July 20, 2007 – Warm, sticky. Robbin Slater’s army arrived this week to do excavation work on the studio barn (which Bill and Maria Heinrich are renovating) and on the carriage barn across the street, which is about to topple into the meadow. I asked Robbin, who is the embodiment of courtesy, intelligence and professionalism, for a word or two to use so that I could pretend I knew what he was doing. He said to say they were working on the “tub” for the foundation, that that would hold me.  Lots of nice guys – big guys- with impressive machinery. They know what they are doing. I am fortunate to have them. They are being greeted by Emma, background, and Izzy the media whore up front. Got in at 3 a.m. this morning. Maria did 20 hours of driving. Had events in Greenwich, Connecticut and a great reading at R.J. Julia’s in Madison, Conn., one of my favorite bookstores. More interviews today, then off to Pittsburgh, Cinncinnati, Dayton and Lexington, Ky., next week.

 Murray got stuck in the HBO Memorial Lambing Pen last night, heard much bleating before I freed him. Promised Rose she would work sheep today. Lots of trucks on the farm. Not much work getting done today.