Yesterday was a knitting day for the novel. It’s the work of tying together the plot to make the text flow and the story line progress in order. By the end of the day I was getting lost in the plot wilderness. Today I am still feeling vague and unfocussed, but I no longer have the luxury of indulging that kind of thing. It’s a working day so I gotta work.
But meanwhile, Wisconsin in mid-August is when we begin the subtle turn toward fall. The temperatures have already dipped back into the 70s, and there’s a mistiness in the air that looks autumnal, even though it’s still warm. It won’t be long before the roadside flowers and weeds begin to change color. There’s something in the air that reminds me of going back to school.
We still have many weeks left, however, of farmers’ markets and good harvests. My favorite things now are the tomatoes and the dahlias. Especially the dahlias.
As much as I adore them, I don’t grow dahlias because they have to be dug up every fall and stored. And I do not have the mental energy—or the space—for that. So I rely on the hard work of others, and I am happy to support them.
Next Tuesday I will take a wad of cash and go to visit the Hmong lady who grows the most amazing dahlias I have ever seen. They are enormous and vibrant with color. Last year she told me she and her husband were speculating that I was a reseller because I bought so many at a time. But no. They are all for me in my relentless greed for flowers. It’s the colors that call to me. They are as alluring to me as chocolate must be to other people; I feel as sustained by them as if they were food. It’s an almost physical response. And for the next month and a half or so—through mid-October—I will fill the house with luscious colors, good enough to eat. I am the Don Giovanni of flowers; I adore them all as they come. But dahlias are the best of all.
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Would you, perhaps, be willing to buy me a dahlia?
Since it is unlikely you are available to dog sit or cook dog food, there are two ways you can help support my work: You can become a paid subscriber (see below), and you can also purchase my books—even pre-order the new novel—at your favorite bookseller. Some of my favorite shops are Honest Dog Books, Boswell Book Company, Mystery to Me Books, Books and Company, Barbara’s Bookstores, Barnes & Noble, Target, and, of course, here. My illustrated children’s book, My Dog Pete is available only here. Thank you!
P.S. Paid subscribers will soon be able to read advance snippets of the new novel.
And now for your gratuitous dog photo:
"Hope springs eternal. Every day is a new day!" - Auggie 😁😊🐾🥎
Holy Dahlia, Bat Woman. Those flowers are phenomenal!