Reading

D.O.P.-T.

A beautiful fall day. I had laundry on the line till something like 4:30. When I rounded the corner with the laundry basket and bag of pegs in my arms, Monty and Prudence were sitting in the back porch doorway waiting for me. I'm afraid I was startled, and I had to go through that door ... Monty scarpered past me into teh garden while Prudence whisked into the porch room. I brought them out food, but Monty sat looking on warily while Prudence noshed.

Current Mood: busy

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Today's Adventures

Today we ran errands in Charleston.

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Current Mood: accomplished

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food,
recipe

Today's Cooking

Today I am making the recipe for blueberry muffins off the package of Quaker oat flour that we got today. The sweetener is maple syrup -- already the batter tastes good.

EDIT 10/17/25 -- Well, that was a rousing success. :D They taste very much like blueberry pancakes, but in a more convenient and portable form. They're sweet but not too sweet, more a foodmuffin than a dessert muffin. The flavor and texture is a bit different from wheat flour, but it doesn't have a strong "oatmeal" flavor. Definitely worth making again.

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Practice, Practice, Practice

If I have counted on my fingers correctly -- this was a challenge, because I needed two hands -- I am scheduled to sing six songs at OVFF next weekend, assuming that I manage to get my entry for the songwriting contest in on time. This is more songs than I manage to sing in open circles some years.

Time to go practice! :)

Current Mood: busy

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followfriday

Follow Friday 10-17-25

Got any Follow Friday-related posts to share this week? Comment here with the link(s).

Here's the plan: every Friday, let's recommend some people and/or communities to follow on Dreamwidth. That's it. No complicated rules, no "pass this on to 7.328 friends or your cat will die".

Current Mood: busy

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Follow Friday 10-17-25: Joss Whedon

Today's theme is Joss Whedon.

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Current Mood: annoyed

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#31 Another Encounter (part 1 of 1, complete)

Another Encounter
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1569
[Friday, May 8, 2020, midafternoon]

:: At the library, there’s an encounter of a different kind. Part of the Edison’s Mirror arc. ::

Back to Unpleasant Encounter
To the Edison's Mirror Index
On to

Ed stood in front of the tall stacks, his eyes narrowed. Rows of graphic novels waited for him to choose among them, but he seemed content in the moment to simply walk along the aisle to estimate the alphabetical divisions in each stack. A few steps behind, Vic simply chose a random book from each of the top shelves as they ambled down the aisle.

“You don’t know if you’ll like those,” Ed protested in a whisper.
( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

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Wildlife

Solar-powered, light-up fishing nets are saving sea turtles: 'Reduces entanglement by 63%'

Senko, his research team, and the Amador brothers have recently published research indicating that illuminating nets with green LED lights could reduce the entanglement of turtles and other off-target species by 63%.

Not only this, but the light-up features help fishers save time retrieving and disentangling nets, without compromising their harvest.

Communication saves lives.

Current Mood: busy

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Birdfeeding

Today is cloudy and mild.

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

I put out water for the birds. The honeybees had drained the small metal birdbath again.

EDIT 10/17/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 10/17/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 10/17/25 -- I watered the telephone pole garden and the savanna plants.

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

Current Mood: blah

phooy...

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

D.O.P.-T.

We went to the San Jose main library (also the library for San Jose State U.). The elevators were out, but there was no sign. So after the crowd swelled to a dozen, I started up the stairs. Six floors, the first double-height. I wish I could say it didn't knacker me. But I managed it, and when I hit the button for a down elevator, up ones started arriving and disgorging crowds of people, then a down one came. So at least I didn't have to take the stairs down.

The first two upper floors (the public library part) are also fed by an escalator. That was where the housemate was headed before the same floor as me, but she said the second escalator was also out, so she did the same upstairs hike.

Current Mood: busy

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Books

19 Queer Books for International Pronouns Day!

Yesterday was International Pronouns Day! While it’d be rare to find a book with no pronouns, for this list, we’re focusing on books in English that have at least one character who uses pronouns other than he/him or she/her. Whether those pronouns are they/them, it/its, or neopronouns, we tried to get a cool variety on today’s rec list of 19 queer books. The contributors to the list are: Linnea Peterson, Rascal Hartley, MJ, Nina Waters, Alex, Terra P. Waters, and Shadaras.

Current Mood: accomplished

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food,
recipe

Today's Smoothie

We made the caramel apple cider smoothie again, this time with both bananas frozen. It's a little thicker but with bits of ice; not sure which I like better, but both taste delicious.

Current Mood: busy

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Content notes for "New and Innovative Approaches"

These are the content notes for "New and Innovative Approaches."

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Location notes for "New and Innovative Approaches"

Here are the location notes for "New and Innovative Approaches."

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The Play That Goes Wrong

"The Play That Goes Wrong" was the fall play over at Maine West and Julie and I went to see it today on Opening Night since the puppy training lesson was postponed. It was an absolute stitch.

Y'all should go see it if you're around here. Shows on Friday and Saturday night remain. :)

Current Mood: busy

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Character notes for "New and Innovative Approaches"

These are the character notes for "New and Innovative Approaches."

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Current Mood: busy

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Poem: "New and Innovative Approaches"

This poem is spillover from the July 15, 2025 Bonus Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from

rix_scaedu and

dialecticdreamer. It also fills the "Emotionally Constipated Man" square in my 7-1-25 card for the Western Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by Anthony Barrette. It belongs to the Big One thread of the Polychrome Heroics series. It follows "An Interest in the Affairs of Your Government" so read that first or this won't make much sense.

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Current Mood: blank

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#30 Unpleasant Encounter (part 1 of 1, complete)

Unpleasant Encounter
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1510
[Friday, May 8, 2020, afternoon]

:: Aidan’s latest trip into the small village does not go the way that he expects. He has an urgent conversation with Vic as soon as he gets home. Part of the Edison’s Mirror arc. ::

Back to Garden Guest
To the Edison's Mirror Index
On to

Halfway through the shopping list that he and Vic had assembled, Aidan paused to turn, suddenly facing the tall, black-haired man who had been following him for several minutes. “Is something wrong, officer?”

The man, nearly a head and a half taller than Aidan, stepped closer. “There are two missing kids, and every time I see you, you’re hanging out with kids that age, who clearly aren’t yours.”
( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

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Birdfeeding

Today is sunny and warm.

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

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 10/16/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I am done for the night.