Russian River 2011: The FOOD!

Dinner prep with ray and Todd

Thanks to the masterful culinary stylings of our friend, Chef Ray, we had the BEST eats on the Russian.  Dude goes ALL OUT for us every year and just blows everyone away.  This year it was a pleasure to have so many hungry bodies ready for FUEL!   Here's our Russian River eating schedule:

BREAKFAST 4/5 am-  One shitty bagel with AWESOME salmon spread with cream cheese.  You just can't get a decent NY bagel in this state.  Period.

Fish for a few hours and eat a crumbled granola bar if you where awake enough to remember to bring one.

LUNCH/1st Dinner 3/4pm-  Monstrously huge hamburgers with sauteed onions OR the previous night's HOT kimchi on top.

2nd DINNER(Secondsies) 11 pm-  SEE BELOW!!!!!

DAY ONE

Ribs with blueberry chipotle rub!!!  HOLY man!

Roasted peppers, roasted potatoes, saute for coconut curry seafood soup

OMFG.

Ribs and soup ready for intake

SECOND DAY



Ray torching up the BRANDY BLUECHEESE sauce!!!!!!  Yeah, I said brandy bluecheese sauce!



Oh, HELL to the YES.

12 oz New York strips and po-ta-toes to go with that sauce

Alaska State Senator Hollis French rocking the PERFECT golden brown marshmallow!

Ray and his daughter, Tia, makin' with the BEST TOAST IN THE FRIGGIN UNIVERSE!!!



And PLENTY of happy libation for all!!!  (over 21 of course)  Believe me....with all that fabulous food, we ate ourselves SOBER!!!!



MANGIA!!!!!

Russian River 2011: The Fishing!

We're baaaaaaaack!  Succeeeeeeeee-eeessssss!!!!  On many levels!  What a fekkin BLAST it was!  Fish in the river....food...and a bunch of friends coming and going...I definitely could have gone a few more days in the peaceful beauty of that magical place!

There was more action on the river this year than last year...but still not the usual load of sockeye salmon coming through.  (Scary to think why that may be....)  The first day was crankin', with all of  us limiting out with 3 reds each.  Even Willa caught one!  We fished up river which is much more preferable to the CHAOS on the Confluence of the Russian and Kenai rivers.  Quiet yet teaming with life and excitement.

The way we roll on these fishing gigs is this:  Arrive at the campground after 2 pm, explore our new territory, eat, set up rigs, jump into waders and head down to fish.  When we fish, we're out there for about 3-6 hours depending on how the fish are running.  The next moring we're up at 4am for another round  before we come back to the camp for napping, eating, goofin around.  Dylan and I trade off sleeping in with Willa in the mornings so that she doesn't have to get up that early!  Then at around 4pm we all head down for the final fishing of the day.  Next day, repeat.  All this after usually staying up past 1am eating Ray's PHENOMENAL food and enjoying the company of friends!  THE PERFECT day of fishing is getting up early, limiting out within 3 hours, and having the whole rest of the day to relax and have fun.  We didn't have any of those "perfect" days this year...the next 3 days brought me some good fight action, but no fish on.  Miles came out with 4 more and Dylan, 1.  14 in total....we didn't kill 'em but with lots of fights , it wasn't too shabby an experience either.

Next up:  Food and friends and bears, OH MY!

In action



Setting up flies

Jim's first Russian River red!



Vicki working a snag




An excited Willa hanging onto Daddy and waiting for a fish



Willa's fish

Dylan's first fish of the day

 Smoochie boochins!!!!!!

It's Russian River time!!!!!!!!

Fishing rods....Check
Tackle.............Check
Food................Check
RV...................Check
Kids.................Check
Food................Check
Cameras..........Check
Food................Check
Rain gear-aaaaaarrrrrggghhhhh........Check
KEG of IPA from the Moose's Tooth............There sure as SHIT better be one there waiting for us to pick up this morning!!!!!!

This years trip to the Russian is turning out to be quite the shindig!!!  Looks like there will actually be about 15-16 people jammed into 2 campsites!  We always invite people to come down and camp with us...but in the past most don't show, or just come for the afternoon.   This year we REALLY "advertised", gave heads up and even asked for RSVP's.  So this is gig is gonna ROCK. 
Fish, get in mah NET!!!!

We'll report back in 4 days.....

Happy Father's Day!

Any male can father a child...but only a REAL man -with dedication and deep love beyond himself, who possesses an inherent pure joy in his children- can be a Daddy...

And I'm married to the BEST.  I love you, Father-o-my kids!!!

Happy Father's Day to the Daddys of the world!!!

* And, might I add, 'taint nothin' sexier than a man who's totally into his kids!!!  ;)

9 years!!! Happy Anniversary, Hunny Bunny!

My Love,

I have fallen in love a few times over the past years since we met .... always with you.....

You captured my heart and continue to touch my soul.  The highest I've ever been on this earth is with you, in love, exploring the ridges that surround our life...

Thank you...

for finding some perfection in my imperfections,

for valuing my voice,

for never trying to silence my thoughts..ideas 

for being there to build me up-not tear me down, 

for always being game for growth, change and new adventure,

for your patience and encouragement

for openly expressing your love and affection anytime, anywhere,
and for your genuine pride in my accomplishments.


You are my wonderful husband, always my best friend, a complete circle... forever linked with mine.  I LOVE YOU.

"Love is something eternal, the aspect may change, but not the essence." - Vincent van Gogh