The calendar is telling me that we’re into the latter half of June and that’s scary for me on any number of fronts. 

For one thing, I’m finally finishing the book, Ali #10, now named Cold Betrayal. My expectation that I’d be able to write while teaching the writing class in Arizona at the end of May crashed and burned. Could not. Did not. And so, because this week has been one of “butt in the chair and fingers on the keyboard,” there’s not much to blog about. We saw the heron this morning and Bella chased same, but I’m happy to report that the Big Guy, that one spooky big Koi who has managed to avoid becoming a heron treat for three years now is still alive and swimming. I’m the one who delivers the fish food, and I finally saw him for the first time yesterday. That’s a record since we’ve been home for almost two whole weeks. 

The garden is beautiful. Three years into it, the plants have had a chance to mature and fill in. Last week, on a rainy Friday morning, a group of twenty or so gardenistas came by to tour the garden, led by our intrepid landscape architect, Alan Burke of Classic Nursery. They tried to ask me questions about a few of the plants. I can discuss rhubarb and, thanks to Girl Scouts, I can’t sort out the pink (not white) choral bells, but beyond that I’m out of my depth. As I explained to the visiting garden club members, I spent 67 years of my life with a black thumb, and the only reason this garden is thriving is that I have NOTHING to do with taking care of it. 

Yesterday The Old Blue Line went on sale. I’m appreciating the kind words from people who’ve already read it and enjoyed it. Thank you. 

So part of my end of June panic is related to finishing the book. The other part is due to our doing a major family adventure–more on that later–which will occupy two weeks and then some of July. And when we return, I’ll have one day for dealing with both hair and nails before the tour for Remains of Innocence starts in dead earnest on July 22. Busy!!! By the time the tour is over, summer will be, too. 

The bookmarks have arrived, but I haven’t carved out the time to autograph and mail same. That will have to wait until the book is done. 

In other words, today’s blog is short but brief. I need to get back to the banana peel of Cold Betrayal.