Chad Buckendahl Blog 2006

Date

Event

23-Sep

Quail Hunting Trip. Joe, Sean, Jazz and I went on our second hunting trip of the year. The primary objective of this trip was to get Jazz ready for the upcoming pheasant season.

16-Sep

Chad's Birthday Party. Megan through a party for me. A bunch of our friends were there and it was great seeing everyone.

9-Sep

Dove Opening Day. We spent the weekend hunting dove opening day in Hoxie, Kansas. We were not as lucky as in the past but still had a very good trip. This was Jazz's first time hunting dove. She doesn't like them much. Pictured is Jazz and Sean's new Lab pup playing in the motel room.

2-Sep

Tina & Lucas' Wedding. Megan and I were honored to join Tina and Lucas for their wedding in Bozeman, Montana. Congratulations Tina & Lucas. Pictured are all of the girls in the wedding.

19-Aug

Elk Scouting Trip. My big game hunting party meet in the mountains on Thursday to scout the area we plan to hunt in two years. Pictured to the right, you can see a big old buck sitting on the ground looking at me. Although we're not hunting deer, seeing all of the wildlife in the area was a good break from the city life.

13-Aug

Aunt Una passed away peacefully in the hospital. We will miss you Aunt Una. Una was born in Anaconda on March 9, 1908, to Eugene Lewis Kunkel and Ruth Lowry Kunkel. Una married William "Bill" Smith in September 1926. Preceding her in death were her husband, Bill Smith; her parents; brothers, Lowry and Richard Kunkel; and sister, Margaret Dawson Surviving are her four children, Marjorie (Art) Howard of Corvallis, Gene Smith of Missoula, Bill (Helen) Smith of Mohave Valley, Ariz., and Richard (Diane) Smith of Sonoma, Calif.; and sister, Ruth Petersen of Whitehall. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 29, at United Methodist Church, 300 E. First St., Missoula, with Pastor Barry Padget officiating.

12-Aug

Camping at State Forest. Megan and I went on our last camping trip of the season to the beautiful State Forest area. Maureen bought us an ice cream maker (pictured) to make ice cream in the woods. It turned out great!

5-Aug

Biggins House Warming Party. We joined a bunch of friends to help Chad Biggins and his girlfriend Beth break in their new house in Lakewood, Colorado. Pictured to the right is a long-time friend from Iowa - Josh Bauer and his girlfriend Jenn, who were also at the party.

5-Aug

Shooting at the Range. I practiced shooting my rifle w/ hunting partner Sean and his wife Julie. We always take our handguns shooting while were at the range so we can keep our handgun skills brushed up.

25-Jul

Our New Nephew. Marty & Tammy's newest addition - Mason James Peck. What a time we had meeting him!

25-Jul

The Peck Family Visits Denver. Tammy, Marty, Tori, Madison and Mason drove through Denver and stayed with us for a night as the headed to a conference in the mountains.

23-Jul

Megan's Garden. I had to take a picture to show off the handy work Megan has done this year on the front garden. Doesn't it look amazing?

22-Jul

Shooting Guns w/ Sean. My hunting partner and I went out shooting in the mountains. We're getting ready for my first elk hunt. I drew a cow tag for the fourth season.

This was the first time shooting my elk rifle. The picture shows where my first 13 shots landed from 100 yards. It will take some time to get my gun broke in so I can shoot responsibly, naturally and consistently.

20-Jul

Megan Gets Out of Hospital. After 8 days, the kidney doc let us go home. The medication given to Megan during this time has successfully altered the acute rejection of her transplanted kidney.

1-Jul

Boyd Lake. We surprised Megan and had a "Kidney Party" for Bruce "the kid." We're thankful to have had a successfully kidney for 12 years! Pictured is Biggins and Beth on the jet ski. Biggs is getting braver in water (w/ Beth at his side).

23-Jun

Twin Lakes, Colorado. For two years in a row, we made it to the beautiful Twin Lakes area, camping, fishing and telling stories with a group of our friends.

15-Jun

Kory's Graduation. We're so proud of you Kory and can't wait to see what you make of yourself. We have every bit of faith that you'll be successfully at whatever you choose to do.

14-Jun

Deep Sea Fishing. We got a once in a lifetime opportunity to charter a boat and fish for six hours in the Atlantic 12 miles off shore of Block Island.

13-Jun

Bed & Breakfast in Kennebunkport, Maine. We stayed at The Captain Lord Mansion in the Dana room. It was a great little getaway for us and driving Jim's G to Maine was a hoot! The car actually spoke to you... Drive Faster! The picture is of an artist we met while bike riding in Kennebunkport. The artist knew George W. Bush when he was young.

9-Jun

Vacation in Rhode Island. We spent time w/ Jim & Becky (Megan's sister) and enjoyed the company of Kory & Kyle. It was Kory's high school graduation. Kyle is picture perfect (to the right).

29-May

Camping in Farish. We got the opportunity again to enjoy the Farish campgrounds on the US Air Force Academy grounds. Our friend (Brent) is a Major in the Air Force. Pictured to the right is Brent and I after a couple hours of fishing - we both limited out and rainbow trout.

20-May

Tree Trimming in Kansas. To show our appreciation for letting us hunt their land, we helped Jr. and Ann trim their trees that took a beating this winter. Our hearts and prayers go out to Marsha, who just lost her son. Marsha is the wife of the late gentleman (JB) that started the hunting tradition with the group of guys back in Denver. He died 3 years ago and now Jr (his brother) took over the reins. They are a wonderful group of people and I am so thankful to have meet them and to be a part of the Denver hunting group.

19-May

Baccalaureate Party in Los Vegas. Megan flew to Vegas for the weekend to enjoy good times w/ a group of of friends in Tina's wedding. Congratulations Tina and we look forward to your BIG day.

6-May

Reading Tammy & Marty's blog each day is incredible. I love seeing the pictures of Mason and thinking about what must be going through Mason, Marty & Tammy's heads. We're so happy for them. See their blog!

24-Apr

Branding in Montana. We love going home to Montana during branding so we get to see all of the neighbors and lifelong friends of the Dawson family. It's a neat time and something that I hope to get my sisters to do with us someday so they too can see one of the more interesting responsibilities of running a ranch - branding your cattle.

16-Apr

Easter 2006. Megan cooking Easter brunch for Mom, Dad, Dawn, Taylor, Jossie (Taylor's friend), Ethan, Liza, and of course Megan..

8-Apr

Driving Large Equipment. My buddy Wade took me to his job site and let me get in some of the equipment and taught me how to drive each machine.

18-Mar

Shooting w/ Wade. Wade and I drove up deep into the mountains to practice shooting clay pigeons. Pictured is Wade shooting my tactical M4 rifle.

28-Jan

International Sportsmen's Exposition. I spent the day at the largest fishing, hunting, fly-fishing and outdoor-travel show in the Rocky Mountain region. The highlight of my day was meeting Dez Young & Dash – stars of the original award winning series, Hunting With Hank, Dez Young's Wingshooter's Journal, Upland Days with Dash and Dez, and the best of all… Dash in the Uplands. I even got to pet Dash – Llewellin Setter.

22-Jan

Skiing @ Cooper Mountain. Megan and I spent the weekend in Silverthorne, Colorado with some friends. It was a lot of fun. Pictured to the right is the some of the crew.

15-Jan

National Western Stock Show & Rodeo. Megan and I went to the rodeo w/ some friends. It was my first rodeo but Megan has been to a few. Although we had fun, Megan did not like all of the glitz. I guess she’s used to the Montana rodeos.