Wednesday Morning Procrastination

Yep, I'm sitting here at just after 10 in the morning, eating my breakfast with cappuccino in hand and wondering...what am I doing? What should I do?

Well I know what I should be doing...just don't tell hubby I'm not doing my bookwork right now. But really, the heat at the moment is driving my batty. So rather than doing that, I am trying to update everything for Christmas (just over 1 month away), school holidays (first daughter finishes tomorrow) and clear my decks for any little incident that will push my schedule out of whack.

What does that mean, you ask. Well I have just written a recipe for a Secret Cravings author, Barbara Westbrook's blog. She is collecting recipes from those of us contracted to SC to share. What a great idea! I had to laugh though, because as I wrote the recipe out, I had to substitute the Australian for American terms. You know Jelly, Jam etc to Jello and Jelly.

See...told you I'm procrastinating.

Well, I guess my procrastination time has to come to an end. But how about you share your favourite ways of procrastinating. And I will share my recipe :) (Well you can even add a recipe if you like.)

Sherry Trifle...

You will need 2 plain sponge cakes.

1 jar of strawberry jam (jelly)

2 packs of Jelly (jello) strawberry or port wine work best

Custard (thickened follow the recipe on your pack)

Sherry

Thickened Cream.

Kiwi Fruit, strawberries or equivalent to decorate.

Day one:

Cut your sponge cakes to fit a large bowl (we prefer a punch bowl for this recipe) and then make crosses and cuts to let the jelly (jello) mix run all the way through.

Make up the jelly (use only 1/2 the quantity of water on the packaging) and use sherry to make up the rest of the liquid value. (I still prefer to have slightly less than the recommended amount. Slather strawberry jam (jelly) on the top of the sponges in the dish. This needs to be thick. Next pour over the slightly cooled jelly (jello) & sherry mix. Place into the refrigerator to set.

Day two:

Make your custard. I use Poppy custard mix (which is Australian) but you will need to find a thick alternative. I always prepare a double quantity as you need a thick layer. Follow the instructions on your pack, leaving out any sugar. (Trust me, there is way enough sugar in this recipe!) Once the custard is prepared, allow it to cool. Remove the skin that forms (yummy but not helpful for the trifle) and then pour the thickened custard over the base. Place into the refrigerator to set properly.

Day three:

Do this Just Before you serve...

You are going to need at least 1 litre of cream to get the layer correct. Whip the cream so it is stiff. Let it settle for a few minutes then top with fresh seasonal fruits.

To serve, you will need a long serving spoon and go all the way to the bottom. There are then 3 distinct layers.

Right, time to get back to work and remember, sometimes you need to procrastinate, so that the good stuff has time to filter into your mind!

Imogene

Taking a break from editing and writing...

Yes :) I have a new arrival due this weekend.

Ohh! I am so excited.

Lovely and new smelling.....

Vinyl!! :)

Yes, after telling hubby for nearly 2 years, my new floor covering in the lounge is arriving next Monday to be laid. How cool is that?

But...

That means this weekend I will be forced to step away from the computer, because we are not just going to do the floor, no, the 4 of us (with a ring in) are stripping the lounge, cleaning and repainting the walls and hanging curtains. Our lounge is where the tree gets put up, we have our family nights (yes we do have some fun with that...from Barbie movies to ghosts and bloody gut infused ones as well.)

So, while I may have another few days writing to go, I will be, to a large extent messy, tired and possibly grumpy the rest of the time. Lol!

So have a great weekend. And think of me, having just as much fun.

(Oh and unlike the Brady Bunch...there will be no tic tac toe on the walls!)

Imogene

The Star of Ishtar wins....

Yes, it has been well over a week since my last post :) But I have been busy...honest!

Since my last post, I submitted a short story, which is loosely connected to the Warriors of the Elector series to Secret Cravings (who are publishing Starline). Got a contract today...

So without too much ado, I can add that to my list of Pending Publishing credits. Yeah...

Wow...

So my current WIP "The Blood Bride" is focus #1 for the next few weeks, as I am working towards getting it to the halfway mark. Wrote this steamy steamy scene yesterday, and blushed furiously during it...but at the end, well I read it through, and wow...if I may say so myself it is hawwttt! *fanning self here*

Apart from that, life continues to go on, with chickens, guinea pigs, cats and dog in tow. The weather here is heating up considerably so spending more time in my office is a good thing.

So for now,
*raises a glass*
here's cheers!

Imogene

It's Dunaden .... by not very much!

Okay getting into the Melbourne Cup spirit thing here...I had a flutter or three and, while not exactly making a million I did get back what I put in and a little extra as well. I have this bunch of friends, who meet daily over the internet to chat, run businesses and generally misbehave. They are great!

We decided to run a sweep and of course, as we are literally all over Australia had to come up with an awe inspiring way to run it. So we ran it online - everyone in the group had to indicate if they wanted to join in, pay their money etc via email and paypal.

In the end, there was, what I would cal a decent prize pool. And you know what? it was fun. We even had an outrageous hat parade...my personal fave is a hat that reminds me of a mohawk...

Not sure I would wear it, but as with anything it is personal taste. So I sat at my computer, working, with my chicken and greek salad, streamed the race and shouted for my horse to win, just like any other red blooded Australian!

On a bright note as well, The Star of Ishtar is now out with Beta Readers. What does this mean? Well these lovely people read the story, check for errors and make sure that it reads ok...all the usual things.

Once I get the comments back from them, so long as there is nothing too big, I should be able to submit it to the publishing house.

So, what is left to do? Well once I get my copious winnings (well maybe not that copious) I think I will go and buy some choccies to celebrate another manuscript is ready to go. I will print it in the next few days, grab my posterity picture (which is becoming a ritual here) , toast the jolly horse Dunaden and have a celebratory wine - or three :)

I hope your Melbourne Cup was fun, and if you had a flutter you had a win.

Until next time,

Imogene <3