It’s been a busy beginning to the year, but that’s nothing unusual. I had a book due in February, and along with judging eight books for the RITA contest it was a packed month. Earlier this month, I headed to Texas for the RWA board meeting in Austin followed by a visit with BFF Mary in San Antonio. We took a day in the Hill Country since the trilogy I’m in the midst of writing is set there, and I got a lot of good ideas for things to incorporate into the series. We even made a quick stop at Luckenbach. No Willie Nelson sighting though. 
While I was gone, our muddy, weedy flowerbeds were transformed by landscapers. The new area that was created by the new driveway and front walk now looks like this.
You’ll notice some wilted daffodils throughout the landscaping. That’s because they were transplanted. Hopefully, they’ll come back pretty next spring. The area beside the driveway, which had an out-of-control bush of some sort now has azaleas and the monkey grass that hasn’t quite greened out this year yet.
In front of my office, there used to be some ugly bushes and a forsythia that had gotten so big that it was partially blocking the window. Much more attractive though.
The forsythia got moved to an area on the side of the house where a half-dead lilac bush was removed. And it stayed in bloom!
We still need to have the yard re-done because of the damage done by the cement truck when they poured the driveway (not to mention the amazing collection of weeds that we call a lawn and that gets mowed because it’s green), but that will have to wait until the fall. In the meantime, hubby and I are trying to smooth it out with new topsoil and grass seed.
Still, the place is looking better, and it makes me happy when I look out the front windows now.
Anyone else pulling on their gloves and diving into yard work?
