Courtney and Jacob

Wedding Goers Report Good Time at Cowgill-Lowery Celebration

2008-12-28T08:10:00.000-08:00

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.

Map to The Wedding

2008-08-30T10:14:00.000-07:00

We're so very excited to see you all in just a few weeks.

Here's a map to the wedding and reception:

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.

View Larger Map

The address is:
305 Higwhay 518
East Helena, MT

See you there!

Lodging Information

2008-08-29T11:30:00.000-07:00

We have blocked rooms at two hotels in Helena for guests:

1. The Red Lion Colonial Inn:

Web site

2301 Colonial Drive
Helena, MT 59601
Tel: 406-443-2100Fax: 406-449-8815
E-mail: colonialsales@redlion.com

Click here for a map.

1. Super 8 Motel

2200 11th Ave.I-15 Exit 192Helena, MT, 596014843 US
Phone: 406-443-2450
Email: generalmanager03575@wynhg.com

Click here for map.

There are also some good B&B options in Helena for those of you interested:

The Barrister:
Web site

416 North Ewing Helena Montana 59601
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

2008-08-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

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)

2008-07-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

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.

Map to the Wedding, Lodging, Activities and Ideas

2008-06-11T17:32:00.001-07:00

View Larger Map

The Invitation Is In the Mail (I've Heard That Before)

2008-06-09T11:24:00.000-07:00

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:

We can't wait to see you all!

Working Through the New Family Farm in the New West Magazine

2008-05-19T16:15:00.000-07:00

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. :)

Meet the Ringbearer

2008-04-30T10:17:00.001-07:00

Meet Samuel James Lowery, the bearer of the rings.

The Commuting Couple, Part II

2008-04-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

Above is the the flier for Jacob's upcoming showing of his sculpture at my office (which we turn into a gallery once a month). Click here for more information on the show, which, if I do say so myself is really extraordinary. So, if you can't make it April 4th, raise a glass to the artist. He's quite a guy and quite a visionary.

When Jacob brought back boxes of pieces of dead animals and insects this fall from his summer "abroad" in Big Sandy, I'll admit, I was skeptical.

But what he has created with it is nothing short of incredible.

Not only are the sculptures aesthetically engaging (aka something I would buy to put on our walls), they are profound -- and profound from a diverse set of angles.

He's taken these pieces of detritus -- rattlesnake skins, grasshopper wings, porcupine quills, wasp nests, pronghorn hair -- and framed them, with more than just wood.

With careful construction of windows and lights and plexiglass and metal and dowels and glue he's created visual stories, tweaking your eye and mind just so to make you see something larger, more in focus and deeper in context. Crops, animals, land, people, insects, sky. For me, it's all been there, all of my life. It's what I stared at for 18 years and somehow, never saw it like this until Jacob put it all together. I guess that's what great art does.

I'm in awe of the window the whole process has given me into the man I am going to marry -- how he communicates, how he thinks, how he creates, where his complexities lie and just how deep he goes.

These little pieces of dead animal and rusted metal and weathered wood are making me fall in love all over again.

And, that is a surprise.

Gender Rolls

2008-03-25T10:20:00.000-07:00

Don't be fooled. I'll be the one in the kitchen.

Blown Away

2008-03-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

This is my friend and one of the groomsmen, Byron. He's blown away by the whole thing.

Save the Date!

2008-03-22T07:35:00.001-07:00

A Barn Wedding, Montana-Style

2008-03-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

Jacob Cowgill and Courtney Lowery are getting married Sept. 20, 2008 in Helena, Montana.

Here are a few fun details:

We're getting married at the Kleffner Ranch, outside of East Helena. It looks like this...

We're doing an all local wedding. (Or trying at least) So, we're finding vendors and food and drink that come from Montana because we both like things from Montana, you know, like each other...

One of the coolest part is that Jacob is growing the veggies on the experiment he's working on in Big Sandy. They're yummy, like this...

Beer will come from the Blackfoot Brewing Co. in Helena and the Harvest Moon brewery in Belt, thanks to my lovely bro.

Wine will come from right up the valley -- Ten Spoon Winery in Missoula. My Daddy is getting a cow and a lamb from the neighbors (baaah!) and Mom is getting the cake in Helena.

We'll have s'mores before dinner (why wait!?) and if I have my way, a cotton candy machine (think county fair meets barn dance meets our wedding) to boot.

My 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Hilt, will be calling square dancing at the reception, so fluff up that skirt and shine those boots.

Jacob offered to make my dress, but I said "um... maybe not so much."

Us

2008-03-20T20:25:00.001-07:00

Just think, we'll be even happier than this at the wedding. But, we'll have marshmallows there too, don't worry.

Our first wedding blog

2008-03-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

Jacob and I are marrying each other Sept. 20, 2008 in Helena, Montana.

This is our story.