In which there are nature and the study thereof
Mar. 4th, 2026 05:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spiralsheep- Birbs, 19 Feb 2026: As I scattered bird food an acrobatic female Dunnock flew cms in front of my legs to perch just inside the hedge but her male follower had to brake suddenly and veer off into the snow.
- Reading, February 2026 part 2 of 2: finished book 26, still no dnfs this year.
19. The Fossil Woman, by Tom Sharpe, 2020, 5/5
The best biography of professional palaeontologist Mary Anning imo.
20. The Stone Book Quartet, by Alan Garner, 1978, 5/5
A children's, historical-ish, composite novel (or collection of short stories). As good as the first time I read it (and garnering much the same reactions from me).
23. Physics for Cats, by Tom Gauld, 2025, 5/5
Another excellent collection of science-themed cartoons (or sort comics): "And then, as suddenly as he'd appeared, the masked botanist was gone, leaving the townspeople with only an enriched knowledge of local flora and fungi to remember him by."
24. The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, by India Holton, 2021, 5/5
A comedy, fantasy, romance novel, which does what it does as well as it can.
25. A Year with Gilbert White, the first great nature writer, by Jenny Uglow, 2025, 5/5
( Shorter: it's Jenny Uglow so it's a good biography. )
pg67: Each hanging catkin is a long cluster of around 240 minuscule flowers, formed the previous summer; the slightest breath of air makes them shiver, wafting dusty yellow pollen to another tree, sometimes quite far away. The female flowers appear as a green bud, but though each one contains up to fourteen flowers, only the styles poke out - delicate, brilliant red tubes no longer than a millimetre or two - with a sticky stigma to catch the wind-blown pollen. From these, the clusters of hazel nuts grow. A strange, elaborate magic.
pg334 found poem (so many, lol):
My well rises.
My hedges are beautifully tinged.
Wood-larks sing sweetly
thro' this soft weather.
No swallows.
26. Drawn to Nature, Gilbert White and the artists, by Simon Martin, 2021, 5/5
An art exhibition catalogue but published as a normal format hardback book.
( Contents under cut. )
- Reading, February 2026 part 2 of 2: finished book 26, still no dnfs this year.
19. The Fossil Woman, by Tom Sharpe, 2020, 5/5
The best biography of professional palaeontologist Mary Anning imo.
20. The Stone Book Quartet, by Alan Garner, 1978, 5/5
A children's, historical-ish, composite novel (or collection of short stories). As good as the first time I read it (and garnering much the same reactions from me).
23. Physics for Cats, by Tom Gauld, 2025, 5/5
Another excellent collection of science-themed cartoons (or sort comics): "And then, as suddenly as he'd appeared, the masked botanist was gone, leaving the townspeople with only an enriched knowledge of local flora and fungi to remember him by."
24. The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, by India Holton, 2021, 5/5
A comedy, fantasy, romance novel, which does what it does as well as it can.
25. A Year with Gilbert White, the first great nature writer, by Jenny Uglow, 2025, 5/5
( Shorter: it's Jenny Uglow so it's a good biography. )
pg67: Each hanging catkin is a long cluster of around 240 minuscule flowers, formed the previous summer; the slightest breath of air makes them shiver, wafting dusty yellow pollen to another tree, sometimes quite far away. The female flowers appear as a green bud, but though each one contains up to fourteen flowers, only the styles poke out - delicate, brilliant red tubes no longer than a millimetre or two - with a sticky stigma to catch the wind-blown pollen. From these, the clusters of hazel nuts grow. A strange, elaborate magic.
pg334 found poem (so many, lol):
My well rises.
My hedges are beautifully tinged.
Wood-larks sing sweetly
thro' this soft weather.
No swallows.
26. Drawn to Nature, Gilbert White and the artists, by Simon Martin, 2021, 5/5
An art exhibition catalogue but published as a normal format hardback book.
( Contents under cut. )
Audiobooks - January and February 2026
Mar. 4th, 2026 02:14 pmsmallhobbitI started the year with only 11 books on my TBL list, plus 2 pre-orders, which has now grown to 13 books and 3 pre-orders, but I should clear most, if not all, by the end of the year.
I've had 2 DNFs, and here are the first 5 I've heard:
Parsley Sidings a BBC radio series, full cast
Typical radio comedy from the early 1970s which still made me laugh. I listened on and off for a few months, and enjoyed the nostalgia of my early teens.
A Three Dog Problem by S J Bennett, read by Samantha Bond
The second in the series where Queen Elizabeth II solves crimes around the palace. I'm a republican (Small R!) but find the series entertaining and relaxing. I have the next two in the series which I shall be listening to later in the year.
The Happiness List by Annie Lyons, read by Jaimi Barbakoff
I enjoy books by Annie Lyons, again easy listening and the people seem very real, even if the Happy Ever After is not entirely realistic - but then, why not have a happy ending for characters we care about? The Happiness List is about three women who each have their own, very different problems, and are challenged to make a list of things which make them happy over a ten week course. The items which they include in their individual lists are very relatable.
Dishonour and Obey by Graham Brack, read by Alex Wyndham
The next Master Mercurius title, where Mercurius joins a diplomatic mission to England to arrange the marriage of Princess Mary, the daughter of James, Duke of York, to Stadhouder William of Orange. There's murder, espionage and general skulduggery. I shall be adding the next book to my list soon.
Death and Boules by Ian Moore, read by Ian Moore
The latest Follet Valley mystery. As bizarre as ever, this time involving, amongst other things, a pétanque tournament. I hope there are more, I really enjoyed listening to this one.
I've had 2 DNFs, and here are the first 5 I've heard:
Parsley Sidings a BBC radio series, full cast
Typical radio comedy from the early 1970s which still made me laugh. I listened on and off for a few months, and enjoyed the nostalgia of my early teens.
A Three Dog Problem by S J Bennett, read by Samantha Bond
The second in the series where Queen Elizabeth II solves crimes around the palace. I'm a republican (Small R!) but find the series entertaining and relaxing. I have the next two in the series which I shall be listening to later in the year.
The Happiness List by Annie Lyons, read by Jaimi Barbakoff
I enjoy books by Annie Lyons, again easy listening and the people seem very real, even if the Happy Ever After is not entirely realistic - but then, why not have a happy ending for characters we care about? The Happiness List is about three women who each have their own, very different problems, and are challenged to make a list of things which make them happy over a ten week course. The items which they include in their individual lists are very relatable.
Dishonour and Obey by Graham Brack, read by Alex Wyndham
The next Master Mercurius title, where Mercurius joins a diplomatic mission to England to arrange the marriage of Princess Mary, the daughter of James, Duke of York, to Stadhouder William of Orange. There's murder, espionage and general skulduggery. I shall be adding the next book to my list soon.
Death and Boules by Ian Moore, read by Ian Moore
The latest Follet Valley mystery. As bizarre as ever, this time involving, amongst other things, a pétanque tournament. I hope there are more, I really enjoyed listening to this one.
2 Rec lists from events I recently took part in
Mar. 4th, 2026 01:51 pmmaevedarcy posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
recthethingFebruary was full of fan events! I'm still browsing through some collections, so here's two of the rec list I made recently for those:
Bitesize Erotic Horror Flash Exchange Recs
Warning for disturbing topics as the topic of this flash exchange was Erotic HorrorFandoms featured in this list:
- The forbidden book
- NoPixel
- Werewolves of London - Warren Zevon (Song)
- In a Week - Hozier (Song)
Candy Hearts Exchange 2026 Rec List
Fandoms featured in this list:
- Teen Wolf
- Carmilla- J. Sheridan Le Fanu
- Doctor Who (2005)
- Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
- Interview with the Vampire (TV 2022)
- Raven Cycle - Maggie Stiefvater
- Torchwood
- Venom
- Heated Rivalry
What month is it, anyway?
Mar. 4th, 2026 10:37 amlydamorehouse Apologies for the long silence.
I've mostly just been keeping on keeping on, as they say. I'm still regularly going to my mutual aid place, the Food Communists. Their work continues apace, although Monday was fairly quiet, as such things go. By yesterday, the pace had picked back up, but they're closing today and tomorrow due to renovations at the church they work out of. So I have two days completely off! What will I even do with all that time? She asks, looking around at housework she's ignored for almost two months.
I'm still doing the school patrol (M-W) and mosque watching too. Although, at the mosque we have switched to evenings (and every day of the week) during Ramadan at the request of the imam. I have not been standing outside every single night of the week, however. I signed up to be the point person on Fridays and Saturdays, but am otherwise trying to let other people fill the slots. We are getting some help from neighborhoods outside of our own, so it's looking a little less sparse than the last time I reported, by all accounts.
I'm noticing some cautious hope during the school patrol, too. More moms are willing to bring their very little (pre-school aged) ones with them when they come to meet elder siblings at the bus stop. Very heartening. It does feel like the cloud is lifting finally.
I'm starting to be able to write a little bit again, which is lovely.naomikritzer and I started working on something together that has lit a fire under me. We'll see what, if anything comes of that, but it's been nice to feel inspired again. Hopefully, that will bleed into the Boy. net sequel (and it should. I tend to be like that. Writing anywhere seems to mean writing everywhere. I am, apparently, polyamorous in my wirting style--I have more to give than to just one project!)
We woke up today to dense fog. Shawn was actually telling me that she hoped it would last all day, because she really wants to go for a walk in it s she can pretend we live on heather-strewn moors.
How've you been?
I guess it is Wednesday? I have nothing of note to mention in terms of things I've read. I've been listening to an extremely boring podcast about the Roman Empire--it's exactly my speed right now, but it's run by a university and I have notice a distinct lack of salacious factoids about what the Romans got up to... ah, well. It helps me get to sleep and that's really what I am using it for.
What about you? Listening to or reading anything fun?
I've mostly just been keeping on keeping on, as they say. I'm still regularly going to my mutual aid place, the Food Communists. Their work continues apace, although Monday was fairly quiet, as such things go. By yesterday, the pace had picked back up, but they're closing today and tomorrow due to renovations at the church they work out of. So I have two days completely off! What will I even do with all that time? She asks, looking around at housework she's ignored for almost two months.
I'm still doing the school patrol (M-W) and mosque watching too. Although, at the mosque we have switched to evenings (and every day of the week) during Ramadan at the request of the imam. I have not been standing outside every single night of the week, however. I signed up to be the point person on Fridays and Saturdays, but am otherwise trying to let other people fill the slots. We are getting some help from neighborhoods outside of our own, so it's looking a little less sparse than the last time I reported, by all accounts.
I'm noticing some cautious hope during the school patrol, too. More moms are willing to bring their very little (pre-school aged) ones with them when they come to meet elder siblings at the bus stop. Very heartening. It does feel like the cloud is lifting finally.
I'm starting to be able to write a little bit again, which is lovely.
naomikritzer and I started working on something together that has lit a fire under me. We'll see what, if anything comes of that, but it's been nice to feel inspired again. Hopefully, that will bleed into the Boy. net sequel (and it should. I tend to be like that. Writing anywhere seems to mean writing everywhere. I am, apparently, polyamorous in my wirting style--I have more to give than to just one project!)We woke up today to dense fog. Shawn was actually telling me that she hoped it would last all day, because she really wants to go for a walk in it s she can pretend we live on heather-strewn moors.
How've you been?
I guess it is Wednesday? I have nothing of note to mention in terms of things I've read. I've been listening to an extremely boring podcast about the Roman Empire--it's exactly my speed right now, but it's run by a university and I have notice a distinct lack of salacious factoids about what the Romans got up to... ah, well. It helps me get to sleep and that's really what I am using it for.
What about you? Listening to or reading anything fun?
February Yarns
Mar. 4th, 2026 04:19 pmbookscorpion posting in everykindofcraftI decided to bring my electric spinning wheel home after keeping it at my partner's house, in an effort to stop myself from refreshing the same four websites all the time. It has worked out great and I am making a dent in my stash! It's a very small wheel, an EEW Nano, so I put it on my lap desk while I sit on the couch on an old pillowcase to catch fibre fuzz, and also because I can fold the pillow case around it and put it aside easily.
I finished three small batches of yarn, pictures under the cut:
( Read more... )
Expectation
Mar. 4th, 2026 08:18 amrizzy_rosie8 posting in poetryThe well shall not
Dry up
The river shall not
Stop running
So long as we are clouds
And our hopes are drops of rain.
- Fouzi El-Asmar
Dry up
The river shall not
Stop running
So long as we are clouds
And our hopes are drops of rain.
- Fouzi El-Asmar
In which there are books and looks in a Darkwood review round-up
Mar. 4th, 2026 04:01 pmspiralsheepA mild horror-themed post for you to skip. :-)
- Cute Ceriodaphnia water flea (wikipedia) cosplaying as a screaming ghost in a nice comfy empire-line patchwork dress.
- Another Daphnia water flea (wikipedia) ghost planning to lay her eggs soon... somewhere very near you.... ;-)
- Reading, February 2026 part 1 of 2: the Darkwood series.
18. Darkwood, Darkwood 1, by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, 2019, 4/5
The author is better known for her contributions to Horrible Histories and various topical satire shows including The Now Show so she's well equipped to write a satirical fantasy novel critiquing anglophone western culture, as it slithers towards the far right, through the medium of a "middle grade and up" novel reclaiming populist fairytale motifs. The motivations that cause many ordinary people to accept creeping fascism are explored through fear of difference, and an army marching to the rhythm of "Something must be done. Something must be done." The main characters include step-parents who're doing their best, girls who do maths and engineering, boys who do witchcraft; and Snow, the White Knight, who has been "living as a Dwarf" for years. Snow and Buttercup, the Cake Witch, share some Very Special Smiles. I additionally enjoyed the in-jokes about the Bin Men who must have offerings left out every Monday night, and gossiping Mother Goggins (Postman Pat shoutout), and the many humorous one-liners and puns, e.g. chapter titles: The Spider Who Came in from the Cold; and Run, Forest, Run. The plotting and pacing of the ending didn't fully work for me (the fascists are mostly talked out of their fanatical murderous hate and That One Guy who can't be talked around seals his own fate so Our Heroes keep their hands clean and their hats white) and the cliffhanger for the second book was as irritating as such ploys always are so 4/5.
21. Such Big Teeth, Darkwood 2, by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, 2020, 4/5
The fascists continue to back down, and chat, and walk away, and fail to be convincingly murdery enough, so the protags can survive encounters and stroll away with unambiguously clean hands. And when the fash with comparatively high tech weapons, including a flying boat, set an ambush they bring melee weapons instead of bows which is wholly unrealistic. Their elections, during which blustering male "orange" candidate stands against a mumsy female "green"* candidate (who is very much a lesser EVIL in this book - the use of "green" here being the one truly bum note from a UK point of view), are as rigged as democracy in our world though. And fear of the Other is used to justify fascist control as always. Apart from my few quibbles the writing is funny and the protags have their hearts in good places. A transgendered werewolf is added to the main characters.
22. The Glass Coffin, Darkwood 3, by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, 2021, 4/5
( One paragraph cut for spoilery details. )
A consistent 4/5 for each novel and the whole series.
Warning for irritation to people who have to deal with real-world fascists and know they can't be talked around (see western politics).
- Cute Ceriodaphnia water flea (wikipedia) cosplaying as a screaming ghost in a nice comfy empire-line patchwork dress.
- Another Daphnia water flea (wikipedia) ghost planning to lay her eggs soon... somewhere very near you.... ;-)
- Reading, February 2026 part 1 of 2: the Darkwood series.
18. Darkwood, Darkwood 1, by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, 2019, 4/5
The author is better known for her contributions to Horrible Histories and various topical satire shows including The Now Show so she's well equipped to write a satirical fantasy novel critiquing anglophone western culture, as it slithers towards the far right, through the medium of a "middle grade and up" novel reclaiming populist fairytale motifs. The motivations that cause many ordinary people to accept creeping fascism are explored through fear of difference, and an army marching to the rhythm of "Something must be done. Something must be done." The main characters include step-parents who're doing their best, girls who do maths and engineering, boys who do witchcraft; and Snow, the White Knight, who has been "living as a Dwarf" for years. Snow and Buttercup, the Cake Witch, share some Very Special Smiles. I additionally enjoyed the in-jokes about the Bin Men who must have offerings left out every Monday night, and gossiping Mother Goggins (Postman Pat shoutout), and the many humorous one-liners and puns, e.g. chapter titles: The Spider Who Came in from the Cold; and Run, Forest, Run. The plotting and pacing of the ending didn't fully work for me (the fascists are mostly talked out of their fanatical murderous hate and That One Guy who can't be talked around seals his own fate so Our Heroes keep their hands clean and their hats white) and the cliffhanger for the second book was as irritating as such ploys always are so 4/5.
21. Such Big Teeth, Darkwood 2, by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, 2020, 4/5
The fascists continue to back down, and chat, and walk away, and fail to be convincingly murdery enough, so the protags can survive encounters and stroll away with unambiguously clean hands. And when the fash with comparatively high tech weapons, including a flying boat, set an ambush they bring melee weapons instead of bows which is wholly unrealistic. Their elections, during which blustering male "orange" candidate stands against a mumsy female "green"* candidate (who is very much a lesser EVIL in this book - the use of "green" here being the one truly bum note from a UK point of view), are as rigged as democracy in our world though. And fear of the Other is used to justify fascist control as always. Apart from my few quibbles the writing is funny and the protags have their hearts in good places. A transgendered werewolf is added to the main characters.
22. The Glass Coffin, Darkwood 3, by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, 2021, 4/5
( One paragraph cut for spoilery details. )
A consistent 4/5 for each novel and the whole series.
Warning for irritation to people who have to deal with real-world fascists and know they can't be talked around (see western politics).
Day 3 works are now live!!!
Mar. 4th, 2026 10:29 amautobotscoutriella posting in purimgiftsAnd you can find them right here! Treats will be revealed in a few hours!
![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
Wednesday Word: Feijoada
Mar. 4th, 2026 08:15 amcalzephyr posting in 1word1dayFeijoada - noun.
Today we travel to Brazil to learn about its national dish, feijoada. The Brazilian version of this Portuguese dish (called feijoada à brasileira in Portuguese, or "Brazilian-style"). This stew consists of black beans, beef, and pork and it served with rice, collard greens, sliced oranges, to name a few sides.
Today we travel to Brazil to learn about its national dish, feijoada. The Brazilian version of this Portuguese dish (called feijoada à brasileira in Portuguese, or "Brazilian-style"). This stew consists of black beans, beef, and pork and it served with rice, collard greens, sliced oranges, to name a few sides.
By Bradleyzm - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Paul Ference for MN
Mar. 3rd, 2026 02:58 pmcosmolinguistI am not surprised at all that someone is gonna try to primary Klobuchar. I'm only mildly surprised it's someone I know online because he's on the same fedi instance as me. I just know him as the Cookie Mom and now he's doing a new thing!
He's campaigning on abolishing the Department of Homeland Security, bringing our neighbors home, and not taking the support of the DFL base for granted.
Leese Webster by Ursula K. Le Guin (1979)
Mar. 4th, 2026 10:02 ampauraqueLe Guin wrote a dozen or so picture books in her career, and several of them are out of print, including this one about a spider who spins artistic webs. I was able to determine that a library about an hour away from me has a copy, so I took a field trip. I couldn't check the book out because I'm not a resident, but since it's a picture book, I just read it, covertly took some photos, and then left.
The story is plainly an allegory for the life of an artist and her struggle to balance creative fulfillment, the desire for recognition, and the inconvenient reality that she also has to, like, eat. ( cut for spoilers, if spoilers for a picture book are a concern )
This book is certainly suggestive of Le Guin's early experiences as a writer and how she may have been feeling about where she was in her career at this time. I'm glad I went out of my way to track it down.
The story is plainly an allegory for the life of an artist and her struggle to balance creative fulfillment, the desire for recognition, and the inconvenient reality that she also has to, like, eat. ( cut for spoilers, if spoilers for a picture book are a concern )
This book is certainly suggestive of Le Guin's early experiences as a writer and how she may have been feeling about where she was in her career at this time. I'm glad I went out of my way to track it down.
WIP Challenge Check-in, Day 4 -- Wednesday
Mar. 4th, 2026 08:38 amlinaewen posting in writethisfanficHello on Wednesday! How are things going in the world of fic?
Did you write?
- Yes!
- No!
- Not yet!
If yes, what kind of writerly activity did you engage in? How do you feel about it?
If no, what were the obstacles/situations that affected your writerly pursuits? What will you do differently tomorrow to get more writing done?
If not yet, because the day hasn't gotten going yet, what kind of writing activity are you planning (or hoping) to accomplish?
Did you write?
- Yes!
- No!
- Not yet!
If yes, what kind of writerly activity did you engage in? How do you feel about it?
If no, what were the obstacles/situations that affected your writerly pursuits? What will you do differently tomorrow to get more writing done?
If not yet, because the day hasn't gotten going yet, what kind of writing activity are you planning (or hoping) to accomplish?
“sit down girl! i think i love you! / no get up, girl! show me what you can do!”
Mar. 4th, 2026 07:25 amlarryhammerHave His Carcase has one of the classic opening paragraphs of literature:
---L.
Subject quote from ABC, Jackson 5.
The best remedy for a bruised heart is not, as so many people seem to think, repose upon a manly bosom. Much more efficacious are honest work, physical activity, and the sudden acquisition of wealth. After being acquitted of murdering her lover, and, indeed, in consequence of that acquittal, Harriet Vane found all three specifics abundantly at her disposal; and although Lord Peter Wimsey, with a touching faith in tradition, persisted day in and day out in presenting the bosom for her approval, she showed no inclination to recline upon it.That’s up there with Pride and Prejudice.
---L.
Subject quote from ABC, Jackson 5.
I'm Waiting for You And Other Stories by Kim Bo-Young
Mar. 4th, 2026 08:53 amjames_davis_nicoll
Two pair of linked speculative fiction stories.
I'm Waiting for You And Other Stories by Kim Bo-Young
FTH offerings - Bidding open
Mar. 4th, 2026 06:54 amyuuagoAll right! Bidding is open in the FTH charity auction! Hooray. It closes 8PM EST March 07.
My offering page is over here and as a reminder I'm offering up to 5k of Hetalia, Promare, and basically any fandom I've written before.
The list of all fandoms is over here if you want to see what else is on offer.
Very excited! I haven't done much browsing yet; only bid on one thing, and was outbid almost immediately. Will have to take a closer look once I have a moment. :V
My offering page is over here and as a reminder I'm offering up to 5k of Hetalia, Promare, and basically any fandom I've written before.
The list of all fandoms is over here if you want to see what else is on offer.
Very excited! I haven't done much browsing yet; only bid on one thing, and was outbid almost immediately. Will have to take a closer look once I have a moment. :V