My atavism for wild weather has faded somewhat: I didn't venture into the white-out, but waited for the grey, the gusts and swirling. It was still pretty fierce out there. My gloves weren't warm enough, my glasses frosted over, and for once, I was glad of the mask. I think I may be the last person on earth to wear a low-tech Luddite overcoat. At ( Read more... )

 Oh, thanks heavens!

Eliza Carthy just posted that "Mam  ... will be out in three days.  Dad & I testing positive so we all have to keep isolating."

All hail vaccination!  And fingers crossed that all goes as promised.

As of now, the fund has clocked over 12,000 donors and a stream of loving messages.

Nine

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Residue sing Residue, the water and the wine,

Seven bright gold wires and the trumpets that shine.
Here comes the maiden with gold on her toe;
Open the West gate and let the Old Year go.

Here comes the maiden with gold on her shoe;
Open the South gate and let the New Year through.

Here comes the maiden with gold on her chin;
Open the East gate and let the ( Read more... )

 A very pleasant Christmas Day with Fox and family.  In all my long years, I'd never hosted such a gathering, but I improvised a tree (or rather a bough) decked with trinkets; built a glorious fire; set out cakes; overstuffed a stocking (cute socks, a Slinky, an orange at the toe).  We made new ornaments with origami paper; played with Fox's new ( Read more... )

 My home has been invaded by a plague of mice, who are eating my books.  This means War!  I've had the exterminator in, and every corner is abristle with alluring poisons, springed peanut butter, and peppermint oil.  I am sorry, gentler folk.  Wee, sleekit, tim'rous, cow'ring beasties who saw-edge my first editions and chew the fringes of my ( Read more... )

 Wishing you joy at the sun returning!

Or else, O you antipodeans, at the tempering of his fury.

Nine

The Matter of Cloud is now up at Uncanny Magazine.  Greer Gilman talks with Sofia Samatar about her words, her world and its creation.

We loved doing this.  I hope you enjoy reading it!

Nine

Weird decade, the 70s. Backward is forward now.

I had a strange dream last night that I was undergoing an ineluctable, unwanted upgrade to my operating system, with all the aches and pains of old age being installed.  They say you never actually taste or feel things in dreams, but my (as yet undamaged) knee hurt.
Ah well.  Better over the hill ( Read more... )