Saturday Slight

Today is an "Oh, My God!" day---so far, anyway. Such days occasionally come along and, through their sheer all-encompassing beauty, separate themselves from any other normal day. Days like today remind us that we're mighty glad to be alive---cuz we'd sure hate to miss all the action from a vibrant spring landscape that's sure to feed all our senses throughout the hours ahead.

Another week has raced by, fraught with tragedy but hopeful with budding trees, warmer temperatures, dryer ground and greener than ever grass. I must take note here, however, that I believe Pat Gooby has found where we live. I believe it was Tuesday that I spotted my first dandelion here at the Lovestead.

Pat's the dandelion guru, and he's really happy when anyone's carpet of lush green grass gives way to those yellow stars which reproduce faster than rabbits. I thought when we moved out of Goobyville we'd be safe, but Pat of Dandelion Seed must've come one night and sown his crop, just so's we wouldn't forget him. Usually, I don't see a dandelion until May. Does that mean I can go ahead and plant the rest of my garden?

I doubt it, cuz there's a heckuva lot of snow left on Schweitzer, and that means Baldy's probably got its share. Folks who've lived in Sandpoint forever use a bare Baldy Mountain as the indicator for garden planting safety, so I may hold off on the squash, cukes and cantaloupes. And, my two foot high tomato plants may reach Jack-in-the-Beanstalk variety before I dare introduce them to outdoor dirt.

Enough garden and dandylion speculation---it's time for the Saturday Slight.

• Thanks, Bill and Kathy, for stopping by yesterday at the Lovestead. The Berkleys were out checking out neighborhood nurseries so they went on a Lovestead hunting mission and found paydirt. They found me in the barn and the dogs there to greet them in the driveway. Glad you approved of the place, and it was good to see you.
• The Lovestead is turning into a "walking farm" now, so we'll have a good time showing folks the woods and the ever-greening, rolling fields. Bill will be happy to sign up a few more members to his Lodgepole Society.
• May 8, which is National Teacher Day, is also book launch day for Lessons with Love. More information about what's gonna happen here in Sandpoint after the book arrives will be published on William Shakespeare's birthday on a slightdetour.blogspot.com near you. Also, it wouldn't bother me a bit if readers would start spreading the word to spread the word during that first week of May, especially to bookstore owners in your area. In fact, I'm going to be thrilled with whatever grass roots support there is to launch this book beyond the Sandpoint borders. A big thank you to anyone who helps out.
• Miss Lily is adjusting to her round pen quite nicely. Her owner is learning along with Miss Lily as we have our longeing sessions. It's been a while since I've done this stuff on a daily basis, so I'm mostly uncoordinated as I stand in the middle with that big glob of longeline in my hand and the whip in the other. I've already apologized to her several times for being such a klutz, but she doesn't seem to mind and continues to progress nicely.
• We're going to start purchasing five-gallon buckets of paint soon and start the long task of painting all the boards we've nailed up this winter. I counted the other night and calculated the need for another 34 before the barnyard fence is complete, but it's effective enough to keep those horses where they belong and to add a nice touch to the place. Can't wait until that job is done and we've got a white fence. That should be real purty.
• Bill continues to head to the woods and come back with Bill Boards. He's brings them to the garage much like the cats would do with their mice----because he wants me to see them. I am getting concerned that we may have Bill Board Lumber Co. operating right out of our garage. Of course, a lot of successful bands and businesses have started in a garage, so maybe Bill's got something there.
• AND FINALLY, some BIG news: a lease has been signed and the sign along Cedar announces that Connie's Restaurant will reopen May 1. Thanks, Cis, for reminding me. Saw the sign last night, and Bonnie Eng wrote me earlier in the week telling me of the lease signing. Still waiting to hear back about when the lessees want to talk about their plans.
  

Well, I don't want to waste this "Oh My God" day, so I'll close the Saturday Slight with a wish for all to have a wonderful day wherever you happen to be.