Family Fun !!

Sorry it took me so long to get this posted. But better late than never, as "they" say. Who are "they", anyway?

As many of you know, my sister Kelly and her husband Marc work at the "Marlboro" Ranch during the summer. The ranch is actually named the Crazy Mountain Ranch located near Clyde Park, MT at the base of the Crazy Mountains (imagine that).

I am certain the Phillip Morris bought the ranch as a tax write off...and I can imagine the people of Clyde Park were livid. As it turns out, it has been the best for both the residents and Phillip Morris. It is an 18,000 acre working cattle ranch (I think Kelly said 550 cow/calf pair of Black Angus). They hired all local people for the wrangling, farming, house-keeping, cooking, etc. Phillip Morris has "dumped" a lot of money into the small community of Clyde Park.

ANYWAY...it was "friends and family" day on May 31st so Polly, Quynn, Conrad, Bobby and myself drove up on Saturday. Dad and Becky were there to meet us. We climbed on the tour bus and Kelly was the "guide". It was fun to watch her work...she has that dead-pan delivery and a slightly monotone voice, so when she cracks a funny - it's funny !!

They (Phillip Morris) have made a little "western town" in the ranch consisting of many old cabins from all over Montana. Very interesting. The kids had a BLAST, as did I to tell you the truth. It was a little "Jackson Holey" but the scenery was so stunning, who cares !

I can imagine the people that win trips to the ranch (Marlboro smokers, of course) are blown away when they get there. They guests are VERY well cared for. In fact, the only thing the guests pay for is transportation to the airport nearest their residence ! Can you believe that??

We all had our "old time" pictures taken. This is the one of the three girls. We took one where we were all serious, but he didn't print that one out. So, you are stuck with the bad-ass outlaws.....smiling !

I kinda like that I am holding the whiskey and my sisters are holding guns. Kinda reminds me of a few decades in my life....10 feet tall and bullet-proof (with whiskey, of course !) Man, I am lucky to be alive :)

Oh, one more thing. My cousins Denny and Tommy went to a "reunion" of the old gang. I will be posting pictures next week. The Allen boys have aged well compared to some of their old college buddies !!