the doc's dock

sunny, mild, temps 15

Another beautiful day - we're back in Sutton. Walked over to the guest cottage with trudy to see how Gary and Alan got on without our supervision and advice. Oddly, everything is finished! And done beautifully!! The large blacony/deck/verandah. And they re-built the dock completely! And even built in a bench. It is just so peaceful on a summer's day to sit down there with a cup of coffee in the morning. And now they needn't worry about taking their lives in their hands.

the place is getting very uninteresting. Hardly any mortal dangers anymore. Bears gone. Decks without holes. Docks repaired. We're heading off to Malice on Thursday (thank for the link, Marjorie!!!) - but friends will be using the cottage in our absence - coming for a funeral.

Speaking of travels, we've confirmed (as far as I know) that the Canadian launch party for Bury Your Dead will be in Quebec City on Friday, Oct 29th. At the Morrin Centre - which is the home of the wonderful Literary and Historical Society - where much of the action of Bury Your Dead takes place. We'll be there, of course...and it'll be a GREAT party. If you can come that would be amazing.

And, have just booked a few days in New York in early July...some business stuff, but mostly going to celebrate my friend Dan's birthday. Michael and I will be staying at a hotel I've been dying to try - the W Union Square. Now, we've stayed at lots of W's - like them a lot...but they are famous for compact rooms...and in NYC they tend to be miniscule. But apparently the W Un ion Square has much larger rooms...and we booked into a Mega Room - which bodes well. Will let you know, of course.

Gary and Alan, Bless 'em, also put the dock in at the main house.

The daffodils are all up - the tulips are just days away from blooming. What an amazing time of the year...especually when you consider the feet and feet of snow not all that long ago.

Didn't get any writing done today - but did a first draft of the May newsletter. Don't forget, I'll be giving away 2 copies of the advance copy of BURY YOUR DEAD in this newsletter. It always feels better to get the newsletter written. Linda Lyall, in Scotland, who manages and designs the website and newsletter, is magnificent.

Must go. Have some gardening to do. As we talked to the cottage I noticed some digitalis in the forest _ where i'd spread seeds years ago - and want to dig some up and plant them in the garden around the house. And our friend Cotton dropped by while we were gone and left off three beautiful potted asian lilies, which need to be popped into the garden as well. The cutting garden I think, for them.

Speak to you tomorrow.

Oh - the Canadien's won!!! Just when we thought we'd be put out of our misery. But hope still burns.

You'll never take me alive.

mainly sunny, mild, temps 15

Lovely day - a little cloudy and not as hot as yesterday, but still lovely.

Gary and John came by to put the dock in. Took photos. had a hard time getting a shot of Gary at work since he stood around talking most of the time, but then he finally got going. (If I'm ever found dead, someone needs to question Gary).

But it really was so kind of them to come by. Will figure out how to get those pictures on the computer and put them up tomorrow, I hope.

Getting close to the end of the proofs for the US version of book 4. A RULE AGAINST MURDER. Phew. And I think I should be finished the first draft of book 5 by the end of next week.

Lise and Delmar and Donna came by to do the gardens today. As you see, a lot of people work hard to give us the life we clearly don't deserve. In fact, Michael I seem to be kind of in the way most of the time. Superfluous is I think is the word.

We're off to Susan's (guest cottage) for an early dinner then have tickets to Kirk's big annual Antiques Show and Sale in Knowlton. Tonight's the gala preview - get to buy early, sip wine (water) and eat nibblies - and meet all of Knowlton society. We're hoping to get away early and go for ice cream.

Then tomorrow morning the three of us are heading to Curly's market - the farmers market every Saturday morning in Sutton in the summer. This is our first weekend to do it. Want to get vegetables, a pie and maybe some roses and other perennials for the cutting garden.

And the mayor called this afternoon and wants to come up to our house tomorrow morning around 11. Hope if there's trouble someone will bail us out. But I suspect we'd just do our time and in a year or so walk up the drive to see Gary, Tony, Lise, Pat and Wayne lounging by the pool. And we'll be sent to the basement.

Serves us right. will let you know what happens tomorrow.