I've Moved!

This has been a long time coming, but I finally took the plunge!

I’ve moved over to Wordpress. A new blog, a new website and a new me. :D

Just click the banner to come on over and check me out. Drop me a line. Let me know how you like my new place.

I gaurantee, you’re going to want to come back this weekend, too. I’m giving away a prize to one of the lucky guests who drops by and lets me know how you like my new place.

And next weekend, I have something special planned. A housewarming party complete with special guests and giveaways throughout the weekend! You don’t want to miss it. I promise.

Editing this post to add: The site server was under maintenance earlier today. So if you tried the link and it didn't work, try again. It should work now. ;)

Just A Rambling Post

This weekend was kind of busy and kind of strange. We made the mommy rounds for Mother's Day. But instead of visiting them today, like we normally would have, we visited everyone yesterday. So today has felt off all day.

Add to that another dose of medication (I had a doctor's appt Friday) and I've been really feeling off kilter. The strangeness actually comes and goes. But C$ did tell me he can tell a difference in me over the last couple of days. We'll see what happens over the next few weeks before I go back for another visit.

I feel like I haven't done much. But in reality that's not entirely true. I've just been focused on different things. Like cooking and cleaning and baking a cake.

A yummy pineapple nut cake. I found this recipe in a magazine at my mom's house this weekend. It sounded yummy, so I had to write it down and make it. It's a light recipe. Came out of one of those how to cook light recipe mags.

Actually, the recipe was a makeover of this one, using low fat ingredients instead of the full fat ones. Very delish. I don't bake a lot, but I'll be adding this one to my recipe collection to make again. Using the trimmed down version, the cake isn't as sweet, which I like.

Now, here's something you might find crazy. I want to plant an herb garden. Yes, me. The lady who isn't allowed to touch the plants in our house because I kill them wants an herb garden. One of my very own. I asked C$ when was the right time to plant one, and he said now. So I'm researching herbs to decide which ones I want to plant. It'll be a small garden, and that's fine with me. Best to start off with something managable I say.

Anyone have any ideas on what herbs grow well and that are tough and can survive?

On a writerly note. I did some editing and plotting this weekend. But I'll post more about that later. I'm starting to feel the love again for one of my stories and getting ready to write that baby up.

How Cool Is This?

Check it out! I'm at Fictionwise.

That's right. Edge of Darkness is now available for purchase at Fictionwise.

Check it out!

A Sneak Peek

While updating my Body of Work, one of my goals for this month, I opened up one of the stories to find the word count, etc. on the story to fill in as many blanks as possible. This particular one happened to be one of my Suspense stories, and as I glanced over the pages, I was immediately drawn into the story. I couldn't help it. What a great feeling!

This story just popped into my head one day, and I had to sit down and write it out as it came to me. I wanted to capture the thought while it was fresh.

Now, reading back over it, I'm like damn... I wrote that. How I wish I had more moments like these. Because in all honesty they are quite inspiring. Sure pushed me to open up that other story and get my behind to editing those pages. As well as start narrowing down my list of agents to submit to on this first round of submissions.

Anyway, I thought it'd be cool to share a little bit of that story with you today. So here's an unedited glimpse. I'm thinking I need to really revisit this one soon. What do you think?

***

“Excuse me. Do you have the time?”

Jesse blinked and glanced over his shoulder. The light glowed from behind her, encasing her in a soft shadow and preventing him from seeing her face. He didn’t recognize her voice. When he realized he was squinting in an attempt to make out facial features, he gave himself a mental shake. Just because he didn’t recognize this woman’s voice didn’t make her Susie’s killer.

“Yeah, sure.” He looked down at his wrist. “It’s ten.”

“Thanks.”

The floral scent of her perfume swirled around him as she stared at him. After a moment she moved away toward the back of the bar. The gentle sway of her hips teased him with a dare to follow. There was nothing special about the way she dressed. Her plain white t-shirt and denim jeans were no different than anyone else’s, but something about her called out to him on a primitive level. A sampling of what she offered would help obliterate his memories. At least for a little while.

A swift tightening in his groin caused him to wince. What in the hell was wrong with him? She wasn’t offering. All she did was walk across the damn bar.

He glanced down at his glass before downing its contents. As soon as the smooth liquid slid down his throat the craving hit, and he wanted another.

© Copyright 2008 Tess Harrison. All Rights Reserved.

Two Cent Tuesday

It's time for another Two Cent Tuesday post!

Today is my two cents on I Am Legend. I know you just can't wait, so let's get started.

I Am Legend (2007)

Director: Francis Lawrence

Screenplay by: Mark Protosevich & Akiva Goldsman

Based on the novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson.

Soundtrack: James Newton Howard

First off, I really wanted to go see this movie in the theater. That didn't happen. And I really regret not having done so. I believe I would have enjoyed the movie more. Now with that being said, here goes my two cents.

It's Will Smith. There is not a Will Smith movie that I don't love. He is one of my top 5. To be frank, the man can carry himself and the movie. And in this one, he does. The screenplay is so far off from the novel it barely even resembles it.

The movie is a fast movie, clocking in at only 101 minutes. There is pretty much action throughout. The graphics... Well, let's just say, I've seen better and I've seen a lot worse. However, I do think they could have used that money to makeup the real actors they highered to play the roles and really made a spectacular movie.

As it stands, I'd love to say I loved the movie. However, I honestly can't. What I will say is I loved Will Smith. The screenplay itself was a secondary character to him. Not even the soundtrack left a mark. The highlight of the soundtrack was Bob Marley, which doesn't appear on the CD release.

Does this mean, I'll never watch the movie again... No. (Did I mention Will Smith?) But it does mean, I'm not dying to watch it again right away.

My Corners of the House

Since I talked yesterday about the craft projects I worked on over the weekend I thought it'd be kind of cool to show you all where I do most of them. As well as show you where I do most of my writing and editing.

Or in other words, the corners of the house that are mine.

I'm enjoying my little crafty space as you can probably tell. Here's a picture of my corner, complete with several projects and a little friend. That's In Stitches open on the table with my choker lying on top. LOL! I just realized that looks a little 'posed' sitting there, but I swear to you guys, it's not. You can also see the fabric I have laid out for my other recipe card holders. And even the yarn I bought to knit me a pair of socks.

I'm sure you're all dying to see more of my little helper, too. And to be honest, I just couldn't refuse this close up. Is she not adorable just lying on her window seat, basking in the sun. I'm sure if we were to ask her who this corner belongs to, she'd say with 100% certainity that it belongs to her.

What do you think?

Now on to my next corner. My writing corner. This is my desk. I have my most useful craft books within easy reach, right along with my huge pottery cup filled with pens to the right. There to the left is my notebook and my shelves. And the same old ancient monitor! I really need me a new monitor. I'm just very loath to buy one when I keep hoping that soon I'll have a new Mac. C$ keeps saying soon.

My little dancing man is a lot of fun and so is my tiara. See? I am a Diva! LOL! One more thing about my desk. You can't see them in this shot, but running along behind my keyboard and infront of my computer is my collection of hockey pucks.

Another thing missing from this shot is my little friend. But don't worry. She's around somewhere.

Weekend Full of Nothing More Than This and That

Well, the weekend is almost over, and I have a few things to show for it. One is a headache. It's been needling at me since Saturday morning, and I still have it. I don't know about you guys but when I have a headache it makes concentration a little hard. But still, I've managed to get through some things.

Friday night when I got home from work, I decided I wanted to try my hand at making one of those craft projects I mentioned in another post. So that's what I did.

I pulled out the materials I'd bought one afternoon last week and sat down to study the directions. The result was a little bit of a combination of two different but yet similar patterns and my own twist. The result is the choker you see around my neck in the image to the left.

What do you think?

For a close up image, here it is to the right also. It's from some pink scrap fabric I purchased for my trail run. I also used some cheap beads. In between each bead I tied a knot. When C$ first saw it he said it was very Wilma Flintstone. *shakes head* Boys.

I've bought some fabric and more beads. I have yet another idea for this necklace, and I can't wait to make it. Maybe before our trip at the end of the month. We'll see.

Well, that was Friday night. As for Saturday, I mentioned I developed a headache and that put me out of doing much on Saturday. I tried to open one of my stories and couldn't concentrate. So I tried to read and study what my next sewing project would be and that didn't work. And I also tried to find a simple, basic beginner knitters pattern for socks and couldn't find the one I wanted. So I ended up vegging out most of the day.


That is until Saturday night when my friend K and I went out to dinner and then back to my place for some old fashioned hanging out. It's always fun to just hang out and laugh and talk and laugh some more. It was fun and I was glad for it! I hadn't been out like that in awhile.

Sunday arrived and after a trip to the grocery store, I decided to work on another project. This one from Amy Butler's book In Stitches. See, I had this idea. With Mother's day fast approaching I asked myself what would be cool to give our mothers. And that's when the idea hit me. So I set to sewing.

I have to admit, I am very pleased with the project. A recipe card bag. This one was done for me as a trail run so to speak. I picked out the fabric for the mothers and then spied this totally cute ladybug fabric. Well, I had to buy it. The bottom half is done in a red with pink polka dots.

Well, I wasn't happy with just a recipe bag. So I had to create recipe cards to go inside the bag. So once the bag was finished, that's what I did. I set out to create cards. The bag is large enough to hold 4x6 cards. The card I created is actually larger than a 4x6 so if you have a larger sized card, no worries, it will fit.


And here's just a tidbit for anyone out there with this book/pattern who is wanting to give it a go, (And I highly recommend it. Very easy and fast. It took me no more than 2 hours to cut out, sew and finish up the bag and I took my time doing it because I'm a newbie sewer.) I would use a large needle with a large eye (large enough for the ribbon to fit though) to do the drawstring. I tried the way the book details and got nowhere fast. Once I threaded the needle, zip-zing, I was done.

Now, I know for certain, there'll be two more of these being made this week. I already have the fabric. To the left. Don't you just love the cordinating pieces? They are both awesome. And matching ribbon for each.


I haven't really decided if I'm going to keep the Ladybag, as I've been calling it, or if I'm going to give it away. Tough call. Because I really like that bag! But I know my sister-in-law would love it, too. But now C$ is asking me to make him a bag for his sunglasses. Only he doesn't want ladybugs... I can't imagine why not. Can you?

The good thing is I still have plenty of fabric left for a few more bags whatever I decide to do.

Now it's getting on into the afternoon. I have some serious editing/writing to do since I didn't get to any of that yesterday. I posted my new writing goals for the month over at Cobblestone-Mainstreet, and I have to get cracking if I'm going to make them. Looking back over them, I'm afraid I was a little too ambitious. But hey, nothing gets done without some ambition right?!

So here's to an ambitious week ahead for all of us!

(P.S. Please excuse the poor quality of the photos. Lately, I can't take a good, clear picture for nothing!)

(P.S.S. No one guessed the CDs that went back in the car. Although Yolanda came very close. They were: 4 - Howard Shore - Lord of the Rings; Return of the King, 5 - Hans Zimmer - The Last Samuri, 7 - 30 Seconds to Mars - A Beautiful Lie, 24 - Gotthard - Lipservice. Now I have to think of another contest to give away that other gift certificate.... )