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Entry tags:

cake,
dessert

Russian Napoleon Cake

Russian Napoleon Cake (Napolyeon Tort)
Prep: 40 mins Cook: 80 mins Chill: 7 hrs Total: 9 hrs Servings: 9 servings

Ingredients

For the Pastry Layers:
2 ounces (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
2 large egg whites, at room temperature, stiffly beaten
1 tablespoon vodka
1 pinch kosher salt
2 1/2 cups (180 grams) all-purpose flour

For the Custard Filling:
5 cups whole milk
10 large egg yolks, at room temperature
1 large egg white, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
8 ounces (1 cup) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

( Read more... )

Entry tags:

ice hockey

Ice hockey history

Turns out one of my uni hockey friends has a long-standing history channel on YouTube, and of course he made a video about ice hockey history. I think I'd have liked it even if I didn't know the creator, enjoy:

Watch on YouTube

(no subject)

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251223.html

What's happening in the sky?

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251223.html

Entry tags:

第四年第三百四十九天

部首
彳 part 2
径, track/diameter; 待, to stay/to wait; 很, very ( pinyin )
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?cdqrad=60

词汇
步行, to walk/go on foot; 逐步, gradually ( pinyin )
https://mandarinbean.com/new-hsk-4-word-list/

Guardian:
我宁愿待在这里, I'd rather stay here
我会逐步叫我的心腹干将来协助你的, I will gradually be calling my helpers to come and give you a hand

Me:
今天的天气糟糕得很。
步行就不行，目的地太远了。

Current Mood: tired
Current Location: my desk

Entry tags:

Check-In Post - Dec 23rd 2025

Hello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.

Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?

There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.

This Week's Question: Does anyone have any plans for making Christmas gifts or cards?

If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.

I now declare this Check-In OPEN!

Entry tags:

dessert

Persian Baklava

Persian Baklava
Prep Time: 35 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes Yield: 36 pieces

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package phyllo pastry sheets, thawed overnight
1 cup butter, melted

For the filling:
6 ounces walnuts, coarsely chopped
6 ounces almonds, coarsely chopped
6 ounces pistachios, coarsely chopped
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons ground cardamom
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the syrup:
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon rose water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ cup honey
½ teaspoon saffron threads (optional)

For the garnishes:
pistachio, chopped
dried rose petals, chopped

( Read more... )

(no subject)

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251222.html

Yesterday the Sun reached its southernmost point in planet Earth's sky.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251222.html

Funny Numbers

https://xkcd.com/3184/

In 1899, people were walking around shouting '23' at each other and laughing, and confused reporters were writing articles trying to figure out what it meant.

https://xkcd.com/3184/

Entry tags:

第四年第三百四十八天

部首
彳 part 1 chì
彻, thorough; 彼, that, one another; 往, to go ( pinyin )
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?cdqrad=60

语法
2.8 Adjective reduplication
https://www.digmandarin.com/hsk-2-grammar

词汇
布置, arrangement; 分布, distribution ( pinyin )
https://mandarinbean.com/new-hsk-4-word-list/

Guardian:
马上我就能彻底地自由了, any time now I can be thoroughly free
就是不知道这小小的一晚就, I didn't know this little tiny glass of wine would--
我们该去执行烛九布置的任务了, we should go and carry out the duties Zhu Jiu arranged

Me:
这座火车是开往哪里的？
别用那双大大的眼睛看我了。

Three for the Memories Coming Back Next Month!

3 for the Memories' 2025 session will be open for posts on January 3, 2026 and will run for 3 weeks until January 24. Event participation is as follows:

1) Three photos only per person during each annual session. Members are encouraged to discuss the reason for their choices.

2) Photos can be hosted at Dreamwidth or elsewhere, and should not be larger than 800 px width or height.

3) All three photos should be in the same post. Cut tags should be placed after the first photo.

3 for the Memories is not a competition, and entries are not being judged. Rather, participants are encouraged to share photos they took in 2025 that they find meaningful in some way or which represent how they experienced the year.

Questions? Visit the announcement post at

threeforthememories

Entry tags:

crafting hangout

crafting

Hey all, if you'd like to join the crafting hangout, it is tonight from 6-8pm ET!

Video encouraged but not required!

Topic: Crafting Hangout

Time: Mondays 6:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Link

Meeting ID: 973 2674 2763

Current Mood: tired
Current Location: my desk

Entry tags:

Check-In Post - Dec 22nd 2025

Entry tags:

Series Rec: ClaireBell (2025)

ClaireBell poster featuring Bell and Claire on a bunk bed

(8 × ~45 minutes (TV version) or ~60 minutes (uncut version))

Claire and Bell meet in a place no one enters by choice: prison. Wrongly convicted of drug possession, Bell begins her fifteen-month sentence only to find herself targeted by a powerful group within the grounds. Even the warden turns a blind eye to their actions. Her only path to safety is to go to Claire, a violent inmate no one dares mess with. Nothing is as easy as she'd hoped. As their bond deepens, their path reaches a crossroads and they must choose between life and love. (MyDramaList)

( Read more... )

Entry tags:

main dish,
pork

San Francisco Pork Chops

San Francisco Pork Chops
Prep: 20 min. Cook: 7-1/2 hours Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

4 bone-in pork loin chops (8 ounces each)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup red wine or chicken broth
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon cold water
Hot cooked rice

Directions

In a large skillet, brown pork chops on both sides in oil; transfer to a 3- to 4-qt. slow cooker. Add garlic to drippings; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add the soy sauce, wine, brown sugar and pepper flakes; cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour over chops.
Cook, covered, on low 5-7 hours or until meat is tender. Remove chops. Combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth; gradually stir into slow cooker. Return chops to slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes or until slightly thickened. Serve with rice.

Entry tags:

fitness

In shock news, hot yoga is hot

The hot yoga place has two levels of classes: "hotpod flow" and "nurturing flow". In January I found the nurturing one a bit too relaxing and slow, and I've been doing the free yoga classes through work pretty consistently all year, so I thought sure, I'll be fine in the standard class. I'll have to modify some of the harder positions but I'm used to that.

It was hot in the class. Not sauna hot, but I was definitely finding it harder than I'd expected based on the January classes. I took the teacher at her word about it being fine to take breaks and drink water as needed, but well before the end I just had to stop, sit, and let my heart rate come down. She checked in with me, and I assured her that I know my body and I'm not going to let myself faint, but yes it was harder than I'd expected. I've switched my classes for the next couple of days to the "nurturing flow", so we'll see how that goes.

slightly gross body stuff

My workout clothes were saturated when I finished. I thought I was sweaty after Huskies practice (two hours skating hard, trying to keep up with young men), but this was a new level. Luckily I had a hoodie and skirt to throw over the top for the bike ride home - it's a weirdly mild December week but not so mild I wanted evaporative cooling all the way. Absolutely everything went in the wash when I got home.

I emptied my 950ml water bottle in/just after the practice, and had another couple of litres of water over the course of the evening, this time with my trusty electrolyte tablets, and managed to see off the lurking dehydration headache. I'm going to make sure there's electrolytes in the in-class bottle too from tonight onward.

(no subject)

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251221.html

Can you tell that today is a solstice by the tilt of the Earth?

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251221.html

Entry tags:

Three simultaneous projects

I don't think the upstairs bathroom will be done before christmas but I have accepted this, these things happen. I've got some momentum going with it, which is perfect, that will keep me working on it until it is done, my guess mid-jan. There just isn't enough time to get it all done with everything else that needs doing in the next three days.

But! I have laid the second layer of plywood, which was a fight, stapled it down and have started working on the flooring. The area that needs flooring is an L shape around the shower, with two pipes at the end of the wall for plumbing and the one wall is the uneven plaster and lathe. I cut it exact to the dimensions needed and couldn't get it fit into the spot because I forgot about the one pipe that is the not-hooked-up heating pipe. The plywood was 3/4 inch, it was 47x80 inches and heavy as fuck. So getting it picked back up was an absolute nightmare. It only worked because I was able to brace one foot against the wall above the plywood and pry up with a prybar until I could slide a chunk of wood between it and the wall. Then I tried fitting it in the other direction and ran into issues with destroying the drywall that stuck out slightly too far on the other side. Finally, I just cut the plywood in half and slide both pieces into place in two minutes. The whole process sucked! The third piece that went in was comparatively easy even if it needed three notches.

I got them stapled down quickly, it took as much time to get the compressor pressure correct as it did to actually staple everything in. I caulked it this afternoon although the caulk was old and I think there is something wrong with it since it has been at least three hours and it is still wet. Might need to run to town for more. (steps still to go: drywall on two walls, toilet in place, sink in place, their plumbing to be hooked up). I will lay vinyl flooring soon.

The view of mostly a bathroom floor with three pieces of plywood fitted in around the drywall corner. There is a air compressor powered nailgun sitting on the floor. At the top of the picture is a partially busted plaster and lathe wall.

The view of mostly a bathroom floor with three pieces of plywood fitted in around the drywall corner. There is a air compressor powered nailgun sitting on the floor. At the top of the picture is a partially busted plaster and lathe wall.

( more projects under the cut )

Entry tags:

FIC: To Make a Dream (Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan) [M]

To Make a Dream (9270 words)
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Mature
Relationship: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei, Zhao Yunlan, brief appearances by Ye Zun and the SID
Content Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Episode Related, Episode 31, Nightmare Master arc, Dream Sharing, Dixing Powers, Black and White Energy, First Kiss, First Time, Pre-Fix-It

Summary:

"You took a while to wake," Shen Wei said gently. "I brought you home." He ran a hand through his hair. "I needed rest, too."

So that was the fantasy: something Zhao Yunlan could almost, almost believe. His heart clenched. Suddenly he understood Zhu Hong's temptation to keep dreaming. But the true Shen Wei was still missing. Zhao Yunlan needed to wake up for real.

Entry tags:

第四年第三百四十七天

部首
弓 parts 1-4
弓, a bow (as in archery); 引, to pull/to guide; 弛, to loosen; 弟, younger brother; 张, family name Zhang/to open up/counter word; 弥, to fill; 弦, string; 弧, arc; 弯, to bend; 弱, weak; 弹, to pluck/to play/bullet; 强, strong
( pinyin )
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?cdqrad=57
彐/彑
归, to return home; 当, to be/to act as; 灵, quick/spirit; 录, to record ( pinyin )
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?cdqrad=58
彡
形, form; 彩, color ( pinyin )
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?cdqrad=59

语法
2.5 Uses of 吧
2.6 Uses of 着
2.7 Verb reduplication
https://www.digmandarin.com/hsk-2-grammar

词汇
表情, expression; 表扬, praise
别, do not/to leave/separate; 个别, individual
冰, ice; 冰箱, refrigerator; 冰雪, ice and snow
兵, soldier/weapon/military; 士兵, soldier
并, to combine/to merge
不要紧, never mind; 不在乎, not to mind; 不管, no matter; 不然, otherwise; 看不起, to despise; 来不及, not enough time; 离不开, can't do without; 了不起, amazing; 受不了, can't bear; 说不定, maybe
( pinyin )
https://mandarinbean.com/new-hsk-4-word-list/

玩玩
A recipe for dumplings and one for tangyuan (both selected kind of at random, they’re too complicated for my cooking skills, but a place to start anyway), since we’re only one day off the solstice. 冬至快乐！

从年底倒数第二个周一，时间过得这么快。大家好好保重身体啊～

Entry tags:

Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 8, part 2

Zhao Yunlan sprawled on a couch, grinning at his phone. The background shows a purple sky with stars. Text reads, "Slo-Mo Rewatch. Guardian - half an episode per week @ sid_guardian.dreamwidth.org"

Hi, welcome to this week's instalment of the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch! Watch half an episode a week, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here is last week's half-episode. On to the second half!

Episode 8, from 22:19:

Summary: In Dixing, the Regent sends a smoke message. In Haixing, Shen Wei pours his drunk mentor into car and then finds Zhao Yunlan ill on the kerb. He takes him home in a taxi (where he serves as a pillow), then discovers Zhao Yunlan's disaster apartment (featuring: wine bottles, dirty dishes, THE FRIDGE). During the night, Zhu Jiu finds the pillar with the Mountain-River Awl, but can't approach it. Meanwhile Shen Wei discovers that Zhao Yunlan asked Dixing about him and the Regent is ratting him out. He alters the message. In the morning, Zhao Yunlan wakes up to a tidy flat and Shen Wei sitting next to his bed. He tries to recruit Shen Wei for the SID again, but fails again. Wang Zheng sees a newspaper report about an earthquake in the Hanga mountains, passes out and regains her memory. Da Qing comes to tell Zhao Yunlan and finds Shen Wei there in the early morning. The Sundial begins to glow and resonate with the Awl; Lin Jing traces the source to the mountains.

Quote:

Shen Wei: "I suggest you eat regular meals. I don't want to find you on the road again."

Zhao Yunlan: "If you want to know whether I eat regular meals, why don't you just join ourSID, and you'll know?"

Shen Wei: "So your SID doesn't need a consultant, it needs a nanny?"

Detail:

I always notice that when Shen Wei takes off Zhao Yunlan's boots, he accidentally slips one of Zhao Yunlan's socks off his heel and doesn't pull it back up, argh! :p

Questions:

What's going through Shen Wei's head in the taxi? How is Zhao Yunlan feeling about Shen Wei taking him home? What's your favourite detail in Zhao Yunlan's flat? What's Shen Wei's favourite detail? Why do you think Zhao Yunlan keeps trying to recruit Shen Wei after Shen Wei has refused more than once? Do you think Shen Wei is seriously hoping to warn Zhao Yunlan away from leaving Dragon City? Why is Da Qing surprised to find Shen Wei with Zhao Yunlan in the morning? Why does Wang Zheng try to leave the SID? Any thoughts about how any of this compares to the novel? Or about parallels with other parts of the drama?

(These are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in!)

For the next two weekends, we're taking a break for the holidays - time to catch up on the rewatch, if you've been meaning to! Regular posts will resume on 9 January.

Here is our schedule for the current batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!