One sure sign to me that it’s spring is when the tornado nightmares resume. Usually in some combination of being in a car, being without carriers for the loose cats, or not having an interior room - all things that I frankly over prepare for in the waking hours.

As the only consumer of deviled eggs in this dwelling, I have one job this afternoon. That I’m creating for myself. With enthusiasm.

First homemade pizza of my life, and it was a relatively quick dough (making last night would have been ideal but we’re on the struggle bus with a new routine over here). Simple sauce partly from cans, just fine. I’ve had far worse in restaurants, which feels like a good place to start.

Can confirm

You’re welcome, neighbors. I broke down and watered my emerging plants, almost ensuring rain.

Peppermint mocha + roaring fire in the wood stove + lazy cat = peak chilly Monday morning

Best AI/LLM use case I’ve experienced so far is debugging a finicky installation with C++ issues that quickly put me well out of my depth. Can confirm the software even runs. Well done. Tomorrow, science.

Marble likes to sleep on a pillow behind mine and sometimes rests her chin on my head. Very sweet, except she’s missing one upper canine, and let me tell you, the uneven pressure from the remaining one is really not soothing to the scalp.

Little bit of a work day to tie up some ends, little bit of a gymnastics meet on the way home - not a bad start for a very bitter winter weekend

The only Christmas cookie I managed to produce this year ended up being a batch of bourbon balls, several days after Christmas, and you know they won’t be right until after New Year’s ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Two of these games in one season is kind of a big lift in the first year of a marriage.

Ending AGU on a peppermint bark beignet. Work for the year is done, laissez les fêtes de Noël rouler.

Someone told me about their family tradition where they toast slices of dressing to make leftover sandwiches on turkey day 2. I won’t get a chance to try this year, but I’d love to know how common this is and whether it’s as amazing as I imagine.

Coming home to a surprise supper off the grill is a very nice perk of having a spouse off work

Small children are among our weekend guests. These children don’t regularly experience cats, but for reference, one met Pepper once and for quite some time thereafter referred to all cats as “Pepper.” It’s also worth noting these cats don’t regularly experience children, either.

She is grace

It sure is Monday

This is Pepper’s first Halloween not living in a dark house on a hill in the woods, so first run-in with trick-or-treaters. Turns out our people cat really prefer them fully grown and has spent quite a lot of her evening hiding from tiny princesses and such in the closet 😐

Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em #RollTide ❤️ 🐘

Reunion no. 2, cake no. 2. This one is an Apple Dapple. Fingers crossed it takes up its caramel sauce *and* comes out of the pan or yours truly will be toting in a box of grocery store cookies.

Sunset looks good and sounds better in the Shoals tonight #SweetHome

One orange spiced Bundt cake bound for a family reunion. I’m really not mad about how the icing turned out. Granted, the night is still young, but my icings usually have a way of sliding right off to be spooned back on later. Will chalk this win up to beginner’s luck with a new recipe.

Made sure to have the necessary provisions for my favorite civil servant (whose only real weakness happens to be Oreos) on this first day of lapse. It didn’t have to be this way. Inspiration credit: @jimmyc42.bsky.social, of course.

RAMMER JAMMER Roll Tide Roll ❤️ 🐘

Marble’s trying her best to emotionally support me through this game

Lying here absolutely wired for sound at 2am, I have learned an important lesson about tea selection before bed.

My first meal back in the southeast was a Pub sub. Boar’s Head Italian on special this week, y’all. I am LIVING.

“Is this how a chair works?” -Pepper

No fewer than 4 cat beds (2 of which are specifically hers), a cat hammock, two soft chairs, and a couch with blankets here, but this grow bag that she dragged into the corner under the side table is the coziest nap spot.

Sent with love from a dear friend (definitely not from AL) who somehow looks past the person I become on Saturdays in the fall 😅 Roll Tide, y’all

I learned today that this mean mug has earned her a nickname among the vet staff, “Menacing Marble.” (They assure me they love her and she gives them no trouble.)

Went into the liquor store for rum for a different batch of mint extract. Came out with rum and Schlafly Vanilla Pumpkin Ale. Gotta celebrate fake fall this week, you know

My grandmother, on being distracted from her work all day -“There’s a dang *world* full of people, ain’t there.” Truer words, Gran.

Shoutout to the great veterinarians out there. Aging is a gift and a bit of a curse, and Marble has had a tough week. Thanks, Dr. M, for taking great care of her and always talking me through it with a ton of compassion. Pic of the patient trying to figure out why I made a bed rightnextto hers

1 lb of chicken, half an onion, 2 bell peppers, 4 cups of cheese - on 4 medium tortillas? In what world, internet recipe? Spoiler, it took 6 extra large tortillas and they are generous. Will be eating quesadillas 4ever.

Got talked into making mint extract, and I have to say, it has been a pretty fun cupboard experiment.

Hi All - We are convening a session at AGU this December, please share with your groups and consider submitting to our session! @ltgbug.bsky.social #lightning #AGU2025

When you’re 22 and getting over a rough patch, even the grumpy human will spoil you with your own plain grilled chicken leg. (Incorrectly assumed she would just lick it like everything else, but don’t worry, she was not allowed to keep gnawing. I took the meat off, and everybody was the happiest.)

I know today’s menu is all about the grill, but folks, I had an early win stumbling upon the perfect fluffy waffle by accident.

Got a little adrenaline boost when this tree bark started crawling next to my hand. On my hand, and I’d probably be typing this from the beyond.

Leaving a sack of blood meal in the car overnight is one of those mistakes you’ll only make once 🤢

Blows my mind that there are still communities where you roll the dice on whether you’ll have enough cell service to sustain a call. Camping in the wilderness? Sure. < 1 mile from a Dollar General? Nah.

Can tell this cat is feeling better as she slowly transforms into a little gremlin at pill time again.

Life circumstance dictates that I am responsible for mowing, when my partner usually takes that up with something resembling glee. So far, I can only agree that the ice cold light beer at the end is pretty good. Almost makes it worth doing.

Most people’s trash (old packing paper) is this cat’s favorite crinkly nap spot

Y’all, I met a young adult who has never used a physical key to unlock a door. I think that conversation is the oldest I’ve ever felt.

Now begins day 3 of attempting to mow the weeds. Finally cleared the non-functional mower hurdle just after sunset last night, which all but guarantees a good rain this afternoon to take us into day 4.

I’d like to go to bed, but she’s snoring, so we stay on the couch a while longer

Lol @ rushing the field. Before the game is over. Embarrassing.

Riding the ship down, dumping buckets overboard