Sunday, June 29, 2008

Our Home Away From Home - PICTURES

I finally took some photos of our house here! We really do have a place to live and you can see the pictures now as proof. These is the front of the building. On the bottom floor to the right is the only public phone in Stehekin. The yellow door on the left is a seperate apartment, where our friends Melissa and Jason live. The porch on the second floor is where we leave and the glass doors are the same ones you will see in the photos of our living space. We have stairs that go up the backside of the building and another small porch with the door leading into our house.

These first few pictures are of the living room/dining area. It is just a big open space beside the kitchen where we have a table, couch, some bookshelves, and a corner with an extra table for our computer. Of course there are lots of pictures hanging up as well and cute curtains (thanks mom for sending those). The stairs you see lead up to the loft where our bed is and all our clothes.




The door we enter opens into the kitchen which you can see here. When you walk in the door, the kitchen is on the left and the bathroom door is on the right. The bathroom is small...but it has everything we need. Including a toilet and shower...even though you can't see them in the photo. It is hard to squeeze everything into the picture sometimes.


Here is the small bedroom downstairs and we are fortunate to have an extra bed and some extra storage space here for clothes and winter gear. Some friends (Zack and Sara) stayed with a few nights ago and they said it was quite comfy! Here is the loft/our bedroom. It works well and so far hasn't been to hot in the evenings to sleep. We just have the bed to the right and then a little "dressing" area with all our clothes.


Here is a picture of the view from our front porch. We can look right out onto the lake and even look up above the trees a little and see snow-covered mountains...didn't get a pictures of those yet!
Our house is in the area called "the landing" which is where the boat docks when people arrive. Just to give you some info...from the landing the bakery is 2 miles up the road and then the ranch is another 7 miles up the road. The ranch is where I go to lead the day rides on horses, where Steven starts the raft trips two days a week, and where Steven does a lot of repair work too each week. Hope that helps and hopefully some of you will be able to come visit and actually stay at our place.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

















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Las Vegas has always been known for it's spectatular entertainment. But one show in particular really upped the ante. When Cirque du Soliel opened Mystere at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, it opened up a whole new world for Las Vegas. The show brought a visual & theatrical element that had not been seen here previously. The show opened in 1993 & it's still as exciting today as it was at the grand opening.




As recently noted by the Las Vegas Shows Reviews blog:

Like Alice in Wonderland, this shows feels a bit like falling down a rabbit hole into a mysterious world. Though the tremendous physical acts may be the central focus of the audience, the ringmaster, the jumbo-sized baby who found his “papa”, and the clown bring a unique humor to the show. During the limited breaks for the acrobats, the “clown,” who looks more like Albert Einstein than a bozo with a red nose, attempts to play tricks on audience members. Though he has great fun before the show with throwing popcorn and giving what appears to be unwelcome back massages, this clown has no problem separating a couple in order to woo the lady. Though the ringmaster may take him off stage, these brief interludes between the acrobatic performances only intensify the feeling that you have entered a dream.

When these acrobats return, the audience is again amazed at their athleticism and sheer physical strength. These performers take gymnastics to a level far beyond any Olympic champion, demonstrating the full range of man’s physical capabilities when bravery, dedication, and training morphs into tremendous talent. These men and women are not ordinary circus performers. Instead, they are a shining example of the human spirit.




Mystere tells a story of the power of life and death, and of how over time man has the ability to change. The acrobatics are a strong visual part of the performance, so much so that their literal meaning might be not completely recognized. But make no doubt it is a strong message of the level of humanity that mankind can achieve. The bits of comedy places in key parts of the show are a nice touch to offset the seriousness of the messages portrayed throughout. You'll not soon forget your visit to the "circus" and the tremendous emotional experience of the evening. The show is safe for all ages, so no worries if you want to bring the children. Make Mystere a part of your next Vegas trip and live the dream for yourself!

You can read the complete review at: Take A Plunge Into The Mystical World Of Cirque du Soleil’s Mystere



Posted by Access Vegas staff


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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Time at the Ranch

Steven and I have been at the ranch predominately for the last few days...it has been a nice change of pace for me and a nice break from the office. I will give you a quick run down of the last few days so everyone will know what we have been up to...busy is the first way to describe it!!
Let's see, on Saturday I helped Steven run shuttle for the guys that were rafting and still training to be raft guides..they are good to go now though and have done two raft trips on their own. In the afternoon, I helped Caroline, one of the day ride guides get the horses ready for the afternoon ride and then I taught three riding lessons. I had so much fun teaching those...it was a family that loves horses. The aunt came and I am pretty sure she lives in Washington and she brought her two nieces that are from Hawaii. There names are Andre, Marina, and Savana...what fun people! The girls were great with the horses and even helped saddle for the other rides we had over the weekend. They ride a little at a ranch in Hawaii and obviously spend a lot of time in the sun...I could tell by how tan they were. On Sunday..we were going to have the day off...but Steven ended up with a kayak tour in the morning and then he needed to go rafting again in the afternoon. I offered to give Caroline a break from the day rides and guided the afternoon ride since Steven was working anyway...I figured I might as well work while he is working. Then we played volleyball in the evening with all the people in the valley and summer employees...a super fun time...wait...I said played volleyball...what I meant to say was that I watched other people play volleyball :-)
On Monday, I had a day ride in the morning and then had a chance to give the "girls" another lesson in the afternoon. They did so well that we ended up going on a trail ride at the end to work on carrying over skills they learned in the ring out onto the trail. They were just super fun to work with and always had smiles on their faces. I was thankful that I had a chance to work with them and share a little bit about horses with them while they were in Stehekin.
A new day ride guide, Lanai, came on Sunday, so she trained with me a little on Tuesday morning for taking people out on day rides. We only had one rider in the morning...so she came back to do some office work and I went to work in the garden...the garden...now that is a story in itself. See...I started with some seeds in little pots and they were doing really well until it got cold for several days in a row and was really rainy. The plants didn't like that so much so I transferred them to bigger pots so they wouldn't stay so wet....that still didn't work. So, I took them up to the ranch on Tuesday and planted them in an extra bed that Monica had in her garden. I went ahead and planted a few more seeds as well...I am excited about this little garden and being able to help Monica in her garden. I just hope I at least get some okra...no one here knows what that is so I want to be able to have enough to cook it and share so they can have a taste. I was thinking I would cook it fried first...and if they are brave...then I would let them try boiled (Alexis...what do you think about that? Would you like me to overnight you some when it gets ready? :-))
Steven has been staying busy as well and just checking on the new guides this week. They seem to be doing well and now he has the kayak guides trained too. It seems as though our "new" old truck likes to attract nails in the tires too....we have had two flat tires this week so Steven has been changing and repairing tires too at the shop. He has also been working on the irrigation/sprinkler system up at the ranch and mending fences. It goes well until a bear runs through and takes some of it out again..that is what happened on Tuesday morning. Today he was able to so some work at the resort. Tomorrow will be back up at the ranch..at least for part of the day.
That's a quick run down on what has been going on here. I have been starting to take some pictures of guests doing activities, but I am still working on a website and a way to get the proofs to the guests. It is touch to upload a lot of pictures because it takes up bandwidth on the web space and you only get so much a day..or something like that. I don't quite understand yet.
I'll write more soon! Thanks Kristina for the recent comments...I like knowing that you are reading the blog and keeping up with us and our adventures here.

Monday, June 16, 2008

















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You can now order the perfect cocktail, say hello to the table across the bar, or even battle your buddies to see who picks up the next round! All thanks to the new addition to the iBar located in the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the ground-breaking Microsoft Surface technology. It's a 30-inch table-like computer display that offers an new way to interact with digital content. Instead of the traditional mouse and keyboard, the entire surface uses an interactive 360-degree human touch interface, providing an entirely new way of using technology.

The guests now have hip, new ways of putting their own personal touches on their nightlife experience, using a unique new way of interacting. You can order custom signature cocktails, watch videos, play games such as bowling, pinball, and a fun memory game. But the best application of Surface is the Flirt feature. You can send messages to other tables, take and send pictures with the strategically placed cameras inside the lounge, and even interact with old friends!


In addition you are also able to take virtual tours any Harrahs property, explore attractions, and even play tour guide as you take a virtual walk down Las Vegas Boulevard! The application is the first time the new Surface technology has been used in an entertainment venue and is sure to guarantee you a unique and unforgettable experience that combines the newest of technology with the best of Las Vegas nightlife!


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Friday, June 13, 2008

SUNSHINE

It is finally sunny here again and warm! The last few days have been rainy, cold, and windy...so this is a nice change. Steven is taking the first raft trip down the Stehekin River right now with about 12 guests and one of the new raft guides. It is a perfect day for it though and I think the guests are going to have a great time. The other day ride guide ended up with the trail ride with the horses for the day, so I will start my rotations next week. I am excited about being able to spend a few days a week with the horses. Things here are well and we are hoping to get set schedules soon. Just confirmed the plane and train tickets for my mom and Steven's mom to come visit in July. We are very excited about that and look forward to spending some time with them here in Stehekin. Steven will be rafting all weekend...or so it seems...and I am going to have a few days off so I am hoping to go down the river with him or at least head up to the Ranch and hang out with him some while he is working. He has been super busy this week training new raft guides and going on 2-3 trips down the river each day. We are just glad the company found more raft guides to hire for the summer so he will be able to only fill in for them and take some time to work on other projects and things are the ranch and resort. Hope all is well everywhere!

Friday, June 6, 2008

6-3-08

On Tuesday we celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary! It is hard to believe we have been married two years now. Somedays it seems like just yesterday and then when I think about the things we have done and the places we have been, it seems like we have always been married.

For our anniversary, we ate dinner in the restaurant here for the first time. It is pretty fancy and the food is really good! I have some things to recommend now when friends and family come to visit. Our friends here were working that night and they set up a special table for us in the back section, which was really nice. After dinner, we went for a walk and then were able to get to bed early since we didn't have to work late. It was nice day though, even though we didn't have some spectacular trip planned like last year. The area here is so nice, I sometimes feel as though I am on vacation all the time...at least when I am walking around outside looking at the views or riding horses.

Hope everyone is doing well and getting ready for the weekend. We only have a few more hours of work today, before we get to do more work tomorrow!!

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

















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The Smashtime party at Body English nightclub inside the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas is becoming THE hotspot on Sundays to catch celebrities. The hosts for the evening were Ben Lyons and Sal Maskekela along with DJ Clinton Sparks.




Spotted at this week's Smashtime party was Lauren Conrad, Stephen Colletti, and Lauren "Lo" Bosworth from the MTV hit series "The Hills. They had their own VIP table out on the dance floor & partied late into the night. Also among the partygoers were was the group Three 6 Mafia who later entertained the crowd with a surprise performance and were joined by Lyons and Bosworth.


The Smashtime hosts were later joined at their table by E! president Ted Harbert. Also checking out the festivities that evening was Khloe Kardashian from the E! reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians. She joined Conrad, Bosworth and Colletti at their table. Also spotted in the crowd was boxer Zab Judah.



Posted by Access Vegas staff


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Sunday, June 1, 2008

The Courtney Family Grows!!

Our friends Jake and Dawn went down lake (to Wenatchee) two weeks after we arrived here to prepare for the birth of their baby. The doctors recommend people go down lake one month before the due date…so that is what they did. Things were going well and they have been anxious for the birth. Well, he was born on Friday morning and IT’S A BOY! His name is James Raymond Courtney and it sounds like everything went well. Some of their family members headed out of this weekend to see the baby. They should be back to Stehekin in one week or so and I am excited about seeing the new baby and getting the chance to take some pictures!!

DAY RIDES...Round 1

So, I guided my day rides last weekend. It was super fun and I am excited about having that as a weekly job for the summer. I was “orientated” to guiding the day rides as I rode for 5 hours to bring four horses down the road from the ranch to the bakery. Most of the horses are at the ranch for the summer, but we were going to do the rides at a different place for the first weekend because of transportation for the guests. One of the girls that lives in Stehekin, Chelsea, and I each rode a horse and ponied another to get them all down the road. She took me on the trail that I was going to be taking the day riders on and shared tricks and tips for making the rides go smoothly. It was great to spend time with her on horses and get to know more about Stehekin….that was on Thursday. My first riders arrived the following Saturday to go on a ride. I had the horses all saddled and I actually caught the correct ones and had their names right and everything…which may not seem like that big of a deal…but they all look the same…so it can be a bit tough to distinguish between them. Anyway, the ride went really well!! The riders listened and the only issue was the horses continual efforts to grab bites of grass as they walked along the trail. After another ride in the afternoon with four riders, I pretty much had things down as to what to tell them to prepare for the ride and fun facts about the area to share on the trail. Of course, I was also pretty tired after spending all day with the horses, saddling and unsaddling and riding. Sunday was much easier as no rides were scheduled. I actually had a chance to do some leather work on saddles that needed repairs and cleaned them up a bit. There is a nice leather shop with every tool you could possibly need, so that was pretty fun. I hope to do some more there too when I have extra time this summer and even learn some new things. This past weekend I trained another day ride guide, so she will be guiding for the next two weekends. When the rides start going out everyday (June 13), then I will be “back in the saddle.”