Meandering the Country

May 21 – June 3, 2022 Probably a more accurate title would include Iowa, as dear family and friends began spoiling us as soon as we hit the Midwest!  Luke treated us to the magic he does with his backyard smoker, Norah gave me a succulent planter with her handprint embellishing the pot, Jane gifted us with a plate of her scrumptious brownies, Adam gifted us a loaf of his sourdough bread, Lauren treated us to a pair of her hand-turned pottery coffee cups, Sandy made her yummy almond rusks for us, Sherry delivered a wedge of St. Anthony Whiskey-Washed original Farmstead cheese from Redhead Creamery, Rhonda treated us to homemade dinners including a Persian dinner and her homemade pizza, as well as a loaf of her sourdough bread…  Ahh, the delight of being “home” again!  What a blessing to have so many great people in our lives! Speaking of home, we made our home at Lebanon Hills Regional Park during our stay in the Twin Cities area.  Our timing couldn’t have been any be...

May 8-20, 2022 On our northward trail to annual doctor appointments, we found ourselves camped south of Kansas City at Hillsdale State Park, near our former stomping grounds! Although Dick and I are both proud ISU alumni, we never met on campus.  We both took jobs in Kansas City following our graduation from Iowa State University and that is where we met!  Monica was a mutual acquaintance that set us up on a blind date, the Bumble or Hinge of the olden days! Cindy and Alan help us add the Kansas sticker! We packed as much as we could into our short time in the area, including a visit with Cindy and Alan!  Dick and Alan both worked at Black & Veatch, which is how we met.  Cindy and Alan made the trip to Hillsdale State Park to spend the afternoon catching up and reminiscing.  It was Mother’s Day, so before we parted ways, we treated ourselves to “Fancy Like Applebee’s on a date night”!  (A great song by Walker Hayes!)  So fun! We couldn’t help but s...