High Tower Ranch - Part 2

I found a cowboy hat. This has got to be
one of the coolest ever silhouette shapes!

 After breakfast was awaiting another treat: the chance to ride one my hosts' horses. There is a tab on some posts "Besides Cooking..." which means that I've mentioned other things in that post that I enjoy greatly, sometimes as much as I do cooking. Horses and riding is definitely included in that. It's amazingly good fun, there are many object lessons you can learn and...well, it's a rather manly activity all round!

Chocolate cake. What more needs be
said?

 That afternoon there were two local Autumn festivals. For the second one, Oktoberfest, there was an auction for home-made cakes so Carol set about putting her abundant knowledge to work by making a huge chocolate cake. (She has this amazing "baker's toolbox".) 

If you're going to bake, why not do it
properly?

 At the first event there was loads of seasonal-type food that people had brought like, autumn themed cupcakes, toffee apples and spiced, hot cider. Steve plays in a real "cowboy band" who were playing music at the first event. However, it somehow got around that I am a musician too and, if you're a musician, you will know what that can lead too... I've never played an acoustic bass before or a fretless bass and I ended up playing an acoustic, fretless bass! It was great fun and everyone loved it.

 However, because of this, my band and I were then asked to do the music at the larger, second event in town where Steve and his band were going to play. Carol entered her cake (I didn't get to take a photo of the finished relsult) and there was a BBQ too! What a great day! I was just blown away with how incredibly kind and hospitable all these people were.

More to come!

Performing at the Oktoberfest

Meet 'Shorty', my noble steed.

Manly moment #2!

"I'm not one of those posing pretty boys..."
Those are lyrics in an actual country song!

Being taught by a master horseman. Steve has been riding since he could sit up!

"To glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Creator 

of the universe and spread further abroad His glorious gospel." - Yours Truly

The World's Biggest Truck is GREEN!

Meet Titan. He's green!

 OK, everyone, check this! This right here is the world's biggest truck. It's called Titan and...it's bright green! Whilst driving south again, this time through British Columbia, I saw a sign for it on the road and thought, "That's a must for the blog!"
 I understand, it's slightly random, unorthodox and nothing to do with food but it was well worth a photo. After all, we are talking about the world's biggest truck here!

Seasoned with Nonsensicalism,

Jacob

P.S. I've also included below a few other really cool green things I've found along the way...

"Gigantuan", "Mahoosive", "Hunormous"? You pick!

If automobiles, engines, grease and the such like are your thing then check out my brother's blog: The Mechanic BHP

Yes, I probably would wear it.

I'm sitting in a restaurant and spy this super-awesome-cool
car. And then...it turns into the carpark!

I like the "Possibilities" thing in the background. What are
the possibilities of me owning one these sometime?

A little friend of mine...

Now, those are sunglasses!

And last but not least...my new green hoodie!

"To glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Creator 

of the universe and spread further abroad His glorious gospel." - Yours Truly

Music, Ice-cream Cakes and Line Dancing

Yep, that's an ice-cream cake

 So, after leaving Montana, it was a six hour drive to Calgary. I had a day there to rest up and then a two hour drive the following day up to Lacombe. Since being here in the States, I've had the great privilege of being invited into different people's homes which can oftentimes mean food. The Bergers were no exception. What a great family! The first evening I was there, there eldest daughter, Emily, and I believe a few helpers had made scores of spring rolls from scratch. I can remember when I was younger that I had little appreciation for such foods but these were seriously good! Anyhow, I was already blown away with these guys' skills in the kitchen but I was soon to find that I had no idea...

Getting some practice in... Apparently I look
like a gherkin

 The morning after I had a practice and a sound check. I was borrowing a five string bass which I've never played before as I hadn't brought my bass for the trip, so, that was a first. All I could hope was that everything would sound OK the following day...

This picture seriously doesn't do it
justice

 Now, at home, I have this little tradition. Every Saturday I make a big chilli and everybody loves it. Somehow this tradition has continued even here in the States. What had Mrs. Berger prepared for dinner? Yep, chilli. And you know what I was saying about "skills in the kitchen"? Well, Alethea can make the most incredible apple pies! 

Live on stage!

 The next day was the day of a concert. Man, was that a blast! I was nervous as it was the biggest one I'd done on this trip so far but I survived with only a few minor blips. After that, to say thank you to the Berger's (they had done so much in organizing the concert) I went to Dairy Queen...for an ice-cream cake! This was well received, apparently there are a few ice-cream fanatics among them as I learned...

The King of Cuteness: Isaiah Berger

 We later had a BBQ together outside over an open fire before tucking into the ice-cream cake. A little while after that, while getting in a mess with toasted marshmallows, I was acquainted with the art of bannock making. Apparently it's a Scottish recipe that is best cooked over an open fire which we had handy. Take a handful of dough, squish around the tip of a long stick and cook until well browned. Spread with butter, jam, honey, (or marmite!) and you are away.

 Well, what can finish off a day of music, food and friends better than dancing? Ladies and gentleman, allow me to introduce you to line dancing! Yep, I learned how to line dance thanks to the patience of Abbie (whose very cool YouBlog! post you can read right here) and had such a great time. As you may have guessed, I was very sad to go and I shall never forget the time spent with the Berger family. Many thanks to you all, you're awesome!

Check out the disco ball!

Seasoned with far too much fun!

Jacob

Acknowledgements - Many thanks to Alex for teaching me how to back-flip on a trampoline!

Downtown Calgary. I've been able to experience Canada in the Autumn (or Fall as they say over here) a few
times now and it never ceases to "wow" me

Choosing an ice-cream cake

Alethea preparing those delicious pies...

Having the cake personlized

Now that's a cool one!

Cooking up the cheeseburgers

Enjoying that ice-cream cake!

Bannock bread. A must for anyone camping

"To glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Creator 

of the universe and spread further abroad His glorious gospel." - Yours Truly

New Friends, New Recipes

"Here comes the smoulder..."

 Sometimes in your life you meet someone that it feels like you've known for years. I can count on one hand the amount of people I've met like that and this gentleman is one of them...and he cooks like a boss! Allow me to introduce you to TJ.

 Without a doubt, the best chicken alfredo I've ever had was cooked up by none other than this dude. Tender, juicy chicken in a creamy, cheesy sauce with a subtle, warming spice to it over al dente pasta served with garlic toast; just perfect.

 Sorry, got carried away. Let's back up a bit...

I made an apple crumble

 After cooking up some mean sticky chicken with friends outside Missoula, it was a drive up to Kalispell, just south of the amazing Glacier National Park to stay at a huge camp hence the huge conventional kitchen that I had the privilege of cooking in.
 I got to try a few firsts too. For example, the huckleberry. Prized by all the locals (especially the bears!) these berries have such a distinct, unique flavour and are used in various ways. However, the most famous without a doubt is huckleberry pie which I was privileged enough to try!

Cooking up the best chicken al fredo!

 The next thing was TJ's highly secretive recipe: peanut butter and chocolate cookie cups. Hmmm, boy! Those things should be illegal. I can see why the recipe is so highly protected. I can't say too much about them though as I'm probably under surveillance...
 My band and I had a concert at this place too which went really well and we all had a blast. I was asked to autograph a CD! TJ is a musician too so with us appreciating both music and food, we became even firmer friends.
 One morning, (after a small disaster) my new friend TJ took a small group of us out to a little joint known as Montana Coffee Traders for breakfast. Now, since being over here in the States, I've acquired a taste for biscuits. (See previous post "Cracker Barrel"!) So, I ordered biscuits and gravy and boy was that a good idea! Deliciousness. Three huge, fluffy biscuits topped with a healthy helping of creamy, sausage gravy. Oh, and a slice of orange. 
 So, a gargantuan "thank you so much!" to TJ and his folks for a f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c couple of days. Montana has been an unforgettable experience for me thanks to you guys.

Seasoned with Delectability,

Jacob

The view of Glacier Nat'l Park from the road

That's right. "Real men wear aprons!"

As you can imagine, I was sad to go

Making some crumble!

Making TJ's super-secret peanut butter and chocolate
cookie cups

My amazing biscuits and gravy at Montana Coffee Traders

Trying a first...

There was also a concert too which went
really well.

...huckleberry pie