I haven’t found a way to put myself out on the socials yet, but I find I’m enjoying having small conversations with strangers here. I’m going to try posting micro-book-reviews, as a challenge to see how well I can compress them, as a way to track my reads, and as an invitation to talk about a book.

A tech-world “bad guys stole a thing and good guy will do crafty and slightly dangerous things to get it back” romp with an unlikely 67-year-old forensic accountant as our protagonist. I liked that much of the conflict concerned Hench dealing with real-world consequences of action-movie decisions.

Love is in the noods! … Noods are in the air? Hmmm… Working on a recipe for the chocolate noods that’s worth sharing.

Let's amplify the paranormal erotic thriller novel Melania: Devourer of Men so it ranks higher than her movie. Go to Amazon and "Buy" the book on Kindle (it's free) Share this post and get other people to "buy". It is a great act of resistance.

Just got removed from a healthshare ministry’s mailing list by asking if they don’t see a contradiction between the parts of their Statement of Faith saying they have the right not to pay for morally objectionable services and the one saying they have a moral obligation to help “any person in need.”

Happy solstice, friends. May your lengthening days be full of love and very soft cats/blankets.

Happy Black Cat Day from Her Majesty.

My sustaining donor spiel: If you have a enough money to keep forgetting to unsubscribe to something, I highly recommend becoming a sustaining donor at the food bank (or other org) of your choice.

We don’t get a lot of monarchs in western South Dakota. Every one I spot feels like a gift. (Also I always hope they’re not too lost.)

I stuffed a batch of spaghetti full of jalapeños, habaneros, and ghost peppers in preparation for the Harvest Moon Festival in Custer this weekend. Do you enjoy a little suffering with your meal? Come see me!

Neighbors: please leave your house keys under your back doormats if you’re expecting to get raptured so I can come rescue your pets.

That feeling when the persistent and eternal thought of “time to get up and do something productive” can finally be answered with, “nah, not right now.”

If you put googly eyes on the Pillars of Creation you get muppets 😄😄

So busy making Rainbow Noods in June, I didn’t post any of them. I make rainbows all year round, but Fabulous Fettuccine is a #Pride month specialty. They’re SO pretty, the extra work feels worth it. Not “make them all year” worth it, but close! 😅 #pasta #noodles #noods #rainbows

My new yard is growing cartoon columbines. 💜🤍

2:03 into my “30-60 minute” wait on hold with the IRS, the IRS hung up on me. Honestly, I’m most angry about having listened to their hold music for that long with no payoff. Also: the IRS is sending out bum notices. If you get one, don’t panic (yet). It looks like this is their screwup.

Luna is momentarily distracted from her ongoing relocation-fury by the allure of a cat-height window.

A little late for Bee Day, but please enjoy this glorious bumble spotted living its best life at the greenhouse today.

My very favorite part of a spring evening fire.

Our lilacs are absolutely out of control this year.

Dear Santa…

“The Cat and The Chaos”

My cat isn’t a big snuggler and she hates my singing. If I sing loudly, she meows at me until I quiet down. Tonight I was singing while seated. She meowed, ran a circle around my chair, then hopped up into my lap as I sang. Y’all. My cat thinks she’s comforting me while I gasp out my swan song. 😭

Oh hell tomorrow is April 1. Could we all maybe agree in advance that practical jokes are a bad idea in a year where it looks like reality is being written by the onion?

That feeling when you realize the confidence with which you said “I can have my kitchen reassembled in 2 days!” was severely misplaced, and your middle-aged ass is saved by your mommy who offers to feed you dinner for the next 2 weeks while you recalculate.

As I contemplate moving from my cozy-but-dark-and-rather-crowded house into something brighter and better fitting my current needs (though also, y’know, more expensive), I keep catching myself weighing, in total seriousness, the apocalyptic pros and cons:

Pi Day Pro Tip: maybe don’t put the gallon-sized jug of wine next to the pie in the car when you drive to your mommy’s house for Pi Day Pie Dinner. Fortunately, squished pie is still delicious pie.

The excitement I feel at seeing an S in this morning’s puzzle is completely disproportionate to the actual impact it has on my life. Happy 2,500th puzzle, #nytSpellingBee!

I have just discovered today that #fungifriday is a thing! Please enjoy these cutest tinies from Kilimanjaro’s Heather Zone

Good morning from the cutest banana I’ve ever eaten. (Coming from the world of banana monoculture, I am easily delighted by anything that isn’t a cavendish.)

It’s 3am. Do you know where your good night’s sleep is? Ugh. #jetlag

Found my first cool Tanzanian mushroom! Bright yellow oyster??

Got lucky with my seat reassignment on the first (90-minute) leg. Wanna bet I’m in the middle between a talker and a snorer on the long flights?

Don’t love the 24-hour flight delay, but on the plus side I got to have the closest thing to a day off I can remember having since being self-employed. What did I do with my glorious, unexpected holiday? Drank tea and worried about getting sick.

… and then an ice storm blows through, and all my careful boot-remembering is given another test. We shall try flying out again tomorrow. Cross your fingers for sunshine (haha) or salt trucks.

I’m absolutely not going to forget my boots this time, but I also got new laces for my 12-year-old #Vivobarefoot trail shoes and that honestly makes me feel even better than seeing the boots next to the suitcases. These babies got me through the Himalayas. They are my Big Hike Security Blankets.

StoryGraph said “take a quick survey to help us make good recommendations for you!” then hit me with this doozy. I can’t just whip that out, StoryGraph! I’m going to need a week of self-reflection, self-doubt, and general agonizing. Do you have a list like this on the tip of your tongue? #booksky

I’ve been seeing her name everywhere suddenly, but have never read anything of hers. Any Tanith Lee fans available to weigh in on the best novel to start with? #books #scifi

Favorite Reads of 2024! House on the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, by Axie Oh Paladin's Grace, by T. Kingfisher Early Riser, by Jasper Fforde Some Desperate Glory, by Emily Tesh Migrations, by Charlotte McConaghy The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, by Stephen King

Spending an evening with the muse. Inspiration levels tbd. Snuggle levels high.

The Muppets reboot I didn’t know I needed today. youtu.be/lTofJSEdKCs?...

Hi I'm Laura. I make noodles, read lots of books, dress like a toddler, take really long hikes, aspire to grow vegetables, worry incessantly, and love all the cats. I like these "photo so you know what to expect" posts, so here you go.