🏡Homeward bound…again + August Birthdays🎂 + TBR review📚

I apologize for dragging out this pictorial of our Glacier National Park trip for so long, but it’s kinda fun (for me, at least) to look back. Here are a few of the highlights.

Our last camping day near Glacier included a visit to my dear friend Carla (author C.J. Carmichael) and hubby Mike’s cabin on Flathead Lake. It was a gorgeous drive along the east side of this giant lake, 30 miles (48 km) long and 16 miles (26 km) wide, covering 197 square miles (510 km2).

We had a fabulous visit that included talking Tule “shop,” getting to meet their sweet dog, Jazz, and enjoying a delicious lunch on their deck. But it was just too brief. I definitely want to return when I can stay longer and maybe test out one of those cool kayaks.😉

The following morning, we packed up the RV and Airstream and headed south through dense forests, past jewel-tone lakes, with glimpses of gorgeous mountain ranges that truly could be cover material for my next Tule Publishing book.

I couldn’t stop taking vista pics.

We spent two nights in the tiny, but charming old west town of Wisdom, MT. Paul and I were there two years ago on the same mission: to pick up our youngest granddaughters who were visiting family. This year, the timing was quite wonderful: the 4th of July. We got to experience some of what makes this country strong: community, patriotism, and generousity of spirit. We loved the parade, waving to our “littles” atop the firetruck, pigging out on the huge potluck and barbecue “cook-off,” and listening to a country singer who easily could have been a Nashville star.

And from our bed, we watched a grand display of fireworks…that lasted longer than our attention span. Sigh.

We called our return trip: Three Pools and a Bridge. Three nights. Three RV parks WITH pools. Two happy girls. Two very tired grandparents. Oh, and 1,076 miles.

August is a very Happy Birthday month for our family. First up…my dear hubby. Paul’s celebration will include a family camping trip to nearby Bagby State Park. To our surprise and pleasure, the snow melt in the high Sierra has FILLED our reservoirs. We haven’t camped locally in a couple of years, but this water is too good to pass up. (more photos to come) Then, later in the month, our eldest granddaughter will celebrate saying good-bye to her teens. Does that make me feel old? Yes, but in a good way.

Did you guess the names of the two authors I got to hang out with at the Tule Authors Retreat in San Juan Capistrano?

It was a bit of a trick question because one was Nan Reinhardt and the other was Megan Crane (one half of the Hazel Beck writing duo). In addition to both being fabulous writers, Nan is also my copyeditor, and Megan helped establish Tule Publishing ten years ago. It was so great to spend time with them both at the Tule author retreat.

As promised, here are the BookBub reviews I left for this ToBeRead month’s books.

MEANT TO BE by Nan Reinhardt

A LONG SHADOW by H. L. Marsay (Which, I was excited to learn at the Tule Retreat has been optioned for a TV series! Congrats to the author and Tule Publishing!!!)

I’m only partway through SMALL TOWN BIG MAGIC, but I really like it. So different from my usual reads. Witches? Real witches. Way cool.

SMALL TOWNS BIG HEARTS – eight Sweet2Heat authors – I finished reading all the books and loved them, but finding time to review…well, I’m working on it:

TEXAS ROOTS by Jean Brashear

UNDER A TEXAS STAR by Lisa Mondello

RESCUED HEARTS by Karen Sandler

More to come…

And, speaking of reviews, our new box set just got it’s first. Happy dancing!!!