Shockingly good advice from Hariette
Jan. 12th, 2026 04:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
conuly posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
agonyauntDEAR HARRIETTE: My brother and I were raised in the same household by the same parents, yet as adults we have two very different views of our father. I see my dad as someone who worked hard, showed up in the ways he could and consistently supported us throughout our lives. I'm deeply grateful for him and everything he's done. My brother, on the other hand, seems to carry a lot of resentment. Whenever the subject of our dad comes up, he focuses on his shortcomings and disappointments, often listing ways he feels let down or overlooked. Listening to this has become exhausting and painful for me. It feels like he's erasing the good and ignoring the sacrifices our dad made, and I can't help but hear it as ungratefulness. At the same time, I don't want to dismiss my brother's experience or silence his truth just because it differs from mine. How do I respect his feelings without sitting through what feels like constant criticism of someone I love? -- Oh, Brother
( As always, we grade her on a curve because she's usually so terrible )
( As always, we grade her on a curve because she's usually so terrible )
I guess I had this tab open two weeks and forgot about it
Jan. 14th, 2026 04:12 amconulyWell, I meant to post it then, and I guess I'll belatedly post it now - a New Year's Friend Meme!
Click the banner to join us and make some new friends!
Click the banner to join us and make some new friends!
Sigh.
Jan. 15th, 2026 03:32 amconulyI got a set of cute little penguin pens. They're very cute. So cute.
I didn't realize that each pen has a little motto on it, or I might've not bought them. You see, one continuing annoyance since childhood is that writing on pens is always upside down if you're left-handed. Oh, you can get pens where the writing is oriented correctly, that is, for lefties, but for some reason all that writing inevitably is left-handed themed! I don't want my right side up pen motto to say something like "Only lefties are in their right mind!", I want it to say something like "Hope you are happy every day", which is the upside down motto on this purple penguin.
It's the same with left-handed rulers, incidentally. I just want the numbers to go in a sensible direction, I don't need my ruler to affirm how wonderful it is that I'm drawing lines with my left hand.
On a related note, I'm seriously considering buying another pair of lefty kitchen shears for work. I don't really have to spend much time in the kitchen, but if I am in the kitchen and using kitchen shears (almost inevitably to cut up the next day's lunch sandwiches but sometimes to cut up breakfast pancakes and sausages) I'd rather use mine than theirs, because cutting with the wrong scissors is painful and messy. But if I bring my sole pair - which is amazing, I love it, best Christmas present ever! - back and forth with me then sometimes I use it at home, forget to put it back in my bag, and then am irritated for three days until I finally remember again. I could ask them to supply shears for me and keep them in the kitchen drawer, it's a legitimate (and small!) expense, but honestly, I know from experience that righties are terrible and when they accidentally use left-handed scissors they get very confused and irritated. Amusing for me, but undoubtedly an exercise in frustration for a workplace. It's really better all around to bring my own.
****************
( Read more... )
I didn't realize that each pen has a little motto on it, or I might've not bought them. You see, one continuing annoyance since childhood is that writing on pens is always upside down if you're left-handed. Oh, you can get pens where the writing is oriented correctly, that is, for lefties, but for some reason all that writing inevitably is left-handed themed! I don't want my right side up pen motto to say something like "Only lefties are in their right mind!", I want it to say something like "Hope you are happy every day", which is the upside down motto on this purple penguin.
It's the same with left-handed rulers, incidentally. I just want the numbers to go in a sensible direction, I don't need my ruler to affirm how wonderful it is that I'm drawing lines with my left hand.
On a related note, I'm seriously considering buying another pair of lefty kitchen shears for work. I don't really have to spend much time in the kitchen, but if I am in the kitchen and using kitchen shears (almost inevitably to cut up the next day's lunch sandwiches but sometimes to cut up breakfast pancakes and sausages) I'd rather use mine than theirs, because cutting with the wrong scissors is painful and messy. But if I bring my sole pair - which is amazing, I love it, best Christmas present ever! - back and forth with me then sometimes I use it at home, forget to put it back in my bag, and then am irritated for three days until I finally remember again. I could ask them to supply shears for me and keep them in the kitchen drawer, it's a legitimate (and small!) expense, but honestly, I know from experience that righties are terrible and when they accidentally use left-handed scissors they get very confused and irritated. Amusing for me, but undoubtedly an exercise in frustration for a workplace. It's really better all around to bring my own.
( Read more... )
Catalogue check (2024) update
Jan. 12th, 2026 04:58 pmfred_mouseI've managed to winkle out some of the books that didn't get spotted while I was doing the catalogue check in 2024 (which finished, for logistics reasons, in about February 2025).
And I've just looked at the number of tags that I have (>2K) and decided that is ridiculous. The first pass I'm doing is changing all the old location tags to [year] - last seen (not the 'unchecked/not yet seen' ones, those I'm going to think about some more). Because where any book was in 2021 (etc) is obviously not right, or I would have found it there in 2024. Once I've done that for all years prior to 2024, I'm going to go poke at the various 'unchecked' tags and see what is there.
other things I've noticed that I want to reorder
- mythology should be
mythology - [country] - awards should be
awards: [name] - I have
juvenileandkidsandjunior fictionand possibly some others, as well as a set ofage: [...]categories; need to think what I want to do here.
Diversity
Jan. 12th, 2026 02:48 amysabetwordsmithMattel adds an autistic Barbie to doll line
NEW YORK -- Mattel Inc. is introducing an autistic Barbie on Monday as the newest member of its line intended to celebrate diversity, joining a collection that already includes Barbies with Down syndrome, a blind Barbie, a Barbie and a Ken with vitiligo, and other models the toymaker added to make its fashion dolls more inclusive.
[---8<---]
For example, the eyes of the new Barbie shift slightly to the side to represent how some people with autism sometimes avoid direct eye contact, he said. The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping and other gestures that some autistic people use to process sensory information or to express excitement, according to Mattel.
NEW YORK -- Mattel Inc. is introducing an autistic Barbie on Monday as the newest member of its line intended to celebrate diversity, joining a collection that already includes Barbies with Down syndrome, a blind Barbie, a Barbie and a Ken with vitiligo, and other models the toymaker added to make its fashion dolls more inclusive.
[---8<---]
For example, the eyes of the new Barbie shift slightly to the side to represent how some people with autism sometimes avoid direct eye contact, he said. The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping and other gestures that some autistic people use to process sensory information or to express excitement, according to Mattel.
Winter Moon by Langston Hughes
Jan. 13th, 2026 02:20 amconulyHow thin and sharp is the moon tonight!
How thin and sharp and ghostly white
Is the slim curved crook of the moon tonight!
*********
In fact, the moon is kinda orange just now, but I'm sure it'll grow pale once it clears the bridge.
How thin and sharp and ghostly white
Is the slim curved crook of the moon tonight!
In fact, the moon is kinda orange just now, but I'm sure it'll grow pale once it clears the bridge.
(no subject)
Jan. 11th, 2026 03:23 amconuly posting in agonyauntDear Eric: My husband has just one sibling, a brother. For many years, we all invited each other to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other holidays. A few years ago, my brother-in-law and his wife stopped inviting us. (They still invite my husband's parents to everything).
We don't know the reason; there was no fight or misunderstanding or awkward interactions. We in turn no longer invite them to our smaller occasions. Weddings and other big occasions are different; everyone is invited.
However, every time we are celebrating our birthdays or anniversary, my husband starts insisting on inviting his brother. No matter how many times I remind him that they no longer invite us, he says it is still his only sibling and it's important to him that his brother be there.
I refuse to agree to invite them, the only exception I make is for my husband's birthday because that's him we are celebrating so he can invite them if he wants. They attend his birthday but do not reciprocate. It's very weird.
I still cannot figure out why it's important to have people at our table that do not care about seeing us at theirs.
Can you help me formulate a response that would stop my husband from asking me to invite them? Apparently my saying no every time for years and explaining why is not sufficient. I am tired of these arguments, and it does not change anything. I need an ironclad reason that he will agree with.
– Tired of the One-Way Street
( Read more... )
We don't know the reason; there was no fight or misunderstanding or awkward interactions. We in turn no longer invite them to our smaller occasions. Weddings and other big occasions are different; everyone is invited.
However, every time we are celebrating our birthdays or anniversary, my husband starts insisting on inviting his brother. No matter how many times I remind him that they no longer invite us, he says it is still his only sibling and it's important to him that his brother be there.
I refuse to agree to invite them, the only exception I make is for my husband's birthday because that's him we are celebrating so he can invite them if he wants. They attend his birthday but do not reciprocate. It's very weird.
I still cannot figure out why it's important to have people at our table that do not care about seeing us at theirs.
Can you help me formulate a response that would stop my husband from asking me to invite them? Apparently my saying no every time for years and explaining why is not sufficient. I am tired of these arguments, and it does not change anything. I need an ironclad reason that he will agree with.
– Tired of the One-Way Street
( Read more... )
Monday Update 1-12-26
Jan. 12th, 2026 12:03 amysabetwordsmithThese are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poem: "The Five Books of Woodslore"
Today's Cooking
Science
Birdfeeding
Photos: Contorta Willow
Birdfeeding
Fossils
Science
Webring: Adult Artists
Poem: "The Far Call"
Philosophical Questions: Success
My Fandom How To Posts
How to Choose a Starting Point for Your Story
New Year's Resolutions Check In
Birdfeeding
How to Post Frequently on Dreamwidth
Follow Friday 1-9-26: Led Zeppelin
Poem: "The Two Cottages"
Community Thursdays
Birdfeeding
New Poems
Shopping
Birdfeeding
Hard Things
Animal Communication has 25 comments. Food has 52 comments. Trauma has 48 comments. Affordable Housing has 83 comments. Robotics has 124 comments.
( Read more... )
Poem: "The Five Books of Woodslore"
Today's Cooking
Science
Birdfeeding
Photos: Contorta Willow
Birdfeeding
Fossils
Science
Webring: Adult Artists
Poem: "The Far Call"
Philosophical Questions: Success
My Fandom How To Posts
How to Choose a Starting Point for Your Story
New Year's Resolutions Check In
Birdfeeding
How to Post Frequently on Dreamwidth
Follow Friday 1-9-26: Led Zeppelin
Poem: "The Two Cottages"
Community Thursdays
Birdfeeding
New Poems
Shopping
Birdfeeding
Hard Things
Animal Communication has 25 comments. Food has 52 comments. Trauma has 48 comments. Affordable Housing has 83 comments. Robotics has 124 comments.
( Read more... )
Poem: "The Five Books of Woodslore"
Jan. 11th, 2026 11:41 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem was written outside the regular prompt calls. It fills the "In the Wilderness" square in my 1-1-25 card for the Public Domain Day Bingo fest. It was sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred.
( Read more... )
fuzzyred.( Read more... )
Tags:
Writerly Ways
Jan. 11th, 2026 11:50 pmcornerofmadnessI don't have much. Today was frustrating. My power went out every 10-15 minutes from 9-2, just flicked on and off but every time it interrupted me trying to make sure my online class components were ready so I had to go to work to do it. I've spiraled down into a pretty big depressive episode today.
I know I was going to talk about open calls etc so let me ask you this, those of you using Duotrope, do you like it? Is it worth the money? I'm giving it hard consideration because too many open calls are going the theater audition route i.e. they post acceptances to duotrope only.
I have two dozen short stories that I think are decent enough to try and find a home for so I need better ways of finding markets. If you don't use duotrope, what do you use? What do you like about it? Thanks
Open Calls
Author Applications for “Beyond the Galactic Tide” are Now Open! Aces in Space. I would love to put in an application but I am not at all sure I could do a story in the time allotted (which isn't fast but my brain is a bag of snakes right now)
Sinister Systems SF Horror
Tales to Terrify : Women in Horror Month Flash Fiction Flash fiction from *previously unpublished authors* who are female-identified or femme-presenting
Defying Death
ECO25 The most compelling and thought-provoking ecofiction published in 2025
Doom Scroll Horror that is rooted in social dynamics, absurdism, and mundanity.
5 Paying Literary Magazines to Submit to in January 2026
51 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for January 2026
From Around the Web
How to Get Rid of Filter Words in Your Writing (and When to Leave Them Alone) This is even better than the site I've been using
The Crucial Ingredient Your Story May Be Missing
A Tale in Two Parts: Top Tips for Writing a Duology
The One Book Every Editor Wants to Publish
Writing builds resilience by changing your brain, helping you face everyday challenges
Unlocking Unforgettable Characters
How to Write What You Love and What Readers Want (Write Big, Ep 6)
Counting Down The Best Writing Tips From FWME In 2025
How to Balance Research and Writing.
From Betty
How to Write a Tournament Arc (for me I'm SO tired of this trope because I DO watch anime)
How to Write Short Stories That Captivate Readers
Depicting Characters Held Back by Fear
How to Describe Layout & Position
2026 Is the Year Writers Stop Being Invisible
What Developmental Editing Does for New Authors
Lighten Your Creative Load: A New Year Invitation
What a Difference a Day Makes
Make Retreats Part of Your Writing Life
Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Keeping Relationships Superficial
Helpful Picture Book Tips and Tricks (Plus a Giveaway!)
Tricks For Fixing A Sagging Middle
Tips for getting your creativity on track
What Football Teaches Writers About Success, Wins, and Perseverance
Choosing the Right Words: Why Word Choice Matters for Writers
How Secondary Characters Strengthen Plot, Character, and Story Flow
Publishing Paths for Writers: Understanding Independent Publishing and Long-Term Control
Why Writers Need to Change Their Passwords Now: Protecting Your Author Platform in the New Year
“Repair Shop” Your Manuscript
I know I was going to talk about open calls etc so let me ask you this, those of you using Duotrope, do you like it? Is it worth the money? I'm giving it hard consideration because too many open calls are going the theater audition route i.e. they post acceptances to duotrope only.
I have two dozen short stories that I think are decent enough to try and find a home for so I need better ways of finding markets. If you don't use duotrope, what do you use? What do you like about it? Thanks
Open Calls
Author Applications for “Beyond the Galactic Tide” are Now Open! Aces in Space. I would love to put in an application but I am not at all sure I could do a story in the time allotted (which isn't fast but my brain is a bag of snakes right now)
Sinister Systems SF Horror
Tales to Terrify : Women in Horror Month Flash Fiction Flash fiction from *previously unpublished authors* who are female-identified or femme-presenting
Defying Death
ECO25 The most compelling and thought-provoking ecofiction published in 2025
Doom Scroll Horror that is rooted in social dynamics, absurdism, and mundanity.
5 Paying Literary Magazines to Submit to in January 2026
51 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for January 2026
From Around the Web
How to Get Rid of Filter Words in Your Writing (and When to Leave Them Alone) This is even better than the site I've been using
The Crucial Ingredient Your Story May Be Missing
A Tale in Two Parts: Top Tips for Writing a Duology
The One Book Every Editor Wants to Publish
Writing builds resilience by changing your brain, helping you face everyday challenges
Unlocking Unforgettable Characters
How to Write What You Love and What Readers Want (Write Big, Ep 6)
Counting Down The Best Writing Tips From FWME In 2025
How to Balance Research and Writing.
From Betty
How to Write a Tournament Arc (for me I'm SO tired of this trope because I DO watch anime)
How to Write Short Stories That Captivate Readers
Depicting Characters Held Back by Fear
How to Describe Layout & Position
2026 Is the Year Writers Stop Being Invisible
What Developmental Editing Does for New Authors
Lighten Your Creative Load: A New Year Invitation
What a Difference a Day Makes
Make Retreats Part of Your Writing Life
Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Keeping Relationships Superficial
Helpful Picture Book Tips and Tricks (Plus a Giveaway!)
Tricks For Fixing A Sagging Middle
Tips for getting your creativity on track
What Football Teaches Writers About Success, Wins, and Perseverance
Choosing the Right Words: Why Word Choice Matters for Writers
How Secondary Characters Strengthen Plot, Character, and Story Flow
Publishing Paths for Writers: Understanding Independent Publishing and Long-Term Control
Why Writers Need to Change Their Passwords Now: Protecting Your Author Platform in the New Year
“Repair Shop” Your Manuscript
Snowflake Challenge 02026 #6: The Top Ten
Jan. 11th, 2026 08:03 pmsilveradeptsnowflake_challenge has sent up number 6 on the challenge list, and it's one of the ones I struggle more with than not, the recommendations-related one. Every challenge we try to make at least one rec post, and each year, we try to find a new way to make it fun for everyone. This year's attempt:
Challenge #6
Top 10 Challenge.
The category(ies) you choose are up to you. You can give top 10 Fics you read last year, the top 10 songs to create to, the to 10 guest stars on your favorite show, top 10 characters in your favorite book series, top 10... well, you get the idea.
Can't think of 10 of anything? That's okay, 10 is just an abstract. It's totally up to you.
This is one of those situations where being profoundly multifannish is a disadvantage, because a top ten list of anything may or may not make it to me. Or I might not get so deeply into a fandom to where there would be enough material for a top ten list. And while I read and enjoy the gifts that get sent my way in the various exchanges that I participate in, they don't necessarily cohere to any kind of top ten list of anything, either.
Eventually, a random idea will settle into my head, and I can go forward with it and see what might happen from there. So, here you are:
( 10 roles one person played during my formative years )
![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
Now-ish
Jan. 12th, 2026 02:27 amgrrlpupMore vegetables, more library books, more square dancing — and the weirdly mild weather continues.
in January!
The avgolemono turned out delicious. Whole wheat orzo is slightly chewier than regular, but very suitable for the soup. A note for next time: the tempering of the egg and lemon with the hot broth worked fine, but the egg itself needs to be very well beaten first– a few scraps of unmixed egg white became apparent when they cooked. I might try it with leek broth, as we have leek tops more often than chicken bones to make broth with… maybe with a little less lemon because there’s less fat to mellow it out?
Yesterday I attended two, count ’em two, social events. Evening was the Black and White Ball edition of our club’s monthly square dance. I was more like “stagehand” in all black and not-at-all-dressy, but that’s what I got. This is the one month when I make a concerted effort to follow the theme– unlike the several rainbow months, it really stands out if I don’t.
And before that, in the afternoon I caught the bus to a New Year’s party for Oregon Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. I joined SCBWI before retiring (in the final burst of spending down my professional development funds) but this was my first in-person event. Kidlit people are so nice, you guys! Everybody was happy to talk and there were library-themed table decorations and name tags and plenty of snacks. I ducked out early to catch the bus home again, but life seemed brighter after going than it had before. Is this how extroverts feel? Now I’m thinking I’ll go to the one-day conference in May, in Hillsboro.
A routine is finally settling in with my own work. I’m more viscerally aware that it’s up to me to decide on and generate that work, and no one else particularly cares. It’s both freeing and unnerving.
Thursday I’m signed up for a bird walk down at the rhododendron gardens by the college. I’m a lackadaisical birder at best, but it’s a nice chance to see the gardens for free– I haven’t been there in years and will be curious to see if anything’s blooming early.
This post originates at everyday though not every day. Comments welcome here or there.
Snowflake Challenge 6: Recommendations
Jan. 11th, 2026 07:23 pmysabetwordsmithSnowflake Challenge 6: Recommendations
Top 10 Challenge. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it.
Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so. Also, feel free to entice engagement by giving us a preview of what your post covers.
Every challenge we try to make at least one rec post, and each year, we try to find a new way to make it fun for everyone. This year's attempt:
The category(ies) you choose are up to you. You can give top 10 Fics you read last year, the top 10 songs to create to, the to 10 guest stars on your favorite show, top 10 characters in your favorite book series, top 10... well, you get the idea.
Can't think of 10 of anything? That's okay, 10 is just an abstract. It's totally up to you.
( Read more... )
Top 10 Challenge. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it.
Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so. Also, feel free to entice engagement by giving us a preview of what your post covers.
Every challenge we try to make at least one rec post, and each year, we try to find a new way to make it fun for everyone. This year's attempt:
The category(ies) you choose are up to you. You can give top 10 Fics you read last year, the top 10 songs to create to, the to 10 guest stars on your favorite show, top 10 characters in your favorite book series, top 10... well, you get the idea.
Can't think of 10 of anything? That's okay, 10 is just an abstract. It's totally up to you.
( Read more... )
Tags:
Leech, by Hiron Ennes
Jan. 12th, 2026 01:15 amdhampyresaI was so disappointed by this book.
Part of this is on me: I had somehow gotten it in my head this was modern day and was looking forward to seeing how "hivemind took over the entire medical profession undetected" aspect of the premise would play out. The setting is not modern day, it's set some indeterminate amount of time (over 500 years) after some sort of apocalypse (fair, and an interesting setting itself) and people are aware to varying degrees aware that there is Something Wrong TM with the Institute.
The main part of the disappointment is that the book keeps bringing up concepts and then... Not Doing Anything with them. Spoilers from here on out. Our PoV character loses access to the hivemind fairly early on. Helen's miscarriages and/or the twins having supernatural powers never goes anywhere. The baron seems aware that he is hosting pseudomycota and even might be working with it? Let's never speak of this again! The idea that "If you’re born in Verdira, you die in Verdira" is brought up and we get told what happens is someone born there tries to leave, but that goes nowhere. /End spoilers
It is so disappointing and frustrating. It all just goes fucking nowhere!
Also I found the written accent annoying.
I did enjoy the hivemind parts, I guess.
Part of this is on me: I had somehow gotten it in my head this was modern day and was looking forward to seeing how "hivemind took over the entire medical profession undetected" aspect of the premise would play out. The setting is not modern day, it's set some indeterminate amount of time (over 500 years) after some sort of apocalypse (fair, and an interesting setting itself) and people are aware to varying degrees aware that there is Something Wrong TM with the Institute.
The main part of the disappointment is that the book keeps bringing up concepts and then... Not Doing Anything with them. Spoilers from here on out. Our PoV character loses access to the hivemind fairly early on. Helen's miscarriages and/or the twins having supernatural powers never goes anywhere. The baron seems aware that he is hosting pseudomycota and even might be working with it? Let's never speak of this again! The idea that "If you’re born in Verdira, you die in Verdira" is brought up and we get told what happens is someone born there tries to leave, but that goes nowhere. /End spoilers
It is so disappointing and frustrating. It all just goes fucking nowhere!
Also I found the written accent annoying.
I did enjoy the hivemind parts, I guess.
Politics
Jan. 11th, 2026 06:09 pmysabetwordsmiththewayne posted this hilarious but astute quote: "No one wants to go in there when a random f***ing tweet can change the entire foreign policy of the country."
-- oil industry investor, about Venezuela
vital functions
Jan. 11th, 2026 11:40 pmkaberettCelebrating. A's birthday!
Reading. ( Rogerson, Rundell, McGuire, Clarke, Duncan, Scalzi, Hermé )
I also: remain up to date with Dreamwidth; worked through a brief pain management course for Youth, as background reading.
Writing. The Document continues to be expanded a little every day. It is now over 4000 words.
Playing. A bit of The Bridge, "a 2D logic puzzle game that forces the player to reevaluate their preconceptions of physics and perspective", which sounded like it might be about the right speed for me given that we'd just enjoyed playing through the Monument Valley series, and which instead for the most part does not seem to fit into my brain terribly neatly and is also weirdly evocative/reminiscent of Braid (lonely dude in a suit) while also being kinda... gay? possibly? I can't tell yet? Anyway we've played through I think the first four levels and might or might not continue.
We have also engaged in some Spirits -- mostly A playing and me watching, because I am not feeling up to timing problems and having to keep pressing Esc also feels overwhelming, but I have been Providing Commentary and enjoying watching the process of TURNING MUSHROOMS INTO CLOUDS to HELP THE LEAVES GET HOME.
We have also been playing (independently) sudoku, & grousing about each other's incomprehensible approaches to solving things, and then I nerdsniped A with a specific puzzle & they went to look up Theory And Strategy Of Sudoku, and I may yet get around to uh actually looking up the approach named "jellyfish"...
Elsenet vass has introduced me to Squardle.
Cooking. One spice mix, and subsequently one recipe from East featuring a vegetable I think I have not previously consciously eaten (Jerusalem artichokes). Another batch of medlar sticky toffee pudding as A's birthday cake; I think that in fact one cannot tell the difference between medlar that has not been jellied and medlar residue from jellying, at least in this setting. Also, turns out you can successfully add beetroot to the red cabbage and cauliflower udon noodles thing. Oh, and pineapple fried rice, which A had somehow never previously encountered???
Eating. We were both, on Friday, quite tired and sad. The internet brought us Pizza Express. It was good.
Making & mending. I FINISHED A GLOVE. I WOVE IN THE ENDS. Now to cast on glove #2 of that pair...
Growing. Both orchids seem to be putting forth flower stems! And I have sown lemongrass, pineapple physalis, and (not expecting any of these to actually germinate) some lithops I was sent as a gift a while ago...
Snowflake Challenge 2026 #4, #5
Jan. 11th, 2026 06:21 pmmythicmistressChallenge #4: Rec The Contents Of Your Last Page
Any website that you like, be it fanfiction, art, social media, or something a bit more eccentric!
https://surlalunefairytales.com/
One of my go-to sites when I want to look up a fairy tale.
https://www.gutenberg.org/
Free-to-read eBooks, what's not to love?
Challenge #5
In your own space, create a list of at least three things you'd love to receive, a wishlist of sorts.
Ok, feeling pretty greedy about this...
Any website that you like, be it fanfiction, art, social media, or something a bit more eccentric!
https://surlalunefairytales.com/
One of my go-to sites when I want to look up a fairy tale.
https://www.gutenberg.org/
Free-to-read eBooks, what's not to love?
Challenge #5
In your own space, create a list of at least three things you'd love to receive, a wishlist of sorts.
Ok, feeling pretty greedy about this...
- To be pointed to a place for writing fan song parodies/filk (prefer)
- Recs for concept albums
- Advice on how not to self-sabotage
