Collage Journaling: Yoga
May. 29th, 2026 10:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stonepicnicking_okapiI am happy with this. I tried to be more mindful in my color choices and follow my YT guide more closely. These were yoga stickers on clearance at Michael's so I got them.
stonepicnicking_okapi
Art
May. 29th, 2026 08:47 pmysabetwordsmithStunning Mosaics Made by Londoners with PTSD Offer Pieces of Healing in Community Artwork
Tucked away in the parks and alleyways of East London lies one of the city’s most vibrant collections of public art.
What makes it all the more special is the mending of mental health maladies that transforms its volunteer artists.
The sometimes sprawling, Roman-inspired masterpieces are the work of the Hackney Mosaic Project and its founder Tessa Hunkin.
I suspect that the fitting of tiles into a mosaic offers similar benefits as stacking-sorting games like Tetris. Since PTSD is fundamentally a "stuck" problem, processes that focus on organizing things can jostle the brain into sorting memories into the "past" category.
Tucked away in the parks and alleyways of East London lies one of the city’s most vibrant collections of public art.
What makes it all the more special is the mending of mental health maladies that transforms its volunteer artists.
The sometimes sprawling, Roman-inspired masterpieces are the work of the Hackney Mosaic Project and its founder Tessa Hunkin.
I suspect that the fitting of tiles into a mosaic offers similar benefits as stacking-sorting games like Tetris. Since PTSD is fundamentally a "stuck" problem, processes that focus on organizing things can jostle the brain into sorting memories into the "past" category.
Birdfeeding
May. 29th, 2026 08:44 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly cloudy, humid, and hot.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 5/29/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 5/29/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 5/29/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 5/29/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 5/29/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 5/29/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
Gains 674
May. 29th, 2026 08:15 pmenchanted_jae posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
dracoharry100Title: Gains 674
Author:enchanted_jae
Team: Aurors
Character(s): Draco
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word count: 100
Written for:dracoharry100 Prompt No. 894 - vital
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Summary: Draco reflects on his upbringing.
( Gains 674 )
Author:
enchanted_jaeTeam: Aurors
Character(s): Draco
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word count: 100
Written for:
dracoharry100 Prompt No. 894 - vitalDisclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Summary: Draco reflects on his upbringing.
( Gains 674 )
disorganized TTRPG musical flailing 36
May. 29th, 2026 03:15 pmnilchanceI have a d&d oneshot I'm very excited about tonight, but tomorrow afternoon is a new session of Marchen, which is a homebrew campaign about twisted fairy tales. I won't have time tomorrow morning to put up a song, so I'm doing so now:
( rambling under cut )
( rambling under cut )
Enough, already!!!
May. 29th, 2026 06:43 pmaunty_marionIn the past 2 months I've had the fridge-freezer fall apart on me - LITERALLY *ON* me!!! - and had to replace it, for just over £300, almost exactly a month ago.
Before that at the beginning of April it was one front tooth which broke off at the gumline, and which I've finally had sorted out; I now have the One Tooth, a single front tooth on a plate, though so far it's mostly decorative. I can glue it in place with Fixodent, which is nasty muck, and the plate leaves my mouth sore. Unglued, the tooth (and/or plate) just wobbles around, I can't bite on it, and my lower teeth hit the underside of the plate. I suppose it may improve when the socket is fully healed (the extraction was a week ago), but I am pessimistic. Anyway, that little lot was just over £95 - I have an HC3 form, which gives me partial relief on health charges, but it expired, usefully (NOT), in the middle of treatment, which meant delaying things till the replacement arrived.
Yesterday - May 28th - I had an email from my opticians, Specsavers, saying my NHS eye test was due on May 26th. The email did not contain a time-machine, though, so I booked (online) for today. I went, I was tested, and there's enough difference in the right eye to need new lenses. There was a lot of back & forth to sort out how much I had to pay (HC3 rules again - 'no, it's this much deduction, but we charge X for this, not Y', and so on), and I've forked out £342 for a new pair. Same frames as before, same spec except new prescription.
I would like nothing else to break, break down, or otherwise need replacing for at least the next 3 or 4 months, please. I has a grumpy.
In Knitting Knews, I am reknitting yet another pair of socks, this time with *spit* cables, though I have fiendishly worked out how to make those go away for the rest of the socks, having reached the heels. They have to be worked one at a time because of the 2-stitch (1 stitch to front, 1 to back...) cables going in different directions on each one, but as soon as I've finished the second heel I'll put them back on a single needle to work down to the toes. I also have another pair of toe-up socks, which so far have been bus-knitting, as the feet are just plain knit; but when I've turned the heels on these, they'll have to go onto separate needles, because they have a stitch pattern which spirals around, so won't work if they're being magic-looped on one needle. I also have a fiddly project from a friend - she found some single-ply laceweight silk in her stash, which she gave to another friend, but the skein fell off the swift as she was winding it, and the last bits tangled themselves. I currently have both ends on separate nostepinnes, and am happily untangling it.
Before that at the beginning of April it was one front tooth which broke off at the gumline, and which I've finally had sorted out; I now have the One Tooth, a single front tooth on a plate, though so far it's mostly decorative. I can glue it in place with Fixodent, which is nasty muck, and the plate leaves my mouth sore. Unglued, the tooth (and/or plate) just wobbles around, I can't bite on it, and my lower teeth hit the underside of the plate. I suppose it may improve when the socket is fully healed (the extraction was a week ago), but I am pessimistic. Anyway, that little lot was just over £95 - I have an HC3 form, which gives me partial relief on health charges, but it expired, usefully (NOT), in the middle of treatment, which meant delaying things till the replacement arrived.
Yesterday - May 28th - I had an email from my opticians, Specsavers, saying my NHS eye test was due on May 26th. The email did not contain a time-machine, though, so I booked (online) for today. I went, I was tested, and there's enough difference in the right eye to need new lenses. There was a lot of back & forth to sort out how much I had to pay (HC3 rules again - 'no, it's this much deduction, but we charge X for this, not Y', and so on), and I've forked out £342 for a new pair. Same frames as before, same spec except new prescription.
I would like nothing else to break, break down, or otherwise need replacing for at least the next 3 or 4 months, please. I has a grumpy.
In Knitting Knews, I am reknitting yet another pair of socks, this time with *spit* cables, though I have fiendishly worked out how to make those go away for the rest of the socks, having reached the heels. They have to be worked one at a time because of the 2-stitch (1 stitch to front, 1 to back...) cables going in different directions on each one, but as soon as I've finished the second heel I'll put them back on a single needle to work down to the toes. I also have another pair of toe-up socks, which so far have been bus-knitting, as the feet are just plain knit; but when I've turned the heels on these, they'll have to go onto separate needles, because they have a stitch pattern which spirals around, so won't work if they're being magic-looped on one needle. I also have a fiddly project from a friend - she found some single-ply laceweight silk in her stash, which she gave to another friend, but the skein fell off the swift as she was winding it, and the last bits tangled themselves. I currently have both ends on separate nostepinnes, and am happily untangling it.
Education
May. 29th, 2026 11:15 amysabetwordsmithThe Monty Hall Problem: Why Switching Doors Wins 2/3 of the Time
The host does not open a door uniformly at random. The host opens a door that he knows hides a goat, and he never opens the door you initially selected. These constraints are not incidental — they are the entire source of information in the problem. The host's action is not a random event that preserves symmetry between the remaining doors. It is a deliberate, knowledge-guided action that breaks that symmetry in a precise and quantifiable way.
I've heard the claim before, but this explanation of how it works is the best I've seen.
The host does not open a door uniformly at random. The host opens a door that he knows hides a goat, and he never opens the door you initially selected. These constraints are not incidental — they are the entire source of information in the problem. The host's action is not a random event that preserves symmetry between the remaining doors. It is a deliberate, knowledge-guided action that breaks that symmetry in a precise and quantifiable way.
I've heard the claim before, but this explanation of how it works is the best I've seen.
2026 Photo #11
May. 29th, 2026 04:32 pmsmallhobbitTwo photos this week, although the same subject. I took lots of pictures, trying to catch a photo of the dragonflies - there were two of them. They can be seen roughly in the middle of the two pictures, plus the reflection in the water in the second photo. And no, I have no idea whether there's a photo of each or it's the same one both times!
The Language of the Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin (1979)
May. 29th, 2026 08:47 ampauraqueI don't think I've actually read this particular essay collection before, but I've read a lot of what's in it, scattered in various places. The fact that Le Guin's nonfiction was scattered in various places is exactly what this book aimed to counteract, bringing together things she wrote throughout the 1970s for journals and for reprints of her own early work, as well as a few transcripts of speeches.
The pieces were compiled and arranged by Susan Wood, who sadly passed away not long after the book was completed. Wood wrote a general introduction to the book as well as introductions to each section, describing where the material came from and why it's significant. It's nice to hear from an editor about their decisionmaking, but it honestly starts to feel like a lot of introductions, bordering on absurdity when you have an introduction to a section that consists of several of Le Guin's own introductions. (This 2024 edition also has a new introduction by Ken Liu. Sure, pile 'em on! The word "introduction" has lost all meaning!)
Anyway, the text is from the 1989 edition, in which Le Guin revised some of the pieces. (She explains this in an introd— sorry, a preface.) She says the biggest change is that she fixed all the places where she used "he" as a generic pronoun, having finally seen the light after many years of arguing that it wasn't sexist. She also added some footnotes correcting factual errors and pointing out other things she'd reconsidered, most extensively in her 1976 essay "Is Gender Necessary?" which she had come to find very embarrassing.
( cut for rambling length )
The pieces were compiled and arranged by Susan Wood, who sadly passed away not long after the book was completed. Wood wrote a general introduction to the book as well as introductions to each section, describing where the material came from and why it's significant. It's nice to hear from an editor about their decisionmaking, but it honestly starts to feel like a lot of introductions, bordering on absurdity when you have an introduction to a section that consists of several of Le Guin's own introductions. (This 2024 edition also has a new introduction by Ken Liu. Sure, pile 'em on! The word "introduction" has lost all meaning!)
Anyway, the text is from the 1989 edition, in which Le Guin revised some of the pieces. (She explains this in an introd— sorry, a preface.) She says the biggest change is that she fixed all the places where she used "he" as a generic pronoun, having finally seen the light after many years of arguing that it wasn't sexist. She also added some footnotes correcting factual errors and pointing out other things she'd reconsidered, most extensively in her 1976 essay "Is Gender Necessary?" which she had come to find very embarrassing.
( cut for rambling length )
Quote...
May. 29th, 2026 04:27 amfairyniamhQuotes:
"You may break, you may shatter the vase, if you will, But the scent of the roses will hang round it still."
"Love doesn't demand perfection, but it does ask you to give yourself with less reserve than you'd prefer."
~ Thomas Moore
"You may break, you may shatter the vase, if you will, But the scent of the roses will hang round it still."
"Love doesn't demand perfection, but it does ask you to give yourself with less reserve than you'd prefer."
~ Thomas Moore
Five soulmates table
May. 28th, 2026 09:48 pmmelaganI finished!
This challenge intrigued me from the start. I'm so glad I was able to finish it.
This challenge intrigued me from the start. I'm so glad I was able to finish it.
Testing needed in advance of code push!
May. 28th, 2026 04:10 pm![[staff profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user_staff.png){kind=small}
denise posting in ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_maintenanceIt's been a while since we've done a full code push rather than just hotfixes for bugs, so we are well overdue! Depending on availability, we're aiming to do one sometime soon; we'll let you know specifics once we've worked out good timing for everyone who needs to be available.
However! The reason it's been so long is we kept trying to get some of the stuff that's pending to "really finished" instead of just "mostly finished", and then we once again looked around and went "oh no, this is a really big code push with a lot of changes". Those make us nervous, because while we do a lot of testing ourselves, y'all are really creative in how you use the site and we inevitably find a bunch of edge cases when we let you loose on new code with your real-world data!
So, if folks have some spare time in the next few days, it would be a huge help if you could spend half an hour or so using the site the same way you normally do but with the "Site-Wide Canary" beta features flag turned on. Canary mode is a sort of "live testing" mode: it's your real data, but running the most up-to-date code.
Canary mode always does have a few glitches -- there may be missing text strings or errors about missing database properties, which is a limitation of how we run it. We don't need to know about those, but anything else weird that you run into, leave a comment with what you were trying to do and the error message you got.
I'll repeat that the "here be dragons" caution that's on the beta features page: some things may be broken, so don't use it for when you're doing something important. But a few more eyeballs on it before the push will help the push go more smoothly for everyone.
For folks who want to concentrate on what's changing, we haven't finished the second code tour of what's going to be in this push, but the ffirst one has a good chunk of what's going to be going live. (We'll get the second half done ASAP!)
However! The reason it's been so long is we kept trying to get some of the stuff that's pending to "really finished" instead of just "mostly finished", and then we once again looked around and went "oh no, this is a really big code push with a lot of changes". Those make us nervous, because while we do a lot of testing ourselves, y'all are really creative in how you use the site and we inevitably find a bunch of edge cases when we let you loose on new code with your real-world data!
So, if folks have some spare time in the next few days, it would be a huge help if you could spend half an hour or so using the site the same way you normally do but with the "Site-Wide Canary" beta features flag turned on. Canary mode is a sort of "live testing" mode: it's your real data, but running the most up-to-date code.
Canary mode always does have a few glitches -- there may be missing text strings or errors about missing database properties, which is a limitation of how we run it. We don't need to know about those, but anything else weird that you run into, leave a comment with what you were trying to do and the error message you got.
I'll repeat that the "here be dragons" caution that's on the beta features page: some things may be broken, so don't use it for when you're doing something important. But a few more eyeballs on it before the push will help the push go more smoothly for everyone.
For folks who want to concentrate on what's changing, we haven't finished the second code tour of what's going to be in this push, but the ffirst one has a good chunk of what's going to be going live. (We'll get the second half done ASAP!)
Little Dragons (Neville/Charlie)
May. 28th, 2026 03:24 pmdigthewriter posting in neville100Title: Little Dragons
Author:digthewriter
Pairing: NevillexCharlie
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Challenge:
NEVILLE100 prompt "lesson"
A/N: Unbetaed.
( Little Dragons )
Author:
digthewriterPairing: NevillexCharlie
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Challenge:
NEVILLE100 prompt "lesson"A/N: Unbetaed.
( Little Dragons )
Wildlife
May. 28th, 2026 02:09 pmysabetwordsmithAdorable tiny blue octopus found nearly 6,000 feet beneath the Galápagos
A mysterious little blue octopus discovered nearly 6,000 feet beneath the waters of the Galápagos Islands has officially been identified as a brand-new species. About the size of a golf ball, the tiny creature stunned researchers during a deep-sea expedition when it suddenly appeared on camera, crawling across the ocean floor near an underwater mountain.
A mysterious little blue octopus discovered nearly 6,000 feet beneath the waters of the Galápagos Islands has officially been identified as a brand-new species. About the size of a golf ball, the tiny creature stunned researchers during a deep-sea expedition when it suddenly appeared on camera, crawling across the ocean floor near an underwater mountain.
Birdfeeding
May. 28th, 2026 02:07 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly sunny, humid, and hot.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 5/28/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I've seen a male cardinal at the hopper feeder.
EDIT 5/28/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 5/28/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I've seen a male cardinal at the hopper feeder.
EDIT 5/28/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
The Friday Five for 29 May 2026
May. 28th, 2026 03:00 pmanais_pf posting in thefridayfive1. In an average week, how many nights do you eat home-cooked dinners?
2. Do you plan your meals out in advance, or just wing it?
3. How many nights per week do you eat out or order food delivered?
4. Do you keep a stock of nonperishable foods from which you could whip up a meal or two if you needed to?
5. Have you ever tried preparing meals for the week all at once, say, on the weekend?
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!
2. Do you plan your meals out in advance, or just wing it?
3. How many nights per week do you eat out or order food delivered?
4. Do you keep a stock of nonperishable foods from which you could whip up a meal or two if you needed to?
5. Have you ever tried preparing meals for the week all at once, say, on the weekend?
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!
Prompt 591: Lesson
May. 28th, 2026 02:34 pmtorino10154 posting in neville100Happy Neville Thursday!!
The new challenge is:
Prompt 591: Lesson
This prompt will run until June 11.
As always, we encourage responses to any prompt at any time, so if an older challenge inspires you, please feel free to post for it!
The new challenge is:
Prompt 591: Lesson
This prompt will run until June 11.
As always, we encourage responses to any prompt at any time, so if an older challenge inspires you, please feel free to post for it!
Books - May 2026
May. 28th, 2026 01:29 pmsmallhobbit10 books, but that stretches over the second half of April as well, bringing my annual total to 43 books.
A Vow of Sanctity by Veronica Black
Third is the Sister Joan series, this one is set on the side of a lake in north-west Scotland. I enjoyed the setting and the plot, where I was definitely wrong-footed, but in an entirely plausible way. Things weren't as they seemed, but they did all make sense. I'm definitely enjoying the series.
The Labours of Hercules by Agatha Christie
Poirot is preparing to retire and takes on a series of cases, each one of which will have a connection to the mythological labours of Hercules. A really enjoyable collection of short stories.
Signed, Picpus by Georges Simenon
Back on my goal to read all the Maigret books in the library this year. Maigret is in Paris and once again this is a very different story, which I enjoyed.
The Spring Begins by Catherine Dunning
One of the British Library Women Writers series, and one I could borrow from the library. It was written in 1934 and set in the period. The story of three women either working for the big house, or for one of the neighbours. It looks at the limitations of their lives and how they finally find fulfilment in their individual ways. I liked it because although the story felt more modern, it was accurate to the sense of the times, rather than reading back and importing more modern thoughts.
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum
Set in Seoul in South Korea, the characters are all struggling to conform in modern Korean society with the dominant work ethic. I liked seeing the way the characters reacted with each other and how they were starting to grow, but would have no wish to visit the bookshop.
A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa
Again set in South Korea, this is more of a fantasy. It looks at the regrets of a number of people who have died and how they are given closure by the pastry shop. It was easier to read than the previous book, feeling more positive in the outcomes.
Women on the Case by Sara Paretsky
Short crime stories by female writers with female protagonists. Definitely a varied collection, but I only skipped through a couple of the stories. Worth reading if you're looking for slightly different stories.
Maigret and the Tall Woman by Georges Simenon
Again set in Paris, a very different story from the previous one I read. I do like the way the books bring in so many different people with different motives and behaviours, all of which feel very grounded in the setting.
Cranky Ladies of History by Tansy Rainer Roberts
This was given to me as a present and was highly entertaining. Based on real women, but in short story format. They were fascinating. I'd very much like to have met some of the women, and am very glad I didn't meet others!
CWGC Battlefield Companion Somme 1916
Produced by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission this short book looks at the history of the battle of the Somme, mostly from the British and Commonwealth view. The book itself is a guide to a number of the cemeteries in the region and looks at which regiments were involved in the fighting in that particular area.
A Vow of Sanctity by Veronica Black
Third is the Sister Joan series, this one is set on the side of a lake in north-west Scotland. I enjoyed the setting and the plot, where I was definitely wrong-footed, but in an entirely plausible way. Things weren't as they seemed, but they did all make sense. I'm definitely enjoying the series.
The Labours of Hercules by Agatha Christie
Poirot is preparing to retire and takes on a series of cases, each one of which will have a connection to the mythological labours of Hercules. A really enjoyable collection of short stories.
Signed, Picpus by Georges Simenon
Back on my goal to read all the Maigret books in the library this year. Maigret is in Paris and once again this is a very different story, which I enjoyed.
The Spring Begins by Catherine Dunning
One of the British Library Women Writers series, and one I could borrow from the library. It was written in 1934 and set in the period. The story of three women either working for the big house, or for one of the neighbours. It looks at the limitations of their lives and how they finally find fulfilment in their individual ways. I liked it because although the story felt more modern, it was accurate to the sense of the times, rather than reading back and importing more modern thoughts.
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum
Set in Seoul in South Korea, the characters are all struggling to conform in modern Korean society with the dominant work ethic. I liked seeing the way the characters reacted with each other and how they were starting to grow, but would have no wish to visit the bookshop.
A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa
Again set in South Korea, this is more of a fantasy. It looks at the regrets of a number of people who have died and how they are given closure by the pastry shop. It was easier to read than the previous book, feeling more positive in the outcomes.
Women on the Case by Sara Paretsky
Short crime stories by female writers with female protagonists. Definitely a varied collection, but I only skipped through a couple of the stories. Worth reading if you're looking for slightly different stories.
Maigret and the Tall Woman by Georges Simenon
Again set in Paris, a very different story from the previous one I read. I do like the way the books bring in so many different people with different motives and behaviours, all of which feel very grounded in the setting.
Cranky Ladies of History by Tansy Rainer Roberts
This was given to me as a present and was highly entertaining. Based on real women, but in short story format. They were fascinating. I'd very much like to have met some of the women, and am very glad I didn't meet others!
CWGC Battlefield Companion Somme 1916
Produced by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission this short book looks at the history of the battle of the Somme, mostly from the British and Commonwealth view. The book itself is a guide to a number of the cemeteries in the region and looks at which regiments were involved in the fighting in that particular area.
Poet's Corner: will the world die a little By Halina Poświatowska
May. 28th, 2026 07:06 amstonepicnicking_okapiwill the world die a little By Halina Poświatowska
Translated from the Polish By Ryan Mihaly & Karolina Zapal (short note from the translator's if you're keen to know more
czy świat umrze trochę [Polish]
will the world die a little
when I die
I watch him going going
dressed in a fox collar
I could never be
a thread in that scarf
I was always here
he wasn’t
and yet
it’s nice to think
the world will die a little
when I die
Translated from the Polish By Ryan Mihaly & Karolina Zapal (short note from the translator's if you're keen to know more
czy świat umrze trochę [Polish]
will the world die a little
when I die
I watch him going going
dressed in a fox collar
I could never be
a thread in that scarf
I was always here
he wasn’t
and yet
it’s nice to think
the world will die a little
when I die
Community Thursdays
May. 28th, 2026 12:38 amysabetwordsmithThis year I'm doing Community Thursdays. Some of my activity will involve maintaining communities I run, and my favorites. Some will involve checking my list of subscriptions and posting in lower-traffic ones. Today I have interacted with the following communities...
* Commented on "Just One Thing" inawesomeers.
* Commented on "Check-In Post - May 27th 2026" inget_knitted.
* Commented on "TV Tuesday: Waiting for the Break" intv_talk.
* Commented on "Just One Thing" in
awesomeers.* Commented on "Check-In Post - May 27th 2026" in
get_knitted.* Commented on "TV Tuesday: Waiting for the Break" in
tv_talk.Quote...
May. 28th, 2026 12:20 amfairyniamhQuotes:
"Most of us know perfectly well what we ought to do; our trouble is that we do not want to do it."
"When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure."
~ Peter Marshall
"Most of us know perfectly well what we ought to do; our trouble is that we do not want to do it."
"When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure."
~ Peter Marshall
Vocabulary: Xenofiction
May. 27th, 2026 11:10 pmysabetwordsmithXenofiction tells a story from the perspective of a nonhuman character. Some have humans only in the background; others have none at all. Alien-only science fiction is a small branch of that genre, but animal fiction is a very large branch of children's and young adult literature.
Recipe: "Pico de Gallo Meatloaf"
May. 27th, 2026 08:26 pmysabetwordsmithToday we made Pico de Gallo Meatloaf using what we found at the Spring Vendor Market in Sullivan. The result is excellent. If you don't make your own or have a favorite brand, watch for something similar at a street fair. This time of year, people often see pico de gallo, salsa, and other condiments where you can sample several before choosing what you want.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
WIP Wednesday
May. 26th, 2026 06:05 pmfirethesoundNew words this week : 2,691 words which is quite a bit lower, but it is what it is.
WIPs worked on this week : 2, with no new WIPs (yay!)
Another kind of rough week. My sweet 17-year-old baby of a cat was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease last week and I'm really struggling with it. We're currently in that awful phase of waiting to see if we can get things under control with a prescription diet + meds and I'm not handling it very well. In better news, my sibling is currently visiting and will be here through the rest of the week and that's been really nice. Alas, between the two of these things I haven't had much time or energy for writing.
The Old Guard
☆ food truck au : 1,175 words which brings the total to 160,322 words and I'm still feeling very stuck on my current chapter. I got as far as ripping it apart and figuring out which parts weren't working, but haven't had the time or energy to sit down and focus long enough to start piecing it back together again. Maybe next week.
☆ misc : 1,516 words and instead of writing food truck au, I have been writing little snippets of ficlets that'll happen after the end of it. At this point I don't know what I'm going to do with them, maybe I'll post them as a series of "extras" afterwards, but at this point I just wanted them out of my brain and onto the page.
WIPs worked on this week : 2, with no new WIPs (yay!)
Another kind of rough week. My sweet 17-year-old baby of a cat was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease last week and I'm really struggling with it. We're currently in that awful phase of waiting to see if we can get things under control with a prescription diet + meds and I'm not handling it very well. In better news, my sibling is currently visiting and will be here through the rest of the week and that's been really nice. Alas, between the two of these things I haven't had much time or energy for writing.
The Old Guard
☆ food truck au : 1,175 words which brings the total to 160,322 words and I'm still feeling very stuck on my current chapter. I got as far as ripping it apart and figuring out which parts weren't working, but haven't had the time or energy to sit down and focus long enough to start piecing it back together again. Maybe next week.
☆ misc : 1,516 words and instead of writing food truck au, I have been writing little snippets of ficlets that'll happen after the end of it. At this point I don't know what I'm going to do with them, maybe I'll post them as a series of "extras" afterwards, but at this point I just wanted them out of my brain and onto the page.
Nature
May. 27th, 2026 01:05 pmysabetwordsmithScientist Discovers New Species of Wildflower That Only Grows in New Jersey
In the Pine Barrens region of southern New Jersey, Temple University researcher Sasha Eisenman helped identify the long mistaken plant as unique to the state—a discovery that could help protect it for years to come.
In research published in Phytotaxa, Eisenman confirmed the plant is distinct from its closest known relatives, and formally named it Triantha × novacaesariensis—a Latinization of New Jersey.
In the Pine Barrens region of southern New Jersey, Temple University researcher Sasha Eisenman helped identify the long mistaken plant as unique to the state—a discovery that could help protect it for years to come.
In research published in Phytotaxa, Eisenman confirmed the plant is distinct from its closest known relatives, and formally named it Triantha × novacaesariensis—a Latinization of New Jersey.
Birdfeeding
May. 27th, 2026 01:03 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy, warm, and damp. It rained early this morning and the grass is still soaked.
I fed the birds. I haven't seen much activity today.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 5/27/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 5/27/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a male cardinal, and a fox squirrel.
EDIT 5/27/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 5/27/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I haven't seen much activity today.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 5/27/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 5/27/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a male cardinal, and a fox squirrel.
EDIT 5/27/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 5/27/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
Tunic (2022)
May. 27th, 2026 09:53 ampauraqueThis Zelda-inspired soulslike APRG starts you out as a little fox stranded on a beach with no weapons, no interface, no intro or tutorial or cutscenes or any indication of who you are or what you're supposed to do. As you start to run around the stylized, colorful fantasy world (the only thing you can do at first) you start finding pages of the game manual—but it's mostly written in a language you can't understand. The answers to all your questions are in there, but it's up to you to puzzle over the illustrations, interpret the clues, and discover how everything in the game works, from combat and items to story and worldbuilding.
It's been said that the best way to play Tunic is to go in knowing nothing, which I did, but I think that makes a lot of assumptions about what kind of gameplay is going to be in a given person's wheelhouse. This is a game for people who are equally into action and puzzles, and want a challenge in both areas. It's tough but fair, and rewards thorough exploration and creative thinking as well as quick reflexes and combat skill.
( cut for length )
Tunic is $29.99 USD on various platforms, but the PC/Mac version is currently half off on Humble!
It's been said that the best way to play Tunic is to go in knowing nothing, which I did, but I think that makes a lot of assumptions about what kind of gameplay is going to be in a given person's wheelhouse. This is a game for people who are equally into action and puzzles, and want a challenge in both areas. It's tough but fair, and rewards thorough exploration and creative thinking as well as quick reflexes and combat skill.
( cut for length )
Tunic is $29.99 USD on various platforms, but the PC/Mac version is currently half off on Humble!
Wow, I'm sleepy from that unexpected double
May. 31st, 2026 09:34 pmconulyAnd I slept all day, too. I'm gonna start this post, but I'll finish it when I get back from this shift, so by that time I will either be awake or even more sleepy.
Edit: I was awake! But I hung out with E all day, so.
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( Read more... )
Edit: I was awake! But I hung out with E all day, so.
( Read more... )
Word: Trypophobia
May. 27th, 2026 06:34 amstonepicnicking_okapiWednesday's word is...
...trypophobia.
Trypophobia is a condition where individuals experience strong feelings of disgust, discomfort, or fear when seeing clusters of small holes or bumps, such as those found in honeycombs, lotus seed pods, sponges, or certain fruits like strawberries and papayas. While commonly referred to as a "fear of holes," most people with trypophobia primarily feel disgust rather than true fear. The term was first coined in 2005 on an online forum and combines the Greek words “trypa” (hole) and “phobos” (fear).
...trypophobia.
Trypophobia is a condition where individuals experience strong feelings of disgust, discomfort, or fear when seeing clusters of small holes or bumps, such as those found in honeycombs, lotus seed pods, sponges, or certain fruits like strawberries and papayas. While commonly referred to as a "fear of holes," most people with trypophobia primarily feel disgust rather than true fear. The term was first coined in 2005 on an online forum and combines the Greek words “trypa” (hole) and “phobos” (fear).
Quote...
May. 27th, 2026 01:16 amfairyniamhQuotes:
"TRUE Courage is when you are scared to death and STILL saddle up and ride in!"
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday."
~ John Wayne
"TRUE Courage is when you are scared to death and STILL saddle up and ride in!"
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday."
~ John Wayne
Good News
May. 27th, 2026 12:21 amysabetwordsmithGood news includes all the things which make us happy or otherwise feel good. It can be personal or public. We never know when something wonderful will happen, and when it does, most people want to share it with someone. It's disappointing when nobody is there to appreciate it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our joys and pat each other on the back.
What good news have you had recently? Are you anticipating any more? Have you found a cute picture or a video that makes you smile? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your life a little happier?
What good news have you had recently? Are you anticipating any more? Have you found a cute picture or a video that makes you smile? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your life a little happier?
Conservation
May. 26th, 2026 10:40 pmysabetwordsmithMan Gathers Up Family Acres Home to Moose and Mountain Lion and Returns Them to Indian Tribe
Though Verbrugge, who lives alone at 72 years old in the forest, has no heirs to pass the property to, he found a suitable inheritor in the Kalispel Indians, who said they would carry the responsibility of keeping the land in good health forward with “profound gratitude.”
As to the land itself, the Little Spokane River runs through it, along with several creeks home to bull trout. In a subdivided and developed area, Verbrugge’s woodland is a haven for elk, deer, moose, wolves, cougar, bobcat, and eagles.
Though Verbrugge, who lives alone at 72 years old in the forest, has no heirs to pass the property to, he found a suitable inheritor in the Kalispel Indians, who said they would carry the responsibility of keeping the land in good health forward with “profound gratitude.”
As to the land itself, the Little Spokane River runs through it, along with several creeks home to bull trout. In a subdivided and developed area, Verbrugge’s woodland is a haven for elk, deer, moose, wolves, cougar, bobcat, and eagles.
