I have never felt uncomfortable talking in public or doing readings. I was afraid my cold would do me in, my voice is still weak,  but the sight of 50 people sitting in front of me in a beautiful vast hall – the Memorial Music Hall of Wilmington, Vt. – stirred me, as it always does.

I didn’t cough once and my voice held out. It was a very find book night, always makes me feel like a writer.

Standing behind the podium in a beautiful pace like that, I felt I was at home, on top of the world, just where I belong.

I don’t know why I feel that way, but I always have. I was sick and Maria was tired, but we made the beautiful drive across Southern   Vermont to the brave and beautiful town of Wilmington, ravaged by Hurricane Irene but so beautiful and booming now the scars are no longer visible.

The road back was dark, peaceful, we were both quiet and tired.

This music hall was built in 1901 and is being lovingly restored. Alice made me some tea with honey for my throat and Red fulfilled his just reputation for working a book crowd. That boy sells a lot of books.

The audience was engaged, the questions many and thoughtful. I talked about dogs, elephants, the New York Carriage horses, donkeys and sheep.

It was late when we left, and dark but we made a beeline for Billy T’s Northside Dairy Bar in Bennington, a bout 40 minutes from Wilmington, we buzzed along mountains and hills to get there by 10 p.m., and we made it with a couple of minutes to spare. We both love ice cream (I have a small cup) and it was a sweet and perfect way to cap off the night. Billy T’s is our favorite ice cream place.

I love riding in the car with Maria, talking about the evening (she sold a bunch of art from blog followers who came to the reading and saw her videos.)

It is late now, but I can’t sleep if I don’t take care of the blog.

n the morning, up early to finish preparations for the Open House. Anne, our bookkeeper is coming over with two baby kittens looking for homes, we hope they find them here. The Risse soccer team is coming to visit and hopefully, sing. Red and Fate and I will work the sheep together almost on the hour. Then the kids are going to lunch at the New Round House Cafe, lunch on Bedlam Farm.

A van from the Mansion is coming with five or six of the residents, they are honored guests. Ed Gulley is coming with Silly Sally, his sweet cow. Ken Norman, the farrier, is coming to trim the hooves of the donkeys.

Two friends, Cathy Stewart and Gail Peck are coming to help me and Maria, Cathy is a brilliant organizer, she will help me figure out what to do and when, and she threatens to make me get some rest. That is absolutely not possible at an Open House. I’ll just have to pace myself.

I will be signing copies of “Talking To Animals” and talking about the book. Maria is selling a beautiful range of original and affordable art, including some Red potholders.

The Open  Houses are important to us, they define who we are, and mark the evolution of our lives together. Glad to be home, better get off to bed. It was a wonderful night in Wilmington.

We are very excited about tomorrow and Sunday.