The Newport Blog: Billings MT + Powell WY

Ginger flew to Billings May 5th - 18th. Her sister Mandy graduated from Rocky Mountain College with a Bachelor of Geology. She'll start working for Sunburst Consulting this summer. Below, Mandy with family and with friend Danyon from Powell.

 

 Mandy bought a slightly-used Jeep Compass, ready to use the four-wheel drive on her mud-logging worksites. She and her boyfriend Nick flew to Denver, CO to pick it up and drive it home all in one day. Ginger made a Jeep graduation cake driving up a mountain with sugar crystal rocks and chocolate rocks.

 

Also cousin Zach and Aunt Bid flew from Dallas for graduation. We drove up in the Rocky Mountains to visit Natural Bridge and Camp on the Boulder.

Zach and Ginger had an adventure climbing down the mountain to see where the river comes out of the mountain. (For scale, Zach is the small figure wearing black in the photo on the left.)


 

Ginger, Nancy and Aunt Bid on the hiking trail

Our cabin at camp, after it started snowing!

Then Ginger drove to hometown Powell, WY. A 40's style photography shoot ensued with friend Kristian. 

 

She also reunited with friends Shannon (wearing scarf in left photo) and Dori (red hair). 

Kristian and Ginger also drove to the natural hot springs in Thermopolis, and spent the day swimming, climbing rocks, and playing at the kids park.

Danyon (Kristian's younger sister and Mandy's good friend) took a pottery class this spring and produced many beautiful pieces. You can see her other artwork at her etsy website. 

Also below, Ginger and Sunday school teacher Anna.

In other artwork, Mandy made this silver cross/heart necklace with garnets, and Nick created this box in another pottery class.

 

The other main event for May was cousin Mike's wedding. He and Paula had a lovely ceremony. Ron officiated and Nancy did the flowers. Nick's family did the catering.

We got to see lots of family again, including our cousin Kelsey. 

Also, Nick and Mandy got to slow dance.