WHAT THE!!!

Almost five inches of this stuff this morning!  What the!!!  It's April 15th for goodness sakes.....pops

EASTER DINNER 2009

One of the most quiet (in terms of decibel levels) Easter Dinners in history!

Got together with R&L and the Folks over in Gooding after late Church.  The girls really put on a feed.  Dinner featured spinach salad with Mandarin oranges, cranberries, apples and caramelized walnuts; a delightful tossed salad with home-made dressing; asparagus; SBJ's world-famous scalloped potatoes; ham; SBJ's whole wheat hot rolls and jelly as the main course.

Then the dessert ~ strawberry short cake, along with other various and sundry goodies (including malt eggs!).  The table was lovely, complete with appropriate decor and fresh flowers.  A great gastronomical time was had by all.  Of course, we talked about all you kids and missed you tons!  luv...pops

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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!

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

DA SKAGIT

IT IS ALWAYS A TREAT TO GO TO SEATTLE WITH YOUR ANGEL MOTHER. NML'S WESTERN MEETINGS WERE TERRIFIC. CLIENT VISITS WERE FUN AND EXCITING. FISHING ON THE FABLED SKAGIT RIVER WITH RENOWNED STEELHEAD GUIDE, MIKE KENNEY AND MY SPECIAL FRIEND, BERT KINGHORN WAS PRICELESS.

HERE IS A SHOT OF MIKE AND ME THAT BERT TOOK WHILE ON THE SKAGIT.

AND HERE IS A PHOTO OF MIKE, BERT AND ME AT THE CLEARWATER SPEY CLAVE IN 2007 AT OROFINO, IDAHO.

SBJ WILL HAVE SOME PIX FOR FACEBOOK IN A WHILE. GOTTA LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR! LUV...pops

Adding to the treasury

Mignon and I had a laugh about these pictures just the other day. I keep them framed side-by-side on a shelf. There's something similar there, eh?

These pictures remind me that Greg and I got a pretty good start. Here's to many more happy years for you two and us.

Happy anniversary, Dad and Mom!!

AN ADDITIONAL TREASURE

Pretty Dang Cute!

JUST REMEMBERED ANOTHER PICTURE I HAD IN MY WALLET - ONE OF YOUR HOTTIE MOM A FEW MONTHS AFTER OUR MARRIAGE, TAKEN WHEN WE BECAME DORM PARENTS FOR 120 YOUNG LADIES IN HERITAGE HALLS.
SBJ GOT THE JOB. I JUST WAS ALONG FOR THE RIDE AND THE
ON-CAMPUS PARKING PASS (tee-hee).


luv...pops

SOMETHING VERY VERY SPECIAL

SWEET BETTY JO - JUNIOR PROM - 1965

SWEET BETTY JO - 1968

BUHL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

ANNIVERSARY

'Twas a grey winter's morning in '71; snowing and blowing and all sorts of fun.

The roads were quite icy, visibility poor; yet I was ecstatic - that was for sure!

It was off to the "The Falls"...Wade, Marty and me; nothing would stop Divine destiny.

Driving was terrible, frightful and slow; yet somehow we made it, the town was aglow.

Temple by the River...a sight to behold on a bleak blustery day with weather so cold.

I raced through the doorway, upset to be late, wound up and ready, but was told I must wait.

As fate would have it, my papers lack Bishop and President signing the back.

They were both there (hallelujah!) and took care of that deed; so I raced and got dressed. Made the Session with speed.

We met at the Veil. She melted my heart. Then married and sealed - an Eternal start.

Your Angel Mother! My Sweet Betty Jo!! Thank you my Darling!!! I love you so!!!!

xoxo

THE FAMILY - 1987

THE FAMILY - 1989

THE FAMILY - 1992

luv...pops

This one's for you pops!

You taught us well...

At Home in the New Nest!

The killer move is essentially over; the tears shed; scrubbing and rescrubbing done; and this week-end a high-powered ozone machine removed the last of the bugs, mustyness, and allergins. We now would be happy to have any of you come and stay...even sleep on the floors!...use the Sauna...and eat breakfast on the sunny back patio! We feel quite at home in the new digs! Amazingly enough...we have even talked about staying here and remodeling! Crazy I know!!! Anyway, we enjoyed so much getting away to the cabin with Morgan, Bethany, Claire, Sharese and Jordan!!! Now we will try to figure out the next move the Lord has in mind for us. For now, in these troubled times in our country...we will hunker down and try to stash away some funds...food storage...and energy for what may be in store. Thanks for the phone calls and sympathy! We love you all. Dad and Mom

ALASKA 2008 !

THANKS TO YOUR ANGEL MOTHER AND TO UNCA RANDY FOR AN OUTSTANDING AND WONDERFUL TRIP TO THE KENAI RIVER, ALASKA FOR MY BERTDAY!!! I'LL ALWAYS TREASURE THIS EXPERIENCE. LUV...pops