John and Denise exchanged wedding vows in John's pole barn -- (You should have seen it a few days ago-- his twin brother said.-- He had about four vehicles in here, boats, tools, supplies--) John is a plumber, and a builder (he plastered my new bedroom wall), a hunter, and some would say a pack rat. He is also handsome and "cleans up real good" as they say.

"The world is full of happiness, and plenty to go round, if only you are willing to take the kind that comes your way."-- Jean Webster

I will be staying put for a while. There's a day trip to Skagway to sign books at the bookstore there next week I think-- (I'll let you know what day, when I do), and Sitka in September, and hopefully a Juneau reading in the fall to benefit the Glory Hole homeless shelter and soup kitchen, and then Homer in April. My sights are now on getting the garden and greenhouse in order, preparing the coop for new chicks (arriving any day), and Joanna's wedding in July. (She is very organized and this is our 4th, so I kind of know what's what.) Oh, and the bike race June 20.

I arrived home a few hours before a full house for beerfest weekend and my son's 26th birthday, which he flew home for. I've decided that the Haines beerfest (technically The 23rd Annual Great Alaska Craft Beer and Homebrew Festival) has become like a homecoming weekend for Haines kids-- which makes it even more fun. (They all met lots of friends downtown after the festivities.) It's sort of like the Little Norway Festival in Petersburg, without the Vikings and herring toss. Although it was certainly...colorful. (An iPad screen shot my friend Sue showed us. I was NOT there.)

It is so nice to be home-- I sort of jumped in with both feet and have a very full house this weekend. All five of my children will be home at once-- and all five grandchildren. No, it's not Thanksgiving-- it's the annual Haines beerfest and my son's birthday.

It's been a flurry of a few days at home-- the sun, the garden, the family, the laundry and the construction-- the bedroom is more or less done, but the bath room is still wrapped in visqueen and tape and all the fixtures are in the hall. Still, I did not spend my time dealing with it-- I can do that when I get home in nine days-- and then I'll be here for a while and get back to keep you posted. I do feel better today, having learned of a new Haines baby to balance off the loss of a beloved former Headstart teacher, which is how the world should roll.

My Dad always used to say it's nice to go away but nicer to come home. I'm not even sure how nice is it is to travel, since I prefer to stay put. I am not an adventurer. My father traveled a lot ( and in case you are wondering why I'm talking about my dad on Mother's Day, it's because my mother died nine years ago, so it's a different sort of day for me. She also never really embraced the whole Mother's Day hoopla, and used to say it was invented by Hallmark to sell cards. But still, I do think of her each Mother's Day, and that's not a bad thing, is it?)

Actually, it's more like in the sky-- to-ing and fro-ing. Palmer was great Saturday, Fireside books is a terrific store, and it was really neat to see how the bookstore, a cafe, some shops, and the city have totally revitalized downtown Palmer into a charming little community center. Haines can learn from them.

I spent an hour and half on a wonderful blog-- full of love and gratitude for the library  board and staff and Friends who made me feel like a lemon queen at the launch-- and for all of you who came and had me sign so many books- and for this town and the terrific people in it-- and then everything seized up and vanished. I am such a Luddite. Ugh.

I also wanted to share some news: