Back and forth we go

 

 

We've done plenty of driving in the past two weeks. I'm getting too familiar with the fast food outlets of Cle Elum. I know, that's pretty lame, but it's still the easiest pit stop on the trip to Twisp. We're going over again tomorrow. John is just staying 2 nights, but I plan to come home on Thursday before the Memorial Day traffic heats up. We will take both cars and burn up some expensive gas. Almost $5 a gallon in Washington lucky us.

I was busy yesterday morning on the computer and didn't have time to blog. Plus I didn't have much to say, although that's never stopped me from posting in the past. Ha. The problem is, my eyes can only take so much early morning screen time and I have to ration myself.

We are working on the final preparations for Dad's June memorial service in Colorado, and are honored that so many relatives and friends are coming from all over the country. This is a big deal because Cripple Creek is not an easy place to get to. Some are driving, but many (like us) are flying to Denver then taking rental cars up to the mountain town, about 100 miles each way.

The service will be held at the historic Elks Lodge in Cripple Creek, where our parents were active members for many years. Following the memorial, we will lay his ashes to rest next to our mom at their family plot, and the local VFW will do a flag salute graveside. We only had a simple graveside gathering when Mom passed away. It was beautiful, but this large memorial is very much for both of them.

Have a good weekend.

 

 

Talk about bad karma

 

Who would steal a little glass Buddha from a dish garden? Especially from a table on someone's front porch. We suddenly noticed he just went missing. 

That takes us back to the White Elephant Mystery of 2013. Maybe Buddha is on a Quest and will someday return?

Speaking of dangerous quests, yesterday Amanda saw this large Bull Snake in front of the dentist's office in downtown Twisp. Maybe he went in for a cleaning, or just stopped to have a smoke on Glover Street. 

Spit and polish

 

We had the front porch and steps painted yesterday, also the weather-beaten side of the house and the peeling wall of the ancient garage. We still call it a garage, but it's just a falling down shed. At some point, it will collapse in the alley, if the garbage truck doesn't knock it down first. 

A "non conforming structure" it can't be rebuilt on the same footprint. But we could build a big, honking ADU in the backyard, smack up against the alley.

A big improvement, but like putting lipstick and powder on a very old lady. There's always something peeling, cracking, rotting or falling apart. This wood and plaster house was built in about 1918, so amazing it's still standing, albeit with constant maintenance. 

These old Seattle bungalows (aka Vintage Craftsman) have become very desirable, that is, until they're torn down to build big box houses or condos. 

Our guests think the house is just perfect, although sitting in the pretty living room drinking wine doesn't give the real picture of actually living here. Then I sound like a sourpuss, trying tell them otherwise. 

The idea of an old house is more charming than the reality-- tiny kitchen and bedrooms, no counter space, useless closets, lugging things to the laundry room and pantry down steep basement stairs. All of this falls on deaf ears.

 

Enough complaining. 

Repeat: We are lucky. We are lucky. We are lucky.

It was already getting light at 5:30 am, with the chickadees and finches singing their hearts out. A lovely morning and the familiar parade of flowers is just getting started with the big iris. Once again the garden (which I have also been known to gripe about) becomes the best thing about living here.

City of Lilacs and Joy

 

 The Spokane River

Spokane is called "Lilac City." It was bursting this weekend with fragrant flowers and happy families celebrating the graduates.

Amanda received the "Pat Ruzyla Nursing Award" on Friday.

 

 

A great honor, because she was selected from her large class of Advanced Practice Nursing students. In particular, the award  recognizes her "self-reflection, empathy and compassion for others." Wow.

The "spires" of Gonzaga University seen from our room at the Oxford Suites hotel. The exciting day dawned with perfect weather from start to finish.

The commencement program was excellent, with bagpipes (sorry, John) leading the processional and recessional.

So many happy faces at the McCarthey Athletic Center, in the audience and on the graduation floor. The commencement venue is the stadium home of the famous Zags basketball team, so excitement here is nothing new. 

Four long years of work and study comes to a close, and now the professional career begins for our freshly minted Nurse Practitioner.  Amanda takes her Board Exam this summer, and then (no surprise) already has a first job lined up. She will be based at Family Health Center in Twisp. 

This degree would have been an incredible accomplishment anywhere, but especially living in such a remote rural area, requiring countless computer and driving hours.

However, she couldn't have done it without the love and support of her family, in particular Tom, who never complained about all the sacrifices they made along the way. (OK, hardly ever!)

Let the party begin! We had dinner at the Melting Pot restaurant and it was exciting stuff for the Methow Valley kids. When the chocolate pot arrived, better take care not to get speared by a fondue fork. Ha!

Last but not least, we had time to enjoy the beautiful Riverfront Park, ride the historical carousel and reminiscence about the 1974 World's Fair.

We got back to Seattle yesterday afternoon-- tired but still filled with the afterglow of an unforgettable  weekend.

Gonzaga University, then and now

 

About thirty years ago, I gave a presentation at an archives conference at Gonzaga University. We toured Bing Crosby House, where they have a collection of memorabilia on display, including his favorite pipe. Bing was a native of Spokane and a famous alumnus of Gonzaga.

I traveled often for Microsoft, and much of it was not memorable, but for some reason the details of that trip always stayed with me. Maybe it was prophetic. The campus was lovely in the spring, and the Spokane River at flood stage. That awesome sight took my breath away. I've always loved rivers.

In the mid-90's, Amanda had just finished school and was at that tricky age, still so young but starting to make her way out in the risky world. All too soon, Nova and Maya will be doing the same.

Oh, the worry, especially during those adventure travel and Peace Corps years. Eventually, marriage and a beautiful family and life in Methow Valley. What a blessing she has been all our lives.

But how amazed I would have been back then, knowing she would someday earn an advanced degree at that prestigious university. And someday far in the future, I would have a little house by a river. Dreams do come true. With hard work and persistence. And lots of support along the way. It brings tears to my eyes writing this, we are so proud.

I'm leaving the laptop at home to just savor the graduation moments. But we'll take pictures, and I'll post on the blog when we get back to Seattle.

Have a great weekend.

All in the method

 

These are so good if you take the time to do them right: first parboil the peppers, make a rice and sausage filling with onion and garlic, fill and top with mozzarella cheese, then bake for an hour. Homemade marinara sauce on the side. 

Those beautiful sweet peppers were only a dollar each at Safeway. I had some leftover brown saffron rice which made them even better. Life is good.

I could get used to this weather, with the sun coming up in a clear blue sky. We're on final countdown for the Gonzaga University graduation on Saturday. 

It looks like a sunny drive across the state Friday. To put it in perspective, the distance to Spokane is about 40 miles longer than Twisp, but it's freeway driving so the travel time is about the same. 

Way back in February, I made hotel reservations for two nights in downtown Spokane, and a good thing, because the town is sold out for graduation weekend, with visiting family and friends getting gouged on prices. So be it.

The "Melting Pot" was the only restaurant that would reserve our group on Saturday night. Fondue? It sounds kind of hokey and fun. The town will be one big party.