Here are just a few peeks at what's been happening lately.
We have just finished editing and revisions on our 2nd and 3rd books! They will both go into publication next week.
Last week we had a delightful experience with No Time to Trust. The Lovell Library Book club read and reviewed it as their May selection. With a bit of anxiety and nervousness Dad and I went. Fifteen people attended, most of whom were effusive in their praise. What a trip to have so many people discussing, exploring the reasons for the characters' actions, defending and even quoting passages from Dad's novel! They were not simply kind, they were enthusiastic. Hooray!
Amid the mental exertion of "the books" we have managed to plow up and rototill and plant a large garden. I thought I had a picture, but I will take one once the plants start growing. Trust me, it is large--larger than we need. So, I will have plenty to can, and give away, I hope!
And we have torn out the bathroom floor, wall coverings, and cabinet. Here's how it looks in the teardown: It's pretty hideous!
Wait 'til you see the tile we picked. It is subtle shades of blue, cream, silver and beige. I'm going to paint the walls a pale blue. Today we are going to Billings to get the remaining supplies we need to finish it. I will definitely post an "after" picture once we finish.
Recently we took a drive up the road to Devil's Canyon in preparation for this summer's visitors: starting with Aunt Diane and Uncle Glenn in 3 weeks. Here are a few of those pics.
I have compiled a Things to do in Wyoming book. Some of the places I haven't even seen yet. Should be fun!
Recently we bought an antique table that will easily seat 10 (we bought 10 chairs with it). More prep for visitors. Here's a partial view of it, topped with the flowers Martha sent for Mother's Day. (I guess you really can't see it-- but the lace table cloth is nice, isn't it?) It was a steal at 50 bucks, and besides, it reminded us of Grandma Howe's dining room table for some reason.
About a month ago on one of our many parts excursions to Powell, Dad spied this tractor and said it was just like the tractor he grew up driving as a small boy on the farm. (Of course this one was newly refurbished with a brand spanking new paint job--so it looked only remotely like the one he was remembering.) I made him get out of the truck and sit on it so I could take a picture. And here it is. Try to picture him as a boy 7 or 8 years old, driving it up and down the fields, if you can.
Dad's still cleaning up and organizing the darkroom. I'll post a picture when it's not a maze. And he bought all the wood to build a workbench over at the farm. It's all cut out and lying in a pile by the garage.
Oh, and I'm still working on the front path and the flower bed. I even bought roses and daisies and dahlias and phlox and poppies to plant.
And last, but not least, I've included a pic of one of our baby calves-- a hereford! I think we are nearly to our 100th calf. Last week Ruth said we had just 4 more to go.
Tomorrow is our 41st Wedding Anniversary. We are planning to celebrate it either today in Billings, or tomorrow in Cody. We'll see. Maybe we'll celebrate twice!
