dorchadas | Reading

I Feel: busy

Everyone needs contact comfort sometimes. Not everyone has ample opportunities for this in facetime. So here is a chance for a cuddle party in cyberspace. Virtual cuddling can help people feel better.

We have a cuddle room that comes with fort cushions, fort frames, sheets for draping, and a weighted blanket. A nest full of colorful egg pillows sits in one corner. There is a basket of grooming brushes, hairbrushes, and styling combs. A bin holds textured pillows. There is a big basket of craft supplies along with art markers, coloring pages, and blank paper. The kitchen has a popcorn machine. Labels are available to mark dietary needs, recipe ingredients, and level of spiciness. Here is the bathroom, open to everyone. There is a lawn tent and an outdoor hot tub. Bathers should post a sign for nude or clothed activity. Come snuggle up!

lovelyangel

The View from Pike Place Market
Seattle, Washington • June 14, 2025
Nikon Z6 • NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S
f/4 @ 24mm • 1/2000s • ISO 100

On the second day of our two-day trip to Washington state, Jenni and I planned on a leisurely trip back home. We had planned a few stops.

( tl;dr: Jenni and I Visit Seattle, Washington )

ysabetwordsmith

I Feel: busy

Today is mostly sunny, humid, and hot. Yesterday it rained for half the day and into the night.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches. They've drained half the thistle feeder but I still need to refill that one.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 7/9/25 -- I filled the thistle feeder.

I've seen a male cardinal and a fox squirrel.

EDIT 7/9/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 7/9/25 -- I sprayed weedkiller on poison ivy around the yard.

EDIT 7/9/25 -- I potted up two apricot seeds.

liminalovertea

If you go east from Seattle on I-90, heading into the Cascades, you'll sometimes pass a sign that mentions the exit for Grey Falls, somewhere between Preston and Snoqualmie:

Grey Falls 3/4

Don't try and find it on your map app, or any older paper maps--it's not there.

( Read more... )

lovelyangel

2025 Edmonds Art Festival
Edmonds, Washington • June 13, 2025
iPhone 13 mini photo

(I am waaay behind on my journaling, and I rely on my blog as a compilation of memories I can refer to years down the road. It’s been almost a month since Jenni and Amy’s Excellent Adventure in Washington State. My schedule continues to be a mess.)

I had hoped to attend this year’s OCF with my friend Jenni, but she had a schedule conflict with a family wedding, so she had to skip OCF this year. To make up for missing out on that road trip, I suggested a road trip to Seattle to attend the Edmonds Art Festival. I had been to this festival just once – 20 Years Ago. Jenni had never been, and she agreed to go.

( tl;dr: Jenni and I Visit Edmonds, Washington )

ysabetwordsmith

I Feel: busy

Sunshine Revival Challenge 3: Food

Journaling prompt: What are your favorite summer-associated foods?

Creative prompt: Draw art of or make graphics of summer foods, or post your favorite summer recipes. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

This is actually from 7/7/25 but it wasn't up when I checked, and then the net was down.

( Read more... )

ysabetwordsmith

I Feel: busy

We went up to Champaign-Urbana today.

( Read more... )

conuly

Asked where I lived, was concerned that the answer is "Staten Island". FFS, it's not Siberia!

I need to start telling people I'm moving in with a friend in Tribeca. Just straight up lie.

captaincassidy

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

ysabetwordsmith

I Feel: busy

Today is mostly sunny and warm.

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

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 7/8/25 -- It rained for about half the day and into the night.

pshaw_raven

Now I know I'm starting to feel better. I'm obsessing over curry.
Specifically I want lamb vindaloo from Persis on Baymeadows Road. Five out of five chili peppers. "Are you sure you want it that hot?" Light me up, my man.

pshaw_raven

I Feel: drained

I probably should have updated before now, but I've been down with some sort of mystery illness. I started feeling vaguely unwell on Wednesday, and by Thursday afternoon I was feeling truly awful. I've been running a temperature this entire time, and that's been about the only thing I can tell you. I don't seem to have any symptoms, and fever isn't a symptom. Well, right now my ears feel strange, a little like there's cotton in them, or perhaps like when you go swimming and get a little water trapped in there.

Anyway, the only thing I've done all this time is try to rest. I was already exhausted by it on Friday but I feel utterly depleted now. All I have been able to do is try to remember to drink water. I haven't even been able to sustain enough focus to read. Sunday was probably the worst day, because I couldn't actually sleep, but didn't have the energy to do anything, so I sat on the couch and stared into space, or I laid in bed and stared into space. That was extra special fun since my brain took that opportunity to cook up every single worst-case scenario it could.

This morning my AM temperature was on par with pre-crud readings, but I plan to keep taking advil for a while. The body pain that came with this thing was horrifying and I really don't want that to come back. I also managed to perform two tasks without needing to rest in between. I'm finding my mind is clearer and my ability to focus is returning, so I've been trying to catch up on what's happened that's important - and I mean around here, like one of the tomato plants died, and Fox has applied insecticide to my hibiscus because they had aphids. I've also missed some virtual book club posts, haven't written anything, I have no bread, and I need to find out how my neighbor's daughter did in that 5k she wanted to run in. I just don't want to go near the neighbor and possibly give her and her whole family whatever I have.

“Darkness took me and I strayed away through thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and every day was as long as a life age of the earth... But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done."

conuly

Just went through the website and applied to everything I meet the minimum qualifications for, for what good it may do.

They could, in theory, save my information from one application to the next. They don't do that. They could also not require me to answer "where did you hear about this?" every time - but the joke's on them. "I went to your website and clicked on every job where I meet the minimum qualifications" is not an option, so I've just been lying and saying "hiring event" because that's the first choice. They will get no useful data from me, no thank you!

********************************

( Read more... )

conuly

( Cut for being perhaps a bit insensitive or factually wrong )

Also, two links where you can donate.

conuly

is the constant whiplash between panic and popcorn.

Right now I'm hovering over "popcorn" - new political parties? With added drama and infighting? LOL, okay, let's see how that works out for you!

(Look, I need a break from panic now and again, and I will take my fun where it appears.)

******************

( Read more... )

lovelyangel

Should we tell her that DSLRs are passé?
Ayumu Niikura
CITY the Animation, Episode 1

I used to start every anime season with an orderly sampling of every new show – and begin the evaluation of which shows I’ll follow through the season. I no longer have the time nor patience, and my schedule is highly stressed this month. At the moment I’m just randomly viewing shows, looking for quick decisions. Orderly, this is not.

However, there are some continuing series that I will definitely be watching. Most will fall into my Time Permitting list. Later on, I’ll figure out my mandatories. I don’t even have to sample the shows. So I’m seeding the Time Permitting list with:

Dan Da Dan S2 (Thu)
Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus (Sat)
New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (Wed)(Amazon Prime)
My Dress-Up Darling S2 (Sat)
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince... S2 (Wed)
The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 (Wed)

Special note for CITY the Animation. KyoAni is one of my favorite studios, and Sakuga Blog has done stellar work in doing a deep dive with CITY the Animation Production Notes 01. As always, their stuff is worth reading.

( New Shows I’ve Sampled, Below This Cut )

I’ve been too busy to do my final writeup for the Spring Anime Season. Sorry!

Bonus: Looking ahead – New Trailer for Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End S2

liminalovertea

I Feel: calm
Current Location: Home

I'm getting further in my current annotation project, and I'm finding that several chapters are actually quite short, so I'm thinking of consolidating some sets of chapters into single entries (ex. Chapters 3-5), and I think that will make the most sense for posts.

I discovered that I'm probably low on iron, so that's why I've been sluggish and battling moreso with shut-down depressive episodes and brain fog. I'm taking supplements and washing down with lemonade to help with absorption. While it still makes me nauseous at first, I'm able to function fully after about half an hour, which is a relief.

It's supposed to rain on Wednesday, which I am looking forward to. 80°+ F is entirely too warm for me. The AC is saving my life.

unicornduke

Hey all, if you'd like to join the crafting hangout, it is tonight from 6-8pm ET!

Video encouraged but not required!

Topic: Crafting Hangout

Time: Mondays 6:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Link

Meeting ID: 973 2674 2763

ysabetwordsmith

I Feel: busy

This poem is spillover from the June 3, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from

wyld_dandelyon. It also fills the "growth" square in my 6-2-25 card for the Pride Fest bingo. This poem has been sponsored by Anthony Barrette. It belongs to the series Daughters of the Apocalypse.

( Read more... )

ysabetwordsmith

I Feel: busy

Scientists’ top 10 bee-magnet blooms—turn any lawn into a pollinator paradise

Botanists from the University of Copenhagen and the UK set out to find the best flower combinations for bees and hoverflies.
Danish and Welsh botanists sifted through 400 studies, field-tested seed mixes, and uncovered a lineup of native and exotic blooms that both thrill human eyes and lure bees and hoverflies in droves, offering ready-made recipes for transforming lawns, parks, and patios into vibrant pollinator hotspots.

Below are the plants recommended for European and United Kingdom uses...

( Read more... )

ysabetwordsmith

I Feel: busy

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poem: "An Interest in the Affairs of Your Government"
Poem: "Incompetence, Sloppy Thinking, and Laziness"
Poem: "Always Surprised by Consequences"
Poem: "No Such Thing as Finished"
Geology
Birdfeeding
Today's Smoothie
Early Humans
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Government
Fireworks
Writing About Fireworks
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 7-4-25: Historical Fiction
Blazing the Trail: Celebrating Indigenous Fire Stewardship
Birdfeeding
Climate Change
Birdfeeding
Problem-Solving
Hard Things

"Philosophical Questions: Looks" has 41 comments. "Not a Destination, But a Process" has 146 comments. "The Democratic Armada of the Caribbean" has 95 comments.

sunshine_revival is running through July. See the schedule, meet the moderators, and use the master post to navigate the event. Meet new folks in the friending meme. Spread the word!

* Sunshine Revival Challenge 1: Light
Poem: "The Pleasure of Escaping the Responsibility"

* Sunshine Revival Challenge 2: Tunnel of Love
Poem: "Legs of Grass, Feet of Flowers"

summerofthe69 is now open! You can see the calendar here and the current themes are Tetris 69 and Body Worship 69.

"In the Heart of the Hidden Garden" is now complete! Lawrence shows Stan more of his favorite places.

The weather has been variable here. It rained yesterday and last night. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a pair of mourning doves, a male cardinal, a gray catbird, a fox squirrel, a skunk, and at least 1 probably 2 bats. Currently blooming: dandelions, pansies, violas, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, wild strawberries, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, impatiens, oxalis, moss rose, yarrow, anise hyssop, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, Asiatic lilies, cucumber, snowball bush, yellow squash, zucchini, morning glory, purple echinacea, narrow-leaf mountain mint, black-eyed Susan, yellow coneflower, wild bergamot, chicory, Queen Anne's lace, sunflowers, cup plant. Daylilies are done blooming. Cucumbers, tomatillo, and pepper have green fruit. The first 'Chocolate Sprinkles' tomato ripened and some other tomatoes are showing color. Wild strawberries, mulberries, peas, and blackberries are ripe. Black raspberries are done.

ysabetwordsmith

I Feel: busy

Today is partly sunny and warm. It rained yesterday and last night.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a male cardinal, and at least one mourning dove.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 7/7/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 7/7/25 -- I harvested a handful of peapods for supper. :D

EDIT 7/7/25 -- I took some pictures around the yard.

EDIT 7/7/25 -- I trimmed brush in the prairie garden.

The first of the gladioli are blooming in the telephone pole garden and notch of the prairie garden. A sunflower is blooming in the telephone pole garden too.

EDIT 7/7/25 -- I cut some of the brush into sticks for making bonfire cores.

I've seen at least 2 bats. I've seen several half-grown possums, one deceased, two alive.

Fireflies are coming out. Cicadas are singing.

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

unicornduke

when I was working at my previous job, I had been worried I had lost my work ethic, I didn't like working long hours and I didn't really feel motivated or like I was working that hard.

good news is that I was wrong. I do still have a work ethic and can work hard. bad news is that I'm working very hard.

today is technically my day off, we aren't open, we don't have groups out, we don't have workers so we can really be off work. I sprayed weeds in the blueberries all this morning with the backpack sprayer which is sweaty irritating work. I have to walk up and down each row of blueberries on both sides and carefully spot spray each weed (horsenettles were the big one to hit right now, but milkweed, knotweed, bindweed, ground elder are also big). the perennials are hard to get when we're open for customers because of re-entry intervals, so we're closed tomorrow too.

Then I went down to the creek, took some lunch and sat in the water for an hour. read a book. enjoyed the cool

We got a lot of stuff done this past week and had an enjoyable family party where I stayed up until midnight around the campfire chatting with my cousin, my gay cousin, gousin who is a delight and also a soil scientist. good stuff. also got some vegetables planted in extra plastic we laid for squash, so I'm pleased I'll have some stuff. I will plant some more things since there's still another 100 feet open.

I'm spending this afternoon goofing off and doing fun stuff, then groceries first thing tomorrow then back to work work. Thursday night, I have dinner planned with a friend.

Before we get wildly busy with fall stuff, I want to take a trip away, maybe late august when everyone will be getting back to school. I'm thinking somewhere cooler, like the adirondacks or maine or something. maybe see if my sister wants to come along. This needs to be planned between my parents hopefully going somewhere and the open house they're going to have with the event business. As I checked my calendar, it looks like there's an SCA event I wanted to go to late in August, so maybe I'll roll that in somehow. Might be the wrong direction but worth a look.

ysabetwordsmith

I Feel: busy

These are the notes for "An Interest in the Affairs of Your Government."

( Read more... )

ysabetwordsmith

I Feel: busy

This poem is spillover from the March 4, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from

wyld_dandelyon. It also fills the "Secrets" square in my 3-1-25 card for the Tolkien Bingo Fest. This poem has been sponsored by Anthony Barrette. It belongs to the series Polychrome Heroics.

( Read more... )

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dorchadas

July 2025

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Page Summary

ysabetwordsmith - Cuddle Party
lovelyangel - Washington State: Day 2 – Saturday
ysabetwordsmith - Birdfeeding
liminalovertea - Lore (Grey Falls): WELCOME TO GREY FALLS (est. 1853 - Population: 1,500)
lovelyangel - Washington State: Day 1 – Friday
ysabetwordsmith - Sunshine Revival Challenge 3: Food
ysabetwordsmith - Today's Adventures
conuly - Got a callback
captaincassidy - Boosty.to Withdrawals (Help)
ysabetwordsmith - Birdfeeding
pshaw_raven - (no subject)
pshaw_raven - Rumors of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
conuly - I've applied to a bunch of NYC government jobs today
conuly - I'm feeling slightly judgmental on the Texas flooding and I don't know if my judgment is merited
conuly - The absolute worst thing about the state of the world
lovelyangel - Anime Summer 2025: At the Start
liminalovertea - Update: Consolidating Chapters for Annotations
unicornduke - ack, sorry I forgot to post
ysabetwordsmith - Poem: "Tomato Seedlings in Tin Cans"
ysabetwordsmith - Bee Food Flowers
ysabetwordsmith - Monday Update 7-7-25
ysabetwordsmith - Birdfeeding
unicornduke - (no subject)
ysabetwordsmith - Notes for "An Interest in the Affairs of Your Government"
ysabetwordsmith - Poem: "An Interest in the Affairs of Your Government"

Another rainy day

Reading

Page Summary