One Bowl, Two Bowl, Three Bowl, Four (aka - The Carrot Cake Saga)

Late summer is, for us, always the busiest and most stressful time of year.  Multiple pack trips in just a few weeks, overnight trips for the club, day rides, etc. all seem to require our attention all at one time.  So, doing the cooking for these events feels never-ending.  I typically try to plan far enough ahead that if I'm going to bake a pie for one trip, I see how many more I may need coming up and do those at the same time in order to be as efficient as possible.  On this particular day, however, I had used up my supply of "back" ... inventory, we'll call it.  So, I had a LOT of cooking/baking/prep to do.  A partial list would be:

3 pies
3 cakes
double batch of cookies
Biscuits
Sausage Gravy
Salad Dressing
Prep for 2 salads
Prep 3 vegetables
Make up sandwich ingredients for 3 days for 6 people (consists of putting meat/cheese together for all 6 sandwiches for each day & then freezing)
Make 3 batches of Garlic-Herb Potatoes
Bake 4 pork tenderloin
Bake 8 chicken breasts
Prep ingredients for wraps (lettuce/tomato/chicken)
Put together 6 lunches
Clean, fill & pack kitchen boxes with all their items
Wrap in foil or plastic, freeze & then wrap again with newspaper, all of the above

So... I had a VERY Busy Day ahead.  I got the meat baking in the oven & wanted to have the cakes ready to go in as soon as those were done.  I decided on Carrot Cakes for this group of trips & knew I needed 1 small cake & 1 large.  So, I figured I'd multiply the recipe by 3 (thinking the recipe was for 1 small cake  - it wasn't).  First problem.... the food processor wouldn't work, so I had to hand grate all the carrots (30) by hand on my cheese grater (yes, I lost some skin).  Finally got all the carrots grated (In the middle of which I put together the cookie batch so THEY could bake since I obviously wasn't going to have the cakes ready)... just ignore the carrot gratings that are EVERYWHERE.

Now it was time to start mixing the cake recipe.  Let's see... I think all those ingredients should fit in my mixer... it'll work out just right.  Ok, have sugar, butter & crisco in.  Wow, that's really full, but I can probably fit in the (12) eggs & water, right?  Well, yeessss.... But.  It fit, but doesn't really allow the mixer to beat it... so as it SLOWLY mixes, I decide to move to a larger bowl & mix by hand.  Yup, that bowl should work for everything.  Add dry ingredients, add creamed sugar/butter... um... wow, that bowl is really full.  I'll just mix very carefully (regardless that the recipe says to beat for 2 minutes at this point).

Ok... well, got that <kinda> mixed.  Now I can add the carrots, raisins & nuts.  Hmmm.... SO not going to fit.  But, the carrots are in a pretty large bowl, maybe if I do it a little at a time, I can make THAT bowl work.

Here's my 3 bowls and a reduced mess (I'd cleaned up a lot of the carrots & overflow by this time)

Ok, got it in there and mixed (sorta).  Time to pour into the pans.  1, 8x8 and 1, 9x12.  Goodness, that made a LOT of batter... I'll get out another 9x12... and add a little more to pan #1... and #2... and yup, #3.

Finally got them all in the oven.  Unfortunately, no pictures but, surprisingly, they all turned pretty well, considering.  :)    So, I went on to finish up the rest of my list... only took a 12 hour kitchen day but any time I actually get it all done, it's worth it.  :)

And, that's how MY summer rolls......

Mid-Summer Updates

Well, here we are smack dab in the middle of Montana's summer.  But, in reality, we're just getting started!  There's always too much snow to really get into the backcountry any earlier than mid-July, so we've spent the last couple weeks getting stuff ready & doing some day rides.  But, as of this week, things kick into high-gear.  We have "rodeo" week coming up, starting Wednesday.  This is something of a misnomer as there IS a rodeo here in the club, but it's just a small time exhibition and mostly just a way to entertain guests & encourage them to do some day rides.  The first overnight pack trip was Thursday/Friday and so Jeff helped with that, while I prepared the food to send along.

So, 10 days ago, we started setting up Cedar Camp. The first work day, Jeff and I hiked in.

 

We spent the day assembling 10 beds & started work on a bridge.

 

On our hike out, we saw lots of beautiful wildflowers.

 

Jeff rode back in just a few days later with Mike & Jodie (owners in the business) and Jesse (a new hire) to put up tents & teepees and pack in mattresses & bedding.  This week we'll be packing in hay and spending a little more time in camp putting the finishing touches on it.

In addition to Cedar Camp prep, we had day rides nearly every day.  I prepped meals & baking, and then Jeff went on the overnight pack trip to Cedar Lakes with 8 guests as well as Tim & Tom.  We've also been working around the ranch here, moving horses to fresh grass every couple days, taking care of the many potted flowers, running irrigation, etc.  Today we built a firepit (pictures later), cut wood and watched it rain.  We've had a LOT of rain lately which is good for the grass!

Tomorrow, we have a busy busy day.  Church in the a.m. (music is going to be AWESOME), then meet with the seller to get Ben's truck, then back to Big Sky so Jeff can attend an Elder's meeting, then he has to be in West Yellowstone by 10pm for a hood cleaning!  Monday will be filled up with Jeff sleeping late (he won't get home till 4 or 5 am at least), then taking the diesel in to be repaired, and coordinating with Tim as he is considering the purchase of a sleigh or team for this winter.  

Starting Wednesday (as noted above) we get very busy with trail rides, overnight camps, etc.  And, our owners should be back in town any day & will also want rides up here at the ranch.  We LOVE summer!

SO... Does it still sound romantic?

Jasmine, Jasmine, Jasmine.... I love my pretty paint mare (most of the time, but more on that later).  She's high-strung, but oh so sweet.  She doesn't bite, kick or buck; she isn't mean to the other horses; she's got many gears to choose from, the most useful being her high-gear walk in which she can outwalk most other non-gaited horses (a gaited horse would be something like a Tennesee Walker or Paso Fino - those who are bred & trained to walk exceptionally fast).  We use that fast walk when we are anxious to get to a destination, by putting her out front to set the pace.  We like it SOMETIMES (but more on that later).

I enjoy riding her because she pretty much will go anywhere I point her, she loves to travel, she's stout & strong & can go all day.  And she's SMART which sounds great, but not always (more on THAT later).  These are all traits that we find very useful and appealing (most of the time, but more on that later).

Here she is, laying down this morning, because she's very tired (but more on that later).....

 

As I mentioned in my last blog, we recently bought a hood cleaning business and have been very busy with that in addition to all our other commitments.  Tuesday, we got up early & headed to Bozeman for errands & then that night he drove to Ennis for a night job at a restaurant there.  He got home around 5am and grabbed around 4-5 hours sleep.  Then, up and at 'em again.  We had a lot of cleaning to do here at the ranch after having guests in the main house for a solid week.  Each day we put the horses in smaller areas to eat down grass around buildings and to help save the grass in the pasture, so that was first on the list.  I also did bookwork and caught up on some things online & housework in our own cabin.  Then, I worked on cleaning the guest house, Jeff was draining / cleaning hot tub, mowing & weed-eating, we ran to the laundromat to wash his nasty laundry from the hood cleaning (NOT doing it in our washer/dryer!), hauled garbage to the dump, etc.  

On our way home, we come around a corner to find Bendigo broke down on the side of the road, so we worked on getting him home & the problem solved.  At 5-ish, we finally came in & sat down & Jeff decided he needed a nap & headed to the cabin to rest.  Ben & I were discussing going to a movie when we heard a commotion outside.  No, it wasn't Santa Claus - we saw horses running willy-nilly outside - NOT in their pens.  Two were still in the pen by our buildings but the other 4 were heads-up, cantering along the fence, causing havoc.  I hollered at Ben & we ran outside & he went downhill (to try & cut off Jasmine & Chex) and I went up hill (to get Mel & Blaze).  NONE of them were interested in cooperating.  As I was running my two back down the fence for the 3rd time to try & get them back in their pen, Jeff heard the noise & came out & helped me get them into the pen with the two we still had.  But... no sign of Bendigo & our two horses so I went looking.  Found him on his way back, and no sign of the equines.  We quickly deduced that the extra chain hadn't been replaced on the gate to their pen and my very smart mare is a wizard at opening gates that aren't double or triple locked.  She had opened it & let the other 3 out, then headed down hill.  

Ok, so for a little info on horses here:  A horse that gets out typically does one of two things:

A - go looking for the nearest other horses & stand there close to where they're at.

B- wander downhill a little ways & then drop their head & start eating

As Jasmine (and Chex although I won't mention him much as he's a follower), were obviously NOT interested in the other horses, we decided we'd hop on the Ranger & try to get below where they were most likely to have stopped to eat & then push them back up the hill or catch them.  So, off the 3 of us go (with NO supplies except halters & treats).  We went some ways down the hill & find nothing but tracks.  So, we came back to the ranch, & started tracking them.  When we realized that Jaz had decided to go further than is typical, we sent Ben back to get the Ranger again and my phone.  Jeff & I tracked them to where they'd come out to the road & Ben picked us up there.  

As we were headed down the road, we get a call from the Security Gate.  I answered with "YES, we're missing horses and headed your way, will be there in a few minutes".  The guard laughed & said "Ok.  They're hanging out here by the guard cabin".  "Great!  We'll be there in two minutes".

Two minutes later, the guard is explaining how the horses WERE there, but had headed downhill again... ARE YOU KIDDING ME???  So.. off we go again.

I drop Jeff & Ben at a gated logging road down the mountain further where we hope they can get below the horses by jogging back towards where they headed down.  I went back up by the guard station and started tracking them downhill.

Ok, another side note:  Remember when I said how Jaz will go anywhere?  And that she's strong?  And fast?  NOT so happy with that at this point.  She was headed STRAIGHT downhill... a VERY STEEP downhill - and moving fast.  

I meet up with Jeff & Ben on the logging road & we've missed the horses... Jaz is STILL headed straight down with no stopping. So, again, we decide to split up - he'll head downhill with Ben to keep tracking them & I'll go BACK UP & get the ranger & meet up with them somewhere.  I FINALLY get back up the hill (sweating, gasping, and in pain).  I decided to call Ben (b/c remember that Jeff doesn't have a phone) and see what Jeff thinks about me going back to the ranch & getting my pickup, water & binoculars so I can try to get to a vantage point & get a bead on them.  He says great, he'd finally gotten to the bottom of the ravine & the horses appeared to be headed UPSTREAM (WHAT?  Horses go DOWNHILL when given the choice - except for Jaz, obviously).

So, off I go to grab that stuff (but not Jeff's phone b/c I'm an idiot some days).  As I got back down to where I was going to start trying to glass, Ben calls & says stop, they can see me & are close & are coming up the road to meet me.  A few minutes later they appear and Jeff says "Can you see her?"  "No" I answer, thinking he's lost her.  "She's right there!" he says, and I'm looking up & down the very wooded canyon wondering how he can see her through the trees. "NO... Look UP" he says... "NO.. HIGHER" he yells... and there she is up on the ridge across the creek... (Poor Chex panting slowing along behind her as she trots back & forth trying to get him to speed up).  What stupid horse goes back UPHILL especially when it's REALLY steep & thick with trees, downed timber & brush?

Ok, new plan:  Ben will stay here with the binoculars where he can keep an eye on them & will report to us.  Jeff & I take off in the pickup to get to the other side of the canyon & try to find how we can get down to that logging road that she's on & see if we can cut her off.  After visiting with the guards on that side, I drop him off at a location where he can drop off the ridge & get to the road.  I go up over the hill & park part way down on the OTHER side & start jogging down the trail to try & get to the logging road so we can catch her in between us.  Of course, the hillside down to that logging road is a lot higher / further than I anticipated AND it's VERY steep.  So, I slip & slide my way down & finally hit the road.  About that time, Ben calls & says Jeff's got the horses.  GREAT.. glad he does, but he's GOING THE WRONG WAY.... away from me, not towards, so how am I going to get off this mountain without the horses?  He has no phone so I can't coordinate with him, my knee is shot, I'm exhausted & there is NO WAY I'm climbing back up to the truck.  Walking the same direction as Jeff is going means probably a two-hour hike... but I can see the corrals at the end of the road I'm on, that belong to Spanish Peaks and are about 1 minutes walk from my friend's Marie's house.  So, I call her but she's in Big Sky having dinner.  The angel agrees to leave & come home to pick me up at the end of the road & drive me back up to my pickup.  FANTASTIC. 

So, I get in the pickup & go to where I dropped Jeff off, (thinking, reasonably, that he'd come back out there).  Nope... I talk to Ben again and find out that Jeff hadn't actually caught both horses, he'd caught one & was following Jaz as she walked away from him, up the canyon.  Ugh... Ok, I guess I'll try & figure out where that road comes out up-canyon & see if I can intercept them there.  

Wait... a phone call coming in from Marie?  "Hello?"  "Guess who's at my house?" she asks... yup, you guessed it!  JEFF.  He had actually ended up catching Jaz & he also decided those corrals were the easiest closest option & headed back that direction.  Somehow Ben had missed the direction change.  All in All... I'm guessing Jaz had gone down around 1,000 feet & then back up around 750... all STRAIGHT down & STRAIGHT back up...

So, finally, horses were in the Spanish Peaks corrals, Jeff was at Marie's, I picked up Ben from the side of the road, we ran back to the ranch & got the horse trailer, went & picked up Jeff & loaded the horses (amazingly they both loaded into our TINY trailer that we've never had two horses in), and drove them home (with my little F150 - I love my truck.. it doesn't run away, go up hills, open gates....)

And, so we're all home safe & sorta sound.  I'm lamed up with a very sore knee... Jaz is exhausted in the pasture... and Jeff's off to another hood cleaning job this a.m.  W

We live a VERY romantic and fun life....

Ready.... Set.... Go!

Well, we survived the winter in great shape and are headed into summer season with a full plate!  We spent the snow months plowing snow at the ranch & for the town of Big Sky (Jeff) and making coffee and meals at several jobs (Sara).  As most of you know by now, as spring neared, God handed us an opportunity and made it clear that we would be not only ill-advised but ungrateful to NOT take it!  So, we purchased a hood cleaning business... about the furthest thing from what we ever planned to do, as you could imagine.  So, for 12-16 weeks a year (spring & fall months) we'll be cleaning commercial kitchen exhaust hoods & kitchens.  It's a great opportunity as those are times of year that the local economy pretty much shuts down and little work can be found.  It has great income potential and has been going great guns.  I'll post some pictures and more details on what we do at a later date.

BUT... now summer is here!  We've just returned from a LONG (18 day) road trip to pick up Bendigo from his AIT graduation at Ft. Eustice VA, and visiting friends & family, as well as sight-seeing, along the way.  And... this week we'll finish up our last few hood jobs and next week will head into our first passion - horses!

A week ago last Tuesday, we spent the day checking out some new areas with our outfitter boss & checking in with our Cedar Camp location.

  

 Eating lunch

Headed Out

The other highlights of the week include:

Our a.m. visitors the other morning:

On Friday, we had our 4 leased horses delivered.  Meet Tupper (as in Tupperware for his dished face), Mel (for his ML brand), Enoch (for his EN brand) and Blace (for his blaze face).

And then, yesterday, Jasmine & Chex came to join them.  And, the BIG news... Friday Jasmine will get a little mule bun in her oven to cook until next spring!  Very excited!  Plan on some sort of "J" name for what I plan on being my last equine.  Since I already have "Josie" and "Jasmine", it seems like "Jezebel" or "Jasper" or "Jedediah" or "Jubal" are good choices.  But we have lots of time.  :)

So, that's the update so far.  We start into the horse work full time next week so will hopefully have lots of news throughout the summer.  Hope you're all full swing into the lovely summer months!

P.S.... One other fun thing.. Jeff made this great "Montana Canopy Bed" frame this winter & we just took pictures to post it online for sale.  Thought it would be cool to take some "location" pictures with it.  So, packed it outside & put bedding on it & got Tupper (and kind of Jasmine) to pose with it.  What do you think?