What I'm Up Against, Part 3

'Nuff said.

What I'm Up Against, Part 2

My lovely screened porch, always a wreck. Please note the shoes on the table and the World Market box behind the table, which contains a chair I've been meaning to put together now for three weeks.

When we built the screened porch last fall, it never occurred to me it would be one more room to clean ...

What I'm Up Against, Part 1

Will's room.

I'm Back, and This Time I Mean It

This morning, I checked in with Delikat, a blog I'd been enjoying last fall, but hadn't seen activity on since January. Lo and behold, there was a new post in which we learn that Crafty Fox hasn't been posting because she's five months pregnant and has been feeling lousy. Now there's an excuse for falling behind on your blogging.

In a way, I feel like I've been an expectant mom all spring, too. Now I'm proud to report that the baby has arrived--the new book is done! Well, at least a cruddy first draft of the new book is done, but, honey, that's all I was shooting for. Never aim for perfection on a first draft. It will make you crazy.

Usually I take a big break between books, catch up with my life, scrub the tub, that sort of thing. But after I'd finished the final draft of The Kind of Friends We Used to Be (out in 2009) in January, I had a lot of momentum going. I'd done a little work on Book No. 2 already ... AND I wanted to have the summer off. So I kept writing and writing and writing.

Now I'm done writing. I am officially on vacation. As officially on vacation as a mom with two boys and a puppy at home can be, anyway.

For me, the beginning of summer is like New Year's. There's the temptation to come up with a long list of resolutions, mostly involving doing lots of educational and edifying activity with the boys. But this summer, I'm trying to be realistic. Here's what my summer looks like: One week at the beach, two weeks of camp for Jack, and day after sunscreened day at the pool.

I'm not going to try to fight it. I'm not going to invest in books about Amazing Activities to Improve Your Children in Three Short Months. I'm going with the flow.

I do plan to sew some curtains and knit some socks. And write a poem or two. And post about my trials and tribulations on this Blog in a regular fashion as well as get inspired by other blogs, which I've been neglecting to do as of late.

But that's it. I'm on vacation. You heard it here first.

Breathing Lessons

2008 continues to be a discombobulated year. It has no rhythm to it--and here it is, already April.

The good news: We have a garden filled with lettuce and spinach. I have never grown my own greens before, and it makes me deliriously happy to run out right before dinner and pick my own salad.

More good news: Travis the puppy continues to grow and thrive. He likes to hang out in the backyard with me while I'm tending to the garden. He loves the children. When my parents were here this past weekend, he treated my dad like the alpha male that he is, and this pleased my dad to no end. Everybody loves to be loved by a dog.

Other news: I received my first issue of Martha Stewart Living in the mail last week. I have never subscribed to it before, but a month or so ago I ran across an offer I couldn't refuse--Living and Everyday Food for $24. How could I pass it up? But I have to say there is something so weird about Martha writing about her various domiciles as though everybody has two or three houses and several farms.

I'm hoping I'll start feeling more domestic soon. It will help to be done with the draft of the book I'm writing. It hangs over me and keeps me from making liberated quilts or dreaming of colors to paint the living room.

Here's what I'm dreaming about: In 16 months, Will will be in first grade and I will have the whole day to myself, 8-3.

Jack has been screaming at Will lately. Which is why I have a perpetual headache.

I keep reminding myself to breathe. It helps.

Like a Baby, Only Worse ...

Travis the Puppy has arrived.

I will post pictures soon. He is cute and cuddly and really quite beautiful, but man--he is such a puppy! Which is like having a baby, a toddler and a wild teenager all rolled up into one. We're dealing with some serious nipping issues right now, especially when it comes to Travis and Will. Will is finding it hard to tell Travis "no" as firmly and as sternly as he needs to, so as far as Travis is concerned, Will is one big chew toy.

The good news: Travis sleeps through the night. The bad news: He poops under the dining room table.

It has rained the last two days, which doesn't make one hop up and down and say, "Whee! I'm so glad I have a puppy to take out in the rain every hour!"

What I hadn't anticipated is how much you have to plan your life around a puppy--the way you have to do with a baby, really. When will he nap? How long can we leave him alone in his crate when he's awake?

(later) It has taken me three days to compose this. Am I feeling puppy love? You know, not really. It's nothing about Travis personally. Personally, he's adorable and I find him interesting and occasionally entertaining. It's just the situation of having a puppy. I know it's only temporary; he'll grow up and be a chilled-out dog who can be left to his own devices. But for now, it's like, "Who stuck me with an extra kid? I've got a book to write! I've got my parents coming in two weeks! It won't stop raining!"

So that's the story right now. I know it will get better. But for the moment I am plum wore out.

Emerging ...

I haven't posted regularly at all this year, mostly because I've been writing books. I finished one in February and started another one in March. All my creative energy has been focused on that writing, not this writing.

I've had things to write about, just not time. For instance, I've pondered hiring a cleaner to come clean my windows, hardwoods and fridge once a month. Oh, and the tubs. These are the jobs I put off forever, and it occurred to me it would be nice to get someone else to do them. But it's a lot of money to pay out just because I'm lazy.

Well, it's winter, at least on this hemisphere, and in winter I want to sit on the couch and read under a blanket. So that's what the last two months have been like: writing in the morning, reading in the afternoon, cooking and cleaning in the late afternoon/early evening. Then more reading and bed. It's a schedule that suits me, but not my house, at least not in the corners where the crumbs gather.

Spring is coming. Everything's starting to bloom. There's a mist of color across the yards and the roadsides. I ordered some seeds two weeks ago, and they arrived today, mostly herbs, but some shade loving plants as well.

We're getting a dog on Saturday. A puppy named Travis. Cockapoo. I've always imagined myself as the kind of person who drives around in a used truck with a mutt from the pound in the back, but the fact is, I've got a minivan that will soon contain a designer dog I paid big bucks for. I suppose everyone has a secret self that never see the light of day. Mine wears workboots and hangs out in honky tonks.

I was driving somewhere today and thought that the one thing--and maybe the only thing--I miss from my teens and twenties is dancing. I loved going out dancing. I haven't done it in years, and now I don't think my knees could take it. But dancing to bands was some of the most fun I ever had.

Those are my thoughts. I may have more one day. I'll let you know.