GRADUATION in Seattle, WA

What a FUN and FANTASTIC reason to meet and celebrate with Mary, Ken, Amanda, and Jake!
Amanda, my goddaughter, graduated from the University of Washington with her masters degree in bio-engineering.  Now, she is a multi-degreed wonderful woman!  SMILES!
Just for the joy of it, photos of achievements and my beautiful friends--

high school graduation 2008
Ken, Amanda, and Mary

Ken, Mary, Amanda, and Simon
graduation from the University of Missouri 2012
(BS in Biomedical Engineering)

Amanda--on the campus of the
University of Washington
Masters of Science in Bioengineering 2014

Amanda and Jake 2014

Mary, Amanda, and Ken 2014

Okay, I MUST add these--

Jake, Ken, and Mary at the graduation ceremony!  I so love that face, Ken!

Mary and Ken on the brewery tour.  I highly recommended this tasty event!

Matthew and I left after a festive late lunch...It is getting harder to leave our well-loved friends and family.  I know this because it takes longer for me to "get into the groove of 'movin' right along'".  This afternoon, Matt and I drove in silence and warm memories for about 30 minutes.  I finally turned on the music, and we boogied north.  
Thank you Mary, Ken, Amanda, and Jake for sharing your joys with us.  We love you all!

We are ready to cross the border into Canada tomorrow morning.  Although I prefer to drive no more than 300 miles a day, I think we may roll a bit farther each day, so we can see friends and family in Alaska sooner!  SMILE!

Council Bluffs, IA to Lynnwood, WA

2,090 miles into our trek north to Alaska...
I love maps; I've wanted to use them in blog entries, but haven't figured-out the techie-way to do it. So, I will try it this way--until my hand model complains or demands too much compensation. (And, NO, Tom G., you do NOT need to help Matt with a financial negotiation!)

1st stop--near Grand Island, NE

2nd stop--Colorado Springs, CO

3rd stop--Casper, WY

Wyoming

4th stop--Billings, MT

On the way to Billings, MT, we stopped at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument...

The lecture provided at the site was fascinating--history, culture, economics, defense of a way of life...much to learn. 

Little Bighorn Battlefield US National Park Service

Custer's Last Stand Hill--white stones indicate where a soldier fell. 

Memorial to the 7th Calvary--263 men were killed 

Lakota and Cheyenne Memorial--40 to 100 killed.

On the way to Butte, MT

5th stop--near Butte, MT

6th stop--Moses Lake, WA

Moses Lake, WA

We decided to drive Hwy 2 from Moses Lake, WA to Lynnwood, WA.  Beautiful!  I would definitely take this route again.  There were numerous hiking trails and tantalizing destinations (i.e. Deception Falls).  Many of the town along the way were also worth exploring--Leavenworth, Skykomish, Gold Bar, etc.  It was a great day and an inspiring drive!

7th stop--Lynnwood, WA

Skykomish River....Dang, it
could be the Wenatchee River.  

Snow in Stevens Pass and 51 degrees

We are now in Lynnwood, WA.  Matt and I are here to celebrate my goddaughter, Amanda's, graduation!!!  Mary and Ken are coming in this evening--parents of Amanda and GREAT friends of mine.
Later and with love,
Susan and Matthew
Oh, I won't use as many map photos in other entries...I did go a bit overboard!

Jen and Tom in Colorado Springs, CO

Great times!!!  We arrived on Thursday night, and left on Sunday morning.  Okay, so not a long time, but a significant one.  We discussed life, travel, experiences, joys, sorrows, and fears…genuine friends.  Matthew and I missed them as soon as we turned out of their driveway.  Happily, however, it seems that all roads lead to Colorado Springs.  As “the hub”, we get to see them a couple of times a year.

Thank you both for everything!

The Rock and Gem show at the Mining Museum:

Beautiful cabs (cabochons)

Jen and Tom searching through the cabs.
Jen is an extraordinary header/jewelry designer

Matt panning in 2014--CO

Matt panning in 1994--AK

Their beautiful girls, Cocoa and Barley...they are wonderful!  I have never heard cats talk the way these two do.  They are very social and definitely "complete" Jen's and Tom's family.

The rascal--Cocoa

The princess--Barley

Bowling at Bass Pro--a nautical theme:

Bowling lanes at Bass Pro--way cool!!!

Matt had an altercation with a Great White...Jen supported the shark!
(Really, who can blame her?)

Jen, Tom, and Matt at the bowling alley.

On the road again

On our way to Colorado Springs, CO to visit friends--Jen & Tom and their four-legged masters, Barley and Cocoa---we drove the main interstates.  I 80 to I 76 to I 25...(I need to figure-out how to attach a map to this blog!)
Although we stayed on the interstates, the drive was still beautiful.

Nebraska

The clouds were gorgeous!

Still in Nebraska...it is a wide state on Interstate 80...

Into Colorado...yes, we got some rain.

Council Bluffs and Omaha...HOME

Although I absolutely love going home, I consistently leave the area wishing I had had more time to complete projects and visit more friends!  Wait, wait,  I know the answer--stay longer!  SMILES!  Duh, that was obvious...
Matthew and I had a wonderful time with friends!  To everyone with whom we were able to visit, share a meal, and/or enjoy an activity--THANK YOU!!!  To those whose hospitality included accommodating overnight guests--THANK YOU!!!
In addition to "leaving wanting more", Matthew and I always begin our treks-beyond-home with inspiring memories of joy.
Random photos taken during our time at home--

Hitchcock Nature Center campground

Agriculture--Loess Hills

Jasmine and Matthew, on their date, in the Old Market.

Matthew at Kombido class--beating and being beaten!  (Photos by Charity--thank you!)  Despite what you see in the pictures, Matthew loves all of his friends at Master Shawn's dojo.  (Heck, I do too!)

DJ and Elias--former students at ISD's graduation ceremony!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Diane and Matthew--celebrating her 70th!  Happy Birthday!

                    Sarah working at HyVee--moving carts and bagging groceries!  Good work!!! Love ya, Sarah!


There was inclement weather in Council Bluffs the night before we left... No, better--there was a HUGE damn storm on Wednesday, June 4th.
Jen, our meteorologist friend, described it as, "the sky opened-up and hail and hell fell simultaneously!" Articulately stated my dear friend!
The Romey/Trucano family kept vigil in the basement most of the evening--severe storm and tornado watch warnings relentlessly repeated on the radio.  We lost electricity early evening.  The tennis-ball-sized hail broke two windows upstairs and opened a hole in the workshop roof.  Trees lost limbs, branches, and leaves.  The roof on the house was damaged, and there were dents/holes in the siding...yep, hail and hell.
Good luck to all of you with property damage...I am sorry.

Matthew, Cindy, and Katie--enjoying a picnic supper in the basement.
Even in a difficult situation, Cindy plans "fun".

Matt loving on Spencer, in the basement, safe from the storm.

So, Matthew and I are committed; we will stay in Council Bluffs/Omaha for a longer period... Now, I only need to manufacture more time!
Love to all of you!!!

Ottumwa, Iowa & Mom and Dad

Matthew and I had a great "almost-a-week" with Mom and Dad.  You know, it was that perfect combination of being productive and having enough time to play.  (That being said, I could ALWAYS happily spend more time at "home"!)
Quick run down on productivity (if I can't tout the work, it seems less...well, of an accomplishment--SMILES): Matthew and I took everything out of the RV, detailed it, cleaned the packed items, and reorganized.  All that was completed in 7 hours; not bad for spring cleaning, if I say so myself.  (Now, disregard that the project required a few days to complete!)
Play?  Here we go--all accompanied by photos, of course!
Mom prepared a delicious meal and invited my brother, John, and his family (Jen, Melody, and Noah) over for dinner.  It was great to have time with you and yours, John...well, okay, not enough time!

Playing gameboy with Noah

We also visited and decorated family graves in the Ottumwa area.

My father's maternal grandparents
My great grandparents
Matt's great great grandparents

Mom, Dad, Matthew and I also went to see the American Gothic House in Eldon, Iowa.  Did you know that this painting (American Gothic), by Grant Wood, is the second most identified painting in the world?  The first, and most easily identified painting by people world-wide, is the Mona Lisa.

This is a photo, of a copy, of the famous painting in the museum at the Gothic House in Eldon.  The original is exhibited in the Art Institute of Chicago 

Mom and Dad--their first attempt at taking a selfie in front of the American Gothic House.

We also visited the graves of some famous (or should that be infamous?) area chiefs.

Chief Wapello--Sac and Fox Nations

Chief Blackhawk--Sac and Fox Nation

Some of the beauty of Iowa--

Photos  from the Iowaville Cemetery

Matthew and I are now in Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska.  We will be leaving here tomorrow...again, it has been a wonderful visit.  Will blog about that in a day or two...or three.  SMILES!  We hope you are all well, safe, and happy!