Permaculture

Jul. 19th, 2025 03:59 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
THE MINI FOREST - Rewilding using the Miyawaki Method

Terrell Wong is about to plant 100 trees in her small Toronto backyard, a dense mini forest based on the Miyawaki Method. What at first seems like a simple act soon evolves into a complex story about dirt, lawns, fungus, wildlife, native species, and finally the human brain. An anti-lawn anthem from director David Hartman, The Mini Forest explores this innovative form of afforestation and the importance of restoring the native woodlands that once covered so much of Canada and the World.

Read more... )

Book Beat: Jane Austen, Pugs, & More

Jul. 19th, 2025 08:00 am
[syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed

Posted by Amanda

Book Beat aims to highlight other books that we may hear about through friends, social media, or other sources. We could see a gorgeous ad! Or find a new-to-us author on a list of underrated romances! Think of Book Beat as Teen Beat or Tiger Beat, but for books. And no staples to open to get the fold-out poster.

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Roazkis

Author: Caitlin Roazkis
Released: May 27, 2025 by Titan Books
Genre: ,

From the NYT-bestselling author of DreadfulBig Little Lies goes to magic school, cozy fantasy perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Olivia Atwater and Heather Fawcett. Featuring orange sprayed and stencilled edges, with magic symbols, unicorns and baked goods from the book.

Two parents and their recently-bitten-werewolf daughter try to fit into a privileged New England society of magic aristocracy. But deadly terrors await them – ancient prophecies, remorseless magical trials, hidden conspiracies and the PTA bake sale.

When Vivian’s kindergartner, Aria, gets bitten by a werewolf, she is rapidly inducted into the hidden community of magical schools. Reeling from their sudden move, Vivian finds herself having to pick the right sacrificial dagger for Aria, keep stocked up on chew toys, and play PTA politics with sirens and chthonic nymphs and people who literally can set her hair on fire.

As Vivian careens from hellhounds in the school corridors to demons at the talent show, she races to keep up with all the arcane secrets of her new society—shops only accessible by magic portal, the brutal Trials to enter high school, and the eternal inferno that is the parents’ WhatsApp group.

And looming over everything is a prophecy of doom that sounds suspiciously like it’s about Aria. Vivian might be facing the end of days, just as soon as she can get her daughter dressed and out of the door…

This author’s debut, Dreadful, was recommended in the comments when we featured it on sale. I’m very curious how her follow-up will do!

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Pugs and Kisses

Pugs and Kisses by Farrah Rochon

Author: Farrah Rochon
Released: July 15, 2025 by Forever
Genre: ,
Series: Doggone Delightful #2

From the New York Times bestselling author of Almost There, a second chance romance between two dog lovers, perfect for readers of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory.  

From the outside, veterinarian Evie Williams appears to have the perfect but boring life. She is desperate to figure out a way to shake it up, but gets more than she bargained for when she finds her fiancé in bed with another woman. Suddenly, Evie is without a fiancé or a job, and isn’t sure what her next steps should be. That is, until her college crush, Bryson Mitchell, returns to town.

Now, a nationally recognized veterinary surgeon, Bryson is stunned when he encounters Evie Williams for the first time in half a decade. When they learn the animal shelter where they used to volunteer is in danger of closing, the two must work together to save it. It has Bryson wondering, can he and Evie also save the friendship they once shared and finally bring it to the next level?

Crushes, forced proximity, and some very cute dogs. 

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Simple Pleasures

Simple Pleasures by Emma Fontanella

Author: Emma Fontanella
Released: October 24, 2023 by DK
Genre:

Rediscover the joy of cooking simple food using fresh, everyday ingredients.

With easy recipes and time-saving techniques for your favorite pastries, breads, cakes, pasta, pizza, cookies, and more, you’ll find something to satisfy your sweet tooth—or your carb cravings.

Cooking and baking don’t have to be time consuming or difficult. With the right techniques, even the most daunting dishes can be simple to master. Chef Emma Fontanella is known for her ability to translate complex methods into approachable recipes that yield amazing results. Utilizing the conveniences of a modern kitchen, she has developed an indispensable collection of classic desserts, comfort food favorites, and everyday meals, all without sacrificing texture or flavor.

Indulge in the simple pleasure of comfort classics such as The Fluffiest Cinnamon Rolls and Melt-In-Your-Mouth Glazed Donuts, or curl up with a cozy bowl of One-Pot Mac and Cheese or Three-Ingredient Fettuccine Alfredo.

A section on foundational techniques provides detailed instruction on making and decorating cakes, working with yeast-raised doughs, preparing pasta, and more. Armed with Emma’s thoughtful instructions and labor-saving shortcuts, you’ll be able to execute everything from Cheater’s Artisan Croissants to a stunning fresh Strawberry Cake with confidence.

Over 100 recipes for breakfasts, breads and baked goods, pasta dishes, celebration cakes, and holiday baking.

Time-saving techniques and pastry chef shortcuts for restaurant-quality results with a fraction of the effort.

Superfast microwave snacks that cook in a minute.

Nostalgic childhood favorites, such as Instant Frozen Yogurt and Homemade Peanut Butter Cups.

Simple and indulgent? You have my attention. I’m tempted to borrow this one from the library for a test drive. 

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Lindz McLeod

Author: Lindz McLeod
Released: April 29, 2025 by Carina Adores
Genre: , ,
Series: Austentatious #1

Jane Austen meets Bridgerton in this sapphic romance between Charlotte Lucas and Mary Bennet that begins four years after the end of Pride and Prejudice.

When Mr. Collins dies after just four years of marriage, Charlotte is lost. While not exactly heartbroken, she will soon have to quit the parsonage that has become her home. In desperate need of support, she writes to her best friend, Lizzie. Unable to leave Pemberley, Lizzie sends her sister Mary Bennet in her stead.

To Charlotte’s surprise, Mary Bennet is nothing like she remembers. Mary’s discovery of academia and her interest in botany (as well as getting out from under her mother’s thumb) have caused her to flourish. Before long, Charlotte is enraptured, and with each stolen glance and whispered secret, their friendship quickly blossoms into something achingly real.

But when her time at the parsonage begins to dwindle and a potential suitor appears, Charlotte must make a choice—the safety and security of another husband, or a passionate life with Mary outside the confines of the ton’s expectations.

A f/f romance featuring Mary Bennet. I’m always on the fence about reimaginings with well-known literary characters, but I’m also not the target Austenite audience. 

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

mific: (Jack -  for crying out loud)
[personal profile] mific posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandoms: Stargate: SG-1, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Characters/Pairings: Jack O'Neill, Teal'c, Sam Carter, Daniel Jackson, Sarah Connor, Cameron, John Connor
Rating: Gen
Length: 1886
Creator Links: cofax on AO3
Themes: Working together, Action/adventure, Crossover, Time travel, Teams, Robots and Androids

Summary: SG-1 meets a very intense woman with two heavily-armed teenagers in a warehouse in Modesto.

Reccer's Notes: A short fic about Sarah Connor's team helping Jack's team while on a mission in the past, dealing with a Terminator. Gripping action - and an intriguing and worrying AU in terms of the future of this crossover Earth. As Jack says: "That's just ... great." (Need to log in to AO3 to read it)

Fanwork Links: Temporary Alliances

Ask The Maker

Jul. 19th, 2025 08:18 am
tinny: Something Else holding up its colorful drawing - "be different" (Default)
[personal profile] tinny posting in [community profile] icontalking
I've been extremely busy this past month, maybe you've been the same...

This year, we've had six makers sign up, but this is the first time that we've had no requests at all.

If you'd like to use the opportunity now to ask one of the makers something, you're welcome to do so.

Here's the post: https://icontalking.dreamwidth.org/94046.html

If you're a maker who'd really like to write a guide or a tutorial, how about you pick the icon you've made (maybe this year? or in the last 12 months?) that you yourself find the most interesting and write a tutorial about it to share with us. I for one am always happy to read guides and tutorials.

I will leave the round open for another week and then move on to the next activity.

If you want to make icons instead, our list is up to date, and the waterfall round is still open until then, too.

Torchwood: Fanfic: Spat in the eye

Jul. 19th, 2025 11:49 am
m_findlow: (Ianto Jones)
[personal profile] m_findlow posting in [community profile] fan_flashworks
Title: Spat in the eye
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,385 words
Content notes: None
Author notes: Written for Challenge 485 - Face
Summary: Ianto is accustomed to less than friendly inmates, though some prove more painful than others.

Read more... )

Survival Skills

Jul. 18th, 2025 07:35 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Man Builds House Out of ABANDONED PALLETS in the Middle of the Forest in 121 Days

In this video you will see how I built a house from free pallets by myself near the Samotochka River. From start to finish - life in the forest, survival, manual work without power tools. Everything was done only with the help of hand tools and natural materials that I could find around. This house by the river became a place for relaxation, silence and solitude away from civilization.

Read more... )

Mary by seanpgilroy (SFW)

Jul. 19th, 2025 01:21 pm
mific: (Sinners)
[personal profile] mific posting in [community profile] fanart_recs
 Fandom: Sinners
Characters/Pairing/Other Subject: Mary
Content Notes/Warnings: lots of blood!
Medium: digital art
Artist on DW/LJ: n/a
Artist Website/Gallery: seanpgilroy on tumblr
Why this piece is awesome: This one is very much in the horror genre - Mary after she's been turned, grinning, with bloody teeth, blood all down her front. The drawing is very accomplished, and it packs a dramatic punch, especially as it's grayscale apart from the blood.
Link: Mary

Hood River

Jul. 18th, 2025 08:06 pm
yourlibrarian: TIE fighter Sunset (NAT-TIEfighterSunset-fuesch)
[personal profile] yourlibrarian posting in [community profile] common_nature


Our destination for day 2 was Hood River. We loved this spot, both because of the view and the convenience of its location, parking and our rooms over the breakfast area.

This photo was the view from one of our rooms. It was not only a pretty view but one that changed all day long, as people at the inlet end point took kayaking, paddleboard and canoeing classes. I'd never seen a motorized paddleboard before but they were in use too, along with jet skis out on the river and parasailers.

We also got to watch birds diving for food, and trains and cargo barges go by on the river. We even saw a cruise ship once!

Read more... )
rocky41_7: (Default)
[personal profile] rocky41_7 posting in [community profile] booknook
Title: The Sapling Cage
Author: Margaret Killjoy
Genre: Fantasy, young adult (imo)

Oof. Today I threw in the towel on Margaret Killjoy's The Sapling Cage because I'd rather be alone with my thoughts than sit through another three hours of this book. This is a fantasy book about a "boy," Lorel, who disguises herself as her female friend to join a witches' coven (She's a transgirl, but her journey on that understanding is part of the book, and she refers to herself as a boy for much of the story.)

First, I will say that I think Lorel is a protagonist written with love; clearly Killjoy wanted her to be relatable and sympathetic, and someone eager for a trans fantasy protag may be willing to forgive the book's many weaknesses for that. That said...

I was shocked to realize this book is not categorized as Young Adult/Youth literature. Lorel is 16 at the start of the book and she's very sixteen. She makes all the sorts of stupid, immature mistakes you would expect from a teenager, which makes her a realistic character, but also deeply frustrating to read as an adult, particularly since the first-person narration puts us right in her head. The book feels young even for a sixteen-year-old; it reads more like a preteen novel about teenagers.

Read more... )

juniperphoenix: Locke and Sayid walking through tall grass (LOST: I went swimming in the Caribbean)
[personal profile] juniperphoenix posting in [community profile] fanart_recs
Fandom: LOST
Characters/Pairing/Other Subject: Mr. Eko
Content Notes/Warnings: none
Medium: digital painting
Artist on DW/LJ: n/a
Artist Website/Gallery: Left-Profession-1865 on Reddit

Why this piece is awesome: Eko sits in the gloom of the jungle, looking up at the Beechcraft that played such a crucial role in his story. It's a very atmospheric piece with great use of light and shadow.

Link: Mr. Eko character poster

Collage Journaling: Medieval

Jul. 18th, 2025 08:02 pm
stonepicnicking_okapi: journal (journal)
[personal profile] stonepicnicking_okapi
I love this washi tape of hanging flowers.

Into the Void

Jul. 18th, 2025 07:46 pm
stonepicnicking_okapi: ChopSuey (chopsuey)
[personal profile] stonepicnicking_okapi
The sky is falling. Again.

I woke up at 3:30 am to the sound of dripping. And, yes, water was pouring into the apartment from the ceiling (in a spot about 4 feet from where the ceiling caved in three weeks ago).

At 5 pm (after an online request, a visit to the building office, and two phone calls), the maintenance decided to show up.

The upstairs apartment is vacant (?!) and the hot water tank burst. The water was turned off but the tank won't be replaced until next week (I'll believe it when I see it). Their tank, not ours, but that means residual dripping for a long time.

I've got a full-fledged auditory trigger now with the dripping. Add that to the sound of chainsaws.

And I'm getting some kind of tendonitis (pain in my inner left elbow and down to the hand, golfer's elbow) from taking care of client #1. It's a lot of tugging and pulling and yanking because of he's bed-bound and unable to move much.

But I made it through the first full week of work. And Minisculus passed to the next level of swimming so those are two good things.

Write Every Day: Day 18

Jul. 18th, 2025 04:29 pm
sanguinity: (writing - semicolon)
[personal profile] sanguinity
Intro/FAQ
Days 1-15

My check-in: Spent my writing time trying to figure out what the Thames Estuary looks like during the Vorkosigan Saga. At this point, I'm reasonably certain it's not an estuary at all...

Day 18: [personal profile] chinashop, [personal profile] sanguinity

Day 17: [profile] badlyknitted, [personal profile] brithistorian, [personal profile] callmesandyk, [personal profile] carenejeans, [personal profile] chinashop, [personal profile] cornerofmadness, [personal profile] glinda, [personal profile] goddess47, [personal profile] nafs, [personal profile] sanguinity, [personal profile] sylvanwitch, [personal profile] trobadora, [personal profile] yasaman

Day 16: [profile] badlyknitted, [personal profile] brithistorian, [personal profile] callmesandyk, [personal profile] carenejeans, [personal profile] china_shop, [personal profile] cornerofmadness, [personal profile] glinda, [personal profile] goddess47, [personal profile] luzula, [personal profile] nafs, [personal profile] sanguinity, [personal profile] sylvanwitch, [personal profile] the_siobhan, [personal profile] trobadora, [personal profile] yasaman, [personal profile] ysilme

When you check in, please use the most recent post and say what day(s) you’re checking in for. Remember you can drop in or out at any time, and let me know if I missed anyone!

Self-Care

Jul. 18th, 2025 06:18 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Tai chi, yoga, and jogging rival pills for beating insomnia

Findings back use of exercise as primary treatment strategy for poor sleep, say researchers.
Yoga, Tai Chi, walking, and jogging may be some of the best natural remedies for improving sleep and tackling insomnia, according to a large analysis comparing various treatments. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) remains effective, exercise-based approaches—especially Tai Chi—were shown to deliver significant improvements in total sleep time, efficiency, and reducing how long people stay awake after falling asleep. Yoga stood out for boosting overall restfulness, and jogging helped ease insomnia symptoms
.

Read more... )

🔊 Daily music

Jul. 18th, 2025 05:18 pm
bluapapilio: three figures building up a heart (polyamory)
[personal profile] bluapapilio
@ Spotify

I've been afraid all of my life
Crippled with anxiety, shame and doubt
And sometimes, sometimes I'd like to shout
At the top of my lungs and just let it out
🎤
First Aid Kit - Angel
[personal profile] infinitum_noctem posting in [community profile] fan_flashworks
Title: In Her Arms
Fandom: Women's Soccer RPF
Pairings: Hope Solo/Kelley O'Hara
Characters: Hope Solo, Kelley O'Hara
Rating: G
Length: 76 words
Summary: Hope breaks down, and Kelley is there to hold her.

Read more... )

Birdfeeding

Jul. 18th, 2025 04:35 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is mostly sunny, muggy, and sweltering. :P  It rained yesterday evening.

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

I put out water for the birds. 

EDIT 7/18/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 7/18/25 -- I picked 2 yellow pear and a round yellow tomato from the septic garden.  The yellow pears are considerably bigger than last year's which were more cherry size than salad size.

Zinnias and garlic chives are blooming.  :D

The white Toscana strawberry pot got knocked over, so I had to put more potting soil in that.  The pink one has sent out a runner!  :D  I'll have to keep an eye on it and see about propagating that.

EDIT 7/18/25 -- I planted a wild senna and a purple coneflower beside the barrel garden.  These were rescued from the lawn near the wildflower garden.

EDIT 7/18/25 -- I filled a couple more pots with several wild senna plants from the lawn around the wildflower garden.

The mower is back, but the forecast still calls for days of rain.

EDIT 7/18/25 -- I refilled the hopper feeder and walked around the yard a bit.

I am done for the night.

Short king of puns

Jul. 18th, 2025 09:05 pm
[personal profile] cosmolinguist

Me: starts to type "transmasc"

Me: thinks Wait is that right? More precisely, what I want to talk about here is people who take testosterone. Of course I don't want to imply that trans = hormones, but I also am not talking about all people with testosterone-dominant endocrine systems, the group I'm talking about is specifically those of us...on our second...puberty...

Me: types "second-puberT"

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cmk418

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