Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Got Cut

Well, I won't be moving on in the competition, but surprisingly I'm ok with that. There were the initial moments of willing my name to appear on the list, but then there was acceptance--and the realization that two of the people who I was so sure, sure, sure would make it didn't. And for some reason that makes it kind of better. I mean, I thought in my heart of hearts that one of them would win, but they didn't move on, so we're still in the same boat, and maybe if they got cut and could still get published then so could I. Time to break out the book and do some reworking. Just as soon as I get my last reviews from Publisher's Weekly back. I hope they're nice to me. This could get depressing.

Monday, April 26, 2010

So Much More Nervewracking This Time


I'm waiting to hear if I've made it to the next stage in the Amazon Competition. It was easier the last time, and for some reason so much worse this time around. I actually forgot to check in on things until a couple days after the verdict in the Quarterfinals round.

In the meantime, have a picture of me up to my knees in snow. The hike was a bit slushier than expected.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Farewell My Pretty


Today is the day I sold my very first hair stick set. Well, not my first sale of hair sticks, the very first pair I made when I took the plunge and invested almost all of my Christmas money in starting my itty bitty business. I'm so glad someone liked it well enough to want it to come to them. It has been over a month since my last sale, so it was heartening in that manner as well. Fare thee well little stickies. I'm sure you'll have a pleasant life.

Also, I have a weird little half-moon burn on my wrist from where I accidentally rested it against a pot that just came out of the oven. Apparently I haven't learned hot means don't touch--you think I would have grasped that when I was four and grabbed a cookie sheet. I will not miss it when it is gone.

Monday, April 19, 2010

A Pause in Life

As of last Saturday, I'm done with any big events at the church until sometime in the fall or winter. Without all the work to be done on the (now over) spring brunch, it's almost like I've lost a chunk of my purpose in life. Of course, I could always fill that void with writing, writing and more writing, but I've run into a bit of a block lately. I can still spew words onto the page, but for some reason I'm more distracted and less happy with them, which in turn makes me more likely to go out into the yard and weed the nearly weedless lettuce patch. I'm hoping it's only a temporary thing and that burrowing through the remainder of my critiques will make it easier to get the writing back in gear, but that remains to be seen. In the mean time, I hear lettuce calling.

Monday, April 12, 2010

The Reading of Critiques

I've been taking a new approach to reading critiques lately, and I think it may be more effective. Instead of reading them as they trickle into my inbox, I save them until I get all of them before reading any of them. (I belong to an online critique group--Critters--and critiques are received over a week long period most times). I'm finding this allows me to take it all in at once, compare them, and figure out just what exactly isn't working for anybody. This in particular is important because every little aspect will probably not work for at least one person, but if I can single out the big fish--the real glaring problems, I have a place to start. And honestly, some suggestions just wouldn't work no matter how well-meaning they are.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Laundry! Is! Exciting!


At least it is when you finally have the option of doing it at home. For the first time in two and a half years I will be able to do laundry in my own home. I think Mom is actually going to be a little sad I've stopped mooching. In any case, they look about like the ones in the picture. They are GE, a consumer best buy, and hey, they wash and dry clothes. Unfortunately now it means I'll have to venture into the wasteland of the basement more often. I'll get used to it. And my flipflops are probably going to live in the spider infested abyss at the bottom of the stairs just so I don't actually have to walk on the cement.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

I'm Late Again, but There is Lettuce, and the R Key is Sticking

Yeah, that's pretty much it. I spent today brutalizing some cupboards in order to get them cleaned up and more presentable. Besides, loose flour can attract weevils and I do not like weevils. But in a non cabinet related note, my lettuce has sprouted! I have all these little 1/4 inch plants hanging out in my garden. The corn salad and the spinach are slacking though. I've only got a few spinach up and the corn salad is taking its sweet time, but since I don't know what it is or what it's capable of, I'm not going to get on its case. And yeah, I really have to smack the "r" key. A new keyboard might be a sooner rather than later thing at this rate.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

I'm late, but aprons abound







Ok, not so much abound as there is another one and I'm currently relatively miffed at ruffles. They never turn out right the first time with me. So I spent three hours fixing them today *grumble*, but this was the result. I'm rather pleased with the final product even if the pictures came out way blurrier than I planned *grumble again*. So, it's tuesday, but you get to look at this black and white number. Other than the cake, it's the last big project I have for the silent auction event. And do please note that this apron is waaay too big for me, so that's why it looks a little frumpy with me wearing it. It was not meant for someone 5' 3" tall.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Easter Egg!




Since it's almost Easter, I thought I would share my most favorite egg ever that I have dyed. It's a (very) interpretive take on the Rocky Mountain skyline at sunset.