Stuck

I’m still working on the same little story. I still haven’t read many good stories lately. I’m still way behind on writing about the books I’ve read. Nothing much seems to be happening. And the orchid is still an orchid.

The bread has landed

Yes, yes, yes, another loaf of bread. So what else is new? Well, this one rose very nicely in the oven, with a little dome at the top. And that’s because I could actually tell when it had doubled.

Icicles

Now that the January thaw has started and paused and started and paused, this stone wall is covered with icicles hanging from every protruding surface. How New-Englandy. As for the orchid, it’s still … opening.

An Orchid, yawn

First thing I learned today: don’t shovel snow before breakfast. You’re only supposed to do impossible things before breakfast. Shoveling snow is all too possible, but I felt wiped out all day. I had to rest up just to get the energy for a cup of tea.

Another peek into an orchid

Bit by bit, the orchid inches open. One, then two wings of petals unfold, drawing aside the edges of the veil cast over the insides.

A hint of orchids

It’s time for the annual orchid tease. Almost as if it can feel the moisture and sun of the January thaw outside, it’s peeling just the edge of one petal open, teasingly hinting at the first flower of the year.

Re: Hubris

I’ve got another James Patrick Kelly story to talk about, “Hubris,” about a man who runs afoul of a goddess. It’s very short, so I will be brief.

Hard-working bread

The big reason that no-knead bread appealed to me is that I find the traditional way of kneading, pressing the dough and folding it, to be really tiring. Fortunately, by the time I decided that I needed to knead my breads after all, I had discovered other ways to knead the dough.

Snow in stasis

We’re stuck in that midwinter pause, when the days are short and the sun isn’t changing. It’s still cold outside. The snow still looks pretty much the same. There’s still sparrows and juncos mobbing the feeders. Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal still drop by. Nothing much seems to be happening.

Re: The Magicians

I should have known better about The Magicians, by Lev Grossman. Usually I feel suspicious when for a week or so, I keep hearing the same author getting interviews on the radio. But I thought the premise of Narnia for grownups sounded interesting. So I gave it a try.