Home and garden ideas

I love the idea of creating your table centerpiece from fruit and flowers in your local grocery store--found that suggestion in the April 2013 issue of Southern Living--but don't overlook the veggies; there are lots of colorful and cheaper possibilites there too.  And there are some plans for edible gardens in that issue also.  We plant strawberries and other fruit, along with tomatoes and peppers, in our front flower beds.  We enjoy pointing them out to people as they walk along our front pathway to the house.

Author Spotlight: Joy V. Smith

Here's the link to my author spotlight, in which I get to share some background about my writing and a few of the authors and editors and artists I've interviewed: http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/author-spotlight-no-183-joy-v-smith/

Looking forward to spring?

I recently came across Spring Cottage (Spring 2013 issue); it is full of lovely homes, gardens, and collectibles. I like the pan and dish covers hung on the wall, and the fork and spoon molds in "A Collector's Kitchen" are interesting. I've never seen those before. A hint in that article is to use Velcro adhesive strips to hang oddly shaped molds. Lots of beautiful and unique items, including the silverware wallpaper. And I love the flowers; it really feels like spring just looking at them! There's also a recipe for Raspberry Clafoutis, a French dessert, which we're going to share with Butterfly Bistro. It has a French theme, and I love their Creme Brulee.  This is similar, especially with the fruit on top.


Sparkle note: If you drag a treat from the box, and click on it again, Sparkle will jump up and catch it!

Joy V. Smith's ebook list

My western novel, Detour Trail, should be available as an ebook at the usual online stores in a few weeks. It's available now from the publisher: http://www.melange-books.com/authors/joyvsmith/detourtrail.html

It's an interesting addition to my other ebooks since it's a western and my first published novel. My other ebooks are mostly science fiction except for my non-fiction one about remodeling our new house. Here they are:
Pretty Pink Planet

Lori, an agent of SOESFOL (Search Out and Establish Sentient Forms of Life) visits Prism, a popular tourist destination, to track down planet pirates and rescue aliens, if she can find and talk to them.
Link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93615

(Pretty Pink Planet is a free ebook)

Hot Yellow Planet

In the sequel to Pretty Pink Planet, Lori and Chiing continue their adventures, meeting up with Chameleons, Ghosters, Splurts, and other aliens and humans.

Link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94029

http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Yellow-Planet-ebook/dp/B005TCN9UC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318279993&sr=1-1

Hidebound is a SF romance (adult content) also available on Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ICFOHY

And Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/82218

My reprint collection, The Doorway and Other Stories, is available on Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SV1FB2   It includes 14 SF and fantasy adventures .

Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure
How we coped with selling a house--at last, looking for a new house, buying a new house that was a foreclosure and needed lots of work, and then remodeling it since it didn't even have a kitchen sink!
Link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/71560

And http://www.amazon.com/Remodeling-Buying-Updating-Foreclosure-ebook/dp/B005FSHP0K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1312428906&sr=1-1

Home and garden ideas

The April 2013 issue of Country Living has some fun ideas. I like the paper straws that look like birch trunks.

The containers for plants ideas photo page includes using chalkboard paint on terra cotta pots so you can label them; pots for herbs are especially useful in your kitchen. To decorate Easter eggs, you can use silk fabric transfers. (You'll have to go to the magazine for directions to get the process right. I don't even know what silk fabric transfers are!)
Then visit garden stores around the country--and gardens. I love the big old sink sitting outside in the garden for hosing off veggies--and check out the kitchen garden plan with its raised beds and watermelon, squash, and tomatoes planted around the perimeter. Find out why you should plant parsley with asparagus.

Detour Trail's new romantic blurb

The brand new blurb I created for Blurbs in Bloom focuses on the romance: http://www.blurbsinbloom.com/2013/03/detour-trail.html

Carrot orange: March's color of the month (link)

Carrot orange, huh. Check out the examples. Maybe you'll like it: http://blog.hgtv.com/design/2013/03/04/mood-board-monday-carrot/?nl=HGI_030613_bloglink1

Not my cup of juice.

Sparkle note: If you drag a treat from the box, and click on it again, Sparkle will jump up and catch it!

Is it party time at your house?

There are some fun party ideas for adults and children in the March 2013 issue of Southern Living. There's an elegant garden party, a preppy luncheon (Hmm. Go big or go home? And what's with the flamingo?), and a ladylike tea, which looks like more fun. 'Course the most fun is probably the children's party with the craft paper tablecloth to draw and color on. And the little photo booth with your props and the toppings buffet for tacos, sundaes, etc. When's your next excuse for a party?!

Half price sale!

My ebook, Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure, is half price until March 9.  Use the code on the webpage: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/71560 


Description: One woman and her family sold their home finally--after dropping the price a few times--and then had to find a new home so the new owners of her old house could move in; and then they had to remodel and landscape a really neglected house. Their story is told in diary format and should be helpful to anyone coping with a remodeling project. You have to be flexible and realize that schedules change, materials can be out of stock, deliveries can be delayed, and suppliers can make mistakes.