Loose end Sunday, or Five things make a post

[flemmings]

1. Why do I keep trying to make stock from turkey bones? It stinks up the house, it leaves greasy utensils and such all over the counter, and the result never tastes as good as the soup my mother made when I was a kid. Possibly I'd mind this less if I had a dishwasher, but the degree of hot water and scrubbing needed to degrease the kitchen after this kind of project is wearying: and the dishes still feel oily.

2. Have deciphered the twist in the second Hyakki-yakki story. A problem with timeline (tree in back garden falls before Tsukasa comes to visit) and identifying the wrong chin as uttering a certain line.

3. Unsatisfactory green trees started to go very yellow on Hallowe'en. Today they glowed quite satisfactorily in the frozen sun and deep blue sky. There are still a lot of green trees, mind you. Also are dropping leaves faster, mostly, yes, into the gutters.

4. Is it problematic that I'm relieved to discover Francis Knight is a she? Because otherwise I'm not sure if I'd want to continue with Fade to Black. Not sure I want to continue anyway, because of a certain regression to the mean trope-wise; but it's set in a city that's quite literally built on itself, so I persevere.

5. Culinary adventure today was Chinese five spice powder. Didn't think I'd like it-- fennel *and* anise?-- but with something sugary it caramelizes nicely. Shall try a more healthy tofu recipe next time.

Comments

[i-am-zan.livejournal.com]

Five-spice is a handy thing to have in the kitchen. It's good with poultry dishes.

I giggle at the thought of 'unsatisfactory green trees' ^_^ And I read mellow instead of yellow at first. It made a pretty picture how "the green mellowed to glow satisfactorily in the frozen sun" - very Dune-like well except that they are trees of course. My brain - it's an odd place with strange twists a lot of the time.

But ahhh your 100-demons it's arrived at last. I love hearing about it. It's like a moving landscape with interesting characters and strange fore stories as much as the backstory,I enjoy vicariously through your readings! Because I know much as I want to ... I will never get round to it. Well not until the children leave home anyways. And maybe not even then, when I think of the 'to-read' list I have in my head.

And really I should make a post ... as several things as you say ...

Meanwhile the in-laws have arrived. Their plane was delayed ... so it gave me those extra few half hours to do what was lest of the cleaning up that I could. I still didn't get to clean our refrigerator out or clean that one last fan. So hopefully I can get the latter done today.

^__^

have a good week dear.

love!

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

The green around now *is* pretty mellow, in that it's faded and yellowy. Not aggressive at all.

I'm pleased with my 100 Demons, even though it's a barely once a year event. But so happy when it happens.

I'm in awe of your in-laws, still making the trek in these days of unhappy uncomfortable flying, but a certain generation of Brits (the ones ten years older than me) are tough as old shoe leather. Was reading the comments on a Guardian article about heating homes; all those posts about 'ice on the inside of the bedroom windows in winter' as a regular thing. Am also in awe of you hosting them, running a house, taking care of children and husband and own family members... Crikey.