Poem: "Meant to Get Dirty"

Jun. 15th, 2025 03:14 am
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
This poem was written outside the regular prompt calls. It fills the "lavender" square in my 2-1-24 card for the Valentines Bingo fest. It is posted as a gift to Anthony Barrette for Father's Day.

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Poem: "Where We All Meet"

Jun. 15th, 2025 03:01 am
ysabetwordsmith: (gift)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
This poem was written outside the regular prompt calls. It fills the Earth Day square in my 3-1-23 card for the March Is... fest. It is posted as a gift to Anthony Barrette for Father's Day.

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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Yesterday we found patty pan squash, which I've been wanting to try. So today we made this. :D It turned out delicious.

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Today's Adventures

Jun. 14th, 2025 04:48 pm
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today we went down to Toledo for the Thrift'n'Sip Indoor Rummage Sale. We were keenly interested in the indoor rummage sale but not the alcohol consumption. So we got up early in hopes of beating the crowd, which worked out well.

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A nearly full bag!

Jun. 14th, 2025 05:44 pm
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[personal profile] fayanora
Went looking for returnables down in Milwaukie (half hour walk away) because I had to drop something off at the library there, so once that was done I figured why not go looking for returnables. I ended up finding nearly an entire green bag full of them! So tomorrow I'm going to take the wagon out, take the other green bag with me because that one is full, and can-box along the way to fill up the remaining space in bag two, at which point I will be dropping both bags off at New Seasons Market.

It wasn't as overfull as the last time, partly because I brought a reusable grocery bag for any overflow, but it still wasn't quite as many as the last time I filled an entire bag in one go. But it should only take like 4 or 5 of them to finish filling the space in the bag.

Conservation

Jun. 14th, 2025 03:10 pm
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
French Polynesia created the world’s largest marine protected area

At the U.N. Ocean Conference this week, French Polynesia announced the creation of the world’s largest marine protected area, covering nearly 5 million square kilometers, or over 1.9 million square miles. It also plans to add another 500,000 square kilometers by next World Ocean Day.

Of that area, 1.1 million square kilometers (424,712 square miles) will be designated as highly or fully protected, meaning only traditional coastal fishing, ecotourism, and scientific research are allowed
.


It's a step forward, but my standard of FULLY protected means "humans don't go there." That's what is required for many edge-sensitive and disturbance-sensitive species. On land, if there is so much as a road through it, those species will avoid the area even if there are no vehicles using the road most of the time.

Birdfeeding

Jun. 14th, 2025 11:11 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is cloudy, mild, and damp.  It rained off and on yesterday.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

EDIT 6/14/25 -- I put out water for the birds.

I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 6/14/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

I've seen a skunk on the patio.

I checked the new picnic table and septic garden.  The first of the 'Chocolate Sprinkles' tomatoes is showing color.  :D  One of the chocolate cherry tomatoes has its first green fruit, and so does the 'Carmen' Italian sweet pepper.  The yellow squash just bloomed.  The zucchini has flower buds.

EDIT 6/14/25 -- I started trimming some low-hanging branches from the Home Base mulberry tree.  I filled a trolley with twigs and leaves, then dumped it in the brush pile.

EDIT 6/14/25 -- I trimmed more branches, filling another trolley.

I've seen a catbird and a mourning dove.

EDIT 6/14/25 -- I trimmed more branches, filling another trolley.

I found the first couple of ripe raspberries along the south fence in the ritual meadow.  I'll have to check the prairie garden tomorrow.

EDIT 6/14/25 -- I found a second log for the base of the next bonfire and put that in the firepit.  I started building the criss-cross chimney above it but then it got too dark to find the right kind of sticks.  I'll have to finish that tomorrow.

The fireflies are coming out.  :D  There are lots more tonight.  They love this warm damp weather. 

I saw at least 2 and probably 3 bats.  They're quite large for microbats, so likely big brown bats.  See bats of Illinois.  I'm thrilled to have bats, because the mosquitoes are also coming out.  Fly, my pretties, fly! \o/

As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
 

Creative Jam

Jun. 14th, 2025 01:29 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
The June [community profile] crowdfunding Creative Jam is now open with a theme of "Good vs. Bad."  Come give us prompts, or claim some for your own inspiration.


What I Have Written



From My Prompts




Philosophical Questions: Avoidable

Jun. 14th, 2025 01:03 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

What causes the most harm in the world, but is completely avoidable?


Gosh, that's a hard one. Personal vices leap readily to mind, like adultery and alcohol. But then there are things like climate change, which is created by humans, who could choose to stop pushing in that direction but won't.


Today's Adventures

Jun. 13th, 2025 09:54 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today we went to the Marshall Farmer's Market. It's an evening market from 6-8 PM, followed by a band concert, which is way better than a morning one.

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No kings no fascists

Jun. 13th, 2025 07:48 pm
fayanora: qrcode (Default)
[personal profile] fayanora
I will be attending the No Kings protest in Portland at Westmoreland Park tomorrow. Lets give Trumpsterfire a very unhappy birthday!

If the person I talked to today was right, this one is a gathering point and then they go to the one downtown. I think that's a bit dumb; a protest like this should be broken into smaller cells around town to make it more difficult for the pigs to crack down on them. But nobody asked my opinion about it.

New Communities

Jun. 13th, 2025 04:21 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
[community profile] musicianships 
We Are The Scene.
This Community is for everyone who is involved in music in any way.
[Found via [personal profile] gothfvck]

Russian Losses

Jun. 13th, 2025 03:21 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
This cartoon is true, as far as it goes.

But if you think Russia is likely to blink at those losses, think again.

Poetry Fishbowl Themes for Late 2025

Jun. 13th, 2025 03:16 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
This poll covers the ideas proposed in the recent call for themes. Everyone is eligible to vote in this poll. I will keep it open until at least Saturday night. If there are clear answers then, I'll close it. Otherwise I may leave it open a little longer. If you don't have a Dreamwidth account, you can vote in an anonymous comment or email to me, but include some kind of handle to distinguish yourself.

For this poll, you can vote for as many themes as you find appealing. I recommend that you don't vote for all of them, since that makes it harder to whittle down the list. The themes are arranged in alphabetical order.

Here are your options ...

Poll #33248 Poetry Fishbowl Themes for Late 2025
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 19


Which of these themes do you want featured in future fishbowls?

View Answers

Angels and Demons
5 (26.3%)

Apocalyptic Visions
3 (15.8%)

Books and Learning
11 (57.9%)

Building Mental Linkages
2 (10.5%)

Changing Personality One Habit at a Time
8 (42.1%)

Communication Styles
10 (52.6%)

Dealing with Frustration
7 (36.8%)

Emotional Regulation
9 (47.4%)

Empathy and Understanding
3 (15.8%)

Empowering Language
6 (31.6%)

Ergonomics
1 (5.3%)

Exercise and Stretching
2 (10.5%)

Faeries and Fey
9 (47.4%)

False Economy
4 (21.1%)

Fixing Loneliness or Overwhelm
8 (42.1%)

Fixit
6 (31.6%)

Goddesses and Divas
7 (36.8%)

Immigrants and Refugees
8 (42.1%)

"Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study hard. Be evil."
8 (42.1%)

Knowledge Webs
3 (15.8%)

Language as Power and Power as a Language
7 (36.8%)

Leadership in Unusual Situations
6 (31.6%)

Managing Change and Disruption
2 (10.5%)

Non-Book Learning and Knowledge
8 (42.1%)

Ordinary Characters in Epic Stories
8 (42.1%)

Overlooked Key Moments
2 (10.5%)

Patterns and Patterning
9 (47.4%)

Personhood
5 (26.3%)

Pirates, Rascals, and Rogues
3 (15.8%)

Putting Traumatic Memories in Context
4 (21.1%)

Recognition and Recollection
3 (15.8%)

Sentient and Self-Aware Machines
9 (47.4%)

Strength in Numbers or Alone
4 (21.1%)

Time Travel Twists
9 (47.4%)

Unexpected Leadership
8 (42.1%)

Unlikely or Unwieldy Weapons
6 (31.6%)

Weaponized Incompetence and Malicious Compliance
11 (57.9%)

Westerns
2 (10.5%)

Work, Leisure, and Hobbies
6 (31.6%)

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
A friend tipped me to this campaign: Take Us North is a video game about migrants trying to cross the border into the United States of America. If you're interested and jump fast, you may be able to catch the Early Bird reward in the first 24 hours at $25, after that it jumps to $35 minimum. I backed it because I want to project to exist -- tell ALL the stories, and poke a bigot in the eye!

Take Us North description
A narrative adventure/survival game that follows the journeys of migrants and asylum seekers on their way to cross the US-Mexico border

$6,056 pledged of $30,000 goal
95 backers
29 days to go

🎮 [Early Bird] Take Us North!
$25
Backers 52
Estimated delivery Dec 2026
🚨FIRST 24 HOURS DISCOUNT!🚨 Receive a digital copy of Take Us North (PC/Steam) and digital wallpapers!
3 items included
Digital Copy of the Game Quantity: 1
High-Resolution Digital Wallpapers Quantity: 1
Invitation to Virtual Community Launch Party Quantity: 1

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Birdfeeding

Jun. 13th, 2025 02:28 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is cloudy and steamy.  It rained last night.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 6/13/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

It started mizzling.

Politics

Jun. 13th, 2025 12:49 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Governor JB Pritzker (Dem IL) to Rep. Mary Miller: "I refuse to be lectured to by somebody who extols the virtue of Hitler."

I can't remember the last time I felt so represented by one of my actual representatives. \o/

Sometimes, you just gotta call a spade a spade.

Follow Friday 6-13-24: Hetalia

Jun. 13th, 2025 12:02 am
ysabetwordsmith: A blue sheep holding a quill dreams of Dreamwidth (Dreamsheep)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today's theme is Hetalia. Initially a webcomic, Hetalia was later adapted as a serialized manga and an anime series. The series personifies the nations of the world into immortal anthropomorphic characters and presents an allegorical (and often satirical) interpretation of political, historical, and cultural events throughout history and the present day. This riff is a personal favorite.

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Poetry Fishbowl Update

Jun. 12th, 2025 10:53 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
If you want to suggest themes for upcoming Poetry Fishbowls, now is the time.  I plan to set up the poll tomorrow (Friday).  You can put your theme ideas in a comment below the Call for Themes post

OMG

Jun. 12th, 2025 07:40 pm
fayanora: Steph Sleepy (Steph Sleepy)
[personal profile] fayanora
I don't have the energy to go through the whole thing, so I'll just say I went can-boxing in the reverse of my usual route. Found so many that though I started with an empty green bag in the cart, by the time I got to New Season's Market, the entire cart was so full -- including ones I had shoved into my Gaia bag, a basket I found the other day, inside the netting used to contain the mass of returnables, AND down the sides between the box and the cart's liner -- that I had to take all the ones out of the netting, set them aside, and take the green bag out of the box in the cart and put everything into the now free bag... which filled the entire bag! It was completely full, from ONE trip, so I tied it up, slapped a Green Bag sticker on it, and dropped it off at New Seasons Market. I didn't even get a chance to count them all, there was no way to do it without the wind blowing them all into the street. But those bags usually contain between $5 and $8 worth of returnables, depending on size. Given I had nothing larger than a 16 ounce bottle in there except maybe some of the longer beer cans, and given that in one spot I had found like 15 little water bottles of the same brand, I would estimate I must have found at least $7 worth of returnables at that point.

And the craziest thing was that after all that, I found a bunch more. Only like 7 or 8 more, but still. One hell of a haul for only about two or three hours.

Oh, and I still had half a green bag at home. I was just looking to top that one off to take it to New Seasons later. But a whole bag full in ONE trip!!!

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