I guess you could call it a sequel.  RJ’s Valley is available.  It picks up where RJ’s Journey left off.  Brittany Ponting did the art for the cover again.  I am very appreciative of her talent and willingness to share it with me and RJ’s readers.  I have gotten quite attached to “RJ.” I did not realize that would happen.  I am sure other writers have experienced such a connection with their characters despite the fact they are fictitious.  I urge others out there to let their creativity come out in whatever medium fits you.

 

Grandmother, Ruth M. Ringenberg (Lehmann), was the child of Nebraska pioneers.    She had a stint as a substitute rural mail delivery person when she delivered mail by horse and buggy.  Mother, Delia J. Vance (Ringenberg), taught in country school and got there on horseback. Ardie J. Nelson (Vance), that is me, has had a life-long appreciation for horses.  Daughter, Sara J. Pugsley (Nelson), grew up with her pony Stormy.  Sara’s mount in the picture above is Coco, my beloved quarter horse.

Is it any wonder I find myself writing fictional stories about pioneers and the Pony Express and people who have an interest in horses? Hmmm…oh, make that five generations.  Below are three of the grandkids taking turns on Stormy.

RJ’s Valley is just about ready to go to the publisher.  It took four months to get RJ’s Journey from the first look by the publisher to hard copies in my hands.  I am hoping to get Valley done by April 1.  That means the publishing process has to go faster this time.  RJ’s Valley continues the story of Rebecca Jemima Callaway through her journals.  Valley contains the journals from 1860-1862.  I will not tell you what is in them…you will have to read the book to find out.  I will tell you this–when I finished writing the book and knew it was the last I would write about RJ I went into mourning.  She and her family and friends became special to me.  I have a picture in my mind of what they all look like and the Willamette Valley they called home.  RJ will always be special to me and I hope she and her historical and geographical setting becomes special to many readers, also.

I enjoy seeing old-fashioned windmills like this one.  They remind me of the one on my grandparent’s farm.  The water we pumped from that well was cold and the best tasting of any I have ever had.  Windmills like this one are scattered about the landscape.  They let us know there are (or were) cattle nearby who depend upon the water pumped by such mills.  They remind us of a less technical age.

It is the official Thanksgiving Day today.  I am thankful everyday for so many things and relationships.  Sometimes my gratitude is over things like hugs and kisses from my grandchildren.  Sometimes gratitude is the response to things like a good report from a doctor’s visit.  The day this picture was taken I was thankful for Smoke and his owner.  My husband and I had been hiking in Big Bend National Park in Texas.  I got over heated and could not walk more than a few steps at a time trying to return to our car.  I had my husband go on, while I inched my way.  I was still a long distance from the car when I saw a horse trailer pull into the parking area.  I called my husband and asked him to enlist the riders to rescue me.  (Most areas of the park did not have cell service, but at this location my phone worked, thankfully.)  These good people came to my rescue and Smoke gave me a lift back to the car.  I was very grateful.  Thank you, Lord!

Met some sweet people at Limon Memorial Library for the book signing.  I have found the folks in this community to be friendly, welcoming and kind.  Thank you to Luci for hosting me at the library, the Limon Leader for the press releases and Linda for putting up posters around town.  A special thank you to those who came to visit with me and buy RJ’s Journey.  

If you ever have the opportunity to travel through Colorado on I-70 stop in at the Limon Memorial Library and the wonderful Limon Heritage Museum.

Mountains, distant horizons, blue skies and green vegetation inspire me.  They inspire me to praise God for the beauty of creation.  I am back in Limon, Colorado for a book signing.  These pictures were taken this summer on an earlier trip to Colorado.

Had a fun time with the girls at the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph, MO.  They spent some time in the play room.  I did research for a book.

Book signing coming up.  Looking forward to it.

Probably my favorite vantage point is from the back of a horse.  Somewhere in a box is a picture of my grandpa holding me on Powder.  Powder was my grandma’s horse.  So from before I could walk to now I have enjoyed the view from horseback.  Wherever my family went when I was a kid, if there was a horse, I asked to ride it.  Finally, when I was in my 30’s and married I lived where I could have horses of my own.  Thirteen horses came and went as I bought horses to be trained and sold to families.  The two I kept made the move with us from Minnesota to Texas.  Coco and Stormy have passed now, but my love for them remains.  I still ask to ride when I go someplace that has horses.  This picture is from the last time I rode with a friend in Texas in May 2017.