Hello from Laramie, WY! Yesterday as I was driving West in crazy high winds, my memoir proofs came back for review so I’ve spent the day holed up in a Motel 6 (Thick is being very patient) going over the book yet again, trying to make sure everything is ready to go to press! The most common comment I’ve gotten when I’ve mentioned to people that I sent my manuscript off to Barker Books in Mexico to get it published has not been “Congratulations!” or even “Finally!” – it’s been “How do you know this isn’t a scam?” And despite due diligence, trust pilot ratings, etc – it was scary! I am trying to get the book ready so I can have paperbacks with me in the pony wagon when I start out, so I was moving very quickly to get this done, and while I understand it’s not going to be “Random House” quality – it’s also not taking two years even after maybe finding an agent and managing to get a contract signed. Not out of the woods yet, but today I’m feeling hopeful.

Tuesday night I stopped at Bear River Hot Springs in Preston, ID – I’d never even heard of it before but it turned out to be really lovely. Around sunset I found myself in the hotter pool with several people, mostly local (one couple had driven 45 minutes) and trying to explain about my upcoming adventure/project. It surprised me that the “Hello, Neighbor” interview part of things was apparently more interesting than the ponies and the wagon. I’m a little bummed that I didn’t manage to do an interview or two in the hot springs but I was worried about getting my dead cats wet! (Dead Cats are the furry things that go on microphones to stop wind noise, and mine are very soft and small, more like long-haired mice.) I asked one of questions from the interview around the pool “if you got a check list when you paid your taxes, what would your top 3 priorities be for how the government spent your part of the money?” and I got a brand new answer: “I’d want my taxes to stay local, to help my own community, not sent to DC.” I can still count the number of interviews I’ve done on my fingers, so I’m just barely beginning, but I’m learning something new each time and absolutely fascinated.

In the morning I had the hot water all to myself, which was its own kind of bliss – so I did a lot of stretching and floating and then I drove through the aspens and conifers and nordic ski areas of Cache National Forest on my way to Wyoming, which was experiencing such intense winds that I saw 4 semis that had been recently blown over. Tomorrow I’m driving on to Cheyenne to meet up with old friends (one of whom has a new baby!) and do a few more interviews – then on to North Platte, NE (if it’s not on fire – apparently Nebraska is flammable in March?)

Meanwhile, in covered wagon world – the Mustard Seed has a cover! Elam from E&M tarp shop in Paradise, PA spent a week turning ideas into reality and I’ll definitely be visible! Once the wagon and I are in the same place I’ll be able to show you all the versatility built in to the design.

Now it’s back with Mel at Pequea Carriage Shop for the finishing touches including storage boxes down the sides, turn signals, and a proper seat for me and Thick. Isaac will be coming tomorrow to paint “The Mustard Seed” on the tailgate. Monday should see it on a truck en route to Twilight Farms in Fresno, Ohio. The wagon is 75″ tall and just under 5′ wide, the box is 9.5′ long and the solar fridge will ride between the dashboard and the ponies. AND, Mel managed to keep the whole thing under 450#.

Franklin and Theodore have been brought in from winter pasture, even though there’s still snow on the ground. They went for a drive the other day, they still remember how to hold the wagon back going down hill and seem to be ready to get back to work!