Author on Overload

Home Saturday night from Montana; heading out tomorrow for North Carolina. When I got the suitcase out to pack, I had to face this face:

He's not only miffed that I'm leaving -- again! -- he's miffed because I won't have time to post his Ask Winston feature tomorrow. He would absolutely do it except for that opposable thumb issue. So I'm asking your patience as well as Winston's for another week.

Perhaps I can win your forgiveness with this montage of Montana photos. Central Montana is stunning! I kept expecting to see John Wayne ride over one of the distant hills. And I know it's the same sky above all of us, but it really is true: the sky is bigger in Big Sky Country!
Denton First Graders--the entire class!
The ladies who read Hattie Big Sky
Lunch at the Shady Oaks Cafe with Sue Poser and Wanda Lucas--no, we did not have a Budweiser
Some of the kids at the Harlotown Theater
Harlo lunch buddies
Winners of copies of Hattie Big Sky
I make the big time!
Quilt show at Hobson School
Detail of Crazy Quilt that's over 100 years old
Detail of autographed fan quilt from the 1920s
Hobson, Moore and Judith Gap kids in Hobson cafeteria
Quilt project -- this one went home with the Judith Gap kids
I had lunch at one of the oldest bars in Central Montana
My darling new friend, Lois Hajenga. It was love at first sight!
Me and Hobson school buddies, including Karen Hickey, uber-teacher
One of the many, many welcome signs at Winnett school!
Winnett made me feel so welcomed
Some Two Bobbies and Nubs projects
Matthew's thoughts about the Two Bobbies
Letters from Winnett "Hatties" to Winnett "Charlies -- fabulous!
A bulletin board dedicated to Hattie Big Sky
Vocab words from Hattie Big Sky
Third graders made quilts of their stories
Handmade needle case presented to me by its maker, Lois Hajenga, of Moccasin, Montana