What Happened to January??!?

For that matter, what happened to October, November and December?!?

The new year began with sadness as we had to say goodbye to long-time friend Darlene Gissler-- the Mom of my best friend, my Mom's best friend, my second Mom--connections that span nearly 5 decades.

A few weeks later, I got word that my Aunt Esther had died, my Dad's last sibling.

Even though they lived long, full lives and we know it was their time, it doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye. They will be missed by many.

So, to balance the sadness, I must go backwards in time to my granddaughter's entry into the world. And I know you all have heard me brag about this cutie patootie. Many times. Sorry, but here goes some more. I know she's already changed a lot but I had to begin at the beginning.

Warning!

The following pictures show some

very,

very

serious

Love!

Alix and Brandon, B.Z. (before Zayne, before their lives changed forever)
Proud Mom
Proud Daddy. Look at her expression--she already knows she has him wrapped around her little finger!
Z and GB (still not sure what I'll be called)
Andy and a zonked Zayne
Getting a little more comfortable
and still more comfortable
now they're both in the comfort zone
Al enjoying the blissful (albeit short) quiet
a setting that certainly invites relaxation
our little angel

Happy New Year!

Chapter 4

We made it! This is our only window but it does add quite a bit of light. I'm so glad it's all done!
But wait!?! What is this??
Yep. It was Friday and we were supposed to open on Monday. Miraculously, it was all put back together and cleaned up in time to open. Most everything is in place. Well, most everything is in a place. We're not quite sure just where that place is.

The End.

Epilogue
It's been over a month since we opened and we still can't find where we put those extra bookends! And didn't we have another packet of labels somewhere...???

Chapter 3--The Move Began

Tuesday, July 19, movers and moving van arrived in the morning and started packing and loading. They would have made ants proud!

I think we all got a little teary when we saw the truck and book carts descend.
And the packing began.
Meanwhile, at the new space, it was necessary to mark off where the shelves would be and which shelves would be there. We had 3 different sizes of shelves, 3 different colors, 4 different heights in both standing and wall shelving.
It was quite the puzzle to determine which shelves would fit where and which collections would go on them.
Whew--made it through the first day!
The fiction collection fits nicely on the walls and the nonfiction will live in the standing shelves.
Meanwhile, back at the old library, it's starting to look a bit bare.
Day 3 saw more progress.
It's beginning to look like a library, complete with tree!
But it's really taking a toll on staff...

Chapter 2--Construction

Construction started on the new building. The building was gutted down to just the four walls--no doors, windows or roof. Once that was fixed the inside was next.

They worked on the entrance

and they worked on the circ desk.


They worked on the offices


and they worked on where the stacks would be.

And before we knew it, it was done. The circ desk was done.

(and it's huge! in an age where libraries are getting away from circ desks...)

And the area for the stacks was done. And it's huge, too!

And then...

Chronicle of a Library Move. Chapter 1

Once upon a time there was a little library at the Mountain Home Air Force Base.It wasn't a fancy library, in fact it was a bit tired looking.

But, like most libraries, it held thousands of worlds and escapes and wonderments.
Even though it wasn't a fancy library, people enjoyed coming to it and using its resources (that's me way up at the front giving a briefing to a bunch of first term airmen--they're so cute and so young, babies really.)

The Library had an awesome DVD collection, too (which is primarily why everyone liked coming to the library, but we also have some avid readers).
And THEN, someone who thinks he's smarter than the Librarian decided the Library needed to move.

To be continued...

Catchin' Up

I finally decided it was time to quit whining about the time change and get y'all caught up on what I've been doing. It's been a busy few months!

In mid-May I met my two fabulous friends, Marylou and Shirley, in Dillon for a long girls' weekend. We had a fun little cabin southwest of Dillon with wide sweeping views in all directions. Across the road was this little stream.


And looking south from the deck


We went into Dillon one day and just kinda kicked around. We stopped at Gracies, a second-hand store. It was a rabbit's warren of junk. We didn't stay long, though, because the prices were not particularly well aligned with the quality of the items. (meaning things were incredibly overpriced.) But there was this wonderful rock wall and charming, and precarious, bench waiting for friends to alight.


We hiked up towards Lemhi Pass along the very path of Lewis and Clark. Although we didn't make it all the way there, Marylou and Shirley did their best rendition of the explorers pointing the way.


We were sad to say goodbye to this charming place and most of all to good friends.


My next adventure really wasn't this one but I'm too lazy to rearrange my pictures into proper order. Anyway, I joined 8 others to drive across the prairie (no, there is no road there) dodging badger holes, sometimes unsuccessfully, in search of nesting platforms for feruginous hawks.


We would find a platform and John, our guide and wildlife biologist, would take down the ladder from the top of the Explorer, we would trek a short distance to the platform, set up the ladder and he would catch a hawk then hand it to one of the volunteers. Then another volunteer would put on the band.


The babies were much bigger than I expected. They were 35-45 days old and close to fledging (a couple did fly off when we got there). Their feet are at full size so there is no worry about the band becoming too tight. Their tongues are quite odd--it has a hole in it, apparently for breathing. Their beaks are quite impressive but they didn't try to bite. If their feet weren't sufficiently secured, though, they did try to grab on with their razor sharp talons. John had blood running down both arms by the time we were done and one of the volunteers got scratched, but not severely.


The kids. They're wondering what mom and dad will say about the shiny new bracelets they got.


The last adventure was a trip to Whidbey Island, always a treat. The weather was fantastic, the best I've ever seen there. The Olympics were in full glory.


As were the peonies


and poppies.


I never get tired of the view from Twin Lagoon.


We stopped by Alix's uncle's farm and introduced Max to the cows.


He was tired afterwards, but still felt the need to help in the kitchen.


I had such a fabulous time and was sad, as always, to leave. Someday...

Can't They Leave the Flippin Time Alone??!!

I can understand why I don't want to get up in the dark, after having a taste of daylight, at 6:30 a.m., which now is really 5:30a.m. But why do I feel like going to bed when it's 8:00p.m., which is really only 7:00p.m.??

This time change is really kicking my butt!!

I'm going to bed now...