Yardley Found

An early Spring in East Tennessee! And believe me, we're ready for it. We're a little gun-shy, though what with all the snow this past winter brought. One heavy wet snow after the other.

But yellow jonquils/daffodils are bobbing and bloomimg. Bradford Pear trees again visions of white. Redbuds about ready to bloom. Purple, red crocuses and blue hyacinths began blooming a week or so ago and a few are still around. A sight for sore eyes.

I stepped out into my backyard to see how my own jonquils had survived the winter. They're doing pretty good, even though they need thinning badly. I noticed wild onions are about to take over the bed around the big rocks. I tsk, tsked over them, wondering how I'd get them cleared out.

A small voice spoke up from behind me. "Why don't you just dig 'em up?"

I whirled around. My fairy-like Muse balanced on tiny toes on the rock. "Yardley? You're still here!"

"Might as well do something useful. You haven't done much work on your next book, have you?"

"Well, it has been a turbulent few years. But I've managed to do a little writing."

"A story here, a story there. L&L Dreamspell has been good to you."

I decided to do a little chiding of my own. "And where have you been? I thought you were supposed to be my Muse!"

"A Muse can only do so much. You have to put rear end in chair and start typing if you're going to get anything done." She snapped. "You know that."

I sat on the rock, making sure not to push her off. "What about those two stories? In national anthologies, even. That's something."

She sneered. "Don't strain your arm, patting yourself on the back. Those are stories you've had around for years. Good, yes, but not new."

I sighed and nodded. "I know. But - I have sent off two NEW ones in the last month to a contest and a magazine."

"True. And I think they both have a good chance." She patted my knee with a tiny hand.

Still trying to justify myself in her eyes, I replied. "And I did put up two of my books as ebooks."

"Very good. When will you get around to doing the other one?"

"Soon. I need to keep these websites I'm committed to updated."

"Just make sure to save time for writing. And don't waste a lot of time playing with those graphics you like so much to do."

"Promise. If you'll stick with me, I'll get that book ready to send out."

She jumped down from the rock and waved, then faded away.