heads up

Hey family,

I sent out grad announcements on Saturday so they will probably be at your doors in a few days. I just wanted to let you all know that there is absolutely no pressure at all for any of you to attend. You are more than welcome to come, but tickets are extremely limited for Commencement. Convocation does not require any tickets, however. Just let me know if any of you are wanting to come. We'll try to figure out a way to house anyone that comes.

Thanks for all of the support. Plus, there is a typo on my announcement. My blog address says @wordpress.com but it should be .wordpress.com.

Thanks,

Reese

1000 CASTS...THEN EXUBERANCE!

Woke up early Saturday morning (4:30 am). Looked outside and saw stars. Being that SBJ was away tending grand kids, I immediately and unabashedly gave myself a kitchen pass, threw the "stuff" in the rig, and headed north rather than sleeping in and opting to stay home to do the yard. Didn't know exactly where I was headed...just that I was.

The car went into autopilot mode like she had a mind of her own, somehow turning right at Shoshone instead of going straight over Galena to the Stanley reach. "This is interesting," I mutter in the darkness. The inky black volcanic rock formations of Craters were obscured by the night as headlight refractions off the snow created crazy eerie images blurring by. "What's next?" I wondered.

The brakes suddenly blinked on as dawn was cracking, and the rig turned left onto the secret gravel road shortcut to Moore, by-passing Arco and then left again towards Mackey. "This is different," I blurted out loud, fully intending to skirt around INEL to the Salmon Highway. Snow covered and sleepy, Mount Borah looked down as the Olds fleetered up Willow Creek Summit, topping over and bee lining it straight for Challis and the Pahsimeroi.

Ahhhh! My faithful Olds had it right all along. Her motor seemed to be purring out the words ~ Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Oncorhynchus Mykiss ~ in a seductive, undulating hum as the pavement seemed to melt away, literally like the lapping riffles and swirls of the Salmon River. Seems that we both were invisibly driven by a common mystical vision of chrome, highlighted by a faint hint of crimson, framed with translucent transparency of spotted fins and a piercing set of eyes that peer into the very soul of every living steel head addict.

ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS

Rather than turning left upriver towards Bayhorse, Deadman and Clayton, the Olds determinedly passed straight through Challis without so much as a thought of stopping, soon to pull over at Ellis. What a zoo! Drift boats anchored bow-to-stern and a bazzillion folks, each who must have brought his/her own rock to stand on. My favorite spey rod run was wall-to-wall gear flingers. So was Deer Creek. Dejectedly, but not deterred, the Olds carefully worked her way downriver, swerving across oncoming traffic and stopping at Twelve Mile.

This beautiful 300 yards of Spey water was empty! Olds seemed to smile, sigh and shut herself off as the trunk popped open. Step, cast. Step, cast. Step, cast. No body was home. Dang! I'm shaking by now. Upward and onward, the Olds and I headed downriver. All fishing residents of Salmon were drift fishing from the in-town bridge to the fairgrounds. Undaunted, Olds pointed her graceful nose northward and soon pulled into Bobcat. Settling in under a canopy of old-growth cottonwood tress, she seemed to say, "I've done my part. It's up to you now." , and promptly nodded off for a nap.

Intermittent airborne liquid, in the ever changing form of rain or snow persisted through out the day, with occasional spurts of sunshine. Early evening, the water temp was 42 degrees. As most of you know, I prefer to swing two flies, providing different looks. Tied on my orange 'n red as the dropper (light conditions). My trusted go-to, dubbed Green Butt Skunk, tied with a doubled rubber-leg tail, and a guinea hackle was the tag fly (darker/overcast). The Sage 7136 Spey rod, armed with a 450 grain Skagit head, 8 foot T-11 tip and a 5 foot hand-made leader completed the outfit.

Bobcat is a 400 yard drift. The sweet spot is half way down and a 65 foot cast. Swing, swing, swing, passing through the seam, and suddenly the line stopped as the GBS deftly buried itself into the mouth corner of the turning fish. Instinctively lifting the rod, I experienced that electrifying pulse and throbbing of a head shaking hookup of a heavy anadramous bruiser, running adrenaline-like from the grab, up the line and through the Spey rod into my hands, then exploding my body and brains. YES!!! Another forever-winter-long needed fix for a possessed steel head junkie.

The wild 38 inch buck ignited! Two blazing wicked-strong runs, complete with aerial antics erupted. Begrudgingly and in his own due time, he came to hand, giving me "that look" of defiance and majesty. He then rewarded me with a face full of tail-slap water as a rude indignant "thank you" for the picture and revived release. GOTTA LOVE IT BABY!

Left Salmon at 9:30 pm, happy and still higher than a kite. 500 plus mile round trip. White-out blizzard over Gilmore Summit to Lone Pine. Frog choking rain from INEL to 2 Falls. Fell into bed, dreaming of "Mykiss" at 1:30 am. Good 'ole Olds. luv...pops

1000 casts. One pull. Exuberance!

Lindsey Created Her Very Own Crisp Recipe

Peeling apples was fun! Thank goodness Grandma was there to cut them up!

Following a recipe I found, but changing it up a bit!

Almost ready to put it together!

My mouth is already watering!

Ready to go in the oven.

All Done!!!!

Can't wait to dive in...Where is the vanilla ice cream!

Mose's New Blankets

We found a package on our doorstep last night... Moseley's Grandma Quigley blankets!

We had some tummy time, and of course big sister had to join in the fun.

Oops, Neck muscles not quite strong enough yet.

Then we swaddled him up in his new warm flannel blankets.

Daddy particularly likes the golf one.


Carmen decided that you are never too old to be swaddled, so she borrowed Moseley's new quilt to get wrapped up in a super sized burrito.
(like how she couldn't put her peanut butter sandwich down to get her picture taken?... Tiger would have yoinked it if she did)

Thank you Grandma, the quilt and blankets are super cute... Mose loves them!

Moseley's baby blessing

We are planning on blessing Moseley on Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 8:30 am.
Anyone who would like to come, we would love to have you. I know it is mother's Day... but that was pretty much the soonest possible date we could do it because of scheduling conflicts, so I hope that still works for anyone who was planning on coming.

ST. PATTY'S AT THE O'QUIGLEY FARM

EVERY GOOD IRISH MAN FEEDS GREEN HAY TO DE PONIES ON ST. PATTY'S DAY.
A GREEN TABLE LINEN YA SAY-WHAT A WAY TO START ST. PATTY'S DAY.

YA MIGHTA' NOTICED A BIT 'O FANCY, EVEN ON DE OTHER SIDE 'O DE MIDDLE.

EVERY GOOD IRISH FEAST STARTS WITH A HEARTY SHARP CHEESE 'N ALE SOUP, FOLLOWED WITH A SNAPPY GREEN SALAD. THEN COMES DE ROOT VEGGIES 'N CORNED BRISKET OF BEEF...

LET'S NOT FORGET THE MADE-FROM-SCRATCH IRISH DRESSING, SLICED BEETS, MARTY'S GREEN JELLO SALAD AND TWO, MIND YA, 2 DIFFERENT KINDS OF SODA BREAD...

ONE WITH RAISINS - JUST A BIT SWEET...

ALL UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF THE LEPRECHAUNS, HIDING UNDER AN AUTHENTIC IRISH ROCK, COMPLIMENTS OF WADY'S BROTHER, MICK...

'N PASS SOME MORE ROOT VEGGIES 'N BRISKET, PLEASE!

MEET DE DARLIN' COOKS, REBECK, GROOVIE 'N BUBS (WHO JUST ANNOUNCED HER SECOND PREGNANCY NOW MIND YA)...

THEN THERE'S WADY 'N MARTY, ALONG WITH THE SUPREME IRISH MOTHER, SBJ...

'N A WEE LITTLE GREEN FROGGY WHO KEEPS HOPP'IN AROUND DE TRADITIONAL SODA BREAD.

DE GUESTS OF HONOR, NOW !!!

'N DID WE SAY CABBAGE...


MY GOODNESS, ME LADDY, OF COURSE WE DID! HOW CAN ONE REALLY BE IRISH WITHOUT A BIT OF CABBAGE?

'N OF COURSE, NO GOOD IRISH MEAL IS COMPLETE WITH THE BEST IRISH CHOCOLATES, DIRECT FROM DUBLIN, MIND YA!!!

WHAT AN OUTSTANDINGLY DELICIOUS MEAL! I HAVE ENJOYED A LOT OF IRISH FEASTS THROUGH THE YEARS, BUT NEVER HAD ONE QUITE THIS GOOD...YUMMY!!! AND WHAT A GREAT TIME WE HAD ON THE WEAR'IN OF THE GREEN. REBECK COOKED THE ROOT VEGGIES (TURNIPS, YAMS, CARROTS, CELE
RY. ONIONS, POTATOES), AND BRISKET IN HER CLAY POTS ~ OUTSTANDING! GROOVES DID THE SODA BREADS AND BROUGHT PEACH PIT JAM. YOUR IRISH ANGEL MOTHER PROVIDED ALL THE RECIPES, AND MADE THE SOUP, SALAD AND DRESSING, CABBAGE, AND FLEW DIRECT TO IRELAND FOR THE CHOCOLATES. SBJ ALSO PROVIDED THE IRISH TRIVIA QUESTIONS TO SPICE UP THE EVENING. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE FOLKS WERE DELIGHTED AND MUSICALLY THANKED US WITH A FEW GOOD IRISH SONGS PLAYED ON THEIR NEW ORGAN. HOPE EACH OF YOU ARE PROUD OF YOUR IRISH HERITAGE AND FIGURE OUT FUN WAYS TO KEEP THE LUCK O' THE IRISH ALIVE AND WELL WITHIN THE O'QUIGLEY FAMILY! luv...pops

YE 'OLE BAG (not the old bag)...

Do NOT be misguided into thinking that this is a rant about old folks!

I was just contemplating the other day about how important to me bags are. As each of you knows, I have a fetish about bags. I love them. I always have. My organizational world revolves around them. Bags are the "modus operendi" of day-to-day dwq. Where ever I go and what ever I do always involves reaching for just the right bag (usually pre-packed) to come along. Examples - GPS, music, C-PAP, optics, camera, hunting, shooting, decoy,camo cloths, air mattresses, shave kit, reading, duffel, compound bow and arrows, briefcase, tents, rafts, cloths, zip-loc, yada-yada-yada.

Your Angel Mother likes them as well. The other day, LL Bean sent out a mailer about a sale on some of their bags. SBJ hooked up with a few and is tickled to death with them. I am too. This is one is her favorites. Yes, it is indeed RED.

THERE'S A NEW BAG IS TOWN...

The one SBJ is most excited about, based upon practical application, is the new travel trunk!

DA NEW SCRUBBY BAG

As for me and my bag posse, I'm most partial to a special group of grabbers I have come by through the years. Each of these were discards, heartlessly abandoned by some kids and tenderly saved from the dastardly death grip of the dumpster by a handsome kind-hearted fellow. Each of these now occupy a special place, used for very special occasions.

Miggy's hummungo red duffel (which she took on her Alaska basketball tournament trip) contains all my fishing clothing and stuff, rain gear, etc. I never travel anywhere with out it. It's been remade a few times thanks to Gary Babbel and crew. Reese's back pack just about gave up the ghost due to all her nerdy abuse ~ always way over weight due to every book known to man stuffed inside. Poor thing! The zippers have been redone on this one which now holds all my steel head and salmon fly fishing reels, along with repairs stuff and gizmos, used when spey casting for anadromous fish. The "Class of 2000" proudly contains all of the steel head and salmon level-wind reels (including the ones you kids used when we all went to Alaska after Bry's mission return to celebrate Mom's 40th bert-day).

THREE OF MY MANY SPECIAL BAGS

Through the years, your Angel Mother has made a considerable number of specific-use bags for me. Each particular one has a significant story and is treasured. SBJ has lovingly manufactured most of my fly rods bags, as well as many of my individual fly reel bags. She is a genius in figuring this things out and making them (and me)look good. These are better than store-bought!

SOME OF MOM'S BAGS

Sweet Betty Jo is in process of knitting herself a wickedly-cool bag. I can hardly wait for you all to see it when it's finished.

Funny how the very best and meaningful things in life originate from the simplest non-significant (from the world's perspective) sources. Aah yeah...ye 'ole special bag! What would we do without you? luv...pops

FORZION...CAN YA HEAR ME NOW

MELZER AND HER ROADIES

DA YM/YW PERFORMING THE VERY BEST, KICK BUTT ROAD SHOW IN THE STAKE!

SHE WROTE IT, DIRECTED IT, PRODUCED IT AND PREFORMED IN IT!
TALENT ON LOAN FROM......

YEAH, EVEEEE LIKED IT

AND SO DID THE DA BOYS

Melinda also wrote and directed the bumper vignette of humor performed while the stage prep and prop change happened before the show started. It was a hoot hoot - wooot wooot !!
Most impressive was the way all kids in the ward participated, including the special-needs young woman who began the show with a very meaningful message which got an ovation from the audience.
GREAT JOB MELINDA!!!
Wish you all coulda' been there, you woulda' been dazzled ~ especially with the red shoes...pops

Flight to Twin Falls!

Thanks for posting the Helicopter pics Dad! It was fun to fly to Twin Falls! I've always dreamed of flying through the Snake Rive Canyon, and now I have. I flew over and around the Twin Falls Temple, Vineyard Lake, Dirky's Lake, Hidden Lakes, Twin Falls Falls, Shoshone Falls, Evil Canevil's Jump, The Prine Bridge (with some base jumpers jumping off it),Centennial Falls and Golf Course, Thousand Springs Golf Course, The wind mills over by Hagerman, and much more... It was really a dream come true for me!! I really love flying Helicopter!! In a couple of weeks I get to go to Torrance CA and fly over Long Beach and LA for a Robinson Safety Course. That should prove to be exciting... I'm hoping to see Lee and Jana while I'm over there... As far as the Helicopter rides for the family goes, I would love to give anyone in the family a ride who wants one but not until later this year or maybe even next year... also, keep in mind it's not cheap! So be prepared to pay some money if you want a ride... Love you all! Bryant

GETT'IN DA STINK OFF...GWQ'S BERT DAY!

Today is Garther's bert day. A whopping big 35 ~ older than dirt. Your Angel Mother and I were in the MBA program at BYU when you famously arrived on the scene. It was a glorious occasion. a blue bird day as winter tries to give way to spring...just like today.

Garth went golfing this afternoon. I was going steel heading, but it didn't work out. So, I fixed the boat and headed out to Salmon Falls Res to get da stink off. Fishing (or golfing) is the ultimate cure for anything, don't ya know.

Hooked 8, landed 4. The biggest was 21" ...a real toad! Unfortunately, I forgot da net and didn't have the camera ready to use. So I let him go unphotographed. Did get a couple of shots of the others. They liked my olive leech, and my version of the Halloween leech.

These are for you, Garth man. I let them go in your honor! A very Happy Bert Day to a wonderful young man! luv...pops

LUCKY FRIDAY DA 13th IFR X-COUNTRY ~ BDQ

DA FLY BY ARRIVAL OF DA BEEKSTER & JAKE

DAN & SBJ ~ PROUD PARENTS

DA PILOTS & WAY COOL DUDES ~ TIM, BRY & JAKE

BRY TESTING OUT THE SEAT OF HIS NEW REEDER TURBINE

GUIDED TOUR OF DA RAVEN AFTER LUNCH TOGETHER

HOT NEW CHOPPER CHICK CHECK'IN IT OUT


PREFLIGHT SUPERVISED BY DANMISTER

HECK YEAH...I'D FLY WITH THIS R44 JOCKEY!


YEAH, I'M COOL...AND I KNOW IT...DUDE!

READY TO ROCK AND ROLL BACK TO CALDWELL...

...VIA SHOSHONE FALLS, LAKEWOOD DRIVE, SNAKE RIVER CANYON, DA BUHL FARM...

UP, UP AND AWAY ~ REAL PROUD OF YOU, SON....luv...pops