The thing is that if you plant all the snapdragons and lisianthus starts on the same day – they are going to be ready to harvest at just about the same time. It’s not something you can expect a lot of sympathy about. “Oh no! You have two buckets bursting with flowers? How will you cope, poor thing!” Said no one, ever.

If you wanted to come over now, I would let you. For one thing, there are flower arrangements everywhere – so it looks like a really special person lives here, to deserve so many flowers. Also most of the moving boxes are unpacked, and I can live with what you might think about the ones that are still standing in the corner of the dining room. Plus my brand new vacuum fluffed the carpet to a luxurious soft velour – so you would understand completely when I made you take off your shoes.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to fix up this place – that’s just the reality of my budget and my age and my minimal level of homeowner competence. But as long as Everything Has A Place – and Everything is in Its Place, then the sofa and love seat will hold us, and the table will serve us and the kitchen will provide coffee and cookies as needed. The only missing necessity is you.