Well, folks, gather 'round for some chuckles and tales from our beloved farm. In the "things we never thought we'd see" department: our very own Sadie and Bessie were spotted having a full-blown party on Wednesday night. It's always heartwarming (and a tad hilarious) to see these two cutting loose.

Around here, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance, but it's also a the day we're reminded that it is goat care time. Ever been to a goat spa? No? Well, you're missing out. This week, Farmer Joe turned into a hooficurist, giving our goat friends their seasonal hoof trimming. There's nothing like a good mani-pedi to lift a goat's spirit, right? And boy, do they look relieved it's over.

Copper supplement time rolled around this week, and wouldn't you know it—we were three capsules short. Talk about a monkey wrench in our goatly routine! Not to worry, though—we got more on the way. In the meantime, it was a banana bonanza for our four-legged pals. Did you know goats loved bananas as much as monkeys?

Unfortunately, we hit a turkey-egg-mystery this week. All of their eggs have mysteriously vanished from the coop. My money's on a thieving duck, but who knows?

Our little chicks moved outdoors, and let me tell you, no one's happier than me. Cute as they are, when cooped up indoors, they have a knack for turning my humble abode into a, well, not-so-fragrant haven. But outdoors? They're pure charm.

Farmer Joe and I got our hands dirty doing some gardening. Our well area and front porch now look as though they're ready for a Home & Garden photoshoot (not quite, but it looks nice).

On the wildlife front, we spotted a pretty hefty black bear sauntering around the neighboring Three Ponds farm. I'm no bear weight-estimator, but this one seemed to be pushing 250 pounds. And in cuter news, we also glimpsed our first fawn of the season, about the size of our German Shepherd Maddison when she was a pup. Always a heart-melting sight!

So, that's the roundup for this week, folks. The farm never fails to keep us on our toes and our laughter hearty.

tree on the other side of the road. This drive started out dangerous, but it was becoming downright treacherous.

“We’re not going to make it to your parents’ house.”

She nodded. “We’ll stay at the lodge.”

“Sure thing.” He turned down the drive leading to the lodge and sighed in frustration when he discovered another massive tree blocking the path. “I can call the grounds crew to take care of it, but I don’t want them out in this weather.”

“You’re right. They should stay inside where they’re safe.”

“I know you don’t want to stay with me, but it’s only one night. I promise to behave.”

She frowned. “Yeah. Okay.”

Despite the four-wheel drive, he got stuck in the snow turning around and had to work it free. The giant chainsaw carvings of grizzly bears that his grandfather had commissioned came into sight marking his driveway entrance. He could no longer see his own tire tracks. If they had to, they could walk the half mile from here, but he sent another prayer and soon he was pulling up in front of his garage. The motion lights didn’t come on and the garage door opener wasn’t working, so he pulled up as far as he could and helped Sabrina out of the old Ford. He had a whole house generator that kicked on automatically, but the garage wasn’t tied into it.

Sabrina opened the back door and unhooked the straps holding Darren in place.

“Let me carry him.”

Her left hand fluttered near her heart. “Are you sure?” Her voice was quiet and thready.

He scooted in front of her and lifted her son. “I’m positive.”

Bryce carried Darren into his own bedroom and set him down in the center of his king-sized bed. He brushed the hair off his forehead. It was time he asked Sabrina about the child’s age. His gut told him what his head denied.

He hesitated at the doorway watching the boy sleep. His little chest moved up and down rhythmically. It was such a peaceful sight, but tension held Bryce’s muscles taut as he ruminated on all he’d missed. The child was his. There was no denying it. He couldn’t understand why she hadn’t told him. Yet, in a way, he could. Guilt spread through him. He’d hurt her when he’d left with his father that long ago day. Fear of his father outweighed his love for her. If he’d stood up to him, things might’ve been different.

Leaving the door open, he headed for the stairs. When he reached the bottom, his eyes met hers. She perched herself on the edge of the couch and waited for him to join her in the massive living room. 

Once he was seated by the fire, he asked the question burning a hole in his heart. “Why didn’t you tell me about him?”

Well, here's the scoop, folks. I've been staring at the pages of my own book so long, I swear I can recite it backward in my sleep. The final edits before it goes off to the beta readers are sitting there, waiting for me, and honestly, they're starting to grow cobwebs. But don't you worry. I've got a PhD in Procrastination, but somehow things always get done.

In the meantime, I've been taking a time-out to enjoy the little things that life serves up. Because let's face it, a writer without life experiences is like a painter without colors. So while my manuscript gathers dust (only temporarily, I promise!), I'm out here savoring the beautiful world around me.

We got a surprise visit from our son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids a couple of days ago, which was the cherry on top of a delightful week. There's nothing quite like family time to recharge a writer's batteries. So soon enough, I'll be back in the saddle, tackling those edits and whipping my book into its final form. Just you wait and see.

eternal destinies are sealed at life's end. This assurance let me enjoy the characters' exploration into ghost lore, confident in the author's respectful approach.

In sum, this is another wonderful story by Wright, a read I'm glad to have invested time in.

easy banter and the engaging plot, this book was exactly the breath of fresh air I was looking for. Once again, Turano knocked it out of the park.