Elk Sushi and a "Meat" and Greet

Busy little travelers we have been! Last weekend we made a quick trip to Missoula, Alberton, Spokane and back again. All in 3 days. We started the trip off by visiting Peter's and (one of my) alma maters - the University of Montana (Go Grizzlies!). Cousin Loni is doing her Masters work there, so we got to visit with her a bit and see where she is living now. Oh, how we miss her!

The campus tour wore Matine out! She slept through the tour of the library (no surprise there).

We then strolled through downtown Missoula. Matine had a much better ride than I. I didn't plan ahead and wore my Frye boots with super thick hiking socks. Can you say broken feet and bruised toes? They are wonderful boots, but not meant to do a 6 mile walk in.

After our Missoula tour, we joined our friends John and Jen at their quaint cabin in the woods of Alberton (25 miles west of Missoula). They live waaaayyyy back there, about 8 miles on a dirt road if I am not mistaken. You see or hear nothing but snow, animals and the sound of the wind. LOVELY home for a lovely couple!

Matine got her groove on and loved touring around their place -- with a REAL crawl... No more stomach dragging. This doesn't last long. She still prefers to stand and walk with assistance these days. Crawling on all fours is for the birds (or dogs?)

SUSHI! Oh how we love it. Especially Montana style. Since buying sushi grade seafood can be a bit scary and trying in Alberton, we rolled us some elk, bacon and smoked salmon. Yum....

Jen and Matine, enjoying their morning coffee and sippy cup of water.

John "whipped together" the BEST pancakes I have ever had in my entire life. Seriously, still dreaming of them. He shared his sourdough starter with us, so maybe the Howells too can have some delicious huckleberry sourdough flapjacks sometime soon (or when huckleberry picking season comes around again).

The view out their window. Yes, their hot tub sits on their own little private creek!

We had to keep moving. Busy schedule to keep. It was westward to Spokane, Washington for the SCI (Safari Club International) Banquet. We donated a Montana elk hunting trip to the cause and got to be there in person to meet and greet the carnivorous crowd and talk about Willow Ranch Outfitting.

We had to stop at Cabela's - the World's Foremost Outfitter- of course! Matine LOVES the fish tank and taxidermied (word?) animals! Momma needed to stretch her legs!

Whoa, Is that the Elusive Moose we read about?

Friends and colleagues, Steve Jones of Gamefinders.com, Peter, Matine and Ray Bunny at the Show!

Matine was HUGE draw at the table. Who needs dead animals to attract hunters? Really, a cute baby waving brochures gets them every time! These guys are softies at heart... really.

Ray and Pete talking about the quality and excitement of hunting in the Lee Metcalf montana wilderness with Willow Ranch Outfitters!

Dee and Steve were gracious enough to let us stay at their place in Spokane! We had NEVER met these folks, and only talked on the phone through GameFinders. They were so kind and so much fun! What a great alternative to the Motel 6, eh? This is the view from their back porch.

Steve was psyched to show Pete his "man cave." This place takes "man's quarters" to a whole new level. Obviously, he likes to hunt.

Matine a bit shocked and mesmerized by the horns - everywhere!

Matine loved their cat - more her size of animal. She woke up, immediately started waving at the deer in the yard and chasing the cat all over the bed.

Why isn't this kitty chasing me?

Thanks Friends and Strangers

Thanks Melynda for pimping out your blog for Willow Ranch Outfitting. SEE, friends and strangers in strange countries from all over the world... It's not hard to tell your friends about our super cool hunting, fishing and horsepack trips.

Now, tell 10 friends about us, see what happens! The Fjords thank you!

Photo Courtesy of MORE friends of Willow Outfitters - Grif and Jacqueline

Real Live Hunting Moment to Make You Laugh

This is not staged or a joke. This was really taken by our hunter during our last week of Hunting Camp. Our very own Keegan Isaly is the guy/guide "taking the picture" in the video and hunter Steve is well, you will just have to watch. I hope you have an empty bladder.

Western Extreme & Adventures Abroad

Well, week 1 of archery camp are over. They were VERY successful and everyone left "happy campers." They have already committed to coming again next year!

They raved about the accommodations, the food and the entire staff.

The staff - Jim, Josh and Keegan were all GREAT! It was Keegan's (Jacqueline's brother) first time guiding and apparently he did an awesome job! On his very first day -on his own- he led his hunters to a bull, called it in, they shot it, and he quartered and packed it out --- all at the ripe age of 20! Yay for Montana kids growing up in the wilderness.

I think the entire group learned ALOT from these hunters - they are definitely professionals and have a ton of experience hunting, filming, traveling. They even "tipped" Josh and Keegan with brand new bows! Not a shabby tip!

As I mentioned, this group of hunters came with a camera crew and they filmed footage for a few of their nationally syndicated hunting shows. You will soon see the footage, Peter, Keegan, Josh, Jim and the hunters on the Outdoor Channel!

Here are some images of the week - there will surely be more to come!

The Gang - Peter, Jeff, Keegan, Keith, Jim, Ray, Jim, Josh, Randy and another Josh (Travis was taking the picture)

Packing out the gear and horns

The Western Extreme Crew - Josh, Jim, Keith, Randy and Ray

The kills.

Apparently they do alot of this between noon and 3 each day.

Peter missing his wife and longing to see her.

Travis set up and waiting for a shot.

Jim Burnworth and his 6x6 bull from the first day.

Elk down!

Randy and Jim Burnworth - the father/son camera and hunting team.

The boys goofing off in the cook tent.

Pete was home for 19 hours

It has been crazy around this place lately. Reason #1 that my blogging has been pretty lame (as noted by some anonymous blogger who says "my ratings are slipping").

So, quick update - Pete has been in since the 20th of October. Prepping for week one of rifle season and he is now into week 2 of rifle. We are happy to report that EVERY SINGLE HUNTER in week one got an elk - that is 100% success folks - that does NOT happen very often with guided hunting trips. To say we are thrilled is an understatement! Please send your friends to us for a hunt next year!

We have amazing friends working for us this year - Billy B. guiding and Russell E. being camp chef extraordinaire and packing out the kills. No injuries, great weather (almost too good), dead elk, happy clients!

So, week one ended last Friday night and week two started Saturday night. Pete was home to do 3 loads of laundry, catch me up on all these fun facts, and then we had a Memorial Service to attend in Bozeman for a dear friend on Saturday, then he was off again from the Service. Home exactly 19 hours.
Just a random Bozeman shot --- part of our 19 hour time together in the truck.

My hottie hubbie during our 19 hour rendevous.


I will see him (and Oliver and Gaucho) again in another 2 weeks.

I have been keeping myself busy by training at my new winter job - bar tending and waitressing at the best restaurant in Livingston - the 2nd Street Bistro. LOTS to learn... They did well hiring a pregnant bartender - I won't be drinking ANY of their fancy high priced booze!

I have NEVER in my entire life (college included) not had a daytime job or something I had to be doing.... This is a strange feeling for me - part pure gluttonous and luxurious, part driving me mad with guilt of something. I have completely torn out our guest room / baby room closet and rearranged, moved Pete's clothes, hung up baby things, organized the baby's dresser with it's diapers, blankets, 0-6 month clothes. Laurie gave me loads of baby stuff - clothes, cloth diapers, shoes, blankets, chairs, etc... I needed to get through it and organize it.

More things to store, sort and go through!

HALF of the load that Laurie gave us --- FILLED with clothes!

Pete will be thrilled to see I have moved his t-shirt to a new dresser, shared with me!

The start of the closet! Look at the cute tiny stuff!

I have also been getting to hang out with my friends again! So nice. Yesterday I took a coffee cake (homemade - so much fun) to Laurie's for coffee and visiting. I ended up staying for lunch and the morning coffee quickly turned into 3:00pm! I have really missed my friend!

At Laurie's house - brad enjoying coffee cake with us while waiting for the trash truck (very cool truck!)

The night before last Loni, Marni and Jacqueline came over. We watched a movie and made a delicious dinner (courtesty of a great recipe from my brother Clark - BTW - contrary to the picture I posted previously, which got very mixed reviews, he is NOT gay!)

Lee and Abby and Libby had me over for dinner and Dancing with the Stars last night. I brought Libby my old My Little Pony house and Ice Cream Parlor - she loved it.

Brutus and I today will be going to Bozeman for a new haircut / color and some shopping! I need a change from my sloppy ugly mop of a head (pictures to come soon)!

What NOT to do when you are 12 weeks pregnant.

I have been in a bit of denial. Not that I am having a baby, I am completely aware of that and very excited. I am in denial that I am pregnant and affected by a complete body take over.

I want to be one of those women who glides right through her pregnancy, still running, skiing, doing everything like normal with the addition of a perfect Hollywood Halle Berry Baby Bump.

While this mindset has I think helped make the first trimester a breeze and very easy ('"that wasn't morning sickness, no not me, it was just a bad brand of toothpaste and it tasted funny"), it has also caught up with me a bit.

I haven't slowed down much (yes, mom, I am still taking care of myself), I still think I can do everything I would normally do (and I can to some extent), but things I learned these last for days while trying to be the old "hard working tough" Brooke on horseback in a wilderness elk camp in the snow.

1. Carhartt pants don't fit a girl well on a good day, and they are extremely uncomfortable when your belly is getting bigger. I had to leave them unzipped the entire time.

2. Sleepless nights as a pregnant lady in a tent, on a cot, in 30 degrees IS worse than a sleepless night in your bed.

3. Green horses that don't know how to stop yet are BAD to ride while carrying an unborn baby. (I had an internal emotional meltdown for 6 miles in and out - I couldn't wait to get off that horse, nor will I likely be getting on another one unless it is 20 years old and can barely trot).
*** Watching Storrs (our partner in business) get bucked off his horse that "has never bucked" and shatter his collar bone this weekend was enough to scare me Sh*#less.

4. Hand sawing 2 cords of wood with your stressed husband while you are emotional and EXHAUSTED AND PRETENDING NOT TO BE is miserable.

5. Your growing boobs are ALWAYS in the way.

6. You really shouldn't (and don't) lift large sections of a tree or heavy objects, but you feel like a wimp having to ask someone else to do it.

7. When all you want to do is nap and you can't b/c you only have 2 more hours of daylight and 2 more tents to set up, you HAVE to work your tail off.

8. You get NO sympathy from the 2 men you are with if you are in elk camp.

9. Anything you eat is cooked in bacon grease (hurl).

10. It's just not the ideal timing to be there. Period. Take my word for it.

** disclaimer - friends and family - I AM taking care of myself and unborn baby, I let Pete lift heavy things, eat great, exercise and follow all suggested instruction for pregnant people. No need to worry. I will also NOT be on horses any more. That was a bit stupid.

Elk Camp - Archery Week 1

The first week of Elk Camp with Willow Ranch Outfitters included some special hunters - a couple of our best friends- Mike Cox and Matt Blank, along with Mike's dad George.

These are some pics they took - they are great! Check them out at the Cox's Picasa Web Albums.

We go in next week for 3 more weeks of hunting fun!

The Set Up is all the fun

FOR SALE: ONCE IN A LIFETIME, BACK COUNTRY, WORK EXPERIENCES TO BLOW YOUR SOCKS OFF AND HAVE YOU BEGGING FOR MORE!

If you haven't ever done a back country trip for the purposes of "working", on horse back 11 miles into the wilderness, with your husband and your best friends . . .Pack your bag and strengthen your riding muscles - I highly recommend it. We broke our backs working hard, slept like babies (even when we thought there were bears coming into our tent), saw some pretty amazing wildlife in action and took in some of the prettiest country on the Planet.

Micca (as my dad refers to her - "my B-F") and her hilarious husband Josh came to Montana for a week to "work" and help us set up camp for the hunters coming this fall. They endured being bossed around by Pete, lugging heavy objects, cutting firewood with hand saws, dragging trees down the hillside, sleeping in wall tents, setting up temporary fencing, setting up very awkward, heavy and confusing canvas tents, riding horses, cooking meals with barrel stoves and makeshift ovens, and well . . . I don't think they would have called it work or painful. They LOVED every minute of it and have decided to make camp set-up their yearly vacation!

The irony of it all is that this is OUR JOB now... Work is rough, just another day in our office.

It is really fun. And here's a few reasons why:

You get to learn how to pack hundreds and hundreds of pounds and awkward things on the side and backs of horses . . . using all sorts of fancy boy scout knots. Just the packing can take up to 3 hours many days.

You have to hand weigh everything before it goes on the horse so it doesn't work itself off on the 2 hour ride in.

You then unpack it all and immediately start setting it all up... using what you can find laying in the woods. (Notice the precarious "stool" Pete is using to stand on... Had I done that I would have been checked for sharp objects and yelled at immediately)

Ah, but you get to see your hard work at the end of the day... those are 2 of the client sleep tents at our camp. Aren't they great???

Then, you are starving and you can eat a kielbasa meal meant for 12 all in one night.

Coffee on the "veranda" while watching bull elk and cows each morning sure isn't shabby for Micca.

But, then it's back to work again. We needed about 3 cords of wood cut for the first week of camp. Lots of fires to burn! We must use horses to drag the logs down and hand saws to cut it all - we are in a designated Wilderness area you know! Nothing comes easy.

You get to make fun of your best friend and wife b/c she has stove pipe grease and oil all over her face - ALL DAY!

Ah, that break again... Sure is nice to watch the horses graze and see those elk bugling and doing "elky" things on the hillside - not to mention the freakishly amazing 70 degree weather and sunshine!

They got to watch a husband / wife slowly learn to be a "team" and work together under great pressure and exhaustion... SO FUN! Is he hugging or strangling me? Not sure.

Here is the super husband / wife duo . . . MY favorite people on earth.

It was always fun to see what antics the horses were up to. Can you pick out your favorite? Hee hee.

More elk watching before dinner. With a Willow Ranch cocktail of course - Tang and Jack Daniels. Yum...

You never see this kind of thing on the Discovery Channel folks.

Brooke doing something stupid I am sure... Josh noticing.

We did take a break from the back breaking labor to take a ride into the hills and scout out some more elk . . .

We rode through an enchanted forest . . .

And to beautiful hillsides where we could see the Grand Teton and the Tetons in the distance.

And there really isn't anything better than being with you best friend . . . (Notice the new matching Willow Ranch Outfitting hats?)

It is very nice to look at your handi - work and see HOW COOL your cook tent looks after a million minor adjustments, some organization, an extra center pole, and a little womanly TLC.

Now, don't forget to carry your bear gun. . . That really is what that is for.

And, of course . . . Sleep. To sleep at dark and up at dawn. Ready for another day.

Did I mention we drank a lot of Tang?

You can see ALL the pics here.