Sherry Morris's Blog, page 43

Review: The Keepsake

The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An ancient mummy turns up in the basement of a private Boston museum. The wrappings carbon date back 2,000 years, but she's got amalgam fillings in her mouth an a 22 caliber bullet in her leg. Shrunken heads, bog people and oh my the things Jane and Maura have to sleuth through in this wonderfully entertaining thriller.



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How to Detect A Counterfeit Podcast

<p><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>How to </p>

How to Detect a Counterfeit Podcast from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing

My first novel, about a ring of counterfeiters in 1945, Hundred Dollar Bill, was created after I toured the U.S. Bureau of engraving and PRinting in Washington, D.C. with my son. If you are ever in Washington, I encourage you to visit. A fascinating process.

Hundred Dollar Bill by Sherry Morris--from Ellora's Cave Blush
The year is 1945. Roosevelt is President. World War II is coming to a head. Thieves, spies and other wise guys are working everywhere…including in branches of the U.S. government.

Chloe Lambert is a sweet little thing whom mothers love to love and sailors love to pinch. She's also a sharp-tongued Secret Service agent—a Secret Service agent who has been framed for murder by a band of counterfeiters.

Mike Taurus, also an agent, is tough as nails, cool as ice and devilishly handsome. He also has a past with Chloe. As the two of them make a mad dash from Washington, D.C. to Miami Beach, they'll stop at nothing to solve this monumental caper. It's a made-for-the-movies adventure that Alfred Hitchcock could only wish he'd dreamed up himself!
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Excerpt of Devil in the Deep Blue Sea

Sail off with Jeanie in this coming of age women's fiction with a paranormal twist. She is a shy child of the 70's, aching for attention. Surviving a near-drowning incident while babysitting with a friend, Jeanie tells no one. She buries the incident deep within her. Fifteen years later, Jeanie is married with a little girl of her own. She makes sure to dote on her own daughter, giving her all the love and recognition that her inner child still craves. Flying on a lavish vacation with her elderly mother, there is mechanical trouble. Jeanie must finally come face to face with the Devil in the Deep Blue Sea.

EXCERPT:

The girls played with the twin toddler boys in the musty, stone-walled basement. Jeanie put on a show using expensively detailed Goldilocks puppets in an elaborate theater that had red velvet curtains. She got caught up in the skit, not just entertaining the children, but actually having fun. Later, she helped Delaine feed them and get them changed into their jammies. After they drifted off to sleep, the baby-sitters went outside."All right, Delaine, spill.""Spill what?""What was that look you gave me in the kitchen all about?""Oh, just that I know that Mr. and Miz Charles are getting a divorce. He has a girlfriend with pretty teeth and Farrah Fawcett-Majors hair. Miz Charles wants to sue his sorry buttocks for every penny he has and will ever have.""How do you know?""I heard my mom talking to the mailman."Jeanie lay on her back in the freshly mowed fescue surrounding the historic house. She happily inhaled the scent of cut grass. Her attention fixated across the river at the sunset. Slowly moving her eyes up through the clouds, she saw the color of a ripe peach, evolving into hot pink, then light aquamarine, and finally dark crayon blue.Delaine immediately headed to the pool."Come on, Jeanie! The water is so warm! Jump in!"The teenager rolled over and put her hands under her chin. She laughed at Delaine goofing around in the water, watching her handstands and bubble blowing. "I don't know how to swim. You have fun and I'll watch you." Jeanie opened her Tiger Beat magazine and flipped past the Leif Garrett dream date contest, Noxzema ad, and Bay City Rollers news. She creased the magazine open at the Andy Gibb photo spread and dramatically sighed. His peach vest and pants looked softer than the sunset."Come on, Jeanie! You're missing out on all the fun!"Jeanie removed her shoes and socks. She gingerly stuck her toes in and delightedly kicked her legs in the heavily chlorinated water. She knew they really shouldn't be swimming with out any adults present. Not that Jeanie was going to swim, but still, she felt like they were taking a stupid chance.Delaine swam over. "Jump in!""No, I'll watch you. I can't swim."Delaine grabbed her hand. "Yeah, right, Jeanie." She yanked her into the water.Disoriented, Jeanie found herself standing on the bottom of the pool. Desperately climbing, she somehow managed to propel herself up to the surface and grabbed onto Delaine's head. Delaine immediately pushed her off. Down, down, down Jeanie sank. Her thoughts muddled. She knew better than to go near water with no lifeguard. Maybe Mr. Charles would come home early. Maybe Andy Gibb would jump in and save her. He was a champion swimmer in Australia. She had read that about him last month. Flailing to the surface the second time, she grabbed wildly for Delaine. When she found her, Jeanie shoved Delaine underwater again, as she tried to climb onto her back. Delaine threw her off. Down, down, down Jeanie sank.
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Cute Forward Story: 92-Year-Old Preacher

I received this from my beautiful pal, Lisa.
92 -Year-Old Preacher

I watched a church on television in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.

After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....

"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me...the only thing that would comfort was this verse........ .....

"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me....
The Bible tells me so."

The old pastor stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best."

"Here for you now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me":

JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.
(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."
(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.
(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.
(CHORUS)


God Bless Us All!!!

Recipe: Upside down Pumpkin Pecan Pie

Upside Down Pumpkin Pecan Pie
1/2 can (1 3/4 cups) pumpkin

1/2 of a 12 ounce can (2/3 cup) evaporated milk

1/2 cup golden brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 of a 18.25 ounce package (1 3/4 cups) yellow cake mix with pudding

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Whipped cream for garnish if desired

In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, milk, sugar, eggs, pie spice, cinnamon and salt.

Grease a 9 inch pie dish.  Line with a 14 inch piece of waxed paper.  Pour filling into paper. Sprinkle top with cake mix and then with nuts.  Drizzle melted butter over.

Bake in center of oven at 325 F for 55 to 60 minutes or until the top is deeply browned and a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool; refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

To serve, turn upside down onto platter.  Remove pie dish and waxed paper.

Makes 8 servings.

Recipe developed by cookbook author Marlene Sorosky and used on the label of Safeway Pumpkin.

Review: Decision Points

Decision Points by George W. Bush

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


He's smarter than his reputation, and wrote an entertaining book, very good on the nightstand. It put me to sleep quickly, with no bad dreams.



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Review: WARRIOR WRITER

WARRIOR WRITER by Bob Mayer

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I bought this book at Bob's workshop. The workshop had been rushed, he said he didn't have as long to present as he needed. I'd hoped to get more from the book. I was shocked at how poorly edited this book is. Typos galore and phrases that hang, making no sense. His gist is to compare the business of writing a book to the business of being a Green Beret. Most of the analogies didn't fit me. However, he did inspire me to identify my weaknesses and concentrate on making them strengths. And if I'm ever ambushed, I will charge my attackers head on, not run away or dive into the booby trapped ditch.

If you are in special ops and a writer, this book might be very helpful.



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Recipe: Sam's Easy Bake Apple Pie

Sam's Easy Bake Apple Pie
Preheat Oven to 325 F

6 cups sliced pared tart apples

1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

3/4 cup milk

2 tbsp. butter, softened

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup Bisquick baking mix

Streusel (below)

Mix apples and spices. Spread in greased pie plate, 10 x 1 1/2 inches.

Beat next 5 ingredients until smooth, 15 seconds in blender on high or 1 minute with a hand beater. Pour over apples. Sprinkle with Streusel.

Bake until knife inserted in center comes out clean, 55 to 65 minutes

Streusel: Mix 1 cup Bisquick, 1/2 cup chopped nuts, 1/3 cup packed brown sugar and 3 tbsp. firm butter until crumbly.

Recipe: Dutch Apple Pie

Dutch Apple Pie

1 (6 ounce) Keebler Ready Crust Reduced Fat Graham Cracker Pie Crust

1 egg white, beaten

5 1/2 cups fresh, peeled, sliced cooking apples

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon each nutmeg and salt

*Topping

Heat oven to 375 F.  Brush bottom and sides of pie crust evenly with egg white, bake on baking sheet until light brown, about 5 minutes.  Remove crust from oven.  In bowl, combine apples, lemon juice, sugars, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  Mix well; spoon into crust. Sprinkle topping evenly over apples. Bake on baking sheet 50 minutes or until topping is golden and filling is bubbling. Cool.

(Makes 8 servings)


*Topping:  In bowl, combine 3/4 cup all purpose flour, 1/4 cup each granulated sugar and packed brown sugar; cut in 1/3 cup butter until crumbly.

National Museum of Health & Medicine

Last Wednesday, I had the privilege of chaperoning my daughter's high school anatomy and physiology class field trip to the National Museum of Heath and Medicine. It is on the grounds of Walter Reed Army Base in the District of Columbia.

We began in the auditorium with a lecture on embryo heart development. "Plasticized" organs were passed through the audience. The organs had the liquids removed and replaced with a plastic coating. I was able to avoid touching the hearts, intestines and stomach but was stuck passing the kidney.

A boy was then selected to wear the "empathy belly" that simulated pregnancy.

The docent then gave a brief history and overview of the museum. It was started in the 1800's by Walter Reed, who asked the doctors at the Panama Canal to send their journals and specimins. He then proved his theory that mosquitos were spreading the Yellow Fever and eradicated it so the canal could be built.

I avoided looking closely at the fetal specimins, so sad. The war injuries were equally heartbreaking.

I enjoyed the luxury bus ride, my peanut butter and raspberry preserve sandwich and the kids. This is the only museum I've visited where I didn't enjoy it. Though I did learn, and I have inspiration for a DNA storyline in my current manuscript.