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...
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...
