Fandom Trees 2025: Needy Trees
Dec. 28th, 2025 02:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spikedluv![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fandomtrees has some needy trees! If you’ve got the time and the spoons, please check out the spreadsheet linked in this post to see if there are any prompts you can fill.Fandom Asides:
~The first time I saw the challenge frattweek mentioned, I thought it was a college!AU.
~I’ve discovered that in addition to Bluey, Toddler A (known formerly as Baby A *g*) loves Wicked and K-Pop Demon Hunters.
OTW Signal, December 2025
Dec. 28th, 2025 06:27 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
otw_news_feedEvery month in OTW Signal, we take a look at stories that connect to the OTW’s mission and projects, including issues related to legal matters, technology, academia, fannish history and preservation issues of fandom, fan culture, and transformative works.
In the News
Why some people are devoted to particular aspects of popular culture is a fundamental query in fan studies research. One common and familiar answer is that fandoms are like religions. A recent article offers a different approach to understanding the emotional intensity of fan devotion, suggesting that while fans often describe their devotion in terms that sound religious, this comparison “has some lingering issues that hamper the field.” The authors contend that we can compare specific elements of fan experience (e.g., rituals, symbols, shared practices, and collective identity) to “sacred experiences” without needing to imply that fandoms are literal religions.
We believe it is more accurate to conceptualize fan devotion as part of a broader landscape of sacred activities that transcend the concept of religion.
Elliott and Mowers assert that their results provide powerful evidence that many fans experience their interests as sacred.
Their interests occupy a unique and special place in their lives: They derive purpose and inspiration from them, they learn important values from them, they involve something powerful and important, and they inspire them to believe in something larger than themselves.
To support this claim, the researchers analyzed information gathered from surveys, interviews, and fan experiences at Comic Cons and identified a new framework for determining what makes fan experiences sacred-like. They argue that by studying and measuring these “sacred dimensions,” especially in contexts like conventions where fan devotion takes on almost ritual-like patterns, scholars can reevaluate the religion metaphor, focusing instead on analytic models that consider the complexity of fan experience. Through this process, researchers can better understand fan devotion and how fandom is shaped by this collective identity. This analysis helps frame fandom as a cultural practice with emotional, symbolic, and communal depth.
Reports from fan conventions across the globe reinforce the idea that physical gatherings become collective spaces where fans create meaning through shared experiences. In one example, recent reporting on Bengaluru Comic Con highlights the convergence of more than 50,000 fans gathering to celebrate their shared love for fandom. A Times of India article describes fans coming together in a vibrant pop culture playground: cosplaying, celebrating shared passions, and building community through creative expression. “For many attendees, Comic Con was as much about community as it was about pop culture.” In another report, Shefali Johnson, CEO of Comic Con India, explains how the fans are what make Bengaluru Comic Con so special: “People here come to listen, learn, connect and experience.” A story in the Deccan Herald describes the con as “a living mosaic of fandom,” where participation is an act of joy:
For many, the message was simple: this space belongs to everyone, regardless of age, fandom, or experience.
Events like these allow fans from all over the world to connect and share their passions, creating new sacred experiences together and building a strong collective identity.
OTW Tips
Transformative Works and Cultures, a project of the OTW, is an international, peer-reviewed academic journal that seeks to promote scholarship on fanworks and practices. The journal is published at least twice each year and invites submissions of papers in all areas. For more information, visit the TWC website.
Did you know the OTW attends fan conventions? Our volunteers represent the OTW at cons around the world. The OTW’s Con Outreach team, a division of the Communications committee, coordinated attendance at 10 gatherings across three continents in 2025, meeting fans and sharing games, gifts, fic prompts, and of course, our popular rec board, where everyone is invited to take a fic rec and leave one of their own. Our volunteers love to talk about fandom, so come see us and say hello!
Would you like to see the OTW at your local fan convention event? Contact our Communications committee and let us know!
We want your suggestions for the next OTW Signal post! If you know of an essay, video, article, podcast, or news story you think we should know about, send us a link. We are looking for content in all languages! Submitting a link doesn’t guarantee that it will be included in an OTW post, and inclusion of a link doesn’t mean that it is endorsed by the OTW.
larryhammerThis has been a Yuletide of abundance — five gifts in three fandoms, including a surprising amount of poetry. My matched gift was appropriately titled:
I also got a Flower Fairy treat, in this case a poem:
Then I got two treats for another fandom, again a poem and a story. The poem is amazing, giving backstory using the stanza of the original:
And finally, a treat on the Housman poem “Her strong enchantments failing,” being a poem cycle expanding a bit on the backstory and worldbuilding:
More links and recs later, after I’ve had time to explore more of the archive.
---L.
Subject quote from Your Own Special Way, Genesis.
Gifts (1212 words) by AnonymousA fae of dubious credibility asks the human models of several flowers (in alphabetical order) each for a gift, just a little thing, to help it become real. The tag “unwise bargains with fae & fairies” is accurate. Beautiful, seductive, and more than a little dangerous.
Fandom: Flower Fairies - Cicely Mary Barker
Additional Tags: Fae & Fairies, Bargains With Fae & Fairies, Unwise bargains With Fae & Fairies, Becoming a real boy, or otherwise - Freeform
Summary: Humans, give a little something. Give me something, get a present. Humans, give me, just a small gift —
I also got a Flower Fairy treat, in this case a poem:
Flower Fairies of the Gone Woods (193 words) by AnonymousHomage and critique, with a nice sting in the end.
Fandom: Flower Fairies - Cicely Mary Barker
Additional Tags: Fae & Fairies, Botanical accuracy, Biographical liberties, Poetry
Summary: The berries are not to be eaten
She says in a marginal note
Miss Barker, she asked you to listen
So what’s that bright thing in your throat?
Then I got two treats for another fandom, again a poem and a story. The poem is amazing, giving backstory using the stanza of the original:
The Vigil (1056 words) by AnonymousI flail.
Fandom: Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came - Robert Browning, Original Work
Characters: Childe Roland, Cuthbert, Giles
Additional Tags: Original Character(s), Backstory, Blank Verse, Time Loop
Summary: Upon this quest, there can be no release.
Unto that hallowed tower we must go...
Three Knigths by the Dark Tower (2104 words) by AnonymousCuthbert and Giles have not in fact departed from the quest, as Roland (at the end of his rope) had thought.
Fandom: Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came - Robert Browning
Relationships: roland/cuthbert, Cuthbert & Giles, Roland & Cuthbert & Giles
Characters: Roland (Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came), Cuthbert (Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came), Giles (Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came)
Summary: Giles and Cuthbert follow their friend Roland even to the threshold of the Dark Tower, hoping to help him on his quest.
And finally, a treat on the Housman poem “Her strong enchantments failing,” being a poem cycle expanding a bit on the backstory and worldbuilding:
ILLUC VOLAT (278 words) by AnonymousYessssssss.
Fandom: Her Strong Enchantments Failing - A. E. Housman
Additional Tags: Poetry, Inspired by Poetry
Summary: A series of poems inspired by “Her strong enchantments failing” by A.E. Housman, which re-tell the story of that poem in a new way.
More links and recs later, after I’ve had time to explore more of the archive.
---L.
Subject quote from Your Own Special Way, Genesis.
Voice Team Mystery Box - Goals
Dec. 28th, 2025 10:52 ampeasinaThe discord has now opened for this year's voiceteam Mystery Box (VTMB), the winter mini-round of an event that’s kind of like battleship but for podfic. This year I’m on team ‘Over The Top’, named for a team full of members who like to make lots of things! ^^
Earlier this year, I posted a list of personal goals for my participation in Battleship 2025, and it really helped guide me whenever I felt overwhelmed by the fast pace and variety of choices/challenges. So, I’m doing it again for VTMB! Here are my top ten wishes for this year’s event.
ONE: Record at least 5 femslash pods
Apparently, December 2025 has been the month of me getting into new femslash pairings, so I’d like to extend that to making podfic about them!
TWO: Repod one of my older pods
I got a comment from the author on a pod I made in Nov' 2020 recently, which was a lovely surprise. However, it reminded me that I’d always wanted to repod that one, as now that I have more experience, I believe could do it better. I’d like to give it a try and hope there’s a repod challenge this year 🤞 (I’ll still try to do it, even if there isn’t.)
THREE: Record at least three podfics that are over an hour in length
I’m aiming for 2026 to be my year of long pods, so it would be a good way to get started selecting longer things to record. With my pacing, a 1-hour podfic will be of a story around the 8,500 – 9,500 mark.
FOUR: Record gift pods for three specific people who aren’t playing VTMB
I’m combining my potential giftees into this one wish in the hopes I can manage all three. For now, I'll call them M, E, and W.
FIVE: Podfic my Night at the Museum fic ‘On Every Horizon’
I’ve wanted to podfic this one since I wrote it, as it’s probably the all-time fic I’m most proud of. I’ve always been intimidated to do so though (mostly because the character voices are so important for Jed and Octavius and I’m not so good at those) but if I can manage it, I’ll be so happy. It's also 15k so 😅
SIX: Record at least three Pokémon podfics
Just because it’s fun ^^
SEVEN: Record a gift for a member of my team I didn’t know before the event
Who knows who it will be and what they’ll be into! I hope I can deliver 💪
EIGHT: Make something physical for a challenge (crafts, baked goods, cosplay, etc.)
I’ve done this in prior rounds, making zines, wax melts, and cocktails. It’s soooo fun tosteal use my podfic-related inspiration to make something tangible, so I hope to do it again this year.
NINE: Write something
I don’t care what it is! It could be a drabble, a tutorial, a rec post, but if it’s words, and let’s say… over 300 of them, then it counts. I’d prefer fic, but my writing mojo has been all over the place this year, so my goal can be a little all over the place too :P
TEN: Make new friends!
Voiceteam is great for this 🤞🤞🤞
voiceteam Mystery Box (VTMB), the winter mini-round of an event that’s kind of like battleship but for podfic. This year I’m on team ‘Over The Top’, named for a team full of members who like to make lots of things! ^^Earlier this year, I posted a list of personal goals for my participation in Battleship 2025, and it really helped guide me whenever I felt overwhelmed by the fast pace and variety of choices/challenges. So, I’m doing it again for VTMB! Here are my top ten wishes for this year’s event.
ONE: Record at least 5 femslash pods
Apparently, December 2025 has been the month of me getting into new femslash pairings, so I’d like to extend that to making podfic about them!
TWO: Repod one of my older pods
I got a comment from the author on a pod I made in Nov' 2020 recently, which was a lovely surprise. However, it reminded me that I’d always wanted to repod that one, as now that I have more experience, I believe could do it better. I’d like to give it a try and hope there’s a repod challenge this year 🤞 (I’ll still try to do it, even if there isn’t.)
THREE: Record at least three podfics that are over an hour in length
I’m aiming for 2026 to be my year of long pods, so it would be a good way to get started selecting longer things to record. With my pacing, a 1-hour podfic will be of a story around the 8,500 – 9,500 mark.
FOUR: Record gift pods for three specific people who aren’t playing VTMB
I’m combining my potential giftees into this one wish in the hopes I can manage all three. For now, I'll call them M, E, and W.
FIVE: Podfic my Night at the Museum fic ‘On Every Horizon’
I’ve wanted to podfic this one since I wrote it, as it’s probably the all-time fic I’m most proud of. I’ve always been intimidated to do so though (mostly because the character voices are so important for Jed and Octavius and I’m not so good at those) but if I can manage it, I’ll be so happy. It's also 15k so 😅
SIX: Record at least three Pokémon podfics
Just because it’s fun ^^
SEVEN: Record a gift for a member of my team I didn’t know before the event
Who knows who it will be and what they’ll be into! I hope I can deliver 💪
EIGHT: Make something physical for a challenge (crafts, baked goods, cosplay, etc.)
I’ve done this in prior rounds, making zines, wax melts, and cocktails. It’s soooo fun to
NINE: Write something
I don’t care what it is! It could be a drabble, a tutorial, a rec post, but if it’s words, and let’s say… over 300 of them, then it counts. I’d prefer fic, but my writing mojo has been all over the place this year, so my goal can be a little all over the place too :P
TEN: Make new friends!
Voiceteam is great for this 🤞🤞🤞
The Day in Spikedluv (Saturday, Dec 27)
Dec. 28th, 2025 08:23 amspikedluvI did not go downtown today. Instead I was out shoveling the sidewalk by about 7am. (At least the snow was over so I only had to go out and shovel once.) Pip, sick as he is, was blowing snow (the driveway and walking trails). And then he went up to the garage to plow that out.
I did two loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, ran a load in the dishwasher, swept and mopped the dining room and hallway, went for a walk with the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, scooped kitty litter, and showered. We had more of the chicken noodle soup for supper.
I read fanfic and watched some HGTV programs. Dr. Pol was my evening background tv. Today I tried the pomegranate tea. It was good, though I was familiar with the flavor because I've had pomegranate tea before when I went to the local coffee shop (that is no longer there). It came in a tin, I think Harney & Sons, or something like that? I looked it up, their Pomegranate Oolong.
Pip had cold sweats this morning and wasn’t able to keep his breakfast down, but he seemed to do better as the day progressed.
Temps started out at 17.4(F) (a whopping 10 degrees warmer than yesterday morning!). According to the ruler I stuck in the snow in different areas, we got about 8" of snow overnight. Thankfully it was not wet and heavy, but even light snow is a pain when you’ve got go shovel 8" of it! Temps reached 25.3.
Mom Update:
Mom sounded pretty good when I talked to her. She’s actually eating more! More being relative. She had some protein drink for breakfast, and some mashed potatoes and peas for lunch. Eating anything solid like that has been a real trial. She was thinking about what to have for supper when I called. One of her friends visited and Sister A called her so she did have some social time.
I did two loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, ran a load in the dishwasher, swept and mopped the dining room and hallway, went for a walk with the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, scooped kitty litter, and showered. We had more of the chicken noodle soup for supper.
I read fanfic and watched some HGTV programs. Dr. Pol was my evening background tv. Today I tried the pomegranate tea. It was good, though I was familiar with the flavor because I've had pomegranate tea before when I went to the local coffee shop (that is no longer there). It came in a tin, I think Harney & Sons, or something like that? I looked it up, their Pomegranate Oolong.
Pip had cold sweats this morning and wasn’t able to keep his breakfast down, but he seemed to do better as the day progressed.
Temps started out at 17.4(F) (a whopping 10 degrees warmer than yesterday morning!). According to the ruler I stuck in the snow in different areas, we got about 8" of snow overnight. Thankfully it was not wet and heavy, but even light snow is a pain when you’ve got go shovel 8" of it! Temps reached 25.3.
Mom Update:
Mom sounded pretty good when I talked to her. She’s actually eating more! More being relative. She had some protein drink for breakfast, and some mashed potatoes and peas for lunch. Eating anything solid like that has been a real trial. She was thinking about what to have for supper when I called. One of her friends visited and Sister A called her so she did have some social time.
I added some more programmer-y levels to my puzzle game
Dec. 28th, 2025 11:22 amjack
Play online: https://cartesiandaemon.github.io/rusttilegame/programming_release.html
Drag instructions onto the flowchart and press space or click the map to start executing. On later levels click the map while executing to increase the speed.
Since my last post I added some more programmer-y levels up to level 15, cleaned up some of the earlier levels, and improved a bunch of UI things like saving which levels you've unlocked. Most easily played on web, on either desktop or mobile, but you can clone the source and build for windows or linux too. (https://github.com/CartesianDaemon/rusttilegame I should compile a windows binary to download too if that would be useful for anyone.)
If you do play, it would be really helpful to hear how far you got. And if you have time, which levels were easy, which were hard, what was nice or difficult about the UI, etc.
on becoming human
Dec. 28th, 2025 01:00 pmin_seclusionWell, there went 2025.
What a weird year. It's been busy in many ways, but slower in even more. My health has gotten better in some ways, and remained quite ill in most of it, but I'll take the better where I can.
( physical health update )
It's been a hard year of undoing and unlearning everything I've grown up with. But the space left by that undoing has been filled with the things of what I am growing, the person I am becoming. I have discovered new things I like doing now that I have the energy to explore it, now that I have the energy to devote to myself and the things that I want to do, instead of what everyone has told me to want or do. And I've allowed myself to stop doing things when I don't feel like doing them anymore, and to concentrate on the things I want to do.
( hobbies update )
PS I am also on the lookout for a good ube cookie or ube crinkle recipe for a friend in Osaka, will try a black sesame and chocolate cookie for another friend's birthday, and need a good earl grey and brown butter sugar cookie recipe for Raia! Any reccs, please send them my way!
tw: emotional abuse, trauma processing, family dynamics
( eldest daughters never miss a chance to learn the hardest lessons again and again )
( turns out i was emotionally abused in 2023, who knew (everyone) )
Still: ( my friends have loved me back to life in the realest ways )
( there was some growth this year, for i do not wish to be in a lesbian sitcom IRL )
( the hodgepodge that is my spirituality, and how i learned to embrace it )
( mental health updates )
2025 has been such a strange year. I am not sorry to see it end. I am exhausted, physically, emotionally, mentally. I have yet to sit down with myself and think about 2026 and what it might bring. All I know is that in the coming year I want to continue being intentional about the direction of my life and my relationships. I want to learn to take up space without fear, to be able to say straightforwardly what my wants and needs are, knowing full well I will be fine if others cannot meet them, because I can meet them myself. I want to develop a self-identity, self-esteem, and assuredness so strong I no longer fear seeing my ex and remembering all the ways I made myself vulnerable for her in hopes that she would care for me and instead hurt me.Yeah that shit still stings girl trauma and emotional abuse is a bitch. I want to develop all those things for myself, to know I can carry myself and care for myself now and in the future. I want to love and be loved, to learn what love is like when it is safe, kind, and gentle - to be seen, heard, understood, and chosen for who I am. I want to learn kind lessons instead of tears. I want to trust in the hands of the Universe and know that I will be rewarded, that I will live up the name I keep closest to my heart. Maybe emblematic of all my wishes, I also have a new tattoo: a north star in a small galaxy on the wrist of my dominant hand. It is a reminder that I am my own North Star: may I always guide myself back home to me.
I burn a piece of paper every night in this period of in between - the 13 magical wishes to give to the universe during Rauhnaechte. I pray in my heart and in my mind in a shrine hidden in a park in Shibuya, asking for guidance and clarity, asking that I may be granted leave to return and offer my gratitude in person.
Maybe that's all I hope for 2026: that I will be treated gently, that my wishes will be heard, that my prayers be answered, my love found and returned.
Such simple wishes from a woman simply trying to live. 2025 returned to me my humanity. May 2026 return me to myself.
There are many things in play in the background; the wheels of time continue. These nameless days are coming to a close, and soon I will join the world again in its business, its loneliness, its camaraderies, its joys, its shared pains and sorrows. These days have been difficult, balancing between despair and hope, standing still and moving forward. I am going at my pace. May everyone close the coming year in peace, and carry only good wishes into the coming year.
Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
What a weird year. It's been busy in many ways, but slower in even more. My health has gotten better in some ways, and remained quite ill in most of it, but I'll take the better where I can.
( physical health update )
It's been a hard year of undoing and unlearning everything I've grown up with. But the space left by that undoing has been filled with the things of what I am growing, the person I am becoming. I have discovered new things I like doing now that I have the energy to explore it, now that I have the energy to devote to myself and the things that I want to do, instead of what everyone has told me to want or do. And I've allowed myself to stop doing things when I don't feel like doing them anymore, and to concentrate on the things I want to do.
( hobbies update )
PS I am also on the lookout for a good ube cookie or ube crinkle recipe for a friend in Osaka, will try a black sesame and chocolate cookie for another friend's birthday, and need a good earl grey and brown butter sugar cookie recipe for Raia! Any reccs, please send them my way!
tw: emotional abuse, trauma processing, family dynamics
( eldest daughters never miss a chance to learn the hardest lessons again and again )
( turns out i was emotionally abused in 2023, who knew (everyone) )
Still: ( my friends have loved me back to life in the realest ways )
( there was some growth this year, for i do not wish to be in a lesbian sitcom IRL )
( the hodgepodge that is my spirituality, and how i learned to embrace it )
( mental health updates )
2025 has been such a strange year. I am not sorry to see it end. I am exhausted, physically, emotionally, mentally. I have yet to sit down with myself and think about 2026 and what it might bring. All I know is that in the coming year I want to continue being intentional about the direction of my life and my relationships. I want to learn to take up space without fear, to be able to say straightforwardly what my wants and needs are, knowing full well I will be fine if others cannot meet them, because I can meet them myself. I want to develop a self-identity, self-esteem, and assuredness so strong I no longer fear seeing my ex and remembering all the ways I made myself vulnerable for her in hopes that she would care for me and instead hurt me.
I burn a piece of paper every night in this period of in between - the 13 magical wishes to give to the universe during Rauhnaechte. I pray in my heart and in my mind in a shrine hidden in a park in Shibuya, asking for guidance and clarity, asking that I may be granted leave to return and offer my gratitude in person.
Maybe that's all I hope for 2026: that I will be treated gently, that my wishes will be heard, that my prayers be answered, my love found and returned.
Such simple wishes from a woman simply trying to live. 2025 returned to me my humanity. May 2026 return me to myself.
There are many things in play in the background; the wheels of time continue. These nameless days are coming to a close, and soon I will join the world again in its business, its loneliness, its camaraderies, its joys, its shared pains and sorrows. These days have been difficult, balancing between despair and hope, standing still and moving forward. I am going at my pace. May everyone close the coming year in peace, and carry only good wishes into the coming year.
Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
Sign-up update: no unmatchables
Dec. 27th, 2025 10:17 pmrfemod posting in rarefemslashexchangeThere are no unmatchables. Assignments will go out in the next few days.
Sign-ups are closed!
Dec. 27th, 2025 10:09 pmrfemod posting in rarefemslashexchangeSign-ups are now closed. Matching will be run and there will be an update once the emails to the unmatchables (if there are any) are sent out.
Yuletide recs (part 1)
Dec. 27th, 2025 09:26 pmsnickfic posting in yuletideSeven recs at my journal for:
True Detective: Night Country
Kyle Murchison Booth Stories
Companion
Kraken
My Sister and the Prince
Dragonriders of Pern (2x)
True Detective: Night Country
Kyle Murchison Booth Stories
Companion
Kraken
My Sister and the Prince
Dragonriders of Pern (2x)
Birb!
Dec. 28th, 2025 05:08 amvriddyTo PROVE that I am able to make a post without a single mention of K-9 (oh no I already failed), please enjoy pictures of the bird friends I made at the park yesterday :D
I call them magpies because that's what the black and white and beautiful blue-tinted tail colouring makes me think of, but I don't actually know. They are birb. And they are friendly!
One of them came to hang out with us when we took a little break, just sitting there, all puffy and chirping whenever we stopped paying attention to it. Really, surprisingly chill and friendly! I guess people around there are not jerks to them too much.
I know the quality of my pictures is terrible, but that's to encourage everyone to use their Power Of Imagination! I'm actually providing a great public service 😌
( Picture of a not a bird friend, at the same park )
Also I'm no longer the only person posting for K-9 out there :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D And they write a PoV I'm less comfortable with (FOR NOW) and that is just AWESOME. Happy times!!! 🥳🥳
I call them magpies because that's what the black and white and beautiful blue-tinted tail colouring makes me think of, but I don't actually know. They are birb. And they are friendly!
One of them came to hang out with us when we took a little break, just sitting there, all puffy and chirping whenever we stopped paying attention to it. Really, surprisingly chill and friendly! I guess people around there are not jerks to them too much.
I know the quality of my pictures is terrible, but that's to encourage everyone to use their Power Of Imagination! I'm actually providing a great public service 😌
( Picture of a not a bird friend, at the same park )
Also I'm no longer the only person posting for K-9 out there :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D And they write a PoV I'm less comfortable with (FOR NOW) and that is just AWESOME. Happy times!!! 🥳🥳
Nominations Closed
Dec. 27th, 2025 11:01 pmcandyheartsexNominations for the tagset have closed! The tagset will be finalized over the next few days as the final round of nominations get approved (there are still almost 200 fandoms pending, plus nominations in existing fandoms, so please be patient), wandering tags get corralled, errors get fixed, etc.
Please stay tuned for at least one more post about nomination questions and notes, just in case you need to clarify a tag you've nominated.
Signups will open on January 1, 12:01 AM.
Please stay tuned for at least one more post about nomination questions and notes, just in case you need to clarify a tag you've nominated.
Signups will open on January 1, 12:01 AM.
Daily Happiness
Dec. 27th, 2025 08:04 pmtorachan1. We had a nice lunch at Knott's today. I'm glad we were able to get over there one more time before the end of the holiday season as they have some really good seasonal offerings on the menu right now.
2. No rain! It's so nice to have a dry day. It was sunny but not hot. Looks like we're supposed to have rain again by the end of next week into the week after, but at least we have a few dry days in between.
3. We went over to Handel's tonight to get some peppermint bark ice cream but they are out. The girl at the counter said they might still get some in, but she wasn't sure. At least it's close enough and on the general path of our neighborhood walks that we can pop in here and there to see if they've got it back. We did get some other flavors to bring home, including gingerbread cookie, which I hope is as good as the peppermint bark.
4. I've had some sweaty nights lately (fun) so decided to wash my whole pillow rather than just the pillowcase, but this new pillow is a pain in the ass to wash. Well, the washing is fine, it's the drying. It's got this fiber fill stuff that just does not want to dry, even after multiple goes in the dryer. Finally I hit on the idea of taking the filling out and spreading it out between these four mesh laundry bags we have and drying it like that, which I think will do the trick. For one thing, the mesh bags will get heat to the filling much easier than the thick pillow exterior, plus dividing it into four bags will help spread the filling out so there's not this inner core that's just not getting dry. Fingers crossed! I do have an old pillow I can use tonight if this doesn't get dry, but I've still got a few hours until bedtime.
5. Chloe's such a sweetie. *_*
2. No rain! It's so nice to have a dry day. It was sunny but not hot. Looks like we're supposed to have rain again by the end of next week into the week after, but at least we have a few dry days in between.
3. We went over to Handel's tonight to get some peppermint bark ice cream but they are out. The girl at the counter said they might still get some in, but she wasn't sure. At least it's close enough and on the general path of our neighborhood walks that we can pop in here and there to see if they've got it back. We did get some other flavors to bring home, including gingerbread cookie, which I hope is as good as the peppermint bark.
4. I've had some sweaty nights lately (fun) so decided to wash my whole pillow rather than just the pillowcase, but this new pillow is a pain in the ass to wash. Well, the washing is fine, it's the drying. It's got this fiber fill stuff that just does not want to dry, even after multiple goes in the dryer. Finally I hit on the idea of taking the filling out and spreading it out between these four mesh laundry bags we have and drying it like that, which I think will do the trick. For one thing, the mesh bags will get heat to the filling much easier than the thick pillow exterior, plus dividing it into four bags will help spread the filling out so there's not this inner core that's just not getting dry. Fingers crossed! I do have an old pillow I can use tonight if this doesn't get dry, but I've still got a few hours until bedtime.
5. Chloe's such a sweetie. *_*