Jacob and Courtney Cowgill were married Sept. 20, 2008 at the Kleffner Ranch near Helena, Montana. A whole community -- albeit far-flung -- turned out for the big day, including the bride's 10 bridesmaids and the groom's seven groomsmen. Abby and Patrick Hood coordinated the wedding and overall kept the day running smooth. Michael Downs, a longtime friend of the bride's married the couple beside Prickly Pear Creek. The couple wrote their own vows and it was reported that there was nary a dry eye during the ceremony. Benny's Bistro cooked the food Jacob grew near Big Sandy and guests raved about the Kamut and lentil salad, black corn cassarole, roasted potatoes and homegrown beef roast. The Helena Parlour Pickers provided some down-home country and celtic music to jig to and between sets, D'Arlene Hilt, the bride's 3rd grade teacher, taught square dancing. The bride wore a lace dress she designed (sort of) and groom wore linen pants and a paisley tie. After the wedding, the bride and groom were accompanied by good friends to the family cabin in Benchmark and then the couple returned to Big Sandy to finish tomato, potato, leek and onion harvest.
Then, they waited a precious four months to actually update their blog. They are after all, ridiculous human beings like that.
Above is a slideshow of the photos from the wedding. One of the best gifts the couple received for their wedding was the photographic talent of friends Chris Lombardi, Erin Berzel and Anne Medley. The album above is an amalgam of Chris and Erin's photographs.
Wedding Goers Report Good Time at Cowgill-Lowery Celebration
Map to The Wedding
We're so very excited to see you all in just a few weeks.
From Helena:
1. Head east on 11th Ave toward Montana Ave 0.7 mi
2. Continue on US-12 E 4.7 mi
3. Turn right at CR-518 1.2 mi
Look for the signs at the turnoffs.
Lodging Information
We have blocked rooms at two hotels in Helena for guests:
Helena, MT 59601
Tel: 406-443-2100Fax: 406-449-8815
E-mail: colonialsales@redlion.com
Helena, MT, 596014843 USPhone: 406-443-2450
Email: generalmanager03575@wynhg.com
There are also some good B&B options in Helena for those of you interested:
The Barrister:
Web site
Call (800) 823-1148 for reservations
The Sanders:
Web site
328 North Ewing
Helena, MT 59601
(the corner of 7th and North Ewing)
Phone: 406-442-3309
Email: thefolks@sandersbb.com
Also, if you're up for camping, you can pitch tents or set up your camper right at the wedding and reception site, the Kleffner Ranch. Just let us know if that's something you'd like to do and we'll set it up.
Stay tuned -- we'll be posting lots of other information soon on activities, details on the reception and updates on how the food is growing in Big Sandy with Jacob and (fingers-crossed) how the flowers are doing in my backyard. (Seriously, cross your fingers.)
A Fun Gift Option
So, this seems a little cheesy and if it does to you too, please don't read the rest of it. :)
But....
We're going to Italy for an international agriculture and food conference in October (Jacob got selected as a delegate) and we've decided to make it into somewhat of a honeymoon. So, for those of you who have asked how you could help with our trip, we've registered at www.honeyfund.com, where you can give us a give us a gift and tell us what you'd like us to do while traveling.
For 10 days, (4 of those for the conference, which I will also be attending), we'll be traveling, learning, touring and finding out what the world looks like from some place else.
It will be the trip of a lifetime. So, while we did register for gifts and certainly don't need a gift of any sort, we know a few of you would like to contribute to our celebration in someway and thought this might be a fun option.
You can find our registry by typing our names in at www.honeyfund.com or click here.
We can't wait to see you all in September!
A Garden For 2 (Hundred and Fifty)
Our backyard, almost all in flowers this year (save a few herbs) in preparation for the wedding, has really come into its own the last few weeks. We've planted mostly fall-flowering plants, hoping they'll all hold out for the end of September: Zinnias, Blanket Flower and Marigolds, lots and lots of Marigolds.
The Zinnias (below) will be for decoration and lovely bouquets for my lovely women: Renee, Brooke, Sarah, Hannah, Myra, Annie, Kelly and Erin.
The Marigolds will be for my bouquet -- they're double ruffled, which means they're kind of like double-stuffed. I like anything double-stuffed (french toast, Oreos...) so I'm sure I'll love these.
I'm no farmer, not like Jacob, so everyone send your good gardening vibes my way and hope these suckers last until Sept. 20.
The Invitation Is In the Mail (I've Heard That Before)
Hi all: Invitations will be sent this week, barring any other crises with my steep learning curve on design and printing. Here's a preview:
Working Through the New Family Farm in the New West Magazine
After much laboring and sweating, I wrote an essay for the premiere issue of The New West magazine about Jacob and I and farming and marriage and the fears I'm learning to bury.
It was a scary piece to write because it's so personal, but scary stuff can sometimes create the most meaningful epiphanies. In writing this, I came to a lot of new realizations and unearthed emotions, but also, a lot of hope.
Click here for the story online.
And, by the way, one of Jacob's and my friends the other day said, "You going to have to stop writing about Jacob... isn't that kind of unjournalistic?"
I say, no way, when I see a great story, I write it, whether I'm marrying the main source or not. :)
The Commuting Couple, Part II
It's been a big week in the Cowgill-Lowery household.
Jacob left yesterday for his summer in Big Sandy, where he'll be tending his vegetable experiment (and our wedding food!), his heritage turkeys and his chickens.
He drove away in Bob's pickup with onion sprouts in the cab, chickens in the back and the various other accoutraments it takes to grow veggies, take care of a dog and a cat, feed chickens and live on the plains an hour from the nearest major grocery store.
Last night, I cleaned the house and reveled in the lack of stacks and stacks of magazines and books about farming in our house. I relished putting the water filter in the fridge (Jacob likes it out on the counter -- room temp) and began reclaiming our office back into my yoga/writing room.
I'd been on somewhat of a high from the weekend putting out the second issue of The New West Magazine, (see details on subscribing at www.newwest.net/magazine) and he was scrambling to pack, so we had a only a few rare moments of quiet before he left.
Now, the house just feels empty.
This morning, I left the water filter on the counter, just to make things seem normal.
This commuting couple thing might be tougher this summer than last.
Meet Jacob, Artist/Farmer Extraordinaire
A Barn Wedding, Montana-Style
