Spencers 'red-eye'! The photo is better with it! ;-) (Click on the picture to see it better, it really is worth it)!

Photos taken: October 31, 2007

Pumkin Carvers Extraodinaire

We had a family night of pumpkin carving. The boys took off their shirts and Ruby put one of Dads old t-shirts on.

The lids were cut off and the cleaning of the seeds and meat began.

Ideas were drawn on paper and once the perfect design was chosen it was drawn on the pumpkin. Then the carving began!

Shortly thereafter the finished jack-o-lanterns are put on display. The kids get to take them to school tomorrow for the annual pumpkin contest! (Hope mom doesn't notice the bottom of Spencers boot!)

Photos taken: October 30, 2007

A View From the Other Side

Salt River Range (East Side)

I have been spending a lot of time hunting lately. Today I was hiking high up in the North Fork of Sheep Creek. Sheep Creek is in the Wyoming Range. I snapped this picture of the east side of the Salt River Range. Star Valley is west of the Salt River Range. Grey's River runs between the Wyoming Range and the Salt River Range.

Photo taken: October 29, 2007

Grape Weenies

This recipe has been a family favorite for a very long time. My mother-in-law makes these Delicious weenies for many occasions. From summer picnics to New Years Eve these weenies are sure to please! Yummy!

Not an Elk

Last night, near sundown, Ruby, Spencer, and I went for a short ride on the South End. I took along my rifle in case we happened upon an elk. We saw 5 dear, and 4 moose. This cow moose, with her snowy muzzle, posed for a quick photo.

Photo taken: October 21, 2007

First Snow

Preston and Spencer

Preston

Spencer

We woke up to 5" of fresh snow this morning! It is the first decent accumulation of the season, so the boys were chomping at the bit! They just had to go play. I had to make an early morning trip to the shed to dig out the sleds. It is hard to imagine that anyone could be so excited to have snow!

Photo taken: October 21, 2007

In Memory Of

Today I attended the funeral of Craig Berger. He is the husband of my cousin Linda. He was a very big man. I am not sure how tall he was, but he was well over 6'6". His shoe size was 18 EEEE. He died at the very early age of 52 of heart failure. Besides his wife Linda, he has left behind three children, the oldest 16 years of age.

I saw many relatives today that I have not seen in years. The last time I saw many of them was at another funeral. That of my Grandfather in 1998. One cousin I have not seen in at least 20 years. I have seen most of cousins, aunts and uncles at various family reunions and such, but there is a handful, it seems, that only show up when someone has passed.

It is hard to know what to say to a family that has just lost their father. It is comforting to know that they have faith that families are forever and they know they will be reunited once again. Craig certainly seems to have left us much to soon. Today tears were shed, but not because he is gone, but because he will be missed until the day he and his family will be together again.

Our prayers go out to Linda, Brian, Aaron, and Aria. My god bless.

Butt Warmer

Before I left for work this morning I found Preston by the heater. Apparently his backside was cold! I couldn't resist - I had to grab the camera and snap a shot! He didn't even know I was there.

Photo taken: October 18, 2007

Smoky Canyon Mine

Smoky Canyon has a new website! It has been created in response to negative publications and media adds by Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's) and environmental groups such as the Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC).

Check it out! You can click Here or on the picture above. It will take you to the sight.

The phosphate at Smoky Canyon is used to make fertilizers. But check out what else phosphate from SE Idaho is used for by clicking here. A small sample of products include coca cola, baking soda, round-up weed killer, and many many more. Find out what else here!

Hawaiian Chicken Wings

I love chicken wings. Mostly hot wings, but I have tried them all. I eat a batch of wings at least once a week.

This recipe is one of my favorites. It is not very hot at all, even with the jalapeno peppers, but it sure is good. They are MUCH BETTER when they are HOT AND FRESH. They just are not as good when they are cold or re-heated.

Enjoy!

Spooky Birthday

Ruby and Destiny are on their way out the door to a Birthday/Costume party. It is Skylar Findley's birthday! What better day to have a costume party than the 13th?

Ruby has wanted to be a scarecrow for Halloween for sometime now. Angela helped her put together her costume. I think she did an excellent job!

Photo taken: October 13, 2007

UPDATE: Ruby came home from the party with a 1st prize for her costume! She was pretty jazzed!

Large Small Mouth

West and I grew up together in Ruth. In the early 80's we both ended up living in Elko for a time, and we use to pal around there together. We then both moved back to Ruth at about the same time. We have done a lot of fishing together over the years, and have some pretty good tales to tell. Late 1989 I moved to Fallon. Shortly thereafter West and his wife Bonnie moved to Oregon. He and his family still live there. We have kept in touch all these years and recently he sent me this photo of his small mouth bass that he caught on the Umpqua river. It weighted in at 3.5 lbs. West knows how to get the most out of his fish photo's! A very nice fish!

Photo published with permission from West.

Niece Jessie

My Niece Jessica (Howes) Hussey surprised me with a photo of her and her two boys, Zackery and Devon. I can not believe how big they are!

Jessie and her family live in Carlin Nevada. She is the daughter of Randy and Angie.

I have posted the photo with her permission.

Antelope Steak Deluxe

I have never cared much for Antelope. When Angela told me she was making Antelope for dinner tonight, I wasn't very thrilled; However, when dinner was served I was pleasantly surprised. It was very good.

The recipe is from the book above. This is another book that I acquired from Mr. Behling.

Soccer 2007 Comes to and End

Ruby

Ruby played very well this year. She has developed a lot of skills the past couple of years and she uses her head. She can out dribble many of the boys in the league, and can work the ball around, or through them. She plays her position on defense, and therefore often makes the stop.

Preston

Preston has drive. He is always ahead of the pack and always going for the ball. Position means little to him at this point; He wants to be in the action, and hustles to the ball. He needs to practice his sportsmanship. When he makes the play, he lets everyone know!

Spencer

Spencer loves to have fun. He is the kid that is doing cartwheels down the field behind the play. He is as happy doing somersaults as he is making a goal. He does great when the ball comes his way, but if it doesn't he makes his own action!

Photos by: Lasting Impressions Photography - Star Valley

My Hunting Partner

Ruby joined me for a quick ride in the hills tonight, after we had dinner. I took this picture of her just before sundown. We didn't see any elk but had a blast none the less.

Photo Taken: October 8, 2007

Just for Grandpa

Spencer just had to have his shirt posted so Grandpa could see it! I should have taken the picture before dinner!

Photo Taken: October 7, 2007

Winter Has Arrived in Star Valley?

Behind Our House

We had a storm move through yesterday afternoon and last night. It left a dusting of the white stuff for us to enjoy. I am sure that our wonderful fall weather is not quite done yet. I do enjoy fall.

Photo taken: Oct 7, 2007

Fall Has Arrived in Star Valley

Bedford

Near Bedford

'The Narrows'

Star Valley takes on a whole new look once the color of fall arrives. The maples had turned to brilliant red before my Yellowstone adventure, but the aspen and other trees 'turned' while I was away, making our home coming seem as if we were gone a lot longer than we were.

Photos taken: October 5, 2007

A Little More Yellowstone

A few more pictures from our great Yellowstone adventure!

A Bridge Over the Yellowstone River

Jed, Whompa, Doug, and Mike

Hawks Rest is in the background

Whompa, Doug, and Ted

Tommy (Our Guard against Bears)! and Jed

Jed Putting up the Electric Fence

Our Tent on A Cold Monday Morning

Hawks Rest

Photos taken Sept 22 - Sept 30, 2007

Randy's Goat

You may remember sometime back I had mentioned that Randy was lucky enough to draw a Nevada Mountain Goat tag. Well he had a successful hunt!

Randy with his Goat

Brother Jared with his Spotting Scope

Tony Gomez (Randy's Brother-n-Law) and Randy with his Goat

Photos taken by others

Yellowstone Adventure

I am back!

I have spent the last 10 days on an adventure of sorts. Myself and five others went on a pack trip into the Wyoming wilderness. We left from Turpin Meadows, North of Jackson, and packed 28 miles to Hawks Rest, near Bridger Lake, just South of Yellowstone National Park. Our camp was on the Yellowstone River. We took 6 horses and 6 mules. We went to hunt. I had licenses for elk, deer, and black bear.

Taking a Break

This photo was taken near the half way point to our camp. This is near the continental divide, at Two Ocean Pass. This picture is on Pacific Creek. Atlantic Creek is just over the divide. Read here why Two Ocean Pass is so unique!

Animals Enjoying a Rest

Falcon Creek is in the background. Falcon Creek is where we did most of our hunting. On the right side (north) of the canyon is in Yellowstone National Park. The left side (south) is where we hunted.

Robert (Whompa) Roberts, and Jed Miller

Spotting animals from camp. We saw many elk within the park boundaries. Not many out of the park. Smart are they not?

A Bull Moose Wonders By Camp

This moose is on the banks of the Yellowstone River. I took the photo from our tent.

Photos Taken: Sept 21 - Sept 29, 2007