Small accomplishments
Aug. 30th, 2025 05:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
missdianeLittle by little things are becoming more home-like. I wish that my knees and back would cooperate even more so I can help get more done. But I did get some small things done over the last couple of weeks:
I put up 3M hooks to put a curtain rod on while Emily was in Newark with her niece and when the curtains arrived yesterday, I put those up. The blinds that are there keep getting stuck and while it's not a big deal to have the window there, when I have the surgery, that window is right outside the bathroom and well...a little modesty block in case and I thought that the pattern went really well with the yellow walls.
Also while Emily was in Newark, I installed stick-on-holders and used a tension rod so that I can hang things like the kitchen dish gloves, towels and extra potholders. Trying to drape things over the kitchen faucet or along the side of the sink just wasn't getting the job done.
I had also intended to get one more project done but when the box arrived via UPS, there was a massive hole stabbed in the box and I could tell the contents were damaged so I called Home Depot to ask what to do and they told me to return it to the store, which I did. I also ordered a new one while there to have shipped to store instead of the house, just in case. We picked it up this morning and I sat on the floor with the tools and installed the pull out drawer for more organization.
A few weeks ago Emily laid on her back like a car mechanic to get the lazy susan in the corner out. That thing was SO useless. It wobbled and didn't turn well and you had to practically duck under the counter to get anything off it. So instead, now that corner has a bin with rice and some other things that I don't need often. If I need to get them out, since the pull out drawer doesn't have a wide top shelf, I can get things out of that corner.
So bit by bit
I put up 3M hooks to put a curtain rod on while Emily was in Newark with her niece and when the curtains arrived yesterday, I put those up. The blinds that are there keep getting stuck and while it's not a big deal to have the window there, when I have the surgery, that window is right outside the bathroom and well...a little modesty block in case and I thought that the pattern went really well with the yellow walls.
Also while Emily was in Newark, I installed stick-on-holders and used a tension rod so that I can hang things like the kitchen dish gloves, towels and extra potholders. Trying to drape things over the kitchen faucet or along the side of the sink just wasn't getting the job done.
I had also intended to get one more project done but when the box arrived via UPS, there was a massive hole stabbed in the box and I could tell the contents were damaged so I called Home Depot to ask what to do and they told me to return it to the store, which I did. I also ordered a new one while there to have shipped to store instead of the house, just in case. We picked it up this morning and I sat on the floor with the tools and installed the pull out drawer for more organization.
A few weeks ago Emily laid on her back like a car mechanic to get the lazy susan in the corner out. That thing was SO useless. It wobbled and didn't turn well and you had to practically duck under the counter to get anything off it. So instead, now that corner has a bin with rice and some other things that I don't need often. If I need to get them out, since the pull out drawer doesn't have a wide top shelf, I can get things out of that corner.
So bit by bit
(no subject)
Aug. 30th, 2025 04:20 pmmajuYesterday we had some unwanted "excitement". Two of Violet's friends had come over on their bikes and Violet and Eden were going to go out with them, also on their bikes. Aria was absolutely desperate to go with them but she is too young and not to be trusted out on a bike without an adult around. Her mother had to forcibly restrain her from going, and she was devastated and angry. After a bit her mother asked me if I would take her to the pond and I agreed, not knowing that that's where the older girls were going. I realised later that Aria did know, which was why she was so keen to have me take her there. We joined the others for a little while, but when they all left on their bikes to go to one of their houses, Aria was determined to follow them. I restrained her for a few minutes but she managed to wrestle her way free and ran after them (crying all the way) with me running after her. We went back towards home and I thought she would stop there because all the other girls were now out of sight, but she kept running past and there was no way I could keep up.
I ran into the house and got her mother and we both went in the direction she had gone. At the first cross street we saw some boys playing in a yard; they called out to us that they had seen Aria and they thought they knew where she had gone. They took off on their bikes to see if they were right, and came back to say she was where they thought she would be - at the home of one of Violet’s friends, where all the older girls had gathered. Her mother sternly took her home, with Aria of course crying and struggling all the way. I was extremely relieved that she had been safe, and also very impressed with the neighbourhood boys looking out for her. My daughter tells me she feels that this is quite a safe neighbourhood for children because there are so many of them, and drivers expect that there might be kids out playing near or on the road.
Today has been lazy for me although not for my daughter and son in law. They’ve been painting Eden and Aria’s room this week as well as doing some small repairs, and they were putting finishing touches on it today. I think the girls will be able to sleep in there tonight; all week Aria has been on a mattress in her parents’ room while Eden has been either on a couch in the living room or on a mattress in Violet’s room.
Right now I’m recovering from spending half an hour throwing a ball around with Aria. It was more tiring than running for the same amount of time would have been.
I ran into the house and got her mother and we both went in the direction she had gone. At the first cross street we saw some boys playing in a yard; they called out to us that they had seen Aria and they thought they knew where she had gone. They took off on their bikes to see if they were right, and came back to say she was where they thought she would be - at the home of one of Violet’s friends, where all the older girls had gathered. Her mother sternly took her home, with Aria of course crying and struggling all the way. I was extremely relieved that she had been safe, and also very impressed with the neighbourhood boys looking out for her. My daughter tells me she feels that this is quite a safe neighbourhood for children because there are so many of them, and drivers expect that there might be kids out playing near or on the road.
Today has been lazy for me although not for my daughter and son in law. They’ve been painting Eden and Aria’s room this week as well as doing some small repairs, and they were putting finishing touches on it today. I think the girls will be able to sleep in there tonight; all week Aria has been on a mattress in her parents’ room while Eden has been either on a couch in the living room or on a mattress in Violet’s room.
Right now I’m recovering from spending half an hour throwing a ball around with Aria. It was more tiring than running for the same amount of time would have been.
Activity #97 - Love Is In The Air
Aug. 30th, 2025 09:42 pmtinny posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
icontalking
I've watched a lot of romances lately, and I thought, why not turn this into a theme this month?
Icon things that you associate with love or romance! Any interpretation is fine, this is a free inspirational challenge.
( Romantic inspiration material under here )
* You can make as many icons as you like (if you need a goal, five is a good number :))
* There is no minimum, 1 icon is enough to enter this activity
* Please submit your icons (and URLs!) to this post, all in one comment (if possible)
* Everyone can participate, you don't have to be a member of this community
* I will collect all the icons from the comments and make a result post
* Everyone can leave comments on the inspiration and activity result posts
* There is no voting
Deadline: Saturday, September 20th, your end-of-day
![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
🔗 memes, grant writing, rumicat
Aug. 30th, 2025 12:15 pmtozkaHappy Saturday! I figured out that I can bulk-open my synced tabs from my phone to my computer, which makes putting these posts together just a little bit easier. Huzzah!
On Dreamwidth
osteophage created some site logos (SVG format) for fandom-friendly websites, including Dreamwidth, Squidgeworld and AO3!
vampiremedia is hosting a friending meme!
journalsandplanners put up this 12 question meme for stationery fans that’s been going around a bit over here.
Crossposted from Pixietails Club Blog.
Pinch hits #8, #9, #10, #12, #13
Aug. 30th, 2025 08:50 pmsasheneskywalker posting in enemiestoloversexTo claim a pinch hit, comment under this post with the pinch hit's number and your AO3 username. All comments are screened to preserve anonymity.
#8 skuzzybunny
- 나의 나라 | My Country: The New Age (TV), 밤에 피는 꽃 | Knight Flower (TV), 大梦归离 | Fangs of Fortune (TV), 焚情 （Webnovel)
- https://autoao3app.firebaseapp.com/#/enemiestoloversex2025/user/skuzzybunny
#9 vialethe
- The Grisha Trilogy - Leigh Bardugo, Cyberpunk 2077 (Video Game), Daisy Jones & The Six (TV), House of the Dragon (TV), TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works & Related Fandoms, Quarters - Tanya Huff
- https://autoao3app.firebaseapp.com/#/enemiestoloversex2025/user/vialethe
#10 withthekeyisking
- Squid Game (TV 2021), Red Queen Series - Victoria Aveyard, Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Night Manager (TV 2016), Supernatural (TV 2005), Supernatural (TV 2005), Crossover Fandom, Crossover Fandoam
- https://autoao3app.firebaseapp.com/#/enemiestoloversex2025/user/withthekeyisking
#12 Lua
- 人渣反派自救系统 - 墨香铜臭 | The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, The Magnus Archives (Podcast), Death Note (Anime & Manga), 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, Persona 3
- https://autoao3app.firebaseapp.com/#/enemiestoloversex2025/user/Lua
#13 selfindulgentkitten
- Winx Club, SK8 the Infinity (Anime), The Coffin of Andy and Leyley (Visual Novel), ダンジョン飯 | Dungeon Meshi | Delicious in Dungeon
- https://autoao3app.firebaseapp.com/#/enemiestoloversex2025/user/selfindulgentkitten
#8 skuzzybunny
- 나의 나라 | My Country: The New Age (TV), 밤에 피는 꽃 | Knight Flower (TV), 大梦归离 | Fangs of Fortune (TV), 焚情 （Webnovel)
- https://autoao3app.firebaseapp.com/#/enemiestoloversex2025/user/skuzzybunny
#9 vialethe
- The Grisha Trilogy - Leigh Bardugo, Cyberpunk 2077 (Video Game), Daisy Jones & The Six (TV), House of the Dragon (TV), TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works & Related Fandoms, Quarters - Tanya Huff
- https://autoao3app.firebaseapp.com/#/enemiestoloversex2025/user/vialethe
#10 withthekeyisking
- Squid Game (TV 2021), Red Queen Series - Victoria Aveyard, Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Night Manager (TV 2016), Supernatural (TV 2005), Supernatural (TV 2005), Crossover Fandom, Crossover Fandoam
- https://autoao3app.firebaseapp.com/#/enemiestoloversex2025/user/withthekeyisking
#12 Lua
- 人渣反派自救系统 - 墨香铜臭 | The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, The Magnus Archives (Podcast), Death Note (Anime & Manga), 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, Persona 3
- https://autoao3app.firebaseapp.com/#/enemiestoloversex2025/user/Lua
#13 selfindulgentkitten
- Winx Club, SK8 the Infinity (Anime), The Coffin of Andy and Leyley (Visual Novel), ダンジョン飯 | Dungeon Meshi | Delicious in Dungeon
- https://autoao3app.firebaseapp.com/#/enemiestoloversex2025/user/selfindulgentkitten
Activity Results for #96 Around the Block
Aug. 30th, 2025 08:19 pmtinny posting in icontalking
Wow, I am so impressed by everyone's blocking skills! Thank you everyone for participating!
( 39 icons by 7 makers )
Feel free to comment here or on each maker's threads linked next to their name.
Our next activity will come right up!
10 Nothing But You icons for fandom10in30
Aug. 30th, 2025 06:39 pmtinnyThis month's challenge #60 at fandom10in30 was a bingo challenge! We had to pick two lines from a card and make ten icons from those. I picked Nothing But You as a fandom, I was itching to make icons from the caps I made, and I had a lot of fun with these.
Enjoy!
( 10 icons + 2 alts )
Concrit welcome! Comments adored! Credit appreciated! Take and use as many icons as you like. If you want to know whose textures and brushes I use, take a look at my resource post.
Previous icon posts:
fandom10in30 was a bingo challenge! We had to pick two lines from a card and make ten icons from those. I picked Nothing But You as a fandom, I was itching to make icons from the caps I made, and I had a lot of fun with these.Enjoy!
( 10 icons + 2 alts )
Concrit welcome! Comments adored! Credit appreciated! Take and use as many icons as you like. If you want to know whose textures and brushes I use, take a look at my resource post.
Charisma
Aug. 30th, 2025 08:58 amsusandennisCharisma is such an interesting thing. I rarely run into it but, man, when I do... Jeff Jackson (the attorney general of North Carolina) has it. He posts videos online that force you to watch to the end. It's not so much what he's saying but the way he says it. His manner, his eyes.
I saw it again this morning. Maria has lived here for a long time. I know her to see her but we've never met. She's not very mobile. Her son, Chris, lives in Atlanta and comes about twice a year. He usually plays volleyball with us and is great fun to have in the game. This morning, mid-game, he showed up pool side to say hi. He is here this time because his mother is dying - 2 or 3 days. There were 8 of us in the pool at the time. He squatted down and explained the situation. I was on the other side of the pool so ended up in the back of the pack. So I watched and it was fascinating. He doesn't really know these people. And, yet, he spoke so kindly and clearly and patiently and answered all the questions and I'll bet you every single person thought he was talking directly to them. I sure did. Doesn't help that he's very pretty. I don't know what he does for a living but I'll bet he's spectacular at it. Really interesting. I am sure sorry he won't be playing volleyball with us ever again.
My Apple+ and Masterpiece subscriptions are up, so it's time for another month or so of Netflix. I have accumulated a lot of Nexflix titles I wanted to see so it was time. And, then, I discovered another round of British Bake off is starting soon! So okdokey! Last night I watched the first few episodes of a show that I didn't know anything about. I have no idea how it even got on my list. BUT it's fun. Leanne. I think there are 12 or more 30 minute episodes and it has a nice cast and some great lines. I literally laughed out loud more than a few times.
I need cucumbers and peanut butter so I might venture out today. The dining room is serving some fabulous lamb chops this week and some very good scalloped potatoes but their salads kind of suck. So I need something to go with.
Dick made meatloaf earlier in the week. He came down yesterday just as I was, out of desperation and poor planning, getting ready to have another peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. He wanted some stuff printed and copied and as he was leaving he said "If you want some cold meatloaf for a sandwich, come on down." Honestly, it was probably not the best meatloaf when it was hot but damn that was a fabulous sandwich. And I have enough for a repeat today. I told him now that he knows the price mi printer es su printer.
Time to get dressed for Elbow coffee.
I saw it again this morning. Maria has lived here for a long time. I know her to see her but we've never met. She's not very mobile. Her son, Chris, lives in Atlanta and comes about twice a year. He usually plays volleyball with us and is great fun to have in the game. This morning, mid-game, he showed up pool side to say hi. He is here this time because his mother is dying - 2 or 3 days. There were 8 of us in the pool at the time. He squatted down and explained the situation. I was on the other side of the pool so ended up in the back of the pack. So I watched and it was fascinating. He doesn't really know these people. And, yet, he spoke so kindly and clearly and patiently and answered all the questions and I'll bet you every single person thought he was talking directly to them. I sure did. Doesn't help that he's very pretty. I don't know what he does for a living but I'll bet he's spectacular at it. Really interesting. I am sure sorry he won't be playing volleyball with us ever again.
My Apple+ and Masterpiece subscriptions are up, so it's time for another month or so of Netflix. I have accumulated a lot of Nexflix titles I wanted to see so it was time. And, then, I discovered another round of British Bake off is starting soon! So okdokey! Last night I watched the first few episodes of a show that I didn't know anything about. I have no idea how it even got on my list. BUT it's fun. Leanne. I think there are 12 or more 30 minute episodes and it has a nice cast and some great lines. I literally laughed out loud more than a few times.
I need cucumbers and peanut butter so I might venture out today. The dining room is serving some fabulous lamb chops this week and some very good scalloped potatoes but their salads kind of suck. So I need something to go with.
Dick made meatloaf earlier in the week. He came down yesterday just as I was, out of desperation and poor planning, getting ready to have another peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. He wanted some stuff printed and copied and as he was leaving he said "If you want some cold meatloaf for a sandwich, come on down." Honestly, it was probably not the best meatloaf when it was hot but damn that was a fabulous sandwich. And I have enough for a repeat today. I told him now that he knows the price mi printer es su printer.
Time to get dressed for Elbow coffee.
Peeple B weerd
Aug. 30th, 2025 04:25 pmoursinCasn't seem to locate link to the article but apparently taking your dog to the movies is a thing these days? YOY? - and apparently one reason is so as not to have to get in a dogsitter for pooch while out at the pictures. What happened, we asked, to leaving one's faithful canine to guard the house during one's absence? O tempora, o mores, etc.
Presumably contra-indicated viewing would be Old Yeller....
***
Also in modern-day weirdness, another thing that is apparently A Thing is doing Extreme Days Out, which involves jetting off at the crack of dawn to some touristic spot, doing The Sights (at presumably a brisk pace) and then jetting home again, no doubt to soak in a recuperative hot bath.
Aside from the horrid environmental impact going on with this, how far can anyone be enjoying Tourist Spot if they're going at high-speed clip to fit everything in? It sounds like hell. No time to stop and stare and appreciate. Point thahr, misst.
I was therefore delighted to come across this in Lucy Mangan's column:
[O]ver breakfast I read about the great sunflower fields at Westgate Farm near Walsingham, Norfolk, which for the two weeks that the mighty blooms are in mighty bloom across its 16 acres invites people to come and pick their own for a small fee. Have you ever heard of anything better? Desire – no, need – filled me.
I demanded my husband – the driver of the family, for Walsingham is a short car trip away – abandon his desk, crowbarred my son out of bed and by 10am we were looking out over acres of sunflowers under an azure sky, and do you know what? It was even better than I had imagined. It’s just sunflowers, you see. Sunflowers almost literally as far as the eye can see. All facing the same way, because they are – get this – flowers that follow the sun.
We followed the little dusty tracks that led through the fields and wind about so that eventually you are facing the flowers and they are facing you, and the effect is so joyful and uplifting that even your family hostages begin to break into smiles.
We picked our allowance of five each and were home by lunchtime. They are now in a massive vase I was once mocked for buying but which I must have known somewhere deep in my soul was meant for this, and life is good.
Even if I was then depressed by her mention of the high levels of Ye Clappe in North London, sigh.
Covid vaccine access at pharmacies
Aug. 30th, 2025 10:34 amredbird posting in thisfinecrewBecause RFK Jr. is out to get us, CVS (and possibly other pharmacies) isn’t shipping the updated covid vaccine in 16 states. https://www.idse.net/CDC-News/Article/08-25/CVS-stops-COVID-shots/78068
In Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Nevada, state law says pharmacists can’t give vaccines that aren’t CDC-approved. In another 13 states, they can, but it requires a prescription.
These are state laws, so call your state respresentatives.
Here’s a script, and the Massachusetts phone numbers:
( Read more... )
This is in addition to calling your doctor’s office (if you have one) to ask for the vaccine.
In Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Nevada, state law says pharmacists can’t give vaccines that aren’t CDC-approved. In another 13 states, they can, but it requires a prescription.
These are state laws, so call your state respresentatives.
Here’s a script, and the Massachusetts phone numbers:
( Read more... )
This is in addition to calling your doctor’s office (if you have one) to ask for the vaccine.
![[admin post]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/entry/admin_post.png){kind=small}
Volunteers for September
Aug. 30th, 2025 02:15 pmlilly_c posting in writethisfanficI'm not available during week 4 for taking check ins as I'll be on holiday.
Week 1: 7th to 13th
Week 2: 14th to 20th
Week 3: 21st to 27th
Week 4: 28th to 4th
Week 1: 7th to 13th
Week 2: 14th to 20th
Week 3: 21st to 27th
Week 4: 28th to 4th
September sign up
Aug. 30th, 2025 02:14 pmlilly_c posting in writethisfanficIt's time to sign up for the September WIP challenge! Some people join the challenge mid month, or comment on check-in posts without signing up, which is fine -- I'm glad there's a way for the challenge to be useful in a variety of ways. For those of you who find the commitment of signing up useful, please leave a comment with the below information.
Sign-ups will be open until the end of September.
Copypaste below:
The post for hosting the daily check-in is here and thanks to everyone who helps out with this. If you're interested in helping out and there are still slots available the post remains open until the last week of the month and we generally run our week Sunday to Saturday, I'm happy to chat via PM on DW for anyone who might need it.
If you have ever completed a fic through this challenge we have a collection on AO3 and on SquidgeWorld both collections are open and unmoderated. Should there be an issue with adding a work, let me know and I'll see if there's a fix for it.
Sign-ups will be open until the end of September.
Level of challenge: 1 chapter, 1000 words, 1 fic finished, whatever you like
Fandom(s) involved: if you know at this point
What you're looking for from the challenge: this could be as vague or specific as you like: someone to be accountable to, someone to remind you to write, someone to bounce ideas off, etc.
What you could offer other participants yourself: ditto!
How people should contact you: DW message, e-mail, IM etc.
Time zone: useful for seeing who might be up for a writing session at a time convenient to you
Copypaste below:
The post for hosting the daily check-in is here and thanks to everyone who helps out with this. If you're interested in helping out and there are still slots available the post remains open until the last week of the month and we generally run our week Sunday to Saturday, I'm happy to chat via PM on DW for anyone who might need it.
If you have ever completed a fic through this challenge we have a collection on AO3 and on SquidgeWorld both collections are open and unmoderated. Should there be an issue with adding a work, let me know and I'll see if there's a fix for it.