And now it is summer

The Historical Village is open for visitors.  Tourists wander through the buildings. Children play on the swings.  Couples sit in the shade at picnic tables talking.  Occasionally in the mornings, deer graze on the lawn.  The Tobacco River has a sensible flow near by.  You can hear teenagers shouting as they wade in at Riverside Park.  It is summer and that is for sure. The quilters are busy doing other things at the moment so aren’t meeting on Fridays.  The quilting frames are put away for the season.

We still think about the Village when we meet up by chance at the farmers market or run into each other at the museum. The list of things to do seems never ending: repair caboose roof, fix some slats on Baney House, trim some trees which have gotten out of control.  There is the list which Lynda tries to parcel out to various volunteers. And there is the cost of these repairs and upkeep.  So we are in the planning stage of our annual Dinner on the Lake.  An utterly delicious four-course meal served with wine at the perfect location on Dickey Lake. Live classical music will accompany the meal.  It really is the ideal way to spend a summer’s evening.  This year’s event is August 13th.  Tickets go quickly as there are only forty spaces available.  Call Carol for tickets at 406-889-3427 to get yours soon.  What a delightful way to support the Historical Village.

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Waves of summer

Cathryn finished quilting the lovely orangish quilt. Laid out on the desks in the old schoolhouse, it reminded me of waves. Not waves in the sea but waves of land. Perhaps the Palouse, that area over in southeastern Washington where winter wheat and now vineyards stretch to the horizon.  You might occasionally see a long freight train off in the distance or perhaps remnants of an old homestead.  At least that is what I remember from driving through.

I wonder what people remember from driving though our valley. Do they think of the dark blue green mountains to the east or the river cutting through town?  Do the storefronts make an impression or the small parks with benches and flags?  A young woman just moved here with her family from Virginia. She hopes to start quilting with us in the fall.  Its interesting to listen to her discoveries:the way kids ride their bikes all over town, the willingness of neighbors to offer help, how quickly her children are making new friends. These are the sorts of things I hope people remember from our town. I want them to remember how helpful people were, how giving, and that children can grow up without fear.