Pig Hunt Corine,Utah

Robert is so excited to be sharing these pictures with you. River Bend Trophy Hunts offers a guided pig (half farrel half Russian boar) hunt in Corine Utah and after several years of wishing Robert got together Kyle Evans, Chris Andersen, and Jeremy Shaw to start saving their pennies and after several months of planning the date was finally here. Like kids anticipating the holidays, the guys spent their free time this week sighing in guns and bows, buying new gear(arrows, bow strings, and ammo was all I allowed Robert to buy otherwise he would have owned half of Cabelas) and checking the weather for only a few hours of fun, with a life time of great hunting stories to go along with it. Unfortunately Jeremy had to have shoulder surgery and was not fully recovered enough to shoot a gun but was nice enough to ask another buddy of ours, Gadas to shoot the pig for him and split the meat.

This morning at 8 A.M sharp, 8 of us, Robert, Kyle and Erin (Kyles better looking half), Chris, Jeremy (who wasn't going to miss out on a good time and seeing his pig go down) and his girlfriends son Elijah, Gadas and I piled into two trucks and headed north. With tons B.S. along the way no one in Chris vehicle or Kyles for that matter, noticed till 13 miles past our exit that we were at the I-84/I-15 split off and rapidly approaching the Idaho boarder with few chances to exit and get back on. Before we knew it Chris had the Dodge truck in a sliding illegal U-turn on one of those emergency vehicle only dirt pull outs between the two directions of the freeway and instantly heading south back towards our exit. It was like a scene out of Dukes of Hazard and may I state no one needed to use the little boys/girls room when they got to Bert's Diner for breakfast.

Gadas in the back seat of Chris's Dodge, hung over, but ready to hunt!!!

Erin at Bert's for breakfast.

Kyle hangin' at Bert's ( I actually got a picture!!!)

Jeremy and Elijah drinking coco and coffee, waiting on breakfast.

We spent an hour hangin' at Bert's and eating a delicious breakfast before heading to the Sinclair in Corine to meet our guide, Lee. Worried all week that we were going to get rained on, have horrible winds and eventually have it start snowing, after having 70 weather all week and then seeing Lee pull up in a truck COVERED in mud we were all worried we were in for a muddy day. The ride out to the hunting area covered the two trucks with mud, but at least they looked like country boy trucks instead of city slickers just trying to look cool in their camo. Lucky the weather held of just long enough for the group to find four picks in a bunch. Gadas used a 300 WFS, and shot his pig square between the eyes. Kyle shot his pig using a 50 cal black powder muzzle loader. They both dropped their pigs. Robert and Chris had to work for their two since they were using their bows. Robert shot his from about 25 yards putting his arrow clean through the pig and puncturing his liver and lungs in the process. Even though the pig was fatally wounded her had to shoot again to keep it from going into the Bear River. His second shot landed just behind the ear (right were the guide told the guys shooting guns to aim and telling Robert it was near impossible to hit with a bow) Chris, however, had to shoot 6 times....his sow was stubborn and relentless . The rest of us carried gear, cameras and camcorders and caught the whole thing on film and video. The weather held off just long enough for the guys to get their pigs down and then it started to get windy and sprinkle. Lee gut all the pigs and was extremely grossed out when Gadas asked to take a bite out of his pigs heart to satisfy a $1,000 bet with friend that he wouldn't do it. We caught it all on camera and I think Lee almost threw up. The crazy thing is Chris did it for not money!!!!! Lee was extremely impressed that the guys offered and helped him load the pigs into the truck. The guys were blowin' away that most people wont touch them, no less help load them.

Robert and I waiting in the truck at Sinclair for our guide to show up.

Chris and Robert rarin' to hunt.

Kyle talking to the guide Lee. Love the man purse Kyle it really make the whole man!!!!

Erin.....come on guys lets get going already!!!!

Robert and Chris looking for piggies.....at lest it wasn't to muddy....



Group talking to the guide about where best to shoot the pigs.

Spotin' piggies....Gadas, Chris and guide Lee

Kyle and Gadas getting ready to shoot

Strategizing

Robert taking his first shot on his pig with his bow

Chris taking his last shot on his pig, me taking video and Robert standing by

Jeremy and Elijah with Kyle's pig

Chris's pig with last arrow stickin' out.

Robert and me with his pig

Gadas found Robert first arrow that went through the pig puncturing lungs and liver

One of Chris's broadheads

Robert with his pig

Another good pic

Gadas with his pig

Chris with his pig...... Swiss cheese

Kyle with his pig and he is actually smiling

Gadas official piggie picture

Group shot with Kyles pig

Kyle and Erin together

Robert, Jeremy, and Elijah with Jeremy/ Gadas' pig after being gutted

Celebrating the victory

Elijah was so interested and thought the whole experience was cool

Guide, Lee asking Gadas if he is sure about eating this heart

Gadas diving in...he actually thought it taste pretty good and took four bites!!!!

Victory and where is my thousand buck buddy!!!!

Another great pick of Robert

and another

Lee gutting Roberts pig

Chris and his pig again

Can you believe it Chris ate his heart too...but no money involved crazy kids....

Proof....blood on his lip

Pigs in back of Lee's truck

Victory beers.....

Robert and his pig head

Gadas gets sickest picture of the day award...in more ways then one..... knid of distturbing like load of the fliesRobert at the butchers in the freezer

Group shot in front of butchers shop

All in all it was an exciting day. The guys had fun and can't wait for the meat and skulls back in several weeks. Thanks River Bend Trophy Hunts and Lee for making this day so awsome and memorable......we will be back for bigger pigs!!!!!!!

I compiled a movie of video and film footage fromt he hunt. I hope you enjoy.....There are a few typos I have no intention of going back and fixing since this process is time cinsuming. Gadas shot his pig with a 300 WFS and Erin's last name is Evans

If you want to check out what River Bend Trophy Hunts has to offer visit www.riverbendhunts.com

Family Happenings First Part Of March

DAY TRIP TO GOLDEN SPRIKE AND THE SPRIAL JETTY

Robert and I at the end of February first of March packed a lunch and the boys into our new Nissan Titan and went looking for fresh air.......we ended up driving to Golden Spike National Historic Site and then out to the spiral jetty. I thought this would be a great experiences, something else to mark off our bucket list for Utah and share a bit of my childhood with Robert. I remember visiting Golden Spike when I was young and still lived in Wyoming. We had a wonderful day even though it was overcast. Golden Spike was interesting....we even got to check out the park service maintenance area where they work on the two engines this time of years. Robert however was not impressed with the spiral jetty....he said he could do something like that with a track-ho and make it more accessible for the public to see!!!! He is probably right....but here's a little info from wiki that gives you an idea of why its such a great site to see.

The Spiral Jetty, considered to be the central work of American sculptor Robert Smithson is an earthwork sculpture constructed in 1970.
Built of mud, salt crystals, basalt rocks, earth, and water on the northeastern shore of the Great Salt Lake near Rozel Point in Utah, it forms a 1500-foot long, 15-foot wide counterclockwise coil jutting from the shore of the lake Smithson reportedly chose the Rozel Point site based on the blood-red color of the waters and its connection with the primordial sea. The red hue of the water is due the presence of salt tolerant bacteria and algae that thrive in the extreme 27 percent salinity of the lake's north arm, which was isolated from fresh water sources by the building of a causeway by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1959.

Because the water is low you do not get to see this wonderful red water!!!

So there you have it......all ya need is a track-ho and a better location and we can make our own sculpture...... at least the new truck wouldn't have gotten muddy!!! *wink*

Spiral Jetty

Drake and Widgeon sitting inside an old house foundation and spiral jetty in background

One of the engines at Golden Spike

This is one of those put the camera on the tail gate and run like hell pictures

Where the two railroads met up

Robert in front of the visitor center

DRAKE AND WIDGEON TURN 4!!!!

Drake and Widgeon celebrated their fourth birthday on March 12. We had Uncle Kyle, Auntie Erin and doggy cousins Abbie and Mater over a play date at the park. Afterwards we went home and had hamburgers, hot dogs, human cake and frosty paws (doggie ice cream...yes it is made by Purina!) Grandma Cowan sent a huge box of birthday gifts and they had a blast opening them. They both have mastered the art of opening presents in their 4 years of life. It is amazing to think we have had these two for four years. Where has the time gone........but they are such a huge part of our lives and the best kids you could ask for even if they are furry....Check out pictures of the big day below

Unwrapping presents!!

Happy Birthday Boy With His Daddy

Widgeon Hangin' With Dad Before The Festivities!!!

Family At The Park!!!!

Uncle Kyle Taking The Sticker Off Widgeon's New Toy (Left over wrapping paper in mouth!!! Yumm)

Abbie's First Time Eating Frosty Paws....YUM AGAIN

D and W eating Frosty Paws

Yes A Dog Tongue or Two Went Into The Human Cake...It all taste the same

Drake So Excited To Get The Quilted Drake Squeaker He asked Grandma Cowan For...He Picked This Out While At Work With Ma

Mater ready to P-A-R-T-Y

YARD WORK

Robert and I started some major yard work this last weekend in order to get the place looking spiffy for all the people coming to SL for our wedding in June. We laid sod last fall in the back portion of our property, but still needed to even the ground out closer to the house. SO we hauled in 1.5 yards of soil and planted grass seed ( "high traffic" kind praying it will hold up to the dogs). We are hoping that the beautiful weather we have had will continue from now till June and that any major snowstorms think about snowing around our house not on it!!!! Pray for the 60's and 70's we have been having this last week. Here are some picture of the boys playing in the back yard while we work. they had fun especially since they won't be allowed in the back yard till the grass comes in......

The boys like to chase each other around the studio