Reading

Current Mood: accomplished

Entry tags:

food,
personal

Today's Cooking

Today I am making Tomato-Basil Bread from Hello! 365 Tomato Recipes: Best Tomato Cookbook Ever For Beginners, the yeast version from page 32. (This is basically the same recipe.) We're out of parmesan cheese, so I substituted Manchego which is dry enough to grate and has a similarly sharp taste. Already the dough is a very pretty salmon-pink, currently rising in a bowl set inside a bowl of warm water to help maintain temperature.

EDIT 11/2/25 -- Bread punched down and set for second rise.

EDIT 11/2/25 -- Bread in oven.

EDIT 11/2/25 -- It's done! :D This is better than the earlier quickbread I tried. When baked, it is a bright, true salmon color thanks to the tomato sauce. The outside is crusty, the inside is springy and chewy, with a mild tomato flavor and herbal hints. If I make it again, I want to try the Little Italy Pizza Seasoning instead of plain crushed red pepper. The loaf is small and round, yielding oval slices. That's too small for grilled cheese sandwiches but would probably work for Bulgarian breakfast bread.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

gaming,
networking

Gaming

New study: Dungeons & Dragons provides real benefits to people with disabilities and the elderly

“Serious leisure” refers to an activity that demands skill, commitment, and personal fulfillment, Messina defined. With the intricate world-building, score-keeping, and character development required of D&D, she said, it’s a blueprint for serious leisure.
[---8<---]
“Players were comfortable being themselves by engaging in the game pursuit,” she added, “but at the same time were building personas in line with, or in contrast to, their normal personality. They described it as a way to take charge, or lead an effort in ways that their normal personality would allow for, but they wouldn’t be inclined to do.”

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Birdfeeding

Today is sunny and cool.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 11/2/25 -- I trimmed weeds from the tulip bed. It's about 2/3 done now.

EDIT 11/2/25 -- I trimmed weeds from rest of the tulip bed. \o/

EDIT 11/2/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 11/2/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

I've seen a cardinal.

EDIT 11/2/25 -- I spread the first bag of compost and manure on the tulip bed.

EDIT 11/2/25 -- I spread the second bag of compost and manure on the tulip bed.

EDIT 11/2/25 -- I spread the third bag of compost and manure on the tulip bed. It is mostly covered but still needs another bag.

I picked a handful of basil leaves so I can make tomato-basil bread tonight.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Entry tags:

naclyoho,
progress

Done This Week

Vacation, yo! I tried to really make a point of using my vacation time well. Which is to say, doing things I would remember, not just vegetating with video games. (Not that I didn’t also put in some solid video game time as well, of course.) I finished off a couple of books. Mum and I went to the pumpkin patch and did various Halloween crafting things together. We also watched several movies.

I didn’t do anything super intensive, though. This was definitely a vacation and not just trading one exhausting job for another unpaid one. I tried to have better sleep habits than I sometimes fall into when I don’t have work schedules to adhere to, to make sure I come back feeling better, not worse.

The album of the week was NOT the new Florence + the Machine album, because I never received the download link on release day after preordering the album. I’m waiting to hear back from the shop’s support team.

Authors and musicians talk about how important preorders are for their sales numbers, so I make an effort to do so for my recurring favorites. And that works fine if I’m doing it through my indie bookstore or through Bandcamp (ish, they can be a little late in the day). But whenever I’ve done it through other shops or even direct from the artist, it seems to mean getting the product later than any schmuck who goes down to Walmart the day of release. It’s frustrating. I’ve been looking forward to the album all month, and specifically put off listening to anything on Thursday like usual, because I thought I would be getting this wonderful new thing to listen to on Friday.

*whine whine whine* You can tell I’ve been on vacation, because that’s the worst thing I have to piss and moan about. ┑(￣Д ￣)┍

It’s been quite warm in the day but chilly overnight and foggy in the morning. If it was just, oh, ten degrees cooler in the day, I would consider it ideal. Nothing picky about me, of course!

Lewisia: 6 new pieces written

Day job: none hours with left vacation >:3

Cooking: the traditional Halloween pizza

Cleaning: it’s NaClYoHo Month! fixed the broken cable ties on the two front shade cloths, flushed the water heater

Crafting: hemmed back patch, started sewing it on, made cheesecloth ghosts, carved pumpkins

Reading: When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance by Riley Black (a really lovely piece of science writing, great illustrations as well), What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher (new Sworn Soldier book~~ without giving spoilers, a certain chalkboard-using person is my new favorite character ever)

Watching: Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein (*incoherent sobbing*), Young Frankenstein (not as effective a parody as Blazing Saddles imo, fun enough for an evening), Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (charmingly weird for the most part)

Listening: Spirit Swap OST by meltycanon (music from the video game, very pleasing chillhop)

Clock Mouse: 1334 words

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Worldbuilding

The Most Powerful Type of Worldbuilding by Curious Archive

I rarely link YouTube videos anymore, but this one had some good observations about "moldy worldbuilding" and how it shows the passage of time. So I'll throw out some ideas based on that.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Art

New study: Viewing art in galleries 'immediately' reduces cortisol levels, boosts health

“Our unique and original study provides compelling evidence that viewing art in a gallery is ‘good for you’ and helps to further our understanding of its fundamental benefits,” Dr. Tony Woods, the study’s senior author, said.

“In essence, art doesn’t just move us emotionally — it calms the body too.”

More specifically, cortisol levels — a key stress hormone in the human body — fell by an average of 22% in the gallery group, compared to just 8% in the control group.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Birdfeeding

Today is cloudy and cool.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 11/1/25 -- I trimmed weeds from the daffodil bed.

EDIT 11/1/25 -- I spread the first bag of composted manure on the daffodil bed. It covered the far side and half the center.

EDIT 11/1/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 11/1/25 -- I spread the second bag of composted manure on the daffodil bed. So that's done, aside from raking up a pile of leaves to create the mulch cover for it. This concludes today's yardwork target. \o/

EDIT 11/1/25 -- I started trimming weeds from the tulip bed.

I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Fairy Tales and Fantasy Stories Bingo Card 11-1-25

Here is my card for the Fairy Tales and Fantasy Stories Bingo over in

allbingo. The fest runs from November 1-30. (See all my 2025 bingo cards.)

If you'd like to sponsor a particular square, especially if you have an idea for what character, series, or situation it would fit -- talk to me and we'll work something out. I've had a few requests for this and the results have been awesome so far. This is a good opportunity for those of you with favorites that don't always mesh well with the themes of my monthly projects. I may still post some of the fills for free, because I'm using this to attract new readers; but if it brings in money, that means I can do more of it. That's part of why I'm crossing some of the bingo prompts with other projects, such as the Poetry Fishbowl.

Underlined prompts have been filled.

FAIRY TALES BINGO CARD

Pixie	The Nightingale	The deeds of ordinary folks keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.	Vision	Castle
Glory	Hero	Elves	Journey	Enchanted
Music	Very little worth knowing is taught by fear.	WILD CARD	Golden Hair	Fairies
Fairy Ring	Solitude	Shadow	The Dark Tower	Twilight
Golem	Trickster	Once Upon a Time	I didn't want power. All I wanted was control. Over my life.	Magical Power

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

recurring posts

Philosophical Questions: Accuracy

People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

How would the world change if there was an accurate measure of aptitude?

Little if any. Some types of aptitude can be tested pretty well. People often choose not to act on them. In fact, people often prefer the less accurate ones.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Samhain

Tonight we held our Samhain ritual, with a theme of Hekate. It rained a few days ago so we were able to light the bonfire. \o/ We had a really good time.

Entry tags:

Lake Lewisia #1324

Some traditions suggested that offerings to the dead were appeasement, made in fear because they outnumber us; others made offerings in invitation, like a charcuterie board laid out for arriving guests. Then there were those who placed offerings like bait and bribe, akin to peanuts left out for a local murder of crows, who might one day bring stolen jewelry and loose change to their favorite human. The dead did outnumber the living, and some people wanted to make lots of friends in low, six-foot-deep places.

---

LL#1324

Current Mood: pensive

Entry tags:

Moment of Silence: Patricia Crowther

Famous witch Patricia Crowther has crossed over.

And there is much rejoicing in the Summerland!

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Birdfeeding

Today is mostly sunny and mild.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches. They drained the hopper feeder.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 10/31/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 10/31/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 10/31/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 10/31/25 -- We set up for our Samhain ritual.

A great horned owl is hoo-hooing outside. :D

I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

holiday

Holiday

I saw this line elsenet and thought it would be fun to share here:

What day does the Christmas season begin?

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Books

libraries as resistance

In a system that wants to dismantle education and undermine critical thought, libraries become sanctuaries of truth, radical hope, and quiet rebellion.

Generously stocked, freely accessible, public libraries are ideal.

However, if the government destroys them, we have another option: private libraries run by actual bookworms. A library can be stocked quite cheaply with used books, hence the Little Free Library movement and swap shelves. But if you have or can afford to rent or buy space in a building, then you can provide a bigger collection. A private library is not at the mercy of the government, and you are free to do things like ban censorship.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Wildlife

Scientists discover a stunning new golden-tongued lizard in China

A new species of mountain lizard, Diploderma bifluviale, has been discovered in the upper Dadu River Valley of China. Its distinct traits and isolated habitat highlight the hidden biodiversity of the Hengduan Mountains.

Current Mood: pensive

Entry tags:

Garden of Repose

Revisit those who have passed during the year. These entries from my "Moment of Silence" tag highlight those who have died recently. Some of my posts have a "Carry on the Work" section regarding the person's accomplishments in case anyone else wants to explore those.

Browse ways to celebrate Dia de los Muertos.

Here are some things to do for Samhain. See the Greenhaven Coven page for Samhain and its recipes.

Does anyone else have names to remember?

Current Mood: accomplished

Entry tags:

New Year's Resolutions Check In

We made it to the end of October! \o/ If you have completed some of your medium-term goals or subgoals, and/or you're still chugging away at your ongoing goals, then pat yourself on the back. You worked hard for that. We are now well into autumn. If you're doing seasonal goals, share what you're working on for this fall.

This year I'm trying something new, continuing to track goals at the end of each month. So far it seems to be helping, so that's encouraging. I'm looking at my goal list more often and trying to keep ticking off more of them. The main drawback is that this update becomes more of a chore each month.

These are the previous check in posts:
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 4
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 10
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 17
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 24
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In February 28
New Year's Resolutions Check In March 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In April 30
New Year's Resolutions Check In May 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In June 30
New Year's Resolutions Check In July 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In August 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In September 30

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Follow Friday 10-31-25: Kpop

Today's theme is Kpop, Korean popular music.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Bingo

I have made bingo down the B column of my 10-1-25 card for the Fall Festival Bingo. I also have 8 extra fills.

B1 (wizards) -- "What Wizardry Is All About" (standalone)
B2 (black / orange) -- "The Two Cottages" (Quixotic Ideas)
B3 (magic) -- "Maybe She's Just Singing" (Practical Magic)
B4 (witches) -- "The Unretired Witch" (The Adventures of Aldornia and Zenobia)
B5 (unstable) -- "A Fountain of Energy" (Polychrome Heroics: Rutledge)

I2 (herbs) -- "No Worthless Herbs" (One God's Story of Mid-Life Crisis)
I3 (dark side) -- "Set on Continuous Improvement" (Polychrome Heroics: City Engines)
I5 (broken) -- "The Clearest Signal" (Polychrome Heroics: City Engines)

G1 (Alone in the Woods) -- "The Songwitch" (Practical Magic)
G2 (transformation) -- "The Road to Transformation" (Sleeping Beauty)

O2 (talking dog) -- "The Disappointing Daughter" (The Adventures of Aldornia and Zenobia)
O4 ("That felt weird.") -- "To Understand Water" (Polychrome Heroics)
O5 ("Do you trust me?") -- "Trying to Be Better" (Polychrome Heroics: City Engines)