Time to get dancing! I have indoor plumbing! Woohoo!

My day is filled with charming characters of this small town. I was talking with my co-worker Kelly and turned to see this scene. Ax murderer? Paul Bunyon? The deputy sheriff in background just made the irony of the moment too funny. It was a picture I couldn't resist and had to share so I told them to freeze while I got my camera. The smiles are naturally on both their faces all the time so, no, not an ax murder and certainly too short to be Paul but I'm not convinced that the deputy isn't nicknamed The Hulk. They were both good sports to let me capture the moment.

I have an internet friend with whom I share many connections. If she lived nearby I would be over at her house often to ride and laugh. She rides with a camera and a gun strapped to her hip. My kind of woman! I would look forward to hearing her husband Richard's slow drawl and witty comments. He'd have me and Dinah whipped into riding condition in no time. Neither Dinah nor I would get away with any whining and we'd do as he patiently asked. Val and I would hunt for picture taking opportunities and watch our dogs run after rabbits. She too likes the sound of coyotes in the evening. I always look forward to her website entries and pictures on Flickr. Sometimes I wish I could just go have a cup of tea with her. I miss her and we've never met in person. This is for you, Val, and our fathers who loved their Hawaiian homes.

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When life gets complicated and distracting, I return to music and the joy it brings.

Tonight I went to the fairgrounds of the Wheatland Community Fair in Ritzville to enter my salsa verde in the canned goods section. It was a gorgeous evening with light made rosy by all the dust raising activity in the fields. I felt like I had entered the movie set of Babe, the fair scene. Even little piglets were snuggled down in fresh sawdust in the livestock barn.

After I did the paperwork and submitted my entry I walked around to see what other animals and goods had arrived. I found the food barn and settled down with a teriyaki chicken kabob and baked potato dinner, not rice, but a baked potato with all the trimmings. Teriyaki, kabob, baked potato. Sort of the international cuisine for this fair, I suppose. Anyway, it was fun and I found myself walking around with a big smile and hellos for all the people I have met through the store. I love small towns and their fairs.

I'll be returning after work on Saturday with my sister to watch the rodeo and eat more fair food plus a couple doses of shave ice. Tiger's blood with a splash of coconut. Yummy.

Where was that cowboy when I was signing up?

Dang it's hard to get the babies to group together for a nice shot. Yes, that is a dromedary in the background, actually two dromedary. Native camel to the wheat fields and crp of Eastern Washington, I guess. Those aren't miniature cows or I'd be taking one home. So cute!

I spent the day yesterday putting away tools, clearing surfaces of dust and laundering dirt out of clothes. The farmer next door decided to seed his fields during 25 mph winds. Such intelligence is astounding! What's a little more dust seeping in through the bathroom window (a gaping hole covered with 4 mil plastic) when there's construction dirt already? The dust devils marched across the newly seeded fields to remind me that living on dirt has it's drawbacks. It was time to take back my house.

Today I took Mike and went to Spokane to buy more tile, tools and a window that will close against the dirty winds. I knew that by taking him with me I wouldn't come home short on goods but with everything I'll need to go forward with the tiling. Then I took a nap.

Before I started my day of remodeling yesterday, I canned another jar of cucumber dill pickles. I try to keep up with the productive little garden but I've been so preoccupied with the bathroom job that it seems the cucumbers get big overnight. I finally gathered enough small ones to pickle with a couple of jalapeno chilis. I love to can and will soon be putting up tomatoes as they are beginning to ripen. Some of the tomatos I'll put in the freezer whole as they peel really easily before being thawed. I can start eating my fill of fried green ones. It'll be a nice change from all that zucchini and summer squash. When I made sandwiches for lunch today I used fresh lettuce from the garden. Ah...I love summer.

Today's horoscope: You can attempt to do too much now, but this won't likely prevent you
from delivering what you promised. If others tried to copy your level
of work now, they might just give up in exhaustion, but you seem to
thrive on this kind of adrenaline rich situation to push you into
action. Don't complain that you don't know where to begin; just jump in
and stay focused.

This would normally be confirmation to rush headlong to accomplish something important in the bathroom on this much needed day off. I totally ignored this astrological advice and spent the entire day reading a book by Elizabeth Gilbert titled Eat Pray Love . I didn't put it down until I finished it. I had the experience of meeting my emotional and spiritual doppleganger without any of the sinister connotations.

I became captivated by every word of her travels as her spiritual journey unfolds in places I had experienced. I howled and moaned by her experience of the guru gita at Gurudev Siddha Peeth, Ganeshpuri India. I sighed remembering dives off Gili Meno Indonesia. I yearned to hear gamelan playing in a distant temple of Ubud. My inner gypsy started vibrating to life.

I need to finish this bathroom remodel before I consider packing any bags.

I took a day off to visit a friend, Jim, to see how a professional remodels. It's intimidating. He doesn't do anything half assed and his results are spectacular. Instead of hearing how close I am to starting the rebuilding of my bathroom, I heard I have some major chores to do first. Jim recommends I take out the plaster and lath down to the studs where I should then install concrete board. He made it sound so easy. I have plumbing to move also. Everything he explained made sense and so I started the process by finding and pricing the concrete board at the local lumber store. Using the big flashlight I found where I'll need to access the plumbing in the basement. At least he said it all with a twinkle in his eye. Shesh. I wanted to hear how I was ready to tile but I still have some work to do in preparation of that.

He wanted to know my plan so I've made one. Here it is:

Measure the wall area that will be tiled
Cut the plaster and lath with the circular saw (making the cleanest line I can) and remove
Replumb the supply lines to the new location inside the wall
Raise the height of the window above the tile line
Prime and paint the walls and ceiling
Install the concrete board
Install the new window
Install the membrane
Install the tiles on the wall
Plumb in the shower water supply
Plumb the shower drain
Install the tiles on the floor

It's a start having a plan and writing it down. It actually helps me to feel less overwhelmed. Thanks, Jim. You never said a discouraging word, always said everything in an understated way without pushing or being negative. You set the bar pretty high but I hope I have what it takes to reach it.

The high temperatures of 94+ prompt even the diehard cowboys to dress for it. These three were headed out to catch mudbugs (crawfish,crayfish,crawdads) in cool local waters. It may be hot but the boots and hats still remain a part of the summer ensemble.

Summer temps don't seem to slow down the farmers, their wives and local kids from searching out the parts and pieces for parched yards and equipment repairs in the field. Painting projects seem to be foremost in peoples' minds. I also find myself perusing color charts for just the right shade for the bathroom. This weekend I hope to push forward with the preparation of the walls for paint and a new window.

How I happen to be here for this shot.