Heat wave

For the last 2 days, we've had foretaste of the summer, with record-breaking temperatures around 104 degrees F. Usually, May and June are still fairly cool, especially at night. Although it's uncomfortable, our big concern is the garden. Baby plants are still tender and vulnerable. To make matters worse, this is the second drought year. The water district has already announced mandatory conservation measures through October. So, shorter showers, cars stay dusty, fix that slow leak and maybe save the graywater from washing clothes for plants.

Today I took pity on Oka, our German Shedding Dog, and tortured him with a bath. He is not entirely convinced that water is not toxic and gave me many suspicious looks as I set up the hose and towels, then reappeared wearing a swim suit and plastic sandals. But with much sweet talk and praise, he is now a cleaner and much less fuzzy dog. And more comfortable, I think. Certainly nicer-smelling.

Writing update

I'm about 2/3 through this go-round of Shannivar, the second volume of The Seven-Petaled Shield. Still waiting to hear from editor on the first, but it will not be a bad thing to have this draft done or mostly done before I revise the first. Because I've been juggling original fantasy and Darkover, I run the risk of a looong wait between volumes, and I would like to minimize that. Hence, plunging ahead. Hope to be at a stopping place this summer, then back to Darkover, these plans of course being eminently interruptible by editorial demands.

Speaking of which, I've gotten a few over-the-transom submissions for the next Lace and Blade. Sadly, I don't believe the authors bothered to read the first volume (or, in some cases, the guidelines) to see what I am looking for.