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Posts Tagged ‘Thoughts’

Love and Memory

Posted in Food and..., tagged , , , , , , , , on November 19, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Here is a thing that I love, and the one item I requested from my grandmother’s estate: an artichoke plate. 

Artichokes are thorny, tough and difficult to pair with wine. They were at the heart (hehe) of a racketeering scheme in New York in the 1920s and ’30s, which led to a temporary ban and a dramatic upswing in knowledge about, and orders for, the vegetable. They also taste great.

The back of the plate is marked “E & R 0136” but that’s the only information I have. Where was it made, when, and did it come from Ebeling & Reuss or another manufacturer? I don’t know, but I love it anyway.

Disassembling an artichoke flower bud is a messy job, and this plate is the perfect canvas on which to do it. I prefer to serve mine with lemon butter sauce, but there’s also mayonnaise. If you must.

I doubt the dish is valuable from anything other than an emotional standpoint but that’s fine, I won’t be selling it. I have a lot of great memories about artichokes and about my grandmother, and this plate helps me remember both.

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Photo by Christine Siracusa on Unsplash

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Writer Goals

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , on November 18, 2021| Leave a Comment »

“And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” 

― John Steinbeck

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Photo by Xuan Nguyen on Unsplash

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Today’s Fun Link Roundup

Posted in Entertainment, Likes, Science!, tagged , , , , , , , , on November 17, 2021| Leave a Comment »

I accumulate a lot of links. Work links, sure, but on my way to the data mines I often come across  fun, interesting, obscure or downright delightful corners of the web. They inform me when I need a bit of learning with lunch, cheer me up when the news is too newsy, and otherwise remind me that the internet, like the world, is not 100% terrible.

What sort of links? I’m so glad you asked:)

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Look Up! An Introduction to Identifying Raptors in Flight

  • Helpful, although I’ll probably continue to just say “hawk!” every time I see something predatory with wings. My bird enthusiast father’s reply is always (honestly, can he really be right all the time?*) “turkey vulture.” Just once I wish he’d say “dragon.”

* The answer is yes.

20 of the Best History Podcasts to Help Us Actually Learn From the Past

  • History is cool.

Honest Government Ad | Carbon Capture & Storage – YouTube

  • Is there swearing? There is. It’s warranted.

Introducing the Icelandverse – YouTube

  • Look out, Zuckerberg, Iceland is coming for you.

Bohemian Catsody – A Rhapsody Parody Song for Every Cat Queen and King! – YouTube

  • Since you’re already on YouTube. And like cat videos.

This man won a Guinness World Record for his tree that bears 10 types of fruit

  • “Hussam Saraf says his record-breaking tree with 10 different types of fruit is a metaphor for how he sees the world. … ‘[It’s] mother nature that’s united us all together. Doesn’t really matter how different we are in colour or culture or tradition. We are one, and we can respect each other as one.’” If that’s not nice then I don’t know what is.

rroll.to

  • Each time a user clicks on your generated link, there is a 50% chance that they will be rickrolled.

The True Story of the Blue People of Kentucky

  • Genetics, man.

Photos of the world above and below the sea by David Doubilet

  • Nature, man. These images are amazing.

Periodic Table of the Elements, in Pictures and Words

  • How many of these have you used today?

How to Identify that Light in the Sky

  • Brought to you by NASA and The League of Lost Causes, which is just about the most awesome name ever.

Scientists Create 3,000 TB Simulation of the Universe You Can Download

  • I don’t have the space for this, but maybe you do?

And since I’m a baker, here’s one last link:

All You Could Ever Want to Know About a Pumpkin Slingshot

  • I dunno, I want to know A Lot.

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Photo by Robert Katzki on Unsplash

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Baby Steps

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , on November 16, 2021| 2 Comments »

I’m experimenting with reading/media deprivation. Gotta say I’m not loving it:)

I’m also terrible at it, especially where the reading is concerned. So let’s just say I’m trying to reduce, not eliminate. Baby steps!

It would be nice to have more time and get more done, though. I do love crossing things off my list.

Side note, my NaNoWriMo project wants to be a graphic novel. Surprise!

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Photo by Tim Hüfner on Unsplash

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License to Chill

Posted in Likes, tagged , , , , , on November 15, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Woke to snow. Not much, more of a light dusting that’s already melting off darker surfaces, but rooftops and lawns are white and dog walkers are all wearing toques. 

This brings up a critical question: Why don’t we name our snow plows? Scotland does it, and it is awesome.

Trunk Road Gritter Tracker

Which is my favorite? Right now it’s a toss-up between William Wall-ice and License to Chill. 

Welcome to winter!

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Photo by Amariei Mihai on Unsplash

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Loss

Posted in Other, tagged , , , on November 14, 2021| Leave a Comment »

My nephew’s grandfather passed recently. He loved the land and the life he made on it with his wife of 49 years. He was a farmer, a dedicated family man, a gentleman and a pillar of strength for both his family and his community.

His shadow was long and his roots deep. He will be sorely missed.

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Photo by Jennifer Chen on Unsplash

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Welcome, Fellow Weirdos!

Posted in Likes, tagged , , , , on November 13, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Photo by Mayank Baranwal on Unsplash

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Lest We Forget

Posted in Holidays, tagged , , , , , , on November 11, 2021| Leave a Comment »

To the veterans in my family, and yours. Thank you.

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Because they stand on a wall, and say “Nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch.”

— Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway, A Few Good Men
Photo by David Bartus on Pexels.com

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Cooking My Books

Posted in Food and..., Writing, tagged , , , , , , , on November 10, 2021| Leave a Comment »

I think I’m going to start cooking my books.

Not in a bad way! But some days generating inspired dinner ideas is a pain. So to drum up new recipes I’m going to cook some version of whatever is being served in my current book.

For example, if the characters take a few moments between aliens and heart-pounding explosions to enjoy pancakes or roast chicken or curry, that’s my starting point.

Because invasion or not, one must stay fueled!

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Photo by Chokniti Khongchum on Pexels.com

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Today’s Perk Me Up

Posted in Likes, tagged , , , , , , on November 9, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Did we think about building an elevator for our elderly and arthritic cat? Of course we did! Here’s someone who actually pulled it off:

* Note: Our elevator design would have required an indoor vertical lift with weight-sensitive call functionality, so a little different. Still fun to think about though!

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