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Happy New Year!
Jan. 2nd, 2016 04:54 pmToday's been a good day.
- Best I've felt all week--best I've felt in several weeks, really.
- Got to go see a lovely museum exhibit with my friend F, and I actually made it through the whole thing without needing a wheelchair. Didn't go through any of the other exhibits, mind, but we enjoyed the one.
- We went to Panera for lunch, which I discovered serves good chicken noodle soup, and had supper at our favorite Chinese place.
- Her sweet mom, knowing that I've been dealing with rocky health and suspecting (rightly) that I wouldn't be up to doing dishes much, gave me a big bag of paper goods.
- F's sister was getting rid of a coat that fits me, so now I have a new coat. :D
AND
- F's birthday/Christmas present to me was a scarf made from Lórien wool.
!!!
It's been a good day. :D
- Best I've felt all week--best I've felt in several weeks, really.
- Got to go see a lovely museum exhibit with my friend F, and I actually made it through the whole thing without needing a wheelchair. Didn't go through any of the other exhibits, mind, but we enjoyed the one.
- We went to Panera for lunch, which I discovered serves good chicken noodle soup, and had supper at our favorite Chinese place.
- Her sweet mom, knowing that I've been dealing with rocky health and suspecting (rightly) that I wouldn't be up to doing dishes much, gave me a big bag of paper goods.
- F's sister was getting rid of a coat that fits me, so now I have a new coat. :D
AND
- F's birthday/Christmas present to me was a scarf made from Lórien wool.
!!!
It's been a good day. :D
This just in...
Mar. 11th, 2015 07:32 pmThere is a robin hanging out on my front sidewalk.
Chins up, frozen friends. Spring is coming. :D
Chins up, frozen friends. Spring is coming. :D
Heeeeeeeee...
Mar. 2nd, 2014 09:13 am"Happy Texas Independence Day" is trending worldwide on Twitter. :D
It's also Back to Middle-earth Month! I *might* be able to post something toward the end of the month, but I can't promise. (I can promise that my![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
spnaubigbang fic will be going up on Saturday, but that's not Tolkien-related.)
Less frazzled this week, I think, though I'm not sure how much so. Sleep has helped, as has making considerable headway on projects. Might get around to unlocking comments on my last post, but I'll have to see how the next couple of days go.
It's also Back to Middle-earth Month! I *might* be able to post something toward the end of the month, but I can't promise. (I can promise that my
spnaubigbang fic will be going up on Saturday, but that's not Tolkien-related.)Less frazzled this week, I think, though I'm not sure how much so. Sleep has helped, as has making considerable headway on projects. Might get around to unlocking comments on my last post, but I'll have to see how the next couple of days go.
It was a glorious day weather-wise, warm (83!), sunny, pleasantly breezy, with lots and lots of butterflies on the wing. My parents and I were in one of my favorite historical towns, got to see some sights and learn a few things I hadn't known before. I got a lovely piece of art and three very cool *and* useful books as gifts. And--highly appropriate for a hobbit fan who's turning 33--the Jägerschnitzel I ordered for lunch came out COVERED, as in nearly buried, in thick-sliced mushrooms. :D
It wasn't a perfect day in all respects; last night's SPN really was *not* what I wanted for my birthday; and the weather's about to scupper our plans for the weekend (so we're going to a quieter, indoor Plan B)... but y'know what? It's been a happy day anyway. :)
It wasn't a perfect day in all respects; last night's SPN really was *not* what I wanted for my birthday; and the weather's about to scupper our plans for the weekend (so we're going to a quieter, indoor Plan B)... but y'know what? It's been a happy day anyway. :)
Another kitchen chemistry success!
Sep. 15th, 2013 08:17 pmIn a quest for better food with minimal prep effort and cleanup, I recently came across Marie Callender's Steak with Roasted Potatoes frozen dinner, which is basically chunks of roasted steak over oven-roasted potatoes and served with mushroom gravy and a side of green bean casserole. The casserole isn't to my taste, but the main is, although I find the gravy spicier than I like. Yet I couldn't help finding it a bit wasteful to spend so much money on a dinner that I couldn't eat all of and seemed like something I could make myself--and would make myself, if using the Crock-Pot didn't involve so much scrubbing in the cleanup.
And then I remembered that there's such a thing as Crock-Pot liners.
This is not an exact replica of the MC recipe by any means, but it's close enough for me. (I've actually made beef tips this way for a long time minus the mushrooms; that was the part I had to experiment with.) Folks with specific dietary needs may need to adjust certain parts of it, but I think it should be adaptable enough for most folks.
Beef Tips with Mushrooms
(measurements are approximate; brands are what I use but may not be available everywhere)
1 lb. stew meat (or cubed beef cut of your choice)
1/2 lb. sliced mushrooms
1/2 small bag new potatoes
1/2 small bag baby carrots
4 c. water
Dried onion to taste
6 cubes (or 1 packet) Wyler's beef bullion
2 packets Pioneer Brown Gravy mix
1. Place the bullion in the bottom of the Crock-Pot. Add a layer each of potatoes, carrots, meat, and onions. Because the potatoes and carrots are already small, they don't need to be cut up further.
2. Add the water, which should mostly cover the meat.
3. Place the mushrooms on top of the meat. (This order is important because the cooked mushrooms' texture will be more like sauteed than if they remain in the water the whole time. If you don't mind sauteeing, though, you can keep the mushrooms out and follow the gravy packet instructions for Rich Mushroom Gravy.)
4. Cover the Crock-Pot and turn it on. Cook until meat is tender--approx. 4 hrs on High if meat is fresh, closer to 6 hrs. if frozen.
5. Remove 3 c. of pan juices to use as the hot liquid for the gravy. Prepare gravy according to package directions.
Serve over noodles or rice if you want the carrots and potatoes on the side, or serve over cut-up potatoes. Serves 4-6.
A variant that I may try is adding a bit of red grape juice to the gravy (instead of burgundy), but it's plenty rich even without that. :)
And then I remembered that there's such a thing as Crock-Pot liners.
This is not an exact replica of the MC recipe by any means, but it's close enough for me. (I've actually made beef tips this way for a long time minus the mushrooms; that was the part I had to experiment with.) Folks with specific dietary needs may need to adjust certain parts of it, but I think it should be adaptable enough for most folks.
Beef Tips with Mushrooms
(measurements are approximate; brands are what I use but may not be available everywhere)
1 lb. stew meat (or cubed beef cut of your choice)
1/2 lb. sliced mushrooms
1/2 small bag new potatoes
1/2 small bag baby carrots
4 c. water
Dried onion to taste
6 cubes (or 1 packet) Wyler's beef bullion
2 packets Pioneer Brown Gravy mix
1. Place the bullion in the bottom of the Crock-Pot. Add a layer each of potatoes, carrots, meat, and onions. Because the potatoes and carrots are already small, they don't need to be cut up further.
2. Add the water, which should mostly cover the meat.
3. Place the mushrooms on top of the meat. (This order is important because the cooked mushrooms' texture will be more like sauteed than if they remain in the water the whole time. If you don't mind sauteeing, though, you can keep the mushrooms out and follow the gravy packet instructions for Rich Mushroom Gravy.)
4. Cover the Crock-Pot and turn it on. Cook until meat is tender--approx. 4 hrs on High if meat is fresh, closer to 6 hrs. if frozen.
5. Remove 3 c. of pan juices to use as the hot liquid for the gravy. Prepare gravy according to package directions.
Serve over noodles or rice if you want the carrots and potatoes on the side, or serve over cut-up potatoes. Serves 4-6.
A variant that I may try is adding a bit of red grape juice to the gravy (instead of burgundy), but it's plenty rich even without that. :)
Okay, so yesterday I was watching the special features from The Hobbit Part 1 with my parents, remembering how wonderful it was to see the movie in the theaters but thinking I'd be okay with waiting six more months to see Part 2.
But that was yesterday.
Is it December yet?!
But that was yesterday.
Is it December yet?!
Far over the Misty Mountains cold...
Dec. 19th, 2012 09:17 pmSo, The Hobbit Part 1. LOVED. As usual, there were moments of "Yup, PJ's a horror director" and "Does this battle *need* to be this long?" (but none were on a par with Helm's Deep for overkill...), and a few of the jokes really weren't necessary. But overall, I was having too much fun to care about those bits. We were BACK, and everybody's just as brilliant as they were ten years ago. I didn't squee audibly, but I did squee pretty often internally!
I do have to confess that there were moments where I kept waiting for the Fellowship theme, and I did kind of expect Pippin's song from ROTK to make an appearance at a certain point (that's in the trailer, so I don't really consider it a spoiler). BUT. The places where Howard Shore did bring back themes from LOTR were spot on, and the rest of the score was fabulous.
As for 2D vs. 3D: We splurged on 3D, since this was our first viewing and we wanted to absorb as much of the detail the team had put in for 3D as we could. I took a non-drowsy Dramamine beforehand, which my friend said later had probably been a good idea, and had no real trouble with it apart from my eyes feeling tired by the last half-hour-ish. I didn't notice many places where the action came off the screen, but there was quite a lot of depth to many of the scenes that brought out details like fabric texture and scale. I kept thinking about allllll the details in LOTR that were put in, like tone-on-tone embroidery on the clothes, but that didn't necessarily register on camera or for the audience--yet you would have been able to tell if those elements were missing. And I felt like I was able to register more of those details with 3D. So 3D is a richer experience, I would guess, but it's not like you'll totally lose that richness in 2D.
So yeah. Very pleased with this installment and can't wait for Part 2!
I do have to confess that there were moments where I kept waiting for the Fellowship theme, and I did kind of expect Pippin's song from ROTK to make an appearance at a certain point (that's in the trailer, so I don't really consider it a spoiler). BUT. The places where Howard Shore did bring back themes from LOTR were spot on, and the rest of the score was fabulous.
As for 2D vs. 3D: We splurged on 3D, since this was our first viewing and we wanted to absorb as much of the detail the team had put in for 3D as we could. I took a non-drowsy Dramamine beforehand, which my friend said later had probably been a good idea, and had no real trouble with it apart from my eyes feeling tired by the last half-hour-ish. I didn't notice many places where the action came off the screen, but there was quite a lot of depth to many of the scenes that brought out details like fabric texture and scale. I kept thinking about allllll the details in LOTR that were put in, like tone-on-tone embroidery on the clothes, but that didn't necessarily register on camera or for the audience--yet you would have been able to tell if those elements were missing. And I felt like I was able to register more of those details with 3D. So 3D is a richer experience, I would guess, but it's not like you'll totally lose that richness in 2D.
So yeah. Very pleased with this installment and can't wait for Part 2!
Biiiiirthdaaaay!!!
Dec. 5th, 2012 05:08 amI are a tired taquito, though not from partying too hard. :D Work's just been keeping me crazy busy and/or up all hours. But many thanks for all the birthday wishes and sweet surprises! It's been a good day, all told. :) I'm not sure if I'll be able to respond individually, but I have read and smiled at everything I've gotten. Wish I had a mathom ready to post, but I don't quite--yet. What I will have, as soon as I can get them finished and betaed, are the last two stories in the Dinéchesters "The Dark Wind" arc! And they are long and plotty and *should* tie up all the loose ends. ;) I think that will be it for that 'verse, though I never say never where sequels are concerned if it's an AU I like.
Speaking of which, since I'm not posting those for a challenge, would those of you who read on LJ prefer that I post all at once or that I post a chapter a day, the way I do on FF.n?
Next year I'll be focusing more on original fic, but don't think I'm giving up on fanfic. Oh, no. I've still got stories to finish in at least four other AUs, including that Tok'ra Apocalypse sequel that stalled out on me, plus two Big Bangs that I'll be posting after the first of the year and an A-Team crossover that I started for anspn_bigpretzel comment-fic meme but took off on an angstier tangent on me and now needs its plot sorted out. And you never can tell what plotbunnies will ambush me over at hoodie_time....
Right, I'm rambling. Time for food and sleep, I think. :)
Speaking of which, since I'm not posting those for a challenge, would those of you who read on LJ prefer that I post all at once or that I post a chapter a day, the way I do on FF.n?
Next year I'll be focusing more on original fic, but don't think I'm giving up on fanfic. Oh, no. I've still got stories to finish in at least four other AUs, including that Tok'ra Apocalypse sequel that stalled out on me, plus two Big Bangs that I'll be posting after the first of the year and an A-Team crossover that I started for an
spn_bigpretzel comment-fic meme but took off on an angstier tangent on me and now needs its plot sorted out. And you never can tell what plotbunnies will ambush me over at hoodie_time....Right, I'm rambling. Time for food and sleep, I think. :)
Have a meme!
Nov. 23rd, 2012 12:27 pmThis one started (!) by my very favorite Mumsie, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mumstheword54:
"Giving Thanks"
Whether we're still elated or heartbroken over this year's elections; overworked or under-employed; at the peak of our health or battling physical problems -- whatever our circumstances, we have so much to be thankful for, and we need sometimes to stop and count our many blessings, then send a grateful prayer heavenward to the Lord, from whom all blessings flow.
So reply to this post, and I'll give you a letter. You may reply here and/or start your own LJ post, listing AT LEAST five things for which you are grateful.
My letter is R:
1. REDEMPTION. One of the things I've gleaned from SPN is that that universe, as messed up as it is, is a great look at what the Primary World would be like without the grace of a God who keeps His promises and has willingly paid the debt that we could never pay. We don't have to save ourselves, and we don't have to face the impossible task of trying to earn Heaven.
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail!
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!
Now there's something to sing about! :D
2. RIGHTS. Namely that while we might quibble over them and might not always see them correctly, at least Americans recognize that people have inherent, basic, unalienable rights and that the government's job is not to grant them but to protect them. I am beyond blessed to be an American woman with a Ph.D., a driver's license, and a voter registration card; there are way too many people in this world who'd gladly kill me for such transgressions of what they think womanhood should be. (Which is why I'm hoping to add a concealed handgun license to the list sooner than later! The Second Amendment guarantees the First, after all....)
3. RONALDUS MAGNUS. My favorite President, I think. Not only did he do a lot of good while he was in office and articulate a lot of policy ideas that I agree with, he had a great sense of humor and seemed to be a genuinely nice man. And he wasn't a bad actor, either! I haven't seen all of his movies, but I've enjoyed the ones I have seen--two of which (The Santa Fe Trail and Desperate Journey) co-starred Errol Flynn.
4. RGIII. A Heisman winner from Baylor--whodathunk?!
5. REST. Nothing like a series of panic attacks to remind you why you prefer freelancing, with all its risks, to an inflexible, overstuffed schedule....
I could go on, but I think I'll leave it there to let y'all have a go. :D
ETA: This doesn't start with an R, but it's good news all the same: C.S. Lewis is about to get a memorial in the Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey! Now, if they'd only do the same for Tolkien....
mumstheword54:"Giving Thanks"
Whether we're still elated or heartbroken over this year's elections; overworked or under-employed; at the peak of our health or battling physical problems -- whatever our circumstances, we have so much to be thankful for, and we need sometimes to stop and count our many blessings, then send a grateful prayer heavenward to the Lord, from whom all blessings flow.
So reply to this post, and I'll give you a letter. You may reply here and/or start your own LJ post, listing AT LEAST five things for which you are grateful.
My letter is R:
1. REDEMPTION. One of the things I've gleaned from SPN is that that universe, as messed up as it is, is a great look at what the Primary World would be like without the grace of a God who keeps His promises and has willingly paid the debt that we could never pay. We don't have to save ourselves, and we don't have to face the impossible task of trying to earn Heaven.
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail!
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!
Now there's something to sing about! :D
2. RIGHTS. Namely that while we might quibble over them and might not always see them correctly, at least Americans recognize that people have inherent, basic, unalienable rights and that the government's job is not to grant them but to protect them. I am beyond blessed to be an American woman with a Ph.D., a driver's license, and a voter registration card; there are way too many people in this world who'd gladly kill me for such transgressions of what they think womanhood should be. (Which is why I'm hoping to add a concealed handgun license to the list sooner than later! The Second Amendment guarantees the First, after all....)
3. RONALDUS MAGNUS. My favorite President, I think. Not only did he do a lot of good while he was in office and articulate a lot of policy ideas that I agree with, he had a great sense of humor and seemed to be a genuinely nice man. And he wasn't a bad actor, either! I haven't seen all of his movies, but I've enjoyed the ones I have seen--two of which (The Santa Fe Trail and Desperate Journey) co-starred Errol Flynn.
4. RGIII. A Heisman winner from Baylor--whodathunk?!
5. REST. Nothing like a series of panic attacks to remind you why you prefer freelancing, with all its risks, to an inflexible, overstuffed schedule....
I could go on, but I think I'll leave it there to let y'all have a go. :D
ETA: This doesn't start with an R, but it's good news all the same: C.S. Lewis is about to get a memorial in the Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey! Now, if they'd only do the same for Tolkien....
In everything....
Nov. 22nd, 2012 10:01 amWhat I'm about to share might sound like a downer, but it isn't meant to be, and I can't help thinking someone needs to read it. So here goes.
( Cut mainly for length--from _The Hiding Place_ by Corrie Ten Boom )
In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.--I Thessalonians 5:18
Happy Thanksgiving, y'all. :)
( Cut mainly for length--from _The Hiding Place_ by Corrie Ten Boom )
In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.--I Thessalonians 5:18
Happy Thanksgiving, y'all. :)
Awards and fic news
Aug. 27th, 2012 07:44 pmFor those of you who haven't yet heard, Many Paths To Tread is kicking off the Tree and Flower Awards this year! Nominations are closed, but keep an eye on lotr_community over the next couple of days if you've a mind to vote--there are some really great stories in the running, including my Red Fell the Dew in Rammas Echor and some of my favorites by other writers, as well as some excellent non-fiction essays.
Also, I've posted a new Dinéchesters story, The Dark Wind: Bi'ee' Łigai, as my first entry forspn_gen_bigbang this year. There'll be more to come--both of "The Dark Wind" and of Gen BB entries--soon!
lotr_community over the next couple of days if you've a mind to vote--there are some really great stories in the running, including my Red Fell the Dew in Rammas Echor and some of my favorites by other writers, as well as some excellent non-fiction essays.Also, I've posted a new Dinéchesters story, The Dark Wind: Bi'ee' Łigai, as my first entry for
spn_gen_bigbang this year. There'll be more to come--both of "The Dark Wind" and of Gen BB entries--soon!Website update
Jul. 28th, 2012 06:58 amBy George, I think I've got it! Same URLs for everything, but I've *finally* updated the MFFC main page, the PFM page, and alllll the fics I've written for the last two years. Well, except for the stuff that's on cazadoretx.
It's taken all week, even using FrontPage, but it's DONE. Whoof.
cazadoretx.It's taken all week, even using FrontPage, but it's DONE. Whoof.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USA!!!
Jul. 4th, 2012 06:45 am(ETA: If you've never read the full text of the Declaration, or haven't done so recently, it's worth a look, especially in an election year.)
(This song is the sole reason I ever wanted to learn to play the flute/piccolo. In retrospect, clarinet probably was a better fit.)
Have a safe and sane 4th, y'all!!!
Today is a good day.
May. 23rd, 2012 11:39 amMy life and our world are not perfect. There are plenty of things I *could* gripe about today.
BUT
My dishes are done. I've made some progress on a fic that was stalled. The sun is shining. It's not too hot. My joints and my energy level held up well enough for me to get all my errands done by walking, and I wasn't even sore at all by the time I got home. The errand-running itself was pleasant enough, as was the walk through this little town I love so much. I voted. And the bakery down the street had excellent beef stroganoff for their lunch special--worth getting hungry for, as I told the ladies who work there. (ETA: Plus, my A/C works now.) And that's just counting my own blessings, not even the blessings friends have told me that they've received.
Today is a good day. :)
BUT
My dishes are done. I've made some progress on a fic that was stalled. The sun is shining. It's not too hot. My joints and my energy level held up well enough for me to get all my errands done by walking, and I wasn't even sore at all by the time I got home. The errand-running itself was pleasant enough, as was the walk through this little town I love so much. I voted. And the bakery down the street had excellent beef stroganoff for their lunch special--worth getting hungry for, as I told the ladies who work there. (ETA: Plus, my A/C works now.) And that's just counting my own blessings, not even the blessings friends have told me that they've received.
Today is a good day. :)
For those of you who haven't seen it yet, I just found this info on the SG-1 official Facebook page:
Wow what a day! Tonight the Stargate Convention in Vancouver, is buzzing with excitement about an earlier announcement made by independent producer, Darren Thomas. Fans were treated to previously unreleased news about MGM's collaboration on a new SG-1 App designed for smart phones and tablets. The scoop from Thomas is that MGM is reviving SG-1 albeit in a new format- music to the ears of many fans around the world. Thomas didn't want to divulge more, but he did say that "plans are underway and I wish I could tell you more. The good news is that we will be unveiling something big at this year's Comic-Con in San Diego". But in the meantime stay tuned for more information right here on the SG-1 official MGM page.
*Snoopy dance*
ETA: Update via Joe Mallozzi's blog:
Tim Bullock writes: “Joe. did you here about the StarGate reboot to be announced at Com-con this Summer in some from?”
Answer: I’m aware of the project, but “reboot” is the wrong term. It implies a new film or television series which isn’t the case here.
Piffle--but I'm still curious as to what they *are* unveiling.
Wow what a day! Tonight the Stargate Convention in Vancouver, is buzzing with excitement about an earlier announcement made by independent producer, Darren Thomas. Fans were treated to previously unreleased news about MGM's collaboration on a new SG-1 App designed for smart phones and tablets. The scoop from Thomas is that MGM is reviving SG-1 albeit in a new format- music to the ears of many fans around the world. Thomas didn't want to divulge more, but he did say that "plans are underway and I wish I could tell you more. The good news is that we will be unveiling something big at this year's Comic-Con in San Diego". But in the meantime stay tuned for more information right here on the SG-1 official MGM page.
*Snoopy dance*
ETA: Update via Joe Mallozzi's blog:
Tim Bullock writes: “Joe. did you here about the StarGate reboot to be announced at Com-con this Summer in some from?”
Answer: I’m aware of the project, but “reboot” is the wrong term. It implies a new film or television series which isn’t the case here.
Piffle--but I'm still curious as to what they *are* unveiling.
