Posted on October 28, 2015October 28, 2015 by siteadmin — Leave a comment

Angling Firsts! Freshwater to Saltwater.

Rita Schimpff with her first redfish on the fly!

Angling Firsts! Freshwater to Saltwater on the fly.

Trinchera Ranch & The Lower Laguna Madre

We set our minds to it and got it done! An IGFA Trout Super Grand Slam at Trinchera Ranch and my first Redfish on a fly on the Texas Coast were my goals.

My freshwater first!

We once again enjoyed a wonderful stay and great fishing on 185,000 acres in southern Colorado – The Trinchera Ranch.

The sprawling ranch offers 4 species of trout – wild trout – on gorgeous improved streams in the heart of the Sangre de Christo mountain range.

I wanted to catch all four in one day and I knew if anyone could help me it was our friend and guide Doc of Doc Thompson’s High Country Anglers.

We have fished with Doc for 4 years now and he knows this ranch well.

Doc Thompson guided Rita Schimpff to her IGFA Trout Super Grand Slam at Trinchera Ranch.

Doc also knows I only want to fish with only dry flies.

So the 4 trout I caught were: a Rainbow, Brown, Brook and Rio Grande Cutthroat.

I made the above vignette combining my photos with my paintings of the trout.

IGFA trout super grand slam IMG_5707 — Special thanks to my husband, Skip, who gave up valuable stream time so I could attain my super grand slam goal!

Meanwhile back at the ranch…..the Lodge at Trinchera Ranch…….

magnificent artwork surrounds your soul at Trinchera Ranch and the superb food & service feed your soul! — magnificent artwork surrounds your soul at Trinchera Ranch and superb food & service feed your soul.

The art! Remington, Bierstadt, Rungius & N.C. Wyeth originals for me to enjoy!

I was in hog heaven.

Stack stone fireplace at Trinchera Ranch - fabulous taxidermy — Stack stone fireplace at Trinchera Ranch – fabulous taxidermy

Both of these handsome rams were taken within an hour of each other in huge snow!

Heritage-Game-Mounts-Lodge-Inspiration-Trinchera-Ranch-skipdesk — Quiet spaces are designed for guests to relax, read or journal.

Every hallway, room and corner are thoughtfully designed and appointed with vintage sporting collectibles.

Heritage-Game-Mounts-Lodge-Inspiration-Trinchera-Ranch — In this hallway, one expects Hemingway to return shortly and put the final keystroke to paper.

Now to my saltwater first!

fly fishing with Rita Schimpff and Ben Paschal. — By the dawns early light, Capt. Ben Paschal leading me to my first redfish on a fly.

A redfish on the fly has eluded me for many years. Skip and I journeyed to Arroyo City on the Texas Gulf coast and the pristine saltwater flats of the Lower Laguna Madre.

We enlisted the services of Capt. Ben Paschal owner of Lower Lagana Outfitters for help with this seemingly impossible task.

He made it happen!

We returned two months later and a heated competition ensued whereby I beat my husband 8-7!

Skip has thrown down the gauntlet and vowed it won’t happen again!

Ben fishes in Louisiana from November thru March – now I want a super sized Red – stay tuned.

Posted on June 22, 2015June 22, 2015 by siteadmin — Leave a comment

Safari Lifestyle in Art

Rita Schimpff with "Tusk" by John Banovich

Safari Lifestyle in Art

Women’s Outdoor News: Bringing The Wild Inside by Rita Schimpff

We are discovering Safari Lifestyle in Art & Display over at the Women’s Outdoor News – from paintings to taxidermy. Is your safari style traditional or eclectic?

Posted on April 29, 2015September 22, 2015 by siteadmin — 2 Comments

Mint Julep Recipe by Rita Schimpff

Mint Julep Recipe by Rita Schimpff

2 Cups granulated white sugar

2 Cups water

Fresh mint – my favorite flavor to grow is Kentucky Colonel

Kentucky Bourbon

Crushed ice

Julep cup

Make simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for 5 minutes. Cool and place in covered container, refrigerate overnight. Construct each julep one at a time: bruise or muddle 4-5 leaves of mint in the bottom of the cup or glass, fill with crushed ice and add 1 oz of simple syrup and 2 oz of Kentucky Bourbon – stir rapidly to mix and frost cup. Garnish your mint julep with a sprig of fresh mint and serve with a cloth cocktail napkin.

*note: some recipes call for steeping fresh mint in the hot simple syrup as it cools, I find this gives the syrup a medicinal flavor and prefer to muddle the mint while fresh.

Post Time!

Posted on April 23, 2014May 5, 2015 by Rita Schimpff — Leave a comment

Sporting Lifestyle: Run for the Roses

The Sporting Lifestyle

It’s that time of year. Horse racing and the cocktails to go with them!

The Sporting Lifestyle for me is not just hunting, shooting & angling. But all things outdoors.

It ‘runs’ in the family.

Thomas M. Toher, American painter 1868-1929 was a horse portraitist .

Each year in April I pay homage to the Triple Crown of Racing: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness & the Belmont.

On my bar.

And wait for the 1st Saturday in May.

The Belmont began in 1867

The Preakness in 1873

The Kentucky Derby in 1875

With a collection of family memorabilia and vintage barware to make the perfect Mint Julep.

The right ingredients are a must.

I have done my homework and the BEST mint by far is a variety of spearmint called appropriately

‘Kentucky Colonel’. Some mints can cause the drink to taste medicinal- almost menthol!

As well as the drinking vessel.

A couple of fine julep cups: 1964 Kentucky Derby & a equestrian motif silver beaker.

I have my old favorite silver julep cup and just discovered a beautiful new pewter cup at Ewin’s Dry Goods http://www.ewinsdrygoods.com/products/equestrian-pewter-julep-cup

( they have other VERY handsome sporting lifestyle gifts as well)

Pewter cup from Erwin's Dry Goods. — Pewter cup from Ewin’s Dry Goods.

For more ideas of refreshing cocktails using mint, pop on over to my friend & designer Courtney Price Design and see her recent blog

Top 5 Spring/Summer Cocktails for Entertaining

at http://www.courtneyprice.com