*spla*

I had intended to transplant some shrubs today, but it started raining late morning, and hasn't really stopped since. May last through the night. A nice, gentle rain, and maybe we need it.

And it was downright cold today. 60s/lo 70s, which feels positively Arctic after weeks of humid 80s and 90s. Nice to open the windows and feel the breeze.

Spent part of the afternoon making tomorrow's dinner. I was on the lookout for a chicken recipe that didn't contain tomatoes or pasta, and found a cookbook in the basement entitled Cook Now/Serve Later, which features make-ahead recipes. Found one for something called Flemish Chicken Stew, which along with the usual carrots, celery, onions, leeks, parsley, and thyme, also contains cloves and nutmeg. I had never considered using those particular spices with chicken before, but I will say that the whole mess smelled marvelous as it cooked. Tomorrow, I cook up barley, then thicken the stock with cream, lemon juice, and egg, which must be what makes it Flemish. Should be a good day for stew, since it's supposed to rain throughout.

Wrote a little. Not GIDEON, but a new story, as yet untitled. It's a Jani story, a thirteen-years on continuation of INCIDENT. I really did want to try to write the how-Niall-Pierce-got-his-scar tale, but I couldn't get it started. A story doesn't take hold until I start thinking of dialogue, and the first line for this one came so easily. I had no dialogue for the Niall story, and what scenes I could envision felt as through someone else had thought of them. No spark. So technomage, looks like you'll be in a Jani-Lucien story. I envision bloodshed, blackmail, lies, and deceit. IOW, the usual.

And right now, I have a scaredy cat dog trying to wedge himself beneath my desk. Thunder, you know. Must go. Can't type too well.

*spla*

I had intended to transplant some shrubs today, but it started raining late morning, and hasn't really stopped since. May last through the night. A nice, gentle rain, and maybe we need it.

And it was downright cold today. 60s/lo 70s, which feels positively Arctic after weeks of humid 80s and 90s. Nice to open the windows and feel the breeze.

Spent part of the afternoon making tomorrow's dinner. I was on the lookout for a chicken recipe that didn't contain tomatoes or pasta, and found a cookbook in the basement entitled Cook Now/Serve Later, which features make-ahead recipes. Found one for something called Flemish Chicken Stew, which along with the usual carrots, celery, onions, leeks, parsley, and thyme, also contains cloves and nutmeg. I had never considered using those particular spices with chicken before, but I will say that the whole mess smelled marvelous as it cooked. Tomorrow, I cook up barley, then thicken the stock with cream, lemon juice, and egg, which must be what makes it Flemish. Should be a good day for stew, since it's supposed to rain throughout.

Wrote a little. Not GIDEON, but a new story, as yet untitled. It's a Jani story, a thirteen-years on continuation of INCIDENT. I really did want to try to write the how-Niall-Pierce-got-his-scar tale, but I couldn't get it started. A story doesn't take hold until I start thinking of dialogue, and the first line for this one came so easily. I had no dialogue for the Niall story, and what scenes I could envision felt as through someone else had thought of them. No spark. So technomage, looks like you'll be in a Jani-Lucien story. I envision bloodshed, blackmail, lies, and deceit. IOW, the usual.

And right now, I have a scaredy cat dog trying to wedge himself beneath my desk. Thunder, you know. Must go. Can't type too well.