Spring

I am back to writing the 10 Crochet Mystery. It’s so convenient that I set it in March, though when I wrote the synopsis, I didn’t realize I would actually be writing the book in March. I love it when I can incorporate what is right in front of me.

I know people don’t think Southern California has seasons, but we do. It is definitely spring here now. The hillsides that turn golden in the summer are all a lush bright green now. The carnations that look brown and unhappy in the summer have dusty green stems and bursting with spicy scented flowers. The orange trees are full of blossom, too. Their fragrance fills the air, so when I walk out into my yard, it smells wonderful. There’s a certain kind of jasmine that has pink flowers and a scent that is so sweet it is almost too strong. I always know when I’m in the vicinity of one of the plants. It is like is sends out a beacon of fragrance.

Already the days are longer and with daylight savings starting over the weekend, they will seem even longer. I would be paying attention to all this normally, but now I’m even more aware because I am looking for the details that make it real instead of generic.

It is neat being able to put all the sights and scents in the book. It is kind of like being able to capture a moment and keep it forever.