Tropical Storm Nana
TS Nana isn't expected to make landfall but will stay in the shipping lanes. Link: Tropical Storm NANA
(Thanks, Lloyd)
pagadan at 12:06:03 AM EDT
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Architecture of the Imagination
"Edwin and Lucy's cottage consisted of two rooms downstairs, which had partly been knocked into one, with a modern bathroom tacked on at the back. The stairs, which were hidden behind a latched door, led up to three rooms where one had to inch around the beds , bending one's head so as not to knock it on the eaves. Laura Ashley wallpaper everywhere covered uneven old plaster, and rag rugs provided warmth underfoot. Lucy's books were stacked in columns along one wall in the sitting room, having overflowed the bookcases, and in the kitchen there were wooden bowls, pestles and mortar, dried herbs hanging.
Lucy's home was unselfconscious, not folksy."
From Hot Money by Dick Francis
pagadan at 12:06:11 AM EDT
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Publication news
My book, Building a Cool House for Hot Times without Scorching the Pocketbook, is #8 on this Barnes & Noble top ten list: Barnes & Noble.com Books - Architecture, Domestic->Amateurs' manuals
Here's a free excerpt: Free Book Excerpts : Building a Cool House for Hot Times without Scorching the Pocketbook by Joy Smith
There's a free excerpt available too from my children's book, Why Won't Anyone Play with Me?: Free Book Excerpts : Why Won’t Anyone Play with Me? by Joy Smith
Still upcoming are the Magistria shared world anthologies, Magistria: Realm of the Sorcerer and Magistria: Shards of the Goddess. (The first one should be available on amazon soon.) My stories, Seedlings and Crystal Quest, in this shared world anthology series are about plant mages and their companions, sentient plants.
To listen to an audiobook about time travel adventure, check out Sugar Time at Hadrosaur Audio Odysseys
It includes three complete stories: "Sugar Time," "Flight Test," and "Return to Neander." Maxwell Sweet, along with two professors, have been conducting secret experiments in an old Victorian mansion outside Galveston, Texas. However, the two professors have vanished and Maxwell Sweet has fallen ill. Now, it'sup to Sweet's tough-as-nails niece to find out what happened to the project -- a working time machine. Sugar Time is an audio time travel adventure featuring a full cast, music and sound effects.
Table of contents:
The Doorway: Nessa stumbles into the time corridor while helping a friend.
Guard Dog: Sequel to The Doorway. Nessa travels to the time of Earth's first contact.
Pretty Pink Planet: Heroine tracks down planet pirates; saves aliens.
Hot Yellow Planet: Sequel to PPP. Lori and Chiing continue their adventures, meeting up with Chameleons, Ghosters, Splurts, and other aliens and humans.
Flashback: Chessies’ arrival in an ice age. Companion story to Sugar Time stories (audiobook).
Stray Cats: Cats, herps, and humans--sometimes interchangeable.
To the Last Drop: Those aliens should not have touched that coffee urn.
Pilot's Course: Terran humans in the far future settled on other planets. Heroine plots new course.
Moovin' Up: Genetic Engineering.
The Princess Quest: Sword & Sorcery.
When Danger Rules: Reesa came back to rescue the remaining members of the family she loved. Now she had to avoid being killed by her cousin, who wanted the throne, and the new ruler of the planet, who didn't want a throne, and the ones she had come to rescue.
Home Not: When Grief's Aunt Chelsea died, his Uncle Sandro saw his chance, and Grief was at his mercy... Adventure.
The Haunted Garden: Ghosts, Native Americans, and the environment.
Lost in the Long Dark: Boy explores locked hallway in new house; finds danger.
Taking Tawny Home: Sequel to Lost in the Long Dark. Could he take the big cat back?
You Are What You Don't Eat: Why were the Terrans invited to the feast?
My advice to writers is included, along with the advice of a number of other children's writers, in an ebook, I Wish Someone Had Told Me That!
64 Successful Children's Authors Give You The Advice They Wish Someone Had Given Them
We answer these questions:
When I Started, I Wish Someone Had Told Me:
The Best Advice I Ever Got Was:
The Biggest Mistake I Ever Made Was:
The Most Important Thing A Writer Can Do To Achieve Success Is:
I Really Need To Tell You This:
pagadan at 12:08:46 AM EDT
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Green kitchen ideas (link)
Ideas from HGTV.com for a beautiful and earth-friendly kitchen. Be sure to check out the top ten eco-friendly kitchen products (right hand side of the web page): Green Kitchen: Create the green kitchen of your dreams with these tips for an eco-friendly kitchen
pagadan at 12:06:39 AM EDT
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Tropical Depression Marco
I blinked and Marco came and went!
pagadan at 12:21:36 AM EDT
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Landscaping mistakes
I was glad to see some of these common mistakes listed in the December 2007 issue of The Urban Horticulturer (U of Florida Extension/Polk County newsletter):
Over planting/planting too closely in beds. Find out how big those plants are going to get! Forget instant gratification.
Planting too close to the house: I've seen a lot of trees too close to the house. They can take out the foundation (where do you think those roots are going to go?!) and rot the siding (moisture and mold buildup.) There should be at least 12 inches between the plant and the house. Find out how wide they get. (I never thought I'd have to trim bushes by the house, but a landscaper refused to listen to me. I rarely use landscapers, btw, but I splurged. We had to remove most of those bushes; they were too close to each other also.)
Lawns cluttered with trees and bushes: Make large muched beds; it cuts down on mowing and makes the plants happier; and I don't have to dig a hole in the lawn to plant something new. I've gradually enlarged smaller beds to include nearby trees, bushes, and flowers. This was done over the years and required loads and loads of mulch; I now get free mulch from the electric company. And group like plants or plants by color. We have white beds and pink beds, etc.
They didn't mention myrtle murder though. This is pollarding (lopping off the tops of crape myrtles). Some crape myrtles were planted too close to something and had to be pruned; but too many people have been brainwashed into thinking that that is how crape myrtles are supposed to look!
pagadan at 12:14:09 AM EDT
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Remodeling ideas
I recently read Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House (2006) by Carol Venolia & Kelly Lerner. It's full of useful and comprehensive ideas for your home. Chapters cover your home, nature, climate, the sun, air, water, your garden, energy, design, materials, construction, and more, plus there's a questionnaire at the end to help you plan your remodel.
One recycling idea used a Mazda hatchback window for an entry roof. And they used a house plan to make notes of the bad and good points of your home--good view, lack of storage, too much sun, ugly carpet, etc. There's a chart that compares sun direction with amount of glare, temperature, intensity, etc.; the book also covers the importance of themal mass, shade, etc..
There are charts about water usage; and the book covers waste water, landscape watering, using rain water, handling humidity, and more. There are remodeling hints and real life examples. The book also covers heating and cooling, including furnaces, wood stoves, and swamp coolers. Material tables include insulation, exterior materials, flooring, countertops, and more. The book's premise is that "You don't have to build from scratch to live in a house that's good for you and the earth." This book is a keeper.
pagadan at 12:07:52 AM EDT
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Important Announcement
AOL is closing down its Hometown websites and its Journals/blogs October 31 so my blog, Joy's Journal, will disappear then. I'm scrambling, along with lots of other people to save and transfer files; and a lot of people have reams of files to move. I'm working on a new blog home (which will also be called Joy's Journal), a website, and my e-mail files.
Update: Here's my new blog address: http://pagadan.blogspot.com/ ; and it will have a new name, Joy's Galaxy.
pagadan at 1:37:06 PM EDT
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Curb appeal (link)
Paul Bianchina gives some useful advice about curb appeal in his column:
Clean your driveway. Have a clear and safe path to your front door. Trim and clean your landscaping and add shade trees. For more, see: Top ways to boost curb appeal | Real Estate and Technology News for Agents, Brokers and Investors | Inman News
pagadan at 12:39:11 AM EDT
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Design ideas (link)
HGTV Designers Answer Your Questions:
There are questions about style, color, furniture, organization, textured paint, wallpaper, and more. Link: Decorating : HGTV Designers Answer Your Questions : Home & Garden Television
And here's an interesting idea for displaying books that I came across in one of my writing e-newletters:
"...you can alphabetize them by author or title, arrange them by genre or size, but how about this: sort your books so the titles on the spine create sentences. Check it out!" (From Book Marketing Expert)
pagadan at 4:25:39 PM EDT
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