Yesterday it was 89 degrees here. Yikes. Today it will be at least 80 degrees. Then the temperatures will fall to the normal 60 degree range over the weekend. One perk of the unseasonably warm weather is in the garden. Plants are growing by leaps and bounds. I’m thrilled because that means I get to see some action here before I leave in a little over a week. There is much more going on than there was last year at this time.

Yes! This last photo is of my little lilac bush – planted 2 years ago. I didn’t get to see any blooms last year because I was on the west coast. Don, bless his heart, took some photos and sent them to me. Maybe it will be more fully in bloom before I go.

Next week I will mulch the gardens and plant some pots for the porch and the patio. Then I will give detailed instructions to Don: when to water, how often to water, what weeds to pull. I would much rather be doing all this myself – I get such joy from it. Oh well – it is what it is.

The hyacinths are getting top-heavy…I’ll plant them outside next week. I retrieved these silver candlesticks from my hutch today. They were given to us as a wedding present from our beloved friend Craig who died last weekend. He was such a lovely man. His home in San Diego was absolutely wonderful – quirky, beautiful, full of memorabilia. And he had the most wonderful, lush tropical gardens. His taste was impeccable. These beautifully tarnished pieces will be a wonderful reminder of our lovely friend.