HOW TIME FLIES!

How time flies, indeed. I can scarcely believe that another week has flown by and that I should be posting to my blog again---not to mention updating my Web site. But this latter is going to have to wait until next month, I'm afraid, because I really must wrap up my latest manuscript, THE CRYSTAL ROSE, and get it off in the mail to my editor.

This week has been special to me for a couple of reasons: (1) my husband, John, came home after a three-week visit to his native England, and (2) both my crabapple trees are now in full, glorious bloom.

I always miss John whenever he's away, even though I'm happy that, among other things, he got to spend some time with his family. Along with other belongings, he returned with his antique Black Forest anniversary clock, which has been in his family for ages and which now has a place of honor on our restored Victorian mantel. It's proved the perfect finishing touch.

One of my crabapple trees is now nearly twenty-five years old, and its blossoms are a gorgeous shade of fuchsia. I love it not only because it's so tall and spreading that its branches nearly touch our bedroom window, but also because it's frequently full of squirrels, who love its fruit and who are a delight to watch. My other crabapple tree is much smaller and younger. John bought it for me a couple of years ago, and it has beautiful white blossoms. We planted it by our waterfall and little stream that flow into our fish pond. Someday, its branches will shade the rustic bridge John built over the stream.

John's very good at all kinds of construction projects I couldn't even begin to tackle on my own. So although I do lend a helping hand whenever I can, I mostly just watch---and enjoy the finished products! *g*