Health update
Apr. 22nd, 2026 17:10![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mxcatmoonFigured it's about time I posted an update for those interested. Details below the cut.
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mxcatmoon
Birdfeeding
Apr. 22nd, 2026 12:45ysabetwordsmith posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
birdfeedingToday is sunny and warm.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few house finches. Red-winged blackbirds are singing in the trees. I've seen others at the drainage ditch, so I wonder how long these will stick around.
I put out water for the birds. Honeybees have been draining the birdbaths.
I set out my small flats of seedlings.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I planted 4 snapdragons and a yellow-and-orange lantana in the barrel garden. I realized that I forgot to pick up the firecracker plant for hummingbirds that I meant to get yesterday. >_< I may get back to DeBurh's another day, or somewhere else might have it.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I planted a pineapple sage besides the barrel garden.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I planted a Yellow Pear tomato, a Santa (a red grape tomato), a Cherokee Purple (a slicing tomato), a Mr. Stripey (a sweet yellow-and-red slicer), and an Old German (a slicer, mostly yellow with a bit of orange or red inside) in the new picnic table garden.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I planted 4 'Safari Yellow' marigolds around the 'Santa' tomato. I need to watch for more marigolds; my attempts at sprouting them from seeds didn't produce many this year.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- We picked up sticks from the west end of the south lot, so that can be mowed later today. There is a big patch of ground there which is either bare or growing weeds from having the big branch on it for several years. So it needs to be mowed close, then raked and sown with grass seed. Friday looks like rain.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I watered the newly planted things.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I buffed the apothecary cabinet, so that part is done. A couple of the hanging pegs on the bottom are loose, so I want to put wood glue on those before we hang it.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I planted a fennel, a sweet marjoram, a curry plant, and a dill in the large trough pot on the old picnic table garden.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I raked the west end of the south lot.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I planted the Forever Purple heuchera in the forest garden and watered it.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few house finches. Red-winged blackbirds are singing in the trees. I've seen others at the drainage ditch, so I wonder how long these will stick around.
I put out water for the birds. Honeybees have been draining the birdbaths.
I set out my small flats of seedlings.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I planted 4 snapdragons and a yellow-and-orange lantana in the barrel garden. I realized that I forgot to pick up the firecracker plant for hummingbirds that I meant to get yesterday. >_< I may get back to DeBurh's another day, or somewhere else might have it.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I planted a pineapple sage besides the barrel garden.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I planted a Yellow Pear tomato, a Santa (a red grape tomato), a Cherokee Purple (a slicing tomato), a Mr. Stripey (a sweet yellow-and-red slicer), and an Old German (a slicer, mostly yellow with a bit of orange or red inside) in the new picnic table garden.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I planted 4 'Safari Yellow' marigolds around the 'Santa' tomato. I need to watch for more marigolds; my attempts at sprouting them from seeds didn't produce many this year.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- We picked up sticks from the west end of the south lot, so that can be mowed later today. There is a big patch of ground there which is either bare or growing weeds from having the big branch on it for several years. So it needs to be mowed close, then raked and sown with grass seed. Friday looks like rain.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I watered the newly planted things.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I buffed the apothecary cabinet, so that part is done. A couple of the hanging pegs on the bottom are loose, so I want to put wood glue on those before we hang it.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I planted a fennel, a sweet marjoram, a curry plant, and a dill in the large trough pot on the old picnic table garden.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I raked the west end of the south lot.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 4/22/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I planted the Forever Purple heuchera in the forest garden and watered it.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
Windows
Apr. 22nd, 2026 08:16galadhirHere we are again - 7.55 in the morning and workmen all over the house. I mean, it's our own fault, we booked them to come and change our windows. The windows that came with the house are now over 20 years old, and on many of them the double glazing is compromised, and on several of them the wood surroundings are moldy and black mold is beginning to creep into our bedroom.
This was a situation that needed something doing about it even before we had the heat pump put in. But the heat pump people said that if we were going to be properly efficient with the heat pump we should make sure the windows were insulated to standard, which our rotten old windows were not. So that precipitated us to finally do something about them.
In theory therefore we are pleased that they are here and doing their thing. However, 'an Englishman's home is his castle' etc, and this always feels like an invasion. Plus there is a lot of banging going on, plaster is raining down on us, and we're afraid to go to the toilet in case they take the window away while we're in there.
They're here for four days. I wonder how we'll hold up. Our tempers got frayed very thin during the heat pump installation but we managed to hold on to them. I hope it will be like exercising a muscle - we'll do even better for the practice - and not like having Covid, where the damage mounts up.
Still, I am looking forward to windows you can see out of and window frames you can't put your hand through. Plus a new front door with stained glass panels. Worth waiting for? I hope so.
Birds
Apr. 21st, 2026 16:51ribirdnerd posting in birdfeedingTuesday
Sunny but chilly today.
A few Blue Jays, House Sparrows and a Red bellied Woodpecker were around.
Edit
I forgot - there was also a rabbit eating some bird seed earlier with the Blue Jays and Squirrels.
Sunny but chilly today.
A few Blue Jays, House Sparrows and a Red bellied Woodpecker were around.
Edit
I forgot - there was also a rabbit eating some bird seed earlier with the Blue Jays and Squirrels.
Birdfeeding
Apr. 21st, 2026 11:46ysabetwordsmith posting in birdfeedingToday is mostly sunny and mild.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few house finches and a brown-headed cowbird. Several vultures were circling low over the yard, but by the time I grabbed my camera, they were gone.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 4/21/26 -- We went out to DeBurh's. I picked up a different brand of sun/shade grass mix that should be without chemicals. I also picked out a flat of small single pots, a flat of 4-packs, and a few extras in larger pots.
EDIT 4/21/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I've seen a male cardinal and a fox squirrel.
EDIT 4/21/26 -- I planted a large rectangular pot with four purple and pink plants and one pink-and-yellow verbena.
EDIT 4/21/26 -- I planted a pot with a yellow-and-white nemesia, a small yellow flower, and a small white flower. This completes the leftover plants from yesterday.
EDIT 4/21/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 4/21/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I watered plants.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few house finches and a brown-headed cowbird. Several vultures were circling low over the yard, but by the time I grabbed my camera, they were gone.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 4/21/26 -- We went out to DeBurh's. I picked up a different brand of sun/shade grass mix that should be without chemicals. I also picked out a flat of small single pots, a flat of 4-packs, and a few extras in larger pots.
EDIT 4/21/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I've seen a male cardinal and a fox squirrel.
EDIT 4/21/26 -- I planted a large rectangular pot with four purple and pink plants and one pink-and-yellow verbena.
EDIT 4/21/26 -- I planted a pot with a yellow-and-white nemesia, a small yellow flower, and a small white flower. This completes the leftover plants from yesterday.
EDIT 4/21/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 4/21/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I watered plants.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
FIC: Cultivating a Greater Work (Star Wars: Andor, 1/1)
Apr. 21st, 2026 08:56maidenjediTITLE: Cultivating a Greater Work
FANDOM: Star Wars: Andor
RATING: PG
PAIRING: Mon Mothma & Luthen Rael
CHARACTERS: Mon Mothma, Luthen Rael, Kleya Marki
SUMMARY: Mon Mothma and Luthen Rael in the earliest days of their collaboration.
NOTES: Written for![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
colls for space_swap 2026.
This story references a character and storylines from The High Republic novels, but it isn't necessary to have read those to read this story.
AO3 link
FANDOM: Star Wars: Andor
RATING: PG
PAIRING: Mon Mothma & Luthen Rael
CHARACTERS: Mon Mothma, Luthen Rael, Kleya Marki
SUMMARY: Mon Mothma and Luthen Rael in the earliest days of their collaboration.
NOTES: Written for
space_swap 2026.This story references a character and storylines from The High Republic novels, but it isn't necessary to have read those to read this story.
AO3 link
I Love You All
Apr. 20th, 2026 19:38tjs_whatnot It seems every time I come here, there is another loss. This one happened so long ago its reminding me how distant I've become.
I honestly can't remember how I first metminoanmiss they've just always sort of been there, randomly sending me things they thought I (and the kids in my care) would like, and they were always right. I cherished so much all the surprise treats that would just somehow show up and put a smile on my face. They were a much better friend to me than I was to them and I'm just going to have to sit with that for a long time.
And try to be better.
So, this is me being here, asking after you. How are you? What's driving you crazy? What's giving you joy? How can I help put a smile on your face? Who can I raise hell towards on your behalf?
I"m ready.
♥ ♥ ♥
I honestly can't remember how I first met
minoanmiss they've just always sort of been there, randomly sending me things they thought I (and the kids in my care) would like, and they were always right. I cherished so much all the surprise treats that would just somehow show up and put a smile on my face. They were a much better friend to me than I was to them and I'm just going to have to sit with that for a long time.And try to be better.
So, this is me being here, asking after you. How are you? What's driving you crazy? What's giving you joy? How can I help put a smile on your face? Who can I raise hell towards on your behalf?
I"m ready.
♥ ♥ ♥
Birdfeeding
Apr. 20th, 2026 12:56ysabetwordsmith posting in birdfeedingToday is mostly sunny and cool.
I fed the birds. I've seen several house finches and a fox squirrel.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I planted a flat parsley and a curly parsley in a trough pot, then sowed both kinds of parsley seeds around them.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I planted two million bells in the barrel garden, one solid red and the other streaked in shades of yellow and orange.
I planted the solid black petunia and the black-and-yellow pom-pom petunia in one pot of black pansies, and the burgundy oxalis in another pot of black pansies.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- In one white pot, I planted two portulaca, one yellow and the other orange streaked. In another white pot, I planted two more portulaca, one pink-and-white striped and the other solid white.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I planted two pots, each with four dianthus pinks around a dusty miller artemesia. One set of dianthus is white with pink streaks, the other pink with a darker center.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I planted the two white owl pots. One has two dark purple torenia and a dusty miller artemesia. The other has a purple-and-yellow million bells, a purple-and-white nemesia, and a dusty miller artemesia.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I watered all the newly planted things.
I finished planting the older flat of flowers. I did not finish the newer flat, but I'm down to clusters for two pots: one yellow and white flowers, one shades of pink, red-violet, and burgundy. Not bad for a day's work.
I fed the birds. I've seen several house finches and a fox squirrel.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I planted a flat parsley and a curly parsley in a trough pot, then sowed both kinds of parsley seeds around them.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I planted two million bells in the barrel garden, one solid red and the other streaked in shades of yellow and orange.
I planted the solid black petunia and the black-and-yellow pom-pom petunia in one pot of black pansies, and the burgundy oxalis in another pot of black pansies.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- In one white pot, I planted two portulaca, one yellow and the other orange streaked. In another white pot, I planted two more portulaca, one pink-and-white striped and the other solid white.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I planted two pots, each with four dianthus pinks around a dusty miller artemesia. One set of dianthus is white with pink streaks, the other pink with a darker center.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I planted the two white owl pots. One has two dark purple torenia and a dusty miller artemesia. The other has a purple-and-yellow million bells, a purple-and-white nemesia, and a dusty miller artemesia.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 4/20/26 -- I watered all the newly planted things.
I finished planting the older flat of flowers. I did not finish the newer flat, but I'm down to clusters for two pots: one yellow and white flowers, one shades of pink, red-violet, and burgundy. Not bad for a day's work.