(cooking)
Nov. 7th, 2025 07:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elainegreyYesterday i made a marvelous soup -- dried figs, chickpeas, and a can of fire roasted tomato with half a jar of harissa sauce. Blitzed up some of the figs, chickpeas, and tomatoes, but kept it chunky. The only issue is when i dried the figs i left the stems on. I usually blend them up when making my buckwheat bread (blending with the buckwheat) and between the long fermenty soaks and the blending, i have never noticed the stems. Noticed this time. Other than that, divine.
I'm trying to decide if buying The Spice House's Harissa mix is worth it. (https://www.thespicehouse.com/blogs/recipes/20-minute-harissa-spread) This resource (https://www.chefs-resources.com/culinary-conversions-calculators-and-capacities/dry-spice-yields/) says 4.25 tablespoons per oz, so it's roughly 5 batches of the recipe. (OMG olive oil prices.) I will buy Tampa resident nephew who fishes and cooks two Hawaiian sea salts and Sichuan peppercorns for Yule, and NYC student nephew maybe a popcorn seasoning and a baked potato seasoning, and then i start looking for me and i want all the flavors.
The mix is probably not worth it. The sauce i bought may have sugar in it and leads with water, but it was fine (not too garlicy).
Interesting Links for 07-11-2025
Nov. 7th, 2025 12:00 pmandrewducker- 1. Researchers uncover AI bias against older working women
- (tags:women age ai OhForFucksSake bias )
- 2. Britain Is Having the World's Most Extreme Immigration Debate
- (tags:UK immigration OhForFucksSake )
- 3. What percentage of English derives from which languages?
- (tags:language english uk history )
- 4. Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
- (tags:australia electricity solarpower economics )
- 5. Rockstar Games Employee posts about recent union-busting efforts
- (tags:rockstar gta unions OhForFucksSake )
- 6. Metformin reduces the benefits of exercise in people with diabetes
- (tags:diabetes exercise drugs )
- 7. Labour spending billions on actually building social housing. Finally!
- (tags:labour housing GoodNews )
- 8. The UK Personal Finance Flowchart (an excellent guide to help you think about your finances)
- (tags:finances uk advice )
Girl Genius for Friday, November 07, 2025
Nov. 7th, 2025 05:00 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
girlgenius_main_feedThe Girl Genius comic for Friday, November 07, 2025 has been posted.
Well, I've picked out a new set of frames
Nov. 7th, 2025 12:20 amconulyIt was a penny more than the old ones, so there's that. (But I paid for super expedited shipping, so actually it's like $40 more.)
They're green. I'm not so sure about this, but there will be NO MORE TAKE-BACKS. I triple checked that they weren't safety glasses with the things on the side, which would've been great if I was in a field where I needed those but, as it is, was unwearable, and they're the exact same measurement as my old glasses, I checked that as well.
They're green. I'm not so sure about this, but there will be NO MORE TAKE-BACKS. I triple checked that they weren't safety glasses with the things on the side, which would've been great if I was in a field where I needed those but, as it is, was unwearable, and they're the exact same measurement as my old glasses, I checked that as well.
(no subject)
Nov. 6th, 2025 08:08 pmranunculusHemmed up a little flag, maybe 2' x 4' for the event on Saturday. It is a pale green piece of polyester lining fabric. Should flutter nicely. I need to tie it to a broom handle with a little lashing of twine to make it stay. The flag will be the "hard" version of the obstacle. Easy will be a small stuffed dog toy, and Medium will be a large, slightly floppy dog toy. Any of them are perfectly easy to pick up and carry on your horse as long as you have desensitized your horse to the fact that you will be picking items up while riding.
Tomorrow gets a little crazy. The tractor needs to move down to the Arena from the house. I'm setting the arena for Saturday, that would ideally mean tilling it up a bit. Mike is supposed to be coming up to visit and pick persimmons and I have evening chores with the horses.
Fortunately evening chores are the easy ones. Just put out the pre-prepaired barrels and move horses in from the pasture to the pens. All the horses know the routine so it shouldn't be hard. This morning Beau and Rio came right over to the gate into the arena, trotted to the far side of the arena and tried to eat the 2 blades of grass they could possibly get their teeth on. Meanwhile I walked the 250 feet to the end of the arena, out the back and another 50 feet or so to open the pasture gate. Then went to the south Winter Quarters gate and let Baily out before going back to the Arena to get Beau and Rio. Bailey never looked at the Arena gate, he kicked up his heels and trotted smartly out the pasture gate. By the time I was 40 feet into the Arena Beau and Rio were high tailing it past me, catching up with Bailey and cantering up the pasture. I probably didn't need to walk back into the Arena, those old geldings know exactly what is up. Firefly got a little graze on the Alleyway green grass while I cleaned. She seemed content to come back in and head for her hay barrel when I was done. When new horses come to the Ranch they always take a little while to settle into whatever routine we have. The first couple of times we change pastures they are visibly confused and upset, but once they catch on all is good. Oh Boy, fresh pasture!! Same routine. Very comforting.
Tomorrow gets a little crazy. The tractor needs to move down to the Arena from the house. I'm setting the arena for Saturday, that would ideally mean tilling it up a bit. Mike is supposed to be coming up to visit and pick persimmons and I have evening chores with the horses.
Fortunately evening chores are the easy ones. Just put out the pre-prepaired barrels and move horses in from the pasture to the pens. All the horses know the routine so it shouldn't be hard. This morning Beau and Rio came right over to the gate into the arena, trotted to the far side of the arena and tried to eat the 2 blades of grass they could possibly get their teeth on. Meanwhile I walked the 250 feet to the end of the arena, out the back and another 50 feet or so to open the pasture gate. Then went to the south Winter Quarters gate and let Baily out before going back to the Arena to get Beau and Rio. Bailey never looked at the Arena gate, he kicked up his heels and trotted smartly out the pasture gate. By the time I was 40 feet into the Arena Beau and Rio were high tailing it past me, catching up with Bailey and cantering up the pasture. I probably didn't need to walk back into the Arena, those old geldings know exactly what is up. Firefly got a little graze on the Alleyway green grass while I cleaned. She seemed content to come back in and head for her hay barrel when I was done. When new horses come to the Ranch they always take a little while to settle into whatever routine we have. The first couple of times we change pastures they are visibly confused and upset, but once they catch on all is good. Oh Boy, fresh pasture!! Same routine. Very comforting.
I used the election to read In Other Lands
Nov. 6th, 2025 10:07 amconulyI liked it, but that was because I liked laughing at how stupidly oblivious the protagonist was to his not-rival's extraordinarily obvious crush on him. And also because I like most things I read.
But then, here I was, 20 minutes from the finish line, our two dudes are about to finally resolve all their deep-seated personal issues that have kept them apart - and my coworkers start a loud conversation right next to me and they will not shut up. I did, eventually, have to ask them to please stop for half an hour so I could finish my book.
******************
( Read more... )
But then, here I was, 20 minutes from the finish line, our two dudes are about to finally resolve all their deep-seated personal issues that have kept them apart - and my coworkers start a loud conversation right next to me and they will not shut up. I did, eventually, have to ask them to please stop for half an hour so I could finish my book.
( Read more... )
Dept of still coughing.
Nov. 6th, 2025 02:27 pmranunculusWhatever this current creeping crud is, it is persistent. I'm rolling up on almost two weeks being sick, and while things really are getting better, I'm really tired of coughing.
Spent some time in the garden today deadheading, weeding and generally tidying up. Lots more to do. Still picking lovely cucumbers, tomatoes and also eggplant and a watermelon. They apparently have not got the memo that it is November. This morning at 9am the greenhouse was already at 90F. Geraniums and the little roses are loving it. The door is now tied open.
Spent some time in the garden today deadheading, weeding and generally tidying up. Lots more to do. Still picking lovely cucumbers, tomatoes and also eggplant and a watermelon. They apparently have not got the memo that it is November. This morning at 9am the greenhouse was already at 90F. Geraniums and the little roses are loving it. The door is now tied open.
Interesting Links for 06-11-2025
Nov. 6th, 2025 12:00 pmandrewducker- 1. NY school smartphone ban has made lunch loud again
- (tags:school phones )
- 2. People are *terrible* at telling when they're being flirted with
- (tags:relationships psychology )
- 3. Pros And Cons Of A 3rd Trump Term
- (tags:politics usa satire funny )
- 4. MSPs defend working with groups opposed to abortion and marriage equality
- (tags:Scotland abortion LGBT OhForFucksSake marriage )
- 5. The Anti Defamation League has gone from fighting antisemitism to fuelling Islamophobia
- (tags:Jews islam palestine charity OhForFucksSake )
Moonlit walk
Nov. 6th, 2025 06:47 amelainegreyI got in my quick walk last night and reveled in being able to see the clear gold and yellow leaves in the moonlight. It seems so remarkably glorious this year, like the leaves are all changing at once. The early brown leaves -- well copper-brown from the black cherry -- are past and fallen. I am outside this morning in hood, jacket, gloves and throw. I can see a low horizon to the back of the woods where the hill falls off this morning.
( Images from the walk )
( Images from the walk )
new faces behind the decks, new acronym on the flier
Nov. 5th, 2025 05:37 pmsistawendyLast night at the Blue Moon was house music as so often on Tuesday nights, but this time with a twist. Promoter Brit Jean restricted the DJs to FLINTA: female, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender people. Neither the Tickler nor I had ever heard that acronym before, and even Brit had to learn it from the illustrious Trinitron, who inspired that night and was there for a little bit. Trinitron, despite being FLINTA herself, didn't DJ because that night is an open decks night for people who aren't really established, and she very much is.
FLINTA: a less... confrontational way of saying ABCD, i.e. anyone but cis dudes. And as the Tickler points out, it's better not to define yourself by what you're not, which is why they prefer "genderqueer" to "non-binary". Weirdly, the latter seems to have taken over, possibly due to squeamishness about the Q-word among the very old and the very young. Mayunn, I wonder if I'll live to see the day we get our terminological act together.
Fave DJ: Onyx Ocean. Rock solid, futuristic groove. Brit tells me she's** more partial to drum 'n bass, which in my opinion is too bad. I complimented her on her set, and she remembered me from somewhere, thereby causing me to worry about advancing senility. Or maybe she just remembered my purple hair. In any case, I hope to see her around.
And yes, the cute bartender with the dyke hair was there. Happiness.
**I looked up her pronouns in Zuckerberg's data mine. Ambivalence ahoy!
FLINTA: a less... confrontational way of saying ABCD, i.e. anyone but cis dudes. And as the Tickler points out, it's better not to define yourself by what you're not, which is why they prefer "genderqueer" to "non-binary". Weirdly, the latter seems to have taken over, possibly due to squeamishness about the Q-word among the very old and the very young. Mayunn, I wonder if I'll live to see the day we get our terminological act together.
Fave DJ: Onyx Ocean. Rock solid, futuristic groove. Brit tells me she's** more partial to drum 'n bass, which in my opinion is too bad. I complimented her on her set, and she remembered me from somewhere, thereby causing me to worry about advancing senility. Or maybe she just remembered my purple hair. In any case, I hope to see her around.
And yes, the cute bartender with the dyke hair was there. Happiness.
**I looked up her pronouns in Zuckerberg's data mine. Ambivalence ahoy!
Alternate workouts [status]
Nov. 5th, 2025 04:24 pmrebeccmeisterOur rowing club has divided the year up into 5 different seasons: Winter I, Winter II, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Fall finished up last Saturday; Winter I starts up tomorrow morning. So we've had a couple of days off from rowing practice.
Instead of any form of conventional training, I've been using the days off to engage in alternate workouts. This morning's alternate workouts included:
-Reinflating my Theraband Exercise Ball to see if I can figure out where it is leaking. I did find a leak, so I stuck a vinyl patch on it, and now maybe I will be able to start using it again. Reinflating an exercise ball involves a lot of operation of the bicycle pump.
-Cleaning and then applying feed-n-wax polish to the dining room table, which really needed it. It looks much better now. That was not a particularly vigorous exercise.
-Luring the cats into the cat carrier, then lifting the carrier to put it in the car to take them for a vet appointment. Our vet is my friend R, so it was great to see her (although George got stressed out and peed in the carrier on the car ride home, argh). Also not a particularly vigorous exercise.
Work feels like A Lot right now. Speaking of which, I should continue my alternate workouts by spending some time cleaning the insect spaces ahead of tomorrow's facility inspection...
I did still bike to work, which DOES feel like vigorous exercise, although I don't always count it as such.
Instead of any form of conventional training, I've been using the days off to engage in alternate workouts. This morning's alternate workouts included:
-Reinflating my Theraband Exercise Ball to see if I can figure out where it is leaking. I did find a leak, so I stuck a vinyl patch on it, and now maybe I will be able to start using it again. Reinflating an exercise ball involves a lot of operation of the bicycle pump.
-Cleaning and then applying feed-n-wax polish to the dining room table, which really needed it. It looks much better now. That was not a particularly vigorous exercise.
-Luring the cats into the cat carrier, then lifting the carrier to put it in the car to take them for a vet appointment. Our vet is my friend R, so it was great to see her (although George got stressed out and peed in the carrier on the car ride home, argh). Also not a particularly vigorous exercise.
Work feels like A Lot right now. Speaking of which, I should continue my alternate workouts by spending some time cleaning the insect spaces ahead of tomorrow's facility inspection...
I did still bike to work, which DOES feel like vigorous exercise, although I don't always count it as such.
I am so tired
Nov. 4th, 2025 03:27 pmconulyI have a mandatory staff meeting in an hour and I may call out on the grounds that I am so tired.
(I also have a headache, but if I call out on the grounds that omg my head is killing me my manager will tell me to go to the doctor. It's not an illness, it's a generational curse, plus I worked 16 hours on approximate 0 hours of sleep yesterday.)
On the other hand, I want to seem responsible. But... I am really groggy and tired and I have a headache.
(I also have a headache, but if I call out on the grounds that omg my head is killing me my manager will tell me to go to the doctor. It's not an illness, it's a generational curse, plus I worked 16 hours on approximate 0 hours of sleep yesterday.)
On the other hand, I want to seem responsible. But... I am really groggy and tired and I have a headache.
Mamdami won
Nov. 3rd, 2025 03:22 pmconulyI haven't had a chance to look at any other election results yet, but that's cheering. I do think he's vastly overpromised and will regret it - among other things, free buses requires first wresting the MTA back from Albany, and that's not the job of a single term - but it's not like I liked any of the other candidates.
Especially Cuomo, for many reasons, but most especially because you just can't trust somebody who thinks the best career move after governor is mayor.
Especially Cuomo, for many reasons, but most especially because you just can't trust somebody who thinks the best career move after governor is mayor.