Photos: Apple Blossoms (5/6/25)
Aug. 15th, 2025 07:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spikedluvI realized, as I looked back at my photo posts, that I never posted any photos of the apple blossoms! Granted, I was still wearing a walking shoe/boot at this time (and if I recall correctly, it was soaking wet all the time), so I couldn’t take any walks through the orchard, but the apple trees in front of the house blossomed nicely. Here are just a few pics from the early days. (All were taken on 5/6/25.)
( 8 more back here )
( 8 more back here )
The Day in Spikedluv (Thursday, Aug 14)
Aug. 15th, 2025 06:52 amspikedluvI didn’t have to do any shopping this morning, but I did go to the bank for my aunt and got in a walk around the park while I was downtown. I dropped off a book at the library on my way to visit my aunt and talked to the librarian about it (and picked up another book). I did a load of laundry (washed, dried AND folded), hand-washed dishes, took Grant for a walk, cut up chicken for the dogs’ meals, and scooped kitty litter.
I visited mom, read some fanfic, finished the Kindle cozy and started another, and read more about Hatshepsut. (I have already concluded that this is not a book I’m going to be able to just sit down and read through. My plan is to read a little bit each day, and read something light in between.) I also received another GC (the Bakery) for my birthday! And tomorrow is breakfast with my used bookstore friends to round out the celebration.
Temps started out at 63.5(F) and reached 88.7. Today was supposed to be the first in a string of (supposedly) cooler days. o_O
Mom Update:
Mom was doing better than yesterday, but not great. ( more back here )
I visited mom, read some fanfic, finished the Kindle cozy and started another, and read more about Hatshepsut. (I have already concluded that this is not a book I’m going to be able to just sit down and read through. My plan is to read a little bit each day, and read something light in between.) I also received another GC (the Bakery) for my birthday! And tomorrow is breakfast with my used bookstore friends to round out the celebration.
Temps started out at 63.5(F) and reached 88.7. Today was supposed to be the first in a string of (supposedly) cooler days. o_O
Mom Update:
Mom was doing better than yesterday, but not great. ( more back here )
Photos: More Pumpkins & Flowers (with bonus Grapes)
Aug. 14th, 2025 08:16 amspikedluvMore pumpkins! (These pics were taken on a couple different walks.)
These two look like the pumpkin is forming even before the flower does.
~*~ 
( more back here )
These two look like the pumpkin is forming even before the flower does.
~*~ ( more back here )
Thursday @ 9:58 pm
Aug. 14th, 2025 09:58 pmalisxSurmounting obstacles with the power of friendship is easy if we all work together and also one of our friends is Nyarlathotep!
The Day in Spikedluv (Wednesday, Aug 13)
Aug. 14th, 2025 07:21 amspikedluvI had a chiropractic appointment and a pedicure this morning. I chose a light teal polish, though it looks like a brighter blue on. Still, this is the summer for experimenting with different colors on my toes, so I’m okay with it.
I hit Price Chopper and the Pharmacy while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. I also picked up Chinese for my lunch.
I did a load of laundry (mom’s that she sent home with me; got it washed, dried and folded to go back to her tomorrow), hand-washed dishes and did a load in the dishwasher, took Grant for a short walk, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, scooped kitty litter, and showered.
I visited mom, started two Kindle cozies (finished one), and started the Hatshepsut biography.
Thanks so much for birthday wishes fromgoss, mific, scriggle, tarlanx, and tozka.
Temps started out at 70.5(F) and reached 86. That I saw. It had to be hotter than that, but the clouds had started rolling in before I got home. In fact, the temp dropped two degrees the short time I was home between downtown and visiting mom.
It was so hot downtown, but just as I was pulling out of town, dark clouds rolled in. I drove through rain on the way to the garage to pick up Grant (another story), some of it quite heavy. And then it stopped, but the roads were wet. It was also wet at the garage, and about a third of the way home from there, and then dry pavement. We were supposed to get some rain later in the day, but we only got enough at our house to get everything wet. Meanwhile, the garage got a second storm and Pip said he thought they might have gotten over two inches because it came down so hard and fast.
Mom Update:
Mom was not doing great. She was lying on her bed after having a dizzy spell when I arrived. ( more back here )
I hit Price Chopper and the Pharmacy while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. I also picked up Chinese for my lunch.
I did a load of laundry (mom’s that she sent home with me; got it washed, dried and folded to go back to her tomorrow), hand-washed dishes and did a load in the dishwasher, took Grant for a short walk, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, scooped kitty litter, and showered.
I visited mom, started two Kindle cozies (finished one), and started the Hatshepsut biography.
Thanks so much for birthday wishes from
goss, mific, scriggle, tarlanx, and tozka.Temps started out at 70.5(F) and reached 86. That I saw. It had to be hotter than that, but the clouds had started rolling in before I got home. In fact, the temp dropped two degrees the short time I was home between downtown and visiting mom.
It was so hot downtown, but just as I was pulling out of town, dark clouds rolled in. I drove through rain on the way to the garage to pick up Grant (another story), some of it quite heavy. And then it stopped, but the roads were wet. It was also wet at the garage, and about a third of the way home from there, and then dry pavement. We were supposed to get some rain later in the day, but we only got enough at our house to get everything wet. Meanwhile, the garage got a second storm and Pip said he thought they might have gotten over two inches because it came down so hard and fast.
Mom Update:
Mom was not doing great. She was lying on her bed after having a dizzy spell when I arrived. ( more back here )
Thursday @ 8:29 am
Aug. 14th, 2025 08:29 amWednesday Reading Meme & Books 85 - 88 of 2025
Aug. 13th, 2025 03:40 pmspikedluvWhat I Just Finished Reading: Since last Wednesday I have read/finished reading: Lord of the Silent (An Amelia Peabody Mystery) by Elizabeth Peters, The Sound of Broken Glass (A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery) by Deborah Crombie, Kidnapped in the Kitchen (The Inn at Holiday Bay) by Kathi Daley and Through the Evil Days (Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) by Julia Spencer-Fleming.
What I am Currently Reading: I just finished a book last night so haven’t started another one, but I’m hoping it’ll be the book I requested on a whim, The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt by Kara Cooney. (Yes, I requested it while reading the last Amelia Peabody book.)
What I Plan to Read Next: Uncertain. I do have another library book out, but I might actually read one of my own books first.
Book 85 of 2025: Lord of the Silent (An Amelia Peabody Mystery) (Elizabeth Peters)
This book is so good!! ( spoilers )
I enjoyed this very much and am giving it five hearts.
♥♥♥♥♥
Book 86 of 2025: The Sound of Broken Glass (A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery) (Deborah Crombie)
This book was so good! ( spoilers )
I enjoyed this very much and am giving it five hearts.
♥♥♥♥♥
Book 87 of 2025: Kidnapped in the Kitchen (The Inn at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)
This book was okay. ( spoilers )
I'm starting to get tired of this series, but I also have the need to know what happens, so I'll most likely continue with it. Unless I forget about it when the two new books come out in the fall (there is one left to read that is already out). I'm giving this one three hearts.
♥♥♥
Book 88 of 2025: Through the Evil Days (Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) (Julia Spencer-Fleming)
This book was (mostly) good. ( spoilers )
I enjoyed this book right up until the author cut out my heart at the end; I’m deducting a heart because it still stings.
♥♥♥♥
What I am Currently Reading: I just finished a book last night so haven’t started another one, but I’m hoping it’ll be the book I requested on a whim, The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt by Kara Cooney. (Yes, I requested it while reading the last Amelia Peabody book.)
What I Plan to Read Next: Uncertain. I do have another library book out, but I might actually read one of my own books first.
Book 85 of 2025: Lord of the Silent (An Amelia Peabody Mystery) (Elizabeth Peters)
This book is so good!! ( spoilers )
I enjoyed this very much and am giving it five hearts.
♥♥♥♥♥
Book 86 of 2025: The Sound of Broken Glass (A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery) (Deborah Crombie)
This book was so good! ( spoilers )
I enjoyed this very much and am giving it five hearts.
♥♥♥♥♥
Book 87 of 2025: Kidnapped in the Kitchen (The Inn at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)
This book was okay. ( spoilers )
I'm starting to get tired of this series, but I also have the need to know what happens, so I'll most likely continue with it. Unless I forget about it when the two new books come out in the fall (there is one left to read that is already out). I'm giving this one three hearts.
♥♥♥
Book 88 of 2025: Through the Evil Days (Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) (Julia Spencer-Fleming)
This book was (mostly) good. ( spoilers )
I enjoyed this book right up until the author cut out my heart at the end; I’m deducting a heart because it still stings.
♥♥♥♥
WIP Wednesday
Aug. 13th, 2025 12:39 pmfirethesoundA good amount of words this week, and mostly above all else I am pleased with how consistently I've been writing. Even though it still feels like I'm not getting much writing time and it's frustrating that it's taking me this long to get anything finished and posted, and what I do get is broken up in small bits throughout the day, the words are continuing to add up so I really can't complain too much. Especially since this is the most I've been writing in literally years.
Very close to hitting my August goal already, which I'm grateful to have done. My parents are coming up for a visit this weekend and will stay for a week, then my spouse's family will be visiting at the end of the month, so I don't anticipate having nearly as much time to write then.
New words this week : 6484 words and I am very pleased.
WIPs worked on this week : 3, with 1 new WIP
The Old Guard
☆ food truck au : 5255 words which brings the total to 12,220 words and I guess it's not going to be done in 10k, either lol. I think I can finally see the shape of this one, it'll be divided into three chapters and the first chapter is about 6k, so I am pretty hopeful that the rest of it will be done in about 20k-ish. We'll see!
☆ werewolf au : 877 words which brings the total to 877 words. Kind of dying with how much I want to write this so this will probably be my next project I focus on. No plot so far, just vibes. We'll see where the muse leads!
☆ Old Kingdom au : 405 words which brings the total to 14,341 words. Not a lot of progress, just getting down some bits on a scene I had an idea for.
Very close to hitting my August goal already, which I'm grateful to have done. My parents are coming up for a visit this weekend and will stay for a week, then my spouse's family will be visiting at the end of the month, so I don't anticipate having nearly as much time to write then.
New words this week : 6484 words and I am very pleased.
WIPs worked on this week : 3, with 1 new WIP
The Old Guard
☆ food truck au : 5255 words which brings the total to 12,220 words and I guess it's not going to be done in 10k, either lol. I think I can finally see the shape of this one, it'll be divided into three chapters and the first chapter is about 6k, so I am pretty hopeful that the rest of it will be done in about 20k-ish. We'll see!
☆ werewolf au : 877 words which brings the total to 877 words. Kind of dying with how much I want to write this so this will probably be my next project I focus on. No plot so far, just vibes. We'll see where the muse leads!
☆ Old Kingdom au : 405 words which brings the total to 14,341 words. Not a lot of progress, just getting down some bits on a scene I had an idea for.
Where the fuck is my life going?
Aug. 13th, 2025 01:04 pmcesperanzaI am still here! <3. I'm just so seriously middle-aged, I've got everything on the boil rn. But I'm here if anyone needs me and still contributing to fandom in all the ways I can. You can also reach me at all the places you've always reached me--or other me, or any of the mes you may need.
Things I have enjoyed/am enjoying lately include:
* Killing Eve - I know, I'm super late to Killing Eve, but my sister loves loves loves it and so she asked me to watch it and so I'm watching. First two seasons obviously the best IMO, but she's asked me to see it through so I'm seeing it through.
* Strange New Worlds - its like 100% actual Star Trek! Also it's so fannish - like, look, there are episodes where I can tell the entire reason for the plot is to make sense of one weird moment in ST; TOS and you know what: I RESPECT YOU!! I SALUTE YOU!! YES, GO AHEAD AND FIX THAT ONE MINOR PLOT POINT in TOS, I AM YOUR AUDIENCE, I TOTALLY SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE, GET DOWN WITH YOUR BAD SELF. Also, honestly, I will never be tired of Pike cooking, which is a bizarre characterization that I didn't see coming and which nobody I'm trying to pimp to this show ever believes until they see it. Also I would die for Number 1 and La'an. Also Pike cooks with cast iron and open flame in a spaceship. Really: I salute you, show. I am glad you are back! (Especially since no more Disco.)
* Bridgerton/Queen Charlotte - late to QC also, after watching Bridgerton, and thought it was actually really a notch above Bridgerton. (Which I did enjoy - I mean, I respect their commitment to the pleasure principle.) Glad to be caught up there.
* House - yes, yes, I know, I'm really kicking it like it's 2004 around here, but Tiberius, now a teen, had seen bits of it on the interwebs and was like, "Mom, do you know anything about this show House?" and I was like YESSSSS. YESSS I DOOOOO, and your aunt made a great vid of it! Whereupon I showed him astolat's "Bukowski" and we settled in for a watch/rewatch: we like to have a show we're watching together. He's into Trek also so we watched Discovery and Lower Decks and we'll watch SNW as a family now its back, but there's a lot of House to go through and that's a nice option too.
(Side note to those of you who don't have teens: what I did not expect is that Gen Z basically is getting culture in bursts of 10 seconds or less. He's seen literally BITS of House. He will tell me "I know that song--or well, I know 7 seconds of that song." Remember how there would be kids who wouldn't read a novel, they'd just watch the movie? My students now are like--THAT MOVIE IS TWO WHOLE HOURS? I seriously fear for the future, it makes previous claims of attention span deterioriation look PREPOSTEROUS. Holy shit. I swear, I spend so much energy trying not to be too judgy! But I am very judgy! Then again: this moment, this decade, really provokes judginess!! )
(Additional side note: Tiberius is super eye rolly because since middle school all the girls he knows are like "Wow, your mom is SO COOL," --because of course I am! I am really fucking cool, plus I helped to found the AO3 and all of that, so I am a high school rock star, and Tiberius is like, "please God save me from this hell" lol. Cause honestly there really is nothing worse than having a cool mom, I do get that, but I tell him he'll appreciate it later, when I'm dead.)
Things I have enjoyed/am enjoying lately include:
* Killing Eve - I know, I'm super late to Killing Eve, but my sister loves loves loves it and so she asked me to watch it and so I'm watching. First two seasons obviously the best IMO, but she's asked me to see it through so I'm seeing it through.
* Strange New Worlds - its like 100% actual Star Trek! Also it's so fannish - like, look, there are episodes where I can tell the entire reason for the plot is to make sense of one weird moment in ST; TOS and you know what: I RESPECT YOU!! I SALUTE YOU!! YES, GO AHEAD AND FIX THAT ONE MINOR PLOT POINT in TOS, I AM YOUR AUDIENCE, I TOTALLY SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE, GET DOWN WITH YOUR BAD SELF. Also, honestly, I will never be tired of Pike cooking, which is a bizarre characterization that I didn't see coming and which nobody I'm trying to pimp to this show ever believes until they see it. Also I would die for Number 1 and La'an. Also Pike cooks with cast iron and open flame in a spaceship. Really: I salute you, show. I am glad you are back! (Especially since no more Disco.)
* Bridgerton/Queen Charlotte - late to QC also, after watching Bridgerton, and thought it was actually really a notch above Bridgerton. (Which I did enjoy - I mean, I respect their commitment to the pleasure principle.) Glad to be caught up there.
* House - yes, yes, I know, I'm really kicking it like it's 2004 around here, but Tiberius, now a teen, had seen bits of it on the interwebs and was like, "Mom, do you know anything about this show House?" and I was like YESSSSS. YESSS I DOOOOO, and your aunt made a great vid of it! Whereupon I showed him astolat's "Bukowski" and we settled in for a watch/rewatch: we like to have a show we're watching together. He's into Trek also so we watched Discovery and Lower Decks and we'll watch SNW as a family now its back, but there's a lot of House to go through and that's a nice option too.
(Side note to those of you who don't have teens: what I did not expect is that Gen Z basically is getting culture in bursts of 10 seconds or less. He's seen literally BITS of House. He will tell me "I know that song--or well, I know 7 seconds of that song." Remember how there would be kids who wouldn't read a novel, they'd just watch the movie? My students now are like--THAT MOVIE IS TWO WHOLE HOURS? I seriously fear for the future, it makes previous claims of attention span deterioriation look PREPOSTEROUS. Holy shit. I swear, I spend so much energy trying not to be too judgy! But I am very judgy! Then again: this moment, this decade, really provokes judginess!! )
(Additional side note: Tiberius is super eye rolly because since middle school all the girls he knows are like "Wow, your mom is SO COOL," --because of course I am! I am really fucking cool, plus I helped to found the AO3 and all of that, so I am a high school rock star, and Tiberius is like, "please God save me from this hell" lol. Cause honestly there really is nothing worse than having a cool mom, I do get that, but I tell him he'll appreciate it later, when I'm dead.)
The Day in Spikedluv (Tuesday, Aug 12)
Aug. 13th, 2025 07:14 amspikedluvI hit Walmart and the Dollar Tree while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park.
I did two loads of laundry (both washed, dried AND folded), hand-washed dishes, baked and cut up chicken for the dogs’ meals, scooped kitty litter, and shaved. I grilled steak for Pip’s supper.
I visited mom and finished the Clare Fergusson book.
Temps started out at 68.0(F) and reached 92.3. The temps should be a tad lower after this (low- to mid-80s for a few days) before dropping to mid-70s. We’ll see if that holds.
Mom Update:
Mom was very tired today. ( more back here )
I did two loads of laundry (both washed, dried AND folded), hand-washed dishes, baked and cut up chicken for the dogs’ meals, scooped kitty litter, and shaved. I grilled steak for Pip’s supper.
I visited mom and finished the Clare Fergusson book.
Temps started out at 68.0(F) and reached 92.3. The temps should be a tad lower after this (low- to mid-80s for a few days) before dropping to mid-70s. We’ll see if that holds.
Mom Update:
Mom was very tired today. ( more back here )
Wednesday @ 8:24 am
Aug. 13th, 2025 08:24 amalisxNot gonna lie, as someone who tends to wear "men’s" clothing, and having been in the UK recently, this was absolutely something I worried about.
Like this 90s sexploitation comedy universe TERFs apparently live in where men are constantly sneaking into women’s bathrooms and changerooms is entirely imaginary, but back here in the really real world the actual tangible harms of gender policing can and will come for you, and quicker than you realize, because they are by design about shrinking the presence of anyone who isn’t a masc cis man in public spaces.
The Day in Spikedluv (Monday, Aug 11)
Aug. 12th, 2025 07:26 amspikedluvPip had a procedure this morning, basically an endoscopy, to remove a nodule they’d found in a previous endoscopy. The annoying bit is that the doctor looked at it and said it didn’t need to be removed. Why did they schedule the procedure, then?!! (Pip’s regular gastro doc, the one who saw him back when he got really sick and diagnosed him with celiac, had this other doc look at the pictures he took AND the tests had already come back that it was benign, so why we needed to go through this I have no idea.) *deep sigh*
I did a load of laundry (washed, dried AND folded!!), hand-washed dishes, cut up chicken for dogs’ meals, scooped kitty litter, and showered. I also visited mom briefly and stopped at Stewart’s on the way home. I grilled country style pork ribs for supper.
I read more in the Clare Fergusson book.
Thank you for the additional birthday wishes fromadafrog, celli, cordeliadelayne, lunabee34, malinaldarose, pattrose, reeby10, silver_chipmunk, sperrywink, thatjustwontbreak, turps, umadoshi, and vysila.
I also forgot to mention that I received birthday wishes and an invite to breakfast from my used book store friends, so I'll be meeting them on Friday! I haven't seen them in a while. It still feels weird. BC (before Covid) we saw each other several times a week, now it's several times a year.
Temps started out at 63.3(F) and reached 93.2. Again, so hot. I think we have one more day where it’s going to be this hot, then around 80, then a full week of mid-70s. That’s gonna feel so strange.
Mom Update:
Mom had her chemo today and once again it started the process of her being knocked on her butt. ( more back here )
I did a load of laundry (washed, dried AND folded!!), hand-washed dishes, cut up chicken for dogs’ meals, scooped kitty litter, and showered. I also visited mom briefly and stopped at Stewart’s on the way home. I grilled country style pork ribs for supper.
I read more in the Clare Fergusson book.
Thank you for the additional birthday wishes from
adafrog, celli, cordeliadelayne, lunabee34, malinaldarose, pattrose, reeby10, silver_chipmunk, sperrywink, thatjustwontbreak, turps, umadoshi, and vysila.I also forgot to mention that I received birthday wishes and an invite to breakfast from my used book store friends, so I'll be meeting them on Friday! I haven't seen them in a while. It still feels weird. BC (before Covid) we saw each other several times a week, now it's several times a year.
Temps started out at 63.3(F) and reached 93.2. Again, so hot. I think we have one more day where it’s going to be this hot, then around 80, then a full week of mid-70s. That’s gonna feel so strange.
Mom Update:
Mom had her chemo today and once again it started the process of her being knocked on her butt. ( more back here )
Finished reading: Vermis I – lost dungeons and forbidden woods (Forsaken Edition)
Aug. 12th, 2025 06:30 pmTuesday @ 9:01 am
Aug. 12th, 2025 09:01 amalisxAnyway today I discovered there’s an idol waifu Cthulhu figure and never before have I considered myself the anime girl statue collecting type but . . . 
The Day in Spikedluv (Sunday, Aug 10)
Aug. 11th, 2025 10:47 amspikedluvI did two loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, cut up chicken for the dogs’ meals, and changed kitty litter.
We went to a local restaurant for supper to celebrate my birthday. (I had their fish and chips which I remembered fondly; they were good, but not as good as in my memory.) I also finished the Kindle cozy and started the next Clare Fergusson book.
I visited mom and got my birthday raspberry pie. (I've reached the big 6-0 today!) I also got pressies from mom, my sister A (who left the bag there yesterday) and my brother (who visited mom today). Lots of gift certificates: Amazon, Bath & Body, and Panera. I also got some candy (Andes mints), some lip balm, a scented candle (mango tangerine), and some sunflower themed stuff (a wind chime, a mug, and a sun catcher) from one of Pip’s sisters.
I received a lot of birthday wishes from family on FB and from DW peepsangelofthenorth, angelskuuipo and desdemonaspace, so thank you for that!
Temps started out at 60.1(F) and reached 92.3.
Mom Update:
Mom was actually doing better today. ( more back here )
We went to a local restaurant for supper to celebrate my birthday. (I had their fish and chips which I remembered fondly; they were good, but not as good as in my memory.) I also finished the Kindle cozy and started the next Clare Fergusson book.
I visited mom and got my birthday raspberry pie. (I've reached the big 6-0 today!) I also got pressies from mom, my sister A (who left the bag there yesterday) and my brother (who visited mom today). Lots of gift certificates: Amazon, Bath & Body, and Panera. I also got some candy (Andes mints), some lip balm, a scented candle (mango tangerine), and some sunflower themed stuff (a wind chime, a mug, and a sun catcher) from one of Pip’s sisters.
I received a lot of birthday wishes from family on FB and from DW peeps
angelofthenorth, angelskuuipo and desdemonaspace, so thank you for that!Temps started out at 60.1(F) and reached 92.3.
Mom Update:
Mom was actually doing better today. ( more back here )