Tropical Storm Fred

TS Fred is expected to wander off--northward--into the ocean; that happened a lot last year.

8-31-15: Fred is now a category 1 hurricane and is moving NW and is not likely to make landfall in the US.

Tropical Storm Erika

TS Erika is moving right along, possibly heading for the Bahamas and Florida; it's going west and could become a category 1 hurricane.

8-28-15: Erika is moving WNW, and the track has shifted east.  The spaghetti models are pretty much clustered now and moving up the peninsula.  It may or may not become a hurricane; there's dry air, wind shear, and mountains, but then there's warm water after that.

8-29-15: Erika has dissipated, though it will be giving us more rain later.  (We have another low dumping rain on us as I report.) The spaghetti models have shifted west.

8-30-15:  Erika's remnants are bringing Forida rain, though we didn't get any here today.  More is expected tomorrow--and the next day(s).

8-31-15: We still haven't gotten any rain from that leftover moisture, but it's wandering around the peninsula, and we're still expected to get some later.

Home decorating and tips

The July/August HGTV Magazine is full of decorating ideas and tips to help you around the house, including home makeovers; this issue also includes moving advice and statistics.  And their high/low list gives examples and sources for furniture and accessories; sometimes the cheaper product even looks better, for instance the graphic pink diamonds rug and the teal lamp.  And I love the flower and vase combos, especially the purple and red vase with red roses and sweet peas.

Their snack ideas include an "ice cream" topping for a cracker made from cream cheese, marshmallow spread, and whipped topping.  I'm not sure how that would go with crackers, but it's a handy way to eat it.  Hmm.  I wonder how that would work in a little cone?  (Actually, I see this is a Ritz ad.)

Free science fiction stories collection!

Joy V. Smith's reprint collection, The Doorway and Other Stories, is free on Amazon starting August 24-August 28. Enjoy this mix of 14 SF stories: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SV1FB2

Hurricane Danny

Danny's picking up speed as it heads towards the Carribean and may become a cat 3.  I'll have to check the weather report later.  Last I heard it was supposed to be downgraded.

Okaaay.  It's already a category 3, but it should weaken in a few days...  Still heading WNW though the spaghetti models have moved a bit north.

8-23-15: Danny is now a tropical storm and heading west and is expected to weaken, while more possibilites are coming off Africa.

8-24-15: Danny's a tropical depression last I heard, and you can track the upcoming possibilities on the National Hurricane Center map: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=atlc&fdays=2

(Thanks, Lloyd)

Tropical Storm Danny

TS Danny developed from a tropical depression yesterday and is moving west.  It could become a hurricane (possibly only a category 1) in a few days.

8-20-15: Danny is now a hurricane and heading WNW, but it should be downgraded to a tropical storm again in 2 or 3 days.

What are your favorite color combos? (link)

From HGTV.com:

I liked coral and teal, among others, but I thought that the colors that went with gray (the new neutral) were too dark and boring: Vote for Your Favorite Color Palette

Decorating ideas

The Autumn issue (Volume 6, Issue 4) of The Cottage Journal includes beautiful cottages and cabins with ideas for decorating homes with collectibles, antiques, and salvaged pieces.  One home owner hangs exotic old doors from around the world on his walls; and another home owner loves landscapes with roads curving off into the distance--the perfect way to make it easier to make choices when collecting.  (I love her paintings.)  And how about hanging a really, really big painting (in this case, pale blossoms) behind your headboard?  I also like the idea of carving out a huge pumpkin and putting a waterproof container inside; you can place little stones inside the container to anchor the flowers and foliage.  I'm glad fall is coming up, I always look forward to pumpkins--big and little--and colorful squashes.

Sugar Time links

Amazon ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Time-Joy-V-Smith-ebook/dp/B013PW5C98/

Amazon print book, ebook, and audiobook listing: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Surgar+Time+by+Joy+v.+smith 

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/567992

Kobo store: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/sugar-time

Just in time for Sugar Time!

These four connected stories follow Sugar Sweet's adventures with her  companions, including the Chessies...

Sugar Time is available for pre-order: http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Time-Joy-V-Smith-ebook/dp/B013PW5C98/

Sugar Time is coming out in print and as an ebook!

My audiobook, Sugar Time, will be released as an ebook August 14, 2015, and it will include four stories instead of three.  The last story was published separately later in Hadrosaur Tales #16.  And there will be a print edition not long afterwards.  The cover artist is Laura Givens.  (I had fun working with Laura as we tweaked it a little bit.)