Reading

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The Day in Spikedluv (Sunday, Aug 31)

I did two loads of laundry (both washed, dried AND folded!), hand-washed dishes, ran a load in the dishwasher and emptied it, went for several short walks, baked chicken for the dogs’ meals and cut up said chicken for said meals, changed kitty litter, and showered.

I did not visit mom today as my three siblings had plans to go out, but I did check her mail and had a brief telephone conversation with her. I also hit Stewart’s on the way home from mom’s. We had the ziti I put together yesterday for supper tonight.

I finished Amelia Peabody and read some fanfic, watched an HGTV program, and got in nearly a mile and a half in walks! I haven’t gotten that much in a long time.

Temps started out at 46.8(F) and reached 76.5. It was sunny with a slight breeze.

I forgot to include this pic in yesterday’s post, but this was the sight at the bird feeder last night (Saturday). Not only the buck and two does, but a fawn!! First time I’ve seen one closer than the pumpkin patch, lol! (Yes, the mother and fawn have visited the pumpkin patch on more than one occasion; I’ve seen them from the house and Pip has passed them with the dogs on a walk.)

Mom Update:

Mom sounded good on the phone when I talked to her. (And by ‘good’, I mean she didn’t sound as exhausted as she has been; the kind where it’s hard to make yourself form words.) ( more back here )

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Pimp: Fandom Gift Basket 2025

For anyone interested, my basket is HERE. (I asked for fic/art in several fandoms: 9-1-1, Hudson & Rex, MCU, Murder She Wrote, and Terminator (Genisys/Dark Fate)).

Sign-ups are open through Sept 5, so if you want to sign-up there is still time! Go HERE.

Dates and links are in the Sticky Post.

I plan on going through the baskets, but if you'd like to link to yours here, please do so!

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tv: the middleman

Media signal boosts

Two wildly different media signal boosts:

--The Murderbot & More Humble Bundle is available for almost two more weeks! (I already have all but one ebook in there, so I'm not pouncing personally, but it's a great collection!)

--Via a couple of people, Javier Grillo-Marxuach recently shared on Bluesky that The Middleman is now streaming on Archive.org. (This is probably my definitive answer to the classic "what canceled show would you revive if you could?" question, although at this point it's not really "revive" so much as "magically keep from being canceled in the first place so it could've just carried on". This show deserved so much more--or at the bare minimum, to have had its season 1 finale actually filmed, while in this timeline 12/13 episodes were filmed. Like. Come ON, studios.)

latest spinning WIP

Two singles; will ply them tomorrow, I expect. Assuming no plying/finishing disasters, this will go to

niqaeli. ♥

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Weekly proof of life: reading, A1C, and weather

Reading:

scruloose and I finished listening to Rogue Protocol! Here's hoping future installments listened to via Hoopla don't have the weird audio glitches that this one did. I think we're probably going to go with chronological order rather than publication order, and if so, I think that gives us two more novellas before the novel. I suspect I'll lean toward not having an audiobook on the go during the fall crunch at Dayjob, but hopefully we can get at least one novella in before that starts up.

I finished These Burning Stars (Bethany Jacobs) and found it more engrossing than I'd expected at first, but I don't feel a need to rush out and read the second book. (Given how this book was constructed, my guess is that the second will be a fairly different experience? But I don't actually know that.) I also read Stephen Graham Jones' Mongrels, which I liked; there are some things I'm still a bit fuzzy on in terms of the backstory/worldbuilding, but it feels likely that that was a deliberate choice.

Current fiction: The Future of Another Timeline, which I think is my first Annalee Newitz book.

Non-fiction: I've been doing some more cookbook reading, and I'm still reading Warmth: Coming of Age at the End of Our World, and I've now also got Goblin Mode: How to Get Cozy, Embrace Imperfection, and Thrive in the Muck (McKayla Coyle) on the go. Given that my non-fiction intake is generally quite low, this is...well, a whole lot. I'm not getting the feeling that I'll actually take much away from Goblin Mode, but it's kinda fun, so I'm pressing on with it.

Meat-puppetry: I got my first A1C test since April, and got a 5.8 result. (After a 5.9 in April and a 5.8 in December.)

I don't know what was different about how the test was administered (it was even the same person who did my last one, I'm 99% sure), but that was a couple of days ago and my fingertip still hurts a bit (it's improving steadily, so I don't think anything is wrong-wrong) and was very faintly bruised. O_o Dunno what's up with that, but hopefully it increases the odds that next time I'll remember to ask them to use the side of a finger, not the pad. I need that!

Weathering: The province overall is still too dry. Our region got a very respectable rainfall early last week (? It's a bit of a blur), but the area with a major wildfire got almost nothing from that weather system. What we got was nowhere near enough to properly refill the water reservoirs, and Halifax Water reports that they've noticed very little change in water consumption since they started asked residents to voluntarily conserve water (I've seen multiple people mention seeing their neighbors out watering their fucking lawns), so it's possible mandatory restrictions will be rolled out. (Unless something's changed drastically overnight; I haven't checked Bluesky yet today, which is where I get nearly all of my local info.) People are allowed in the woods again in this area, though.

>.< Naturally, it appears that golf courses are officially exempt from the "STOP WATERING YOUR GRASS" requests.

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The Day in Spikedluv (Saturday, Aug 30)

I hit Price Chopper and the Bakery while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park.

I did two loads of laundry (washed, dried AND folded!), hand-washed dishes, emptied the dishwasher, took the dogs for a short walk, browned ground beef and boiled pasta to stir up a ziti, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, and scooped kitty litter.

I visited mom, read more in Amelia Peabody, and watched an HGTV program.

Temps started out at 49.1(F) and reached 66.6. That I saw before I left home; it might have gotten a few degrees warmer. It was sunny with a breeze, which was lovely, but there was a definite chill in the air.

Mom Update:

Mom’s day was okay, which is about all she can expect these days. ( more back here )

fiber redux

Cloud is SO HAPPY with her new nesting material:

Y'all. I'd missed an earlier message (thanks, FaceBook!) but I managed not to pick out sheep fleece (breed unknown). Due to the holiday weekend, this wasn't an in-person transaction, although I hope to return in a bitand be able to talk to the farmer in person!

...I am sitting on a few pounds each of alpaca (definitely huacaya, not sure if one is suri) and angora goat fiber a.k.a. MOHAIR. Mind you, I would have been very happy to work with raw WOOL.

Well, I'll be picking through vegetable matter and sorting this VERY SLOWLY for the rest of 2025 lol. :) I do own hand carders but I think I save my pennies for a drum carder for the holidays...

Well, that escalated

Sheep and alpaca! Raw unprocessed fiber bought directly from a local-ish farmer. I reckon processing this will be my hobby project for the rest of the year.

Fiber animal wonders about her own fate. :) :) I have...10g of catten floof (which is very spinnable!).

ETA: Also, this may have happened /o\

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The Day in Spikedluv (Friday, Aug 29)

I had a doctor appointment this morning. A ‘3-month’ (in quotes because it’s nearly impossible to actually schedule these 3-month follow-ups at the 3-month mark) check-up on my A1C numbers, among other things. ( mostly good news ) I got in a walk around the park while I was downtown.

You already know that I like schedules, so, because I knew I would be busy today between my appointment and visiting mom, I had to schedule When Things Got Done so I didn’t miss anything. Before I left the house in the morning I hand-washed dishes, washed a load of laundry, and heated up a ham steak and some peas for Pip’s supper, so he in turn just needs to heat them up like he’d do with leftovers . (I got the thick-thick ham steak this time and have already chunked up half of it and put it in the freezer for escalloped potatoes on another day.)

What I did not schedule into my morning was Grant getting skunked first thing. What a rancid smell. The house and my car smell, and I’m sure I have some residual stink. We gave him a skunk bath at the garage (because there’s light, as well as a drain and a hose, and there’s help, lol). (I use a mixture of peroxide, Dawn, and baking soda.)

I had a little bit of time after my doctor appointment and before I left to visit mom, so I: checked mom’s mail, put the load of laundry in the dryer, hard-boiled eggs, and scooped kitty litter.

The fun continued after I got home from the hospital: I folded laundry and hand-washed more dishes!! *g*

I read more in Amelia Peabody.

Temps started out at 57.2(F) and reached 64.4 (that I saw at noon). It was raining when I got up; it was supposed to rain most of the night. It stopped around 7am as forecasted, though the clouds remained, but then we got a short but mighty downpour at a little after 11am. The sun did eventually come out, so I’m sure the temps went up a little bit, but not much, I don’t think.

Mom Update:

Mom was exhausted today. ( more back here )

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Natsume Yuujinchou fic

Purring (126 words) by thawrecka
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Natsume Yuujinchou | Natsume's Book of Friends
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Madara "Nyanko-sensei" & Natsume Takashi
Characters: Natsume Takashi, Madara "Nyanko-sensei", Natori Shuuichi
Additional Tags: Fluff
Summary:

The healing power of Nyanko Sensei.

Originally posted on FFA here.

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What We Do In The Shadows (2019-2024)

Last night I finished watching What We Do In The Shadows, and this morning I was sweeping up the kitty litter from the floor, just like I do every morning, and the kitten was there helping me by grabbing the broom, just like he does every morning, and as I raised the broom above his head, explaining that I was trying to sweep, I could hear Guillermo and that tired, flat voice he gets whenever he's trying to explain literally anything to the vampires.

Cats and vampires: Neither of them understands, or cares, what you're saying. And they hiss when they're angry.

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Photos: Pumpkins, Flowers & More! (8/19 – 8/28)

More Pumpkins!! (Photos taken 8/19 (first two behind the cut) & 8/28 (rest of them))

Oops! The deer looked at the cage and laughed. o_O

( 19 more back here )

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The Day in Spikedluv (Thursday, Aug 28)

I did not go downtown today. In addition to doing things online, I accomplished some things around the house before I went out to visit mom: hand-washed dishes, swept/mopped the kitchen, and scooped kitty litter. I also did some stuff for mom: checked her mail, paid bills and put them in the mailbox, and did some banking.

I got home early because my brother came out to the hospital, so I got to do some things in the afternoon/evening: cleared a pile of mail/magazines/newspapers of the counter, hand-washed more dishes, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, went on several walks, and showered.

I read more in Amelia Peabody and watched an HGTV program.

Temps started out at 51.8(F) and reached 77.5. It really was a beautiful day.

Mom Update:

Mom was doing okay. Kind of her new normal. ( more back here )

spinning cont'd

Current WIP: a gorgeous merino-silk-angelina blend.

Testing out a Dreaming Robots e-spinner, the Electric Eel Wheel 6.1. It's terrific and very easy to assemble and get running (at least after the learning curve on the Ashford Traveller treadle wheel). I hear the even more budget-friendlier Electric Eel Nano 2. (about $140 USD) 1 is fiddly, but I wonder. My use case for this is plying, which I find ungodly miserable.

Meanwhile, the local fiber animal is "helping" again. Cloud's floof is VERY spinnable so we're just randomly gathering catten floof while brushing her incredibly soft coat (she's mostly undercoat, and it's WILDLY soft).

(Sorry for the messy floor...I'm still under the weather and spinning is soothing/)

Forthcoming TTRPG Kickstarter: Ex Tenebris

Pre-launch for Ex Tenebris, a "a gothic space investigation TTRPG" forthcoming from Black Armada.

Beyond the dark emptiness of space, beyond dreaming, lies the Tenebrium. Only you can unearth its mysteries, defeat the twisted horrors that lurk there, and keep humanity from becoming prey.

In Ex Tenebris, you play a ragtag team of investigators, protecting the Republic of Stars from terrifying supernatural threats. You will face sorcerers and cults, dark technology from lost civilisations and the slobbering terrors lurking in the nightmare realm of the Tenebrium.

I will be writing a scenario [Update #2] for this game. :3

:goes back to orchestration homework:

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The Day in Spikedluv (Wednesday, Aug 27)

I had a chiropractic appointment and a pedicure this morning. I got in a walk around the park between appointments, and headed to the hospital to visit mom after my pedicure. Since I wasn’t home very much, fewer chores got done. I managed to hand-wash dishes, run a load in the dishwasher, and cut up chicken for the dogs' meals.

I read more in Amelia Peabody while I was at the hospital and managed to handwrite ~1,100 words on my new fic!

Temps started out at 54.0(F). I don’t know what the high was. It was cloudy in the morning and looked like it would rain, though rain wasn’t in the forecast. The sun came out later and it looked nice out, but I didn’t get to experience it. It had turned chilly again by the time I left the hospital.

Mom Update:

Mom looks better and seems more alert, but otherwise is doing about the same. Probably thanks to the fluids she’s getting. ( more back here )

Current Mood: okay

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jinksy!bear

Twelve years of Jinksy!bear | Four work hours until the weekend (for purposes of Dayjob)

Today marks twelve years since Jinksy and Claudia came to live with us. Twelve! (I mean, this should be easier to believe, it having been Jinksy's twelfth birthday three months ago.) *selects icon* Look how little they once were!

We've decided to give ourselves a four-and-a-half-day weekend (I'm going to work only a half day tomorrow to match

scruloose's schedule), and a good chunk of that has to be focused on freelance work--the volume of Pet Shop of Horrors I'm working on is due in just over two weeks, and they're hefty books. (IIRC this edition is seven omnibus volumes and the series originally came out as ten standard volumes.)

There, we'll call that an update.

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book report

Fly Trap, by Frances Hardinge

The continued adventures of runaway orphan Mosca Mye, her horrible goose, and Eponymous Clent, poet, thief, conman, and mentor.

This does a neat job of reminding the reader of the events and personages of the previous book, Fly By Night, while introducing a whole new city and its dark underworld. I enjoyed it even more than the first book. It's tense and inventive and the story doesn't let up for a second, with always something meaningful at stake.

Recommended! Though you'll probably want to read the first book first.

Contains: childbirth; incarceration; children in peril; rigidly enforced class system.

Professor Emeritus Rai Weiss has passed

On a personal note, peace to Rai Weiss (https://news.mit.edu/2025/professor-emeritus-rainer-weiss-dies-0826) - physicist (co-won the Nobel Prize for detection of gravity waves at LIGO); learnt yesterday that he'd passed. I knew him only glancingly/socially (my husband worked with him as a grad student at MIT at LIGO Hanford) but I remember his extraordinary kindness and warmth.

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Wednesday Reading Meme & Book 94 of 2025: Hatshepsut

What I Just Finished Reading: Since last Wednesday I have read/finished reading: The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt by Kara Cooney.

What I am Currently Reading: The Golden One (An Amelia Peabody Mystery) by Elizabeth Peters. I’m also still slowly working on my re-read of An Archer's Awakening (Of Crowns & Quills) by Casey Morales.

What I Plan to Read Next: Probably another library book as I’ve already had to renew them all at least once because Hatshepsut took me so long to finish.

Book 94 of 2025: The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt (Kara Cooney)

I finally finished this! It was really interesting. I didn't know anything about Hatshepsut or Egyptian politics of the day, so I learned a lot. One of the things that peaked my interest was something that the author said about women in power in the cover blurb and preface. It's not spoilery, since it's in the cover blurb and preface, but I'll put it behind a cut just in case

( spoilers )

I really enjoyed this book (even though it took me forever to read; that's the way of non-fiction for me) and would recommend it if you're interested in the subject. I'm giving it five hearts.

♥♥♥♥♥