Lemon, Boss 1
Jul. 18th, 2025 01:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
battleshipmod posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
battleshipexSuccess, you’ve found all the vegetables! You’ve also found hot dogs, which does seem odd to pull out of a garden plot, but everyone else seems to think it’s fine? You hand them to your manager, who just has time to say “this is fantastic” before the earth shakes.
“And you’re just in time to help with the lunch rush!” Mr. Snikkit enthuses, putting a pair of yellow sunglasses on. The front door slams open and a crowd shoves into the place – crystal sprites and tiny dragons jostling for position in the air, a dryad shoving tree boughs out of her face and already asking for a lemon-matcha latte, a lava mermaid in a heat-protective suit wheeling between the hordes of seated dwarves.
You’re about to rush to prep the vegetables, but Mr. Snikkit yells out one last order before he takes a position at the front counter. “Dirt goes to the dragon!”
Dirt goes to the – what? You look up just in time to see a yellow dragon the size of the cafe touch down in front of the building, coiling its tail around itself as it loafs like a cat. It looks expectantly in your direction, eyes whirling yellow-green, and well, you don’t have better plans. A wheelbarrow’s worth of dirt is dumped in front of the dragon, and you jump out of the way as it breathes out pure magic. An arm rises out of the dirt, and then another, as golems come to life and lumber in to support your manager during the lunch rush.
You see Mr. Snikkit welcome the golems, handing out aprons and notepads, and then point you emphatically in the direction of the musical instruments in the front window. “Listen to the Tart Tones while you wait” says a sign over the window, the text ornamented with a smiling lemon and musical notes. A golem shuffles up and hands you another sign, this one reading “Tips Appreciated”.
It looks like your position in the lunch rush has been assigned. Time to get out there and see how many songs you remember (and how many more you can improvise). How is this crowd going to take some Led Zeppelin, do you think?
Lemon Collection | Prompt Collection (AO3) | Prompt Collection (Automagic App)
( Boss 1 Rules )
Last call for sign-ups!
Jul. 18th, 2025 12:42 amiddybangmod posting in iddyiddybangbangLast call for sign-ups! The post will close when mods wake up on the 18th. That said, mods have been busier than usual this year and the iddy word didn’t get out quite as much — so if anyone finds the post closed and would like to join, it’s not too late! Feel free to email or PM us.
Thank you! :D
Thank you! :D
(no subject)
Jul. 17th, 2025 09:16 pmranunculusThe chain saw sharpener is now up with an extension cord run through the carport rafters to power it. Tomorrow I'll do my best to figure out how to actually use the darn thing. I have one chain that is so dull that it is a perfect practice piece. Anything I do to it should help. Once I get it figured out there is a big stack of dull chains to do, at least 10.
Yesterday the Gator got half a bath. The entire front got washed, the windshield was carefully washed and removed for the rest of the summer. The plexiglass windshield is so prone to scratches that I really can't clean it regularly. In the winter the windshield makes a huge difference, it is SO much warmer. In the summer it is completely unnecessary. I need to find a sheet to wrap it in so it doesn't get dirty or scratched...
The same two calves that got out on Wachs place, got into my horse pasture this late afternoon. They had been there before. I was puzzled because in other places they are pretty respectful of the electric fence, but not that one. I tightened up a wire and was checking one last thing when I found the problem. Last winter while I was working on the fence I hooked two gate handles, not into the plate that transfers power to the line, but into the plastic insulator that holds that plate. That left the fence tape tight, but not electrified, which is great when you are working on the fence. It is also nice to turn off the fence once the cows are gone and the horse is in another pasture. In my pre-cow fence check somehow I remembered to move the top wire, but missed moving the lower handle. Oops. Hopefully that will encourage those two calves to stay on the correct side of the fence.
Yesterday the Gator got half a bath. The entire front got washed, the windshield was carefully washed and removed for the rest of the summer. The plexiglass windshield is so prone to scratches that I really can't clean it regularly. In the winter the windshield makes a huge difference, it is SO much warmer. In the summer it is completely unnecessary. I need to find a sheet to wrap it in so it doesn't get dirty or scratched...
The same two calves that got out on Wachs place, got into my horse pasture this late afternoon. They had been there before. I was puzzled because in other places they are pretty respectful of the electric fence, but not that one. I tightened up a wire and was checking one last thing when I found the problem. Last winter while I was working on the fence I hooked two gate handles, not into the plate that transfers power to the line, but into the plastic insulator that holds that plate. That left the fence tape tight, but not electrified, which is great when you are working on the fence. It is also nice to turn off the fence once the cows are gone and the horse is in another pasture. In my pre-cow fence check somehow I remembered to move the top wire, but missed moving the lower handle. Oops. Hopefully that will encourage those two calves to stay on the correct side of the fence.
Really crappy book club aesthetics posting
Jul. 17th, 2025 09:12 pmolivermoss
I should have taken a few pictures of Caitlin Starling, I got her at the worst moment. Also, my cell phone could not handle the deep colors and it didn't focus in that one shot?
Oh well. Maybe someday I'll proper book club aesthetics post.
The event was fun! I barely got the book done in time. She talked about her upcoming vampire novel and also what the sequels to a few books would be like if her publisher greenlights them. Part of why I grabbed pics is because when I say 'it's a bar that's a converted house' people often seem confused by that idea. We have a decent number of bars like that here. Book club gets the second floor when we are there. IDK if this is just a Portland thing, but yeah, houses make good bars.
...I could have made like an actually really nice mood board if I'd used my real camera, but bringing that would have been a bit much
marycatelliI can never be 100% sure that Sluggo will make an appearance in a drawing… but if there’s a grill, he’s more likely to turnip.
The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Thursday, July 17
Jul. 17th, 2025 11:05 pmfancyflautist posting in su_herald
Willow: “Buffy! Over here.”
Buffy: “Wow. I wasn’t sure where the party was, and then I saw the flashing lights and the ambulance, and I was like ‘right, of course! Death, carnage– it’s a Buffy party!”
Buffy: “Wow. I wasn’t sure where the party was, and then I saw the flashing lights and the ambulance, and I was like ‘right, of course! Death, carnage– it’s a Buffy party!”
~~Doomed~~
[Chaptered Fiction]
- soup, Chapter 8 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by jewelram
- Bert and Ernie Present: Drabblemania 2025, Chapter 15 (Buffy/Spike, R) by clarissadalloway
- Edges of Acceptance, Chapter 16 (Buffy/Spike, R) by Orange Wombat
- Rules Only Get You So Far, Chapter 10 (Buffy/Spike, R) by ClowniestLivEver
- The Second Coming, Chapter 34 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by tempestt
- In No Particular Order, Chapter 25 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by JamesMFan
- Anti-Hero, Chapter 12 (Buffy/Spike, R) by Willow25
- Moth to a Flame, Chapter 18 (Buffy/Spike, R) by tragic
- Momentary, Chapter 11 (Buffy/Spike, R) by Sparkly Faerie
- Change the Prophecy, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by eternallyec
- Better Off Together, Chapter 7 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by satinsafe
- A Thrilling Adventure, Chapter 10 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by TheAcidQueen
- Transitory, Chapter 13 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by GhostsInLove
- Thursday... what a concept, Chapter 23 (Buffy/Spike, R) by NotYourGrave
- Miss Buffy, the Vulgar Witness, Chapter 13 (Buffy/Spike, AO) by Orange Wombat
- Random Acts of Spuffyness, Chapter 21 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by Joan963z
- What Happens In Paris, Chapter 6 (Buffy/Spike, R) by Maxine Eden
- Sacrifices, Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, R) by GuinevereSummers
- Life After Death, Chapter 13 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Holly
- In the Dark of the Night, Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by Nora
- Hellmouth College Life, Chapter 16 (Buffy/Spike, R) by the_big_bad
- The Proof Is In The Gouda, Chapter 9 (Buffy/Spike, R) by simmony
- Band Candy Baby, Chapter 10 (Buffy/Spike, R) by Tikiriaaa
- When You Called Me A Fool, You Made It Sound Like "Honey", Chapter 13 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by LadyInQuest
- Adventures of a Retired Slayer, Chapter 49 (Buffy/Spike, R) by EnchantedWillow
- Time Check, Chapter 18 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by Willow25
- Here Comes The Sun, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Melme1325
- Refractions, Chapter 48 (Buffy/Spike, R) by CheekyKitten
- The Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Spuffy, vol. 1, Chapter 7 (Buffy/Spike, R) by VoronaFiernan
- East of Eden, Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, AO) by Maxine Eden
- AI: Angel Investigations Next Gen, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by EllieRose101
- Home for Strays, Chapter 21 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by violettathepiratequeen
- Her Lullaby, Chapter 11 (Buffy/Spike, PG) by violettathepiratequeen
[Images, Audio & Video]
- Artwork: Grease cosplay by JSBirsa
- Artwork:Souls for Sigyn’s bday [NSFW] by HappyWhenItRains
- Character Creation:[Spike and Giles Pony Town characters] by s4ltyfl3sh
- Shirt:My new Angel shirt I designed! by theroomnoonegoesin
- Video: Buffy Intro 1992 Movie Style by Cadet Funky
- Video: Stream VOD: Building Sunnydale High School from Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Jeremy Gone Wild
- Video: Childlike Mother and a Motherly Child || Dawn & Buffy Summers by vampyr.slayyyr
- Video: Buffy the vampire slayer - Personal Lies by juliaroxs241
- Video: Tara and Willow- (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)- What's Wrong With You by Multifandom_Fanatic
[Reviews & Recaps]
- Buffy S04E14 "Goodbye Iowa" Spoiler Review by The Post Credits
- "Sleeper" (7x8) | *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* Reaction by cass reacts
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer 1x1 "Welcome to the Hellmouth REACTION | SO 90's!! by FoxTaco
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 4 Episode 20 - The Yoko Factor by Sh*t 90s Shows Taught Me
- Podcast: Season 4 Episode 13 - Floatin' Roses and Makin' Smores (The I in Team) by The Sunnydale Diaries
- Podcast: Buffy S7E21: End of Days by Booze & Buffy
[Community Announcements]
- James Marsters Unable to Attend FAN EXPO Boston 2025 by DontKillSpike
- August Fic-A-Day Challenge (2025 Edition!) by Twisting The Hellmouth
[Fandom Discussions]
- Something Blue by multiple authors
- “I play this game, it’s pointless and annoys me. And yet I’m compelled to play on” by multiple authors
- Willow was always jealous of Buffy trought the show by multiple authors
- Spike's Mother and Early One Morning by multiple authors
- How do you guys think Tara would have been written in Season 7? by multiple authors
- How do you think Buffy would have reacted if she ever found out about Angel and Cordelia? by multiple authors
- What do you guys think is the best episode of each Buffy season? by multiple authors
- Opening Credits Font by multiple authors
- Hypothetical - Angel S4/Buffy S7 villains defeat out heroes … then what? by multiple authors
- How do you guys think Willow and Xander would have been impacted if Cordelia had actually died in Lovers Walk because of them cheating? by multiple authors
- Did everyone hate Cordelia when Season 1 aired? by multiple authors
- What were your first thoughts and opinions on Kendra? by multiple authors
- Buffy the Vampire ???: Give Buffy a new profession by multiple authors
- What is your favorite iconic Willow look? by multiple authors
- Am I the only one who cannot stand angel? by multiple authors
- A what if I've never seen examined regarding Empty Places by multiple authors
- Xander & Buffy by multiple authors
- Is there any Buffy The Vampire Slayer and/or Angel actor whose acting stands out to you in particular? Whether a main character, side character, or even a very small part. by multiple authors
- Buffy, Faith, Relative Guilt by multiple authors
- Question about becoming a Watcher by multiple authors
- And… that’s why I love Buffy and Spike by multiple authors
- Were Cordy and Denis hooking up or was this just a non cannon gag line? by multiple authors
- Bandy Candy by multiple authors
- What was your ah ha moment? by multiple authors
- If you could undo one death which would it be? by multiple authors
Not to be rude
Jul. 21st, 2025 09:20 pmconulybut I feel like you could've found this one yourself.
This book too.
***************************
( Read more... )
This book too.
( Read more... )
thursday reads and things
Jul. 17th, 2025 07:02 pmisisI really did intend to post yesterday, but I didn't get to it. Well, it's Thursday!
What I recently finished reading:
The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison, the third book in the Cemeteries of Amalo sub-series of The Goblin Emperor books. I had gone into it with mixed feelings; not that I strongly cared about but I enjoyed it, overall. I liked the low-ish stakes plot, and the DRAGONS, and the fairly mild author's message of what makes a person a person, and the importance of basic rights and the rule of law, which, let's face it, is a relevant message these days.
Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky, stand-alone SF. Again, a lot of people whose reviews I follow didn't like it, but I did; Tchaikovsky is hit and miss for me, but this was a hit. A biologist who is also a political dissident on an extremely authoritarian Earth is exiled as prison labor on a planet with native life that is very weird and apparently hostile. This is basically another exploration of Tchaikovsky's Theme, which is at core, I think, "How can we see the Other as a Person? How do we overcome the instinct to be closed and tribal, and instead practice empathy, leading to discussion and exchange?" There are echos of the Children of Time series, in particular Children of Ruin (the second book), I think. There is also the strong contrast between a culture which gives lip service to the importance of individuality, but demands conformity, and a culture which emphasizes the communal and the good of the community. And of course, the importance of resistance, of holding to one's core beliefs even in the face of a terrible horrible authoritarian government.
I mostly enjoyed the style except for a few references which seemed a little too grounded in 21st century reality for this future in which humans are mining multiple far-flung planets. The structure and pacing worked well for me. Warning for a terrible horrible authoritarian government that doesn't give a shit about human lives other than their own, and body horror, and an ending which may strike some people as not entirely happy, but which satisfied me.sovay, it's very different from Elder Race but if these themes appeal I think you'll like it.
"Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy" by Martha Wells, a Murderbot short story, in which Murderbot doesn't explicitly appear, but ART | Perihelion has recently met it for the first time. It's from Iris's point of view, on a mission with the rest of the crew, and really the mission is just a framing device McGuffin for "Peri has changed because it met someone?!?", and I agree withrunpunkrun's take that there are way too many words devoted to them walking around on this mission which turns out to be not really relevant, compared to the actual point of the story. Still, it's nice to have a bit about Murderbot from not Murderbot's POV.
What I'm reading now:
Just started on the seventh and last Shardlake book by CJ Sansom, Tombland.
What I recently finished watching:
Murderbot! I enjoyed it! I (mostly) appreciate, or at least understand, the changes they made in adaptation. (Not sure why it's not enough for Pin-Lee to be Space Lawyer, but also must be Badass Fighter? And the Arada/Pin-Lee/Ratthi thing didn't seem to have any reason for being and just felt a bit cringe.) I really loved the ending, and Gurathin's whole general arc, and SANCTUARY MOOOOON, and Mensah is chef's kiss perfect.
Speaking of Sanctuary Moon, Murderbot vidded it! Okay, it was really![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
pollyrepeat, but: RADIOACTIVE by Murderbot [vid]!!!
What I'm watching now:
Arcane, because B watched the first episode during the winter, riding the stationary bike, and decided I might like to watch it with him, so moved on to something else so we could watch it together. Not very far into it yet.
What I recently listened to:
The third episode of S3 of The Strange Case of Starship Iris, which, I really liked this one!
What I recently finished reading:
The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison, the third book in the Cemeteries of Amalo sub-series of The Goblin Emperor books. I had gone into it with mixed feelings; not that I strongly cared about
spoiler
the Thara Celehar/Iäna Pel-Thenhior ship, but I had heard that the way it was sunk was awkward and issueficcy and felt like "I was going to write this relationship in but it felt pointless after all the fanfiction", and - yeah, it wasAlien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky, stand-alone SF. Again, a lot of people whose reviews I follow didn't like it, but I did; Tchaikovsky is hit and miss for me, but this was a hit. A biologist who is also a political dissident on an extremely authoritarian Earth is exiled as prison labor on a planet with native life that is very weird and apparently hostile. This is basically another exploration of Tchaikovsky's Theme, which is at core, I think, "How can we see the Other as a Person? How do we overcome the instinct to be closed and tribal, and instead practice empathy, leading to discussion and exchange?" There are echos of the Children of Time series, in particular Children of Ruin (the second book), I think. There is also the strong contrast between a culture which gives lip service to the importance of individuality, but demands conformity, and a culture which emphasizes the communal and the good of the community. And of course, the importance of resistance, of holding to one's core beliefs even in the face of a terrible horrible authoritarian government.
I mostly enjoyed the style except for a few references which seemed a little too grounded in 21st century reality for this future in which humans are mining multiple far-flung planets. The structure and pacing worked well for me. Warning for a terrible horrible authoritarian government that doesn't give a shit about human lives other than their own, and body horror, and an ending which may strike some people as not entirely happy, but which satisfied me.
sovay, it's very different from Elder Race but if these themes appeal I think you'll like it."Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy" by Martha Wells, a Murderbot short story, in which Murderbot doesn't explicitly appear, but ART | Perihelion has recently met it for the first time. It's from Iris's point of view, on a mission with the rest of the crew, and really the mission is just a framing device McGuffin for "Peri has changed because it met someone?!?", and I agree with
runpunkrun's take that there are way too many words devoted to them walking around on this mission which turns out to be not really relevant, compared to the actual point of the story. Still, it's nice to have a bit about Murderbot from not Murderbot's POV.What I'm reading now:
Just started on the seventh and last Shardlake book by CJ Sansom, Tombland.
What I recently finished watching:
Murderbot! I enjoyed it! I (mostly) appreciate, or at least understand, the changes they made in adaptation. (Not sure why it's not enough for Pin-Lee to be Space Lawyer, but also must be Badass Fighter? And the Arada/Pin-Lee/Ratthi thing didn't seem to have any reason for being and just felt a bit cringe.) I really loved the ending, and Gurathin's whole general arc, and SANCTUARY MOOOOON, and Mensah is chef's kiss perfect.
Speaking of Sanctuary Moon, Murderbot vidded it! Okay, it was really
What I'm watching now:
Arcane, because B watched the first episode during the winter, riding the stationary bike, and decided I might like to watch it with him, so moved on to something else so we could watch it together. Not very far into it yet.
What I recently listened to:
The third episode of S3 of The Strange Case of Starship Iris, which, I really liked this one!
after the money's gone
Jul. 17th, 2025 08:45 pmmusesfoolI made this fancy lemonade with what I learned from minoanmiss's tags is called oleo saccharum, which is sugar syrup made with the oils in the citrus peels. I had 8 lemons, and some leftover frozen strawberries and blueberries, so I let the berries defrost in the fridge overnight and then this morning I did all the juicing and the dicing and then let it sit for several hours (5, I think?) before straining the syrup and adding the juice etc. It's very good, though I need to try it with lemons only, I think, and maybe less sugar. Because I do like my lemonade on the tarter side.
Anyway! I dug out my potato masher and my citrus reamer with carafe for this, so it was nice to be able to use them. I do kind of wish I had a food mill but I've never been able to justify the expense to myself - I used a large fine mesh strainer and it worked fine.
In other news, I watched the most recent season of GBBO and I LOVED EVERYONE IN THE TENT, but especially Dylan! Nelly! Gill! and Georgie! ( spoilers, I guess ) And Allison is so great. I hope she sticks with the show for a long time.
*
minoanmiss's tags is called oleo saccharum, which is sugar syrup made with the oils in the citrus peels. I had 8 lemons, and some leftover frozen strawberries and blueberries, so I let the berries defrost in the fridge overnight and then this morning I did all the juicing and the dicing and then let it sit for several hours (5, I think?) before straining the syrup and adding the juice etc. It's very good, though I need to try it with lemons only, I think, and maybe less sugar. Because I do like my lemonade on the tarter side. Anyway! I dug out my potato masher and my citrus reamer with carafe for this, so it was nice to be able to use them. I do kind of wish I had a food mill but I've never been able to justify the expense to myself - I used a large fine mesh strainer and it worked fine.
In other news, I watched the most recent season of GBBO and I LOVED EVERYONE IN THE TENT, but especially Dylan! Nelly! Gill! and Georgie! ( spoilers, I guess ) And Allison is so great. I hope she sticks with the show for a long time.
*
New series!
Jul. 17th, 2025 05:11 pmswan_tower(Whoops, forgot to cross-post this! Seems a good time to remind y'all that you can subscribe to my Wordpress site to always get notified when there's a new post -- including all the weekly Patreon announcements that I keep not cross-posting ever since my plugin broke.
(Now, the actual post:)
There will be a more formal, industry-oriented announcement of this later, but since I announced this at BayCon the other day, I am delighted to say: I have sold a new series to Angry Robot!
Part of the reason the formal announcement will come later is that we need to figure out what the actual title of the series and/or first book will be. Right now my working title is something in the vein of The Worst Monk in the World Goes on Pilgrimage -- and if that sounds semi-cozy to you, you're not wrong. The elevator pitch is that a Buddhist-style monk with incredibly bad karma embarks on a famous pilgrimage in an attempt to make things better, and (of course) runs into complications along the way.
I'm currently over halfway through the draft of the first book, but due to Angry Robot's promotional plans for this series, it's likely that it won't launch until 2027. Don't worry, though; you'll have The Sea Beyond to entertain you until then!
(Now, the actual post:)
There will be a more formal, industry-oriented announcement of this later, but since I announced this at BayCon the other day, I am delighted to say: I have sold a new series to Angry Robot!
Part of the reason the formal announcement will come later is that we need to figure out what the actual title of the series and/or first book will be. Right now my working title is something in the vein of The Worst Monk in the World Goes on Pilgrimage -- and if that sounds semi-cozy to you, you're not wrong. The elevator pitch is that a Buddhist-style monk with incredibly bad karma embarks on a famous pilgrimage in an attempt to make things better, and (of course) runs into complications along the way.
I'm currently over halfway through the draft of the first book, but due to Angry Robot's promotional plans for this series, it's likely that it won't launch until 2027. Don't worry, though; you'll have The Sea Beyond to entertain you until then!
(no subject)
Jul. 17th, 2025 06:49 pmconuly posting in agonyauntMy 4-year-old transitioned to a big-kid bed more than six months ago. Since the switch, every time he wakes up (at night, super early in the morning, etc.), he comes into our room needing us (and waking us up). Sometimes he is crying because he is scared, but often it just feels like an automatic thing he’s doing. We always march him back to his room and don’t let him get in bed with us. We have tried what feels like everything: a reward chart for a bigger reward he gets to pick, a small reward each day he stays in his room, a light that changes color when he can come out of his room, talks at times other than when we’re dealing with it in the moment about staying in his room, some books about being afraid of the dark, a special box of toys to play with when he wakes up, a fun galaxy light, a Yoto he can listen to … nothing has worked.
I don’t want to lock him in for a variety of reasons. I feel like we’re almost back in the baby stages of being woken up at night! I was hoping it was just a phase we’d get through, but it’s really dragging on at this point. He’s also been tired during the day so he’s not getting enough sleep. Any ideas?
—Mom in the Land of 10,000 Yawns
( Read more... )
I don’t want to lock him in for a variety of reasons. I feel like we’re almost back in the baby stages of being woken up at night! I was hoping it was just a phase we’d get through, but it’s really dragging on at this point. He’s also been tired during the day so he’s not getting enough sleep. Any ideas?
—Mom in the Land of 10,000 Yawns
( Read more... )
Pear, Board 2
Jul. 17th, 2025 05:58 pmbattleshipmod posting in battleshipexYou sigh in relief at surviving the lunch rush and hitting your earnings goal. Hopefully you’ll get an excuse to go playing in the dirt instead. A light fog has settled over the café, hiding the disconcerting wiggling pears on the ceiling from view. Fuzang is curled around the pear juice fountain and seems to have dozed all through the lunch rush.
Before the Manager can flag you down, though, Fuzang rises and eels his way over to you. “You know, I am quite fascinated by the ground here,” he begins. “The golems here are completely unique, and several aspects of them suggest that there might be something even more interesting buried in the soil. I’ve tried applying for a permit for an archaeological dig here, but the Manager keeps blocking me. I know you have other, more pressing duties, but if you dig out anything else interesting from the fields at the back – or even just some more of that dirt – I would be more than happy to compensate you for your labor.” He then produces a business card, revealing that he is a professor at one of the most esteemed dwarven universities.
“Of course, Professor,” you say.
“Oh, no need to stand on formality with me. I’ll be right here.” He curls back around the pear juice fountain. A golem brings him hotpot. It looks suspiciously pear-flavored. Unlike all the other customers, he doesn’t need a shoulder dragon to keep the hotpot hot.
The Manager hasn’t given you new instructions yet, so you go back out to the back, pear hat wiggling jauntily on your head. The fog is even worse here, making you unsure of how much you’ll have to dig, but you’re sure you can manage. You’re really digging this archaeology sidequest, and who knows – maybe you’ll find something to escape this cooking simulator.
Time to embrace the dirt again!
Pear Board 2 Grid and List of Goals
Pear Collection | Prompt Collection (AO3) | Prompt Collection (Automagic App)
( Board 2 Rules )The Phone Rang
Jul. 17th, 2025 02:08 pmranunculusThe phone rang at 7am yesterday morning. It was our neighbor Mr Wachs (pronounced "wax"), reporting that the cows were out. I called Cody. A few minutes later Cody called me and asked if I would come down and open the wire gate that leads into Rudy's place. Rudy is Wach's neighbor to the south. It wasn't just one or two cows that were out, it was pretty much the whole herd. Cody thinks that one of the calves, closely followed by his buddy in trouble, a slightly younger calf; got out onto Wach's place. These aren't little calves, the bigger one probably weighs 350 lb, and is clearly a teenager with a big attitude. The first calf's mamma, who is a good cow mamma, couldn't get through the same place, but did push through Rudy's fence in order to stay with her calf. The rest of the herd followed.
Cody pushed the herd back to Rudy's fenceline where none of the cows walked the extra 30 feet to the gate, they all climbed back through the fence. I knew I'd seen two calves on the Wach's property but by the time the rest of the herd was through I could only see one, who I hazed back through the fence. Cody and I stapled up the old, old fence to old, old redwood posts. There was field fencing below topped with two strands of what had once been barbed wire. The barbs are now so rusted that they are little more than nubs on the wire. There were some new t-posts that had been installed the wrong way around, making them almost useless. We then added two or three vertical wires between each post, a lot, considering that the line posts were only about 8 feet apart. The vertical wires help tie everything together and make it hard for a cow to get their head between the wires. Once a cow can put their head through the wire they will use their weight to push on through, so stopping the head is important.
Cody has some fairly serious medical stuff going on and was headed for UCSF in San Francisco for further testing.
I got another phone call last night around 8pm. It was Mr Wachs reporting that the last calf had shown up and was safely back through the fence. With that in mind, this morning, a lovely cool foggy morning (pretty much unheard of in July), I took the chainsaw down, cut up one of the PG&E trees and went on to the Wach fence. If those calves hadn't been trouble-making teens they wouldn't have challenged that fence, but it was -just- decrepit enough to let them through. I added staples and lots of verticals. It should be good for a few more years.
Now I need to mount the chain saw sharpener.
Cody pushed the herd back to Rudy's fenceline where none of the cows walked the extra 30 feet to the gate, they all climbed back through the fence. I knew I'd seen two calves on the Wach's property but by the time the rest of the herd was through I could only see one, who I hazed back through the fence. Cody and I stapled up the old, old fence to old, old redwood posts. There was field fencing below topped with two strands of what had once been barbed wire. The barbs are now so rusted that they are little more than nubs on the wire. There were some new t-posts that had been installed the wrong way around, making them almost useless. We then added two or three vertical wires between each post, a lot, considering that the line posts were only about 8 feet apart. The vertical wires help tie everything together and make it hard for a cow to get their head between the wires. Once a cow can put their head through the wire they will use their weight to push on through, so stopping the head is important.
Cody has some fairly serious medical stuff going on and was headed for UCSF in San Francisco for further testing.
I got another phone call last night around 8pm. It was Mr Wachs reporting that the last calf had shown up and was safely back through the fence. With that in mind, this morning, a lovely cool foggy morning (pretty much unheard of in July), I took the chainsaw down, cut up one of the PG&E trees and went on to the Wach fence. If those calves hadn't been trouble-making teens they wouldn't have challenged that fence, but it was -just- decrepit enough to let them through. I added staples and lots of verticals. It should be good for a few more years.
Now I need to mount the chain saw sharpener.
PSA: Across America Let's Make "Good Trouble"
Jul. 17th, 2025 01:04 pmride_4everFive years ago today Representative John Lewis -- an icon of civil rights -- died, but his message lives on and we declare it today all across America with this Good Trouble Lives On National Day of Action. As Representative John Lewis said: "Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America".
Click here to find today's event details including a map that shows where a "Good Trouble" event is taking place near you today.
Click here to find today's event details including a map that shows where a "Good Trouble" event is taking place near you today.
Froday Flash Fiction Challenge (FFFC) - Multifandom Challenges for all Work Types
Jul. 17th, 2025 08:05 pm6 things I love
Jul. 17th, 2025 08:12 pmtinnyThe current round at retro_icontest was about things we love. It was originally meant for entertainment-type things, but the challenge explicitly included stock, and my muse decided to use that opportunity for a change. So, the things I love: HPI, my current favorite show and obsession, and... my cat. :D
Reasons I love HPI: because Morgane can't resist a puzzle, because Karadec is soft-spoken and sensitive, and of course because of the romance.
Reasons I love cats: because they're cute, because they're curious and often hilarious, and because their fur is so soft.
I'm happy to receive all kind of comments, including concrit! All icons shareable. Credit for brushes and textures I use can be found here in my resource post.
Previous icon posts:
retro_icontest was about things we love. It was originally meant for entertainment-type things, but the challenge explicitly included stock, and my muse decided to use that opportunity for a change. So, the things I love: HPI, my current favorite show and obsession, and... my cat. :D
Reasons I love HPI: because Morgane can't resist a puzzle, because Karadec is soft-spoken and sensitive, and of course because of the romance.
Reasons I love cats: because they're cute, because they're curious and often hilarious, and because their fur is so soft.
I'm happy to receive all kind of comments, including concrit! All icons shareable. Credit for brushes and textures I use can be found here in my resource post.
The Friday Five for 18 July 2025
Jul. 17th, 2025 01:39 pmanais_pf posting in thefridayfiveThis week's questions were suggested by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bindyree.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 . . .
5. Name five favorite movies.
4. Name four areas of interest you became interested in after you were done with your formal education.
3. Name three things you would change about this world.
2. Name two of your favorite childhood toys.
1. Name one person you could be handcuffed to for a full day.
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
bindyree. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 . . .
5. Name five favorite movies.
4. Name four areas of interest you became interested in after you were done with your formal education.
3. Name three things you would change about this world.
2. Name two of your favorite childhood toys.
1. Name one person you could be handcuffed to for a full day.
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
