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In Short, Life

April 9, 2022 by J.R. Johnson

Does my yard look tidy? It does not. We left last year’s detritus over winter and it’s still there. A lot of our neighbors started raking and clipping and blowing and trashing leaves and other plant materials as soon as they could find the grass beneath the snow, but not us.

Instead, we have Mr and Mrs Cardinal out front, perching on the Joe Pye Weed stems as they hunt for lunch among the dried maple leaves. We have squirrels coming down into the back yard to gather up mouthfuls of pine needles for nest building. We have duos of doves, clusters of chickadees, and gaggles of goldfinches growing brighter by the day. We have, in short, life.

And while it may not always be pretty, it is beautiful.

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Photo by Michel Bosma on Unsplash

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(Not Quite) Spring

April 8, 2022 by J.R. Johnson

Yesterday’s rain was doing a great job of washing away the last of the snow, and a little spark told me that spring might finally be here.

A few days ago I went for a walk through the neighborhood with Mr Man. A cool breeze but bright sun, and every other driveway was occupied by an optimist with summer tires. Mr Man shook his head. Too early, he said. He was right. 

We woke this morning to snow. Big, fat flakes coating the ground, the trees, the everything in a layer of white. It won’t last, but we still have a few more days before spring makes its true entrance.

Can’t wait.

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Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash

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Me, If I Mathed

April 7, 2022 by J.R. Johnson

xkcd: Advanced Techniques

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Photo by Thomas Despeyroux on Unsplash

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On The New Climate Change Report

April 6, 2022 by J.R. Johnson

“Honestly, if you’re given the choice between Armageddon or tea, you don’t say ‘what kind of tea?’” 

― Neil Gaiman

Wise advice.

Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change

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Photo by Aniketh Kanukurthi on Unsplash

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Happy 109th

April 5, 2022 by J.R. Johnson

Today would have been The Whippersnapper‘s 109th birthday. I was hoping to post another photo of her but my father, keeper of the family album, is out of town.

For now just let me say to my grandmother, dancer, baker, tea maker and all-around excellent human being:

I miss you, but I love that you were here.

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Photo by Logan Ellzey on Unsplash

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Inquiring Minds Want to Know

April 4, 2022 by J.R. Johnson

If your library is not “unsafe,” it probably isn’t doing its job.

— John Berry

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Photo by Rabie Madaci on Unsplash

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Are We There Yet?

April 3, 2022 by J.R. Johnson

Like most kids I spent a lot of time on road trips asking, “Are we there yet?” It wasn’t that I wanted to arrive, necessarily. I liked the road part of road trips, with the ever-changing scenery, the usually forbidden foods from exotic restaurants like McDonald’s, and the sense of making progress.

I enjoy progress, the sense of action, of leveling up. I also really like finishing things, but some days that’s not in the cards. That’s particularly true on days when I am learning a new genre, a new technique, or a new idea. Those days, I have to be satisfied with knowing that I’ve moved that much farther down the road.

I spent much of my fun time today learning more about designing for 3D objects. By the end of the afternoon my screen looked like this:

Based on Clyde Coman’s Paint Tool

Yes, my brain is now as scrambled as you might think, but it’s a fun project. And soon I won’t just be moving toward my destination, I’ll be there.

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Photo by Madhu Shesharam on Unsplash

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Shine On, You Crazy Star, You

April 2, 2022 by J.R. Johnson

This may seem late to some of my more southerly readers, but today is the first time it feels like spring. The sun is out, the sky is blue, and I went out for a walk with Mr. Man and didn’t have to shovel. (Sure, there’s still snow on the ground, but I saw my first motorcycle of the year, kids are running around in shorts, and robins are all over the yard.

It’s a good day!

The Sun did all that and more. Let’s go for a little visit, shall we?

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It’s Not What You See, It’s What You Are

April 1, 2022 by J.R. Johnson

Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.

— Andy Warhol

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Photo by Eduard Delputte on Unsplash

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Tofu Pudding, I Can’t Quit You

March 31, 2022 by J.R. Johnson

I’ll go back and update the main pudding page once I’m sure I’m done, but the experimentation continues!

This latest version worked out well, so here’s the recipe.

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Mocha Tofu Pudding

  • 1/3 C. sugar
  • 1/2 C. strong coffee
  • 349g / 12 oz. silken tofu, firm
  • 170g / 6 oz dark chocolate
  • 1 t. vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  1. Stir sugar and coffee over medium heat just until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool slightly, then add chocolate and stir until melted and smooth.
  2. Blend all ingredients together until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary. Chill for at least 30 minutes, although longer gives a denser texture and reduces the tofu flavor.

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Photo by American Heritage Chocolate on Unsplash

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