Another round of loved ones hit the woods out here. Steve and Lauren Scheibe, fresh from a 60th birthday trip at an exclusive fishing, and all around activity ranch outside of Missoula called “The Ranch at Rock Creek”, met me at the airport. I had the chance to give their daughters, Dana and Jordan, a big hug and kiss, and after they headed off to security, we headed out to suwarrow. Dinner and a tour and it’s nice to have friends sharing the lodge once again. They brought honey from the ranch, so now we have a selection of local honeys for guests!
Steve got quite a bit of (successful) fishing in over the next couple of days, and every time he returned from a jaunt in Mary Ann, he had a big, shit-eating grin on his face. Don’t think a utv is street legal in Chicago, Steve!
Wednesday afternoon, Nikki and Amir Cohen showed up, after visiting some jewelry stores in Missoula to drum up some business, and a great write-off for visiting me! They arrived bearing gifts from their recent trip to Italy (truffle salt, risotto, excellent hazelnuts and dried porcinis) and lots of lupine seeds for planting around the house. Tired from travel, soon it was naptime.
Amir snoozes in a lower bunk:
That night was a big double-barreled beer can chicken dinner, and the birds looked hysterical, propped up as if they were sitting up telling stories:
A bit of game-playing, then to bed for all. The Cohens chose the Honeybee as their spot, and headed out into the dark for a good night’s rest.
The next morning, boo hoo, Steve and Lauren hit the road after goodbyes and photo ops:
And the Cohens enjoyed morning coffee and reading time on the patio:
We went out to hike Cache Creek and were able to scrounge up about 3/4 cup of huckleberries. A quiet dinner, and the ever-continuing cribbage tournament between Michael and Amir in the background (which lasted the whole visit). Shit-talking, groaning and side-splitting laughter often erupted from wherever they were stationed.
That evening, Lance arrived and then the visit was in full swing. Amir and Lance were put to work as cheap, semi-skilled labor, to help level the patio for rain run-off. Look at those burly bodies!
That night was the long-planned celebratory thank-you dinner for Damian Mast and Chris Chitty, the master builders whose expertise and know-how guided my dream from a pencil drawing into a compound in which a whole lotta fun can be had.
Upon arrival, Damian’s wife, Darcy, handed me a brown cloth wrapped item, with lavender attached. When opened, an unconscious squeal erupted from me as I realized I was now the owner of a 12-gauge shotgun:
it seems like that pro-marksman badge from camp might come in handy!
Lots of laughter, and non-stop Veuve Cliquot all around (5 bottles!) and the chefs are in the kitchen, while the “lobsta killers” were out on the patio cooking up 9 2-lb lobsters that arrived from Maine just that morning:
Nikki and Michael decorated the screened-in patio table with a tablecloth, and then covered the whole thing in plastic. They even cut lobster bibs out of the remaining plastic, and Nikki topped it off with plastic bows on each leg of the table. So festive!
and they all (fall) sit down:
Debi digs in:
the traditional dessert:
Chris and Kaia:
a bit of Guesstures after dinner:
Damian and I:
Chris and I:
As darkness fell, we headed over the the fire ring, where Amir got a hot one going in about 10 minutes, while I rode over to the pump with Mary Ann and a big 5-gallon bucket to fill for putting the fire out. We all enjoyed watching the coals, and did a bit of half-hearted singing, then all fell quiet until it was time to bid our guests adieu. What a night!
Saturday we went for a float down Fish Creek. The usual hike up the road to our put in spot. The creek/river has really dropped from the relatively dry summer, and after the initial put in and walk out, Nikki and I joined together to enjoy the trip downstream. It was so fun because one of us might head into a rock, then the other would swing around downstream and pull her out of it and we’d be spinning around like a great space station! So much fun to be a ping pong…
That evening was mellow, enjoying dinner while watching Dogma, which only Michael and I had seen previously (on Hill Street Blues).
Sunday I cooked breakfast for all and then we divided up; Amir and Michael went on a tubing run down the creek and Nikki, Lance and I dropped them off on our way to hike Cache Creek Trail. It was a lovely 2 1/2 hour hike up, up, up, then down into the magical forest. Down and across the little brook, and winding our way through the meadows and fallen trees until we sat for a spell. Nikki and I were prepared to leave, but Lance wanted a bit more time. And a good thing, too! We heard a noise and saw a couple of white-tailed deer bounding way far away. Evidently it had come close to some other wildlife that wasn’t too happy about it.
We headed back to the car and the house. The Cohens were packed up, photo taken
and we headed into town for dinner at The Shack, then dropped them at the airport. We can’t wait for them to return!