So cool, and so easy. Especially with newly-pruned vines, of which I happen to have a nearly unlimited supply.
Nature-loving trans and queer dude living with chronic illness and existential dread. Biology student for life. Left of liberal. Living and learning on Skฬฑwxฬฑwuฬ7mesh land in rural SW BC. He/him.
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So cool, and so easy. Especially with newly-pruned vines, of which I happen to have a nearly unlimited supply.
Update on LTD-gate: Yes, it's a gate now. Another week, another week of no money. I've emailed my weekly email reminding all involved that it is now September. And now, I shall spend a week thinking about clever ways to express my discontent for the next email.
Not much to say these days. New sourdough starter has begun. It's now out of reach of the poodle. ๐คฃ I'm about to weave a basket from wisteria vines. I guess that's kinda cool? DEPRESSION SUCKS.
So Valentino got into my sourdough starter. Gotta start all over again, sigh. Roomie also unplugged my breadmaker by mistake while baking bread and I didn't notice until it was unable to be saved. Not my day to bake today. Ah well, there's always tomorrow.
One of those red and yellow bits went right over my Langdale home about 45 mins ago, or so, maybe a bit less. Lots of rain but very brief.
Solid advice from the Beaverton www.thebeaverton.com/2025/06/cana...
It's an excellent book. Got me started on kimchi and saurkraut with excellent results.
Yeah. Like when you do laundry stripping on your towels in the tub and all the dirt you couldn't see just floats to the surface. YES. If you figure out how, I'm in.
Folks, I think I just nailed my first wild sourdough starter. I'm using the technique in Sandor Katz's book Wild Fermentation, and so far so good. Katz never lets me down. Next up: traditional injera (and an Ethiopian feast to match). I'm thinking tikil gomen for sure, working on the rest of it.
I will be getting back pay, but that doesn't pay my bills this month. I would be infuriated if I wasn't so tired.
THANKS DONNA. ๐๐๐
Uh, Skycards now owns my soul. I just set an alarm on my phone for when a flight is landing at a small airport that I need to collect. ๐คฃ To be fair, it's helping me forget my stresses, so I'm gonna let myself go wild for a few days. Just catch some planes and avoid people. Fun! #skycards
On the plus side: I woke up early (not sure how, considering my nighttime meds knock me the hell out) and made raisin bread. Just about to bake it, yay.
Last income I made was in May. I have been approved for LTD but no $$ yet. It is infuriating. It has taken weeks for me to discover why, and the reason is that my employer hasn't filled out a one page form about my working hours. A single page. I am tired of digging my family into deeper debt.
ICE took 2 firefighters OFF THE FUCKING FIRE LINE!?
๐
Yes. ๐ญ
Also: it's fun watching where the BCAS helicopters go. This game checks SO MANY boxes for me. I told Jas this morning that it'll be my new obsession for at least a few months. That was knee-jerk, but I'm old enough to know what pushes my happy button. ๐คฃ
Sechelt is my current nemesis. Or, it would be, if the game was back up. I like helicopters the most. Got a Black Hawk without travelling today! Imagine that! WHY CRASH THE DAY I JOIN?
Possibly me? I just started playing today and was just getting into it and BOOM. Oops.
Hey, how does it assign XP to airports? Destination or departure flights? Or? I assumed geographic location but you do not live in Chilliwack. ๐คฃ
Okay. As soon as I read this, I knew. A new game that I will love! And I do. Haha. So much fun. โ๏ธ Friend code: 7912 1314 1247 Also: so many Cessnas!
Added. Hazmatt, of course. ๐
Yessssssss. I am level 10 now haha. 7912 1314 1247
We only have two tiny airports here, haha. I'll look into this magical game anyhow, though. Sounds right up my alley. Or in my flight path, har har. :)
The horrors persist.
So stressed. So tired. So angry. So incapable. So bored. So overwhelmed. Yeah, this isn't a good day. One good thing: the alders across the street look so pretty in the sunshine. Oh, and my honey garlic ferment is smelling SO GOOD (I always smell my ferment burps, lol.)
How to describe my LTD payment situation in 300 characters? No $$ yet. Approved weeks ago. Payroll needs to fill out a form. They did it once, wrong. Now no one answering insurer or my employee services rep. I work for large healthcare org (locals: VCH). Entire payroll dept on vacation maybe? Sigh.
Ditto. The Cracker Barrel thing especially! It was all over the place for a solid 24 hours, hah.
Hike cancelled. Volunteering cancelled. Big crash day today, sigh. In other news: I finally did a not-to-scale drawing of my plans for our front and back yards, and it is going to be so much work. Years of work. I am so stoked.
A bit about me (it's been a while edition): * live in the woods near the ocean w/husband, roomie, dog * dog: Valentino, 5 yo standard poodle * really into: bugs, gardens, foraging, botany, birds, fermenting * currently re-watching: Alone * introvert who won't shut up * professional cook on LTD
Aw, congrats. 25 years is a big deal! I hope you enjoy your celebrations.
Doing a big hike tomorrow with my husband. The weather should be good, I've packed my bag (including trail maintenance kit) and I am hoping to forage for some sweet sweet higher elevation berries. And then Monday will be a stream survey with my streamkeepers pals. Breaking out the waders!
So sorry for your loss. :(
I made a macrame plant hanger at 1:30am because isn't that better than sleep? Okay, no, it's not, but at least my plants look good.
I can keep kitchen knives sharp (former sous chef here) but the idea of working with a blade that size gives me a bit of pause. I bet I could learn easily, though. Thanks for the words of wisdom!
Why hello there. Our property isn't very big, but boy howdy I want one of those now. Sharpening it seems like a bit of a task, though. Do you do it yourself?
Tino gets food in his, so I feel this. ๐คฃ
His ears are clouds. ๐
I really dig this place. I came here after deleting my Instagram account (& removing Facebook from my phone) and didn't know what to make of it at first. I like it here. I have "met" so many cool folks, learned about some really cool stuff, and reconnected with some great folks from my past. ๐ฅฐ
For @cindyphanauthor.com: Valentino. Surprise portrait edition! Snuck up on him and caught him watching reality TV with hubby and roomie. ๐คฃ
Hah no pic yet. I'll go take one in a sec. He's probably snoozing in the dining room so I'll try to get a peaceful shot. I will likely fail, haha.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadia...
Some awful local news. I am unsurprised but deeply saddened. If you aren't Canadian: The residential school system was a big part of the genocide of indigenous peoples committed by the Canadian government and religious institutions. A genocide that continues today. shishalh.com/2025/08/15/s...
Hey allies. This is a five alarm fire and we need you NOW. What the flying fuck is happening?
but the FLUFF is so good!! It's so funny. They look like entirely different dogs after a groom. Tino is relatively freshly groomed right now and he looks so FANCY.
SO FLUFFY
Mine are weather related, sadly. I get one or two a year right now, so I am good. But thank you!
That works, too! Okay, now I want to make some kimchi. I have other ferments going but kimchi is my faaaaaaave. Thanks, stranger, for the inspo! :)
What a gorgeous storm. Hope it doesn't cause too much damage.
Currently fermenting in my kitchen: - garlic honey (9 days in, nearly there) - jalapeno mash - brined pasila mash Currently air drying elsewhere: - cannabis - hazelnuts - wild chamomile flowers (for tea) - calendula seeds - various garden herbs I love the end of summer so much.
Assuming it was made the usual way, as long as you keep the bits submerged below the brine, it'll keep for a long time in a fridge. Months, for sure. Source: I make kimchi often (and I've taken a ton of food safety courses due to being a sous chef and a food safety nerd).
Tomorrow's plan: * cut flowering quince back to the effing ground * tame the holly (one day soon to be replaced with a tall oregon grape) * cut all the Himalayan blackberry from the rhodo * weed & mulch the nodding onion bed * figure out where garlic will be going Hope it doesn't rain, haha.
I usually say that it was when Samuel Alito was confirmed to the US Supreme Court, but your answer is also compelling.
Yay! Am I the only one who has to wait until an entire podcast series is released before starting it? Oh, I am? Okay. Yep. That tracks.
I still have my Cherry Ames books, so I know what you mean but have no idea what it would be called. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_...
Well, I did it, folks! I harvested 10 wild hazelnuts from the forest. First time foraging for nuts, and I'm super happy. I had to bushwack to get them and then figure out how to get them down while leaving some for squirrels, and I did it! They are now drying and will be ready in a few weeks!
Oops. Forgot mushrooms. * mushrooms ๐
I am delighted to meet our new overlord.
Wrote down my foraging goals for the next few seasons, and managed to *finally* get it into a format that will work for me. Updated "next up" list highlights: * rosehips * stink currant (still nice looking around here) * salal berries * hazelnuts * wild chamomile (still flowering nicely)
There are lots of things to find out there! You have things we don't have, so don't worry, I am jealous from time to time as well. ๐ฅฐ
Blackberry picking is done for the year. I'll still try to find nice ones when I'm out and about, but the cold rainy weather made the mildew come early. Next big neighbourhood foraging will be mushrooms, and *hopefully* hazelnuts. If I can outwit the squirrels. ๐คฃ
I just blinked and won a silver medal.
I overestimated my energy when I declared this year to be Hot Commie Summer. Too tired for communism. I think it's been more of a Hot Garbage Summer. Evocative, isn't it? Can't you just smell it? And now taste it? And now doesn't everything feel like a dumpster fire? Oh, it's just me? ๐คฃ๐๐ญ
The Hunt for Red October. Do not ask me why. I have no idea. I've watched it hundreds of times. Sometimes back to back. Second most fucked up comfort watch? The Story of Us. Although for this one I can tell you why: the montage sequence at the end. IT KILLS ME EVERY TIME.
Plan for today: * ignore pain in head * drink lots of tea * reorganize my field guide bookshelf * fret about the humidity level in my drying room * more tea * forage for some berries while the berries are good
Boundaries are so hot this summer! Love this!
I too, am a trans person. Just in case any rich person sees this.
Migraine day 3? 4? I've lost count: There is nothing like searing pain inside one's head to make one turn into a weird hermit that demands cheesies and hot tea and a dark room and wants nothing to do with anything else.
I feel this in my bones. I've had those jobs and it is the worst, especially as someone who has excellent observational skills. You're popular in the right places! And anyone you work with who doesn't appreciate you can go suck an egg.
I feel fabulous in my chest waders, but somehow I don't think that's the right idea.
I've just remembered that I'm going to a wedding in less than a month. I have a limited wardrobe due to weight fluctuations. The dress code is "semi-formal, a little punk, wear what makes you feel fabulous" and my brain just keeps rebooting itself when I try to figure out what that means for me. ๐คฃ
That bastard. On thin ice with me now, too!
Oof. Just wet trimmed my first cannabis harvest, and that was a sticky affair. I'm mostly just thrilled that I kept one plant alive long enough to harvest. I started with 5 seeds, hah. Learning is fun! Next round of plants will be easier. Maybe I'll even manage to keep 2 alive!
Just started a jalapeรฑo mash ferment. From our very own garden! Gonna be so glad in the winter that I took the time to do this. Hot sauce for everyone! My scotch bonnets aren't ready yet but they will get the same treatment.
Thank you. We miss him terribly! Hope your shit sucks less soon! Miss you.
RAIN! So much rain. I was going to plant seeds today. I'll do them on our next non-downpour day instead. Today is for re-watching Victorian Farm, planning the garden beds I'll be digging in the fall for next year, and snuggling with Valentino.
Had a fine time this morning with my stream nerds. We took measurements, tested water quality, and I put my foot right through an undercut stream bank. Went in all the way to my groin. It was kinda hilarious, and lucky I didn't hurt myself. 10/10, will do again.
Okay, I *just* found you on Bluesky, and your latest posts are 2 weeks old. Not fair! Come back! Also: I found some adorable video of our dogs playing together recently and I was gonna send it to you but I forgot because of brain weasels.
It doesn't even look good. So gross.
CAWL-e-flower I can't even *imagine* "eh" in the middle of that.
omg, haha, me too.
OOh, I like this one. I am going to loosely define the word city, because I mostly don't like them. ๐คฃ Me: * North Vancouver, BC * Salt Spring Island, BC * Tofino, BC * Lac Pelletier, SK * Summerland, BC I am sensing a pattern. ๐
It's such rewarding work! Hope you find some new stream people in your area to muck around with!
Our local branch's website is better, hah: sunshinecoaststreamkeepers.com
After *months* of back and forth emails, I am finally doing my first volunteer work with our local Streamkeepers tomorrow morning. Super excited to be taking measurements that will contribute to helping our salmon! Science is awesome. Their website is.. not great.. but here it is: www.pskf.ca
I have decided to try to grow my own hazel trees from seed. It seems like it will be a pain in the ass, but I need a nice two-year project, don't I? ๐คฃ Anyone out there who has done this: any advice?
Further info on black-tailed deer, for those who are too tired to Google: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-t...
Went foraging for blackberries this morning, before the sun got too hot. I was having a nice time, listening to a podcast & filling my bucket. Then I looked up and saw this beauty! She eats blackberries often in this area. She looked at me, I looked at her, and she went back to eating. So chill.
Louder for those in the back.
Took my nighttime meds 3 hours late. Oops. THANKS, BRAIN WEASELS. Sleep soon, please? Sigh.
If you find one, I'd love to know. We used YNAB for a long time and it worked great for us, but we tried to use it again recently and it is so clunky now.
Welcome to Bluesky, Government Overlords! (Seriously: Thanks for joining us here, and thanks for this post!)
Scientists! @skypeascientist.bsky.social matches scientists with classrooms, libraries, & more for virtual Q&As! It's easy and fun! We are looking for 750 more volunteers by 8/15 If you're down to chat with 1-5 classrooms this semester, sign up here www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
Just made a giant batch of pesto since my basil is popping off. Freezing it into ice cube trays for winter use. It's so nice to have delicious pesto in the grey days. I used basil and garlic from our garden! Love this time of year.
But I was told by the New York Times that marriage equality was a stunning success that succeeded because of its modest political goals. Almost like the last two decades of progress were hollow assimilationism into a collapsing neoliberal order rather than actual liberation.
Just set up some honey garlic to ferment. Also harvested a bunch of jalapenos, so I'm going to either pickle them or turn them into a hot sauce. Also going to harvest more salal berries and wild blackberries today. Might make jam! Exciting times.
Went for a walk at dusk, on the hunt for hazel trees. I am currently obsessed with wild hazelnuts. I found *two* new hazels within stumbling distance of my house. I really have to be looking for them, because they blend into the red alders so easily, so finding them is exciting! Yay!
Wingspan is our favourite game in this house! It's so fun once you get the hang of it, and there are many expansions. :)
Mine is too!