tonight the stars

 Hey there! Quick life update: I bought a piano. It's a 1950s-era Hamilton (made by Baldwin), so it's getting into antique range. But I got it tuned up this week and it still plays well enough for me.

I thought it'd be fun to try singing and playing at the same time and, haha. I need more practice. But this is a great song to start with. "One Little Star" from the Sesame Street movie Follow That Bird. Which I think is a great movie. And this is a nice song.

Stay tuned for the possibility of more videos in the future. But don't hold your breath.

Edit: I did the third verse that's a trio between Big Bird, Olivia, and Snuffy. I didn't include the piano because I didn't trust myself. But here you go!

lullaby

A few weeks ago I was traveling back down to where I live from where my family lives and I was feeling a little sentimental about my nieces and nephews, so I decided this would be my next song.

Many Things to Know, from Ralph's World

So that's this month's song down! I'm really starting to get a bit of a repertoire.

now I feel like I'm the flower trying to bloom

this picture came up in my memories and it's apt
2 yrs ago a gentleman caller gave me this bouquet
and I hoped
and a month later he'd ghosted me
it's easier not to hope

I picked my most recent song to learn simply based on the fact that I'd been enjoying listening to it, and decided to see if I could figure out how to play it. And I could! (with a slight key change, which is no obstacle for me)

And as I've been working on it (and realizing that there was no way I'd memorize the lyrics before I got bored of working on it, so I just read them) I've realized that it's actually, like, kinda meaningful.

I am the poster child for never wanting to let myself feel. If Hanahaki disease were real I'd be coughing up flowers all the time because of my utter unwillingness to be vulnerable with anybody.

So it's really hypocritical of me to sing this song and then encourage people to feel their feelings and be vulnerable about stuff. I have been shying from vulnerability as recently as, hmm, today.

But maybe, with these lyrics ringing in my ears, I'll be better?

lol

Ah my blue, blue

Hey here’s my latest video

It was the third take and maybe the worst take but it was the one with the best lighting

Like the video description says, this was the second song I learned on the ukulele but I never recorded it until now. I probably could’ve waited even longer! Practiced even more!

trace all my books [2019]

Here's my 2019 round-up. I said there weren't that many books but there were more than last year.

Technically, You Started It by Lana Wood Johnson
The main appeal of this one is the format -- a novel comprised solely of texts between two people's phones. I loved that she was able to tell the entire story that way, without having to hop out to a narrative. The plot is a girl gets a text from a boy, who has a cousin with the same name. She thinks she knows which cousin is texting her...but does she really?
(no picture of this one, I remembered about it from a tweet)

The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas

Obviously I'm here for Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty adaptations and reimaginings all the time. But I love that Mulan's getting a bit of a spotlight too (with this book and that new movie). (Sure, Mulan might be a real person, but it's probably safe to say it's folklore.) Plot: Mulan has been training her whole life to duel a boy from a rival family to see who gets these cool swords. Most people think of her as her twin brother (who I think is dead*). So it's not that much of a step for her to join the army and save China. I said in the video I liked every part of this book and I'll stand by that.

*in Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim that I did not talk about in the video but was also good, a girl dresses as her brother (who is alive but disabled in the war) to compete to become the Imperial Tailor. And my mind confuses the two stories a little.

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Took me a hot minute to get into this book but I spent some uninterrupted hours on New Year's Day reading this until I finished. I liked it a lot. (I also like An Enchantment of Ravens, and it was in searching that out to see if there was a sequel that I found this one. Which is not a sequel.) This girl grew up in a Library and has always had a suspicion toward sorcerers. But when tragedy strikes her home she must team up with one of them. Who happens to be pretty handsome. And who has a demon bound to his will.

There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

The sequel to When Dimple Met Rishi, focusing on Rishi's younger brother Ashish. See, his girlfriend broke up with him and he's lost his mojo. So his parents decide it's time for him to date a nice Indian girl. And they think Sweetie's pretty great. Thing is...Sweetie's mom doesn't have the confidence that Sweetie is great (it's a weight thing; Sweetie is great by any metric). But Ashish and Sweetie decide there's no harm in making his parents happy so they decide to fake a relationship for a while (as long as her mom doesn't find out).

Circe by Madeline Miller

It's about Circe.

Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer

Already vlogged this one.

Sherwood by Meagan Spooner

No picture of the cover, but as I was reading this note fell out. It's extremely apt because this adaptation is a tale of Marian, learning of her Robin's death and becoming Robin Hood to honor his memory. And Guy of Gisborne will catch her, one way or another.


So there we have it! That's the video, basically. I teased that I'm looking forward to Return of the Thief this year (scheduled to come out last year). The sequel to A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer came out last week, and I'm excited for that hold to come in. (It's a Beauty and the Beast adaptation...loosely.) Sharon Shinn had some books come out last year that I've been reading this month. 2020 will be a good year for books.

AND as far as making a Best of the Decade vlog/post, I find that just really daunting. I'll keep thinking about it but no promises.

songs [Christmas edition]

Merry Christmas!

Here, have a gift of all of the Christmas songs I've recorded over the past few years.

There's not a lot of them so this should go quickly.

Did a couple songs with my buddy Dan in 2017. When I showed him the video last year he said "lol" so expect that amount of quality in our performance I guess. "Snowman" by Sia and "Put the Lights on the Tree" by Sufjan Stevens.

Last year I didn't end up performing for Christmas but I did record a song. "2000 Miles" definitely more inspired by the Coldplay version.

This year I decided was the year I'd make Cynthia make a video with me. Then a performance opportunity came up and we recorded it AND performed at the same time. "Winter Song" by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson

Here's a link to the full playlist on Youtube.

found a calling sweet [3]

I can't believe I did a whole year of Cookie of the Month. I wasn't even FHE Group Leader that long (I leveraged a different calling into being released). I already plan to make last year's September cookie again tomorrow but I don't know if I'm going to keep doing CotM as it's been. We'll see.
But here's what I did for the past trimester.

May
Brown butter caramel chocolate chip bars by melskitchencafe
These were amazing. I don't think I salted the caramel? Didn't miss that.

June
lemon sugar swig cookies from melskitchencafe
I made these when I already knew I was getting released. They were good but if I recall correctly I didn't find them worth the effort.

July
Biscoff cinnamon cookies from Food Charlatan
These are extra-cinnamony snickerdoodles that are supposed to be sandwich cookies with biscoff frosting but I made them too small and they came out too round, so they just became...snickerdoodles with frosting. Pretty good though!



August
Oatmeal chocolate chip with coconut from Melskitchencafe
Mel from the blog calls these her favorite cookie and they are definitely delicious! I was out of ideas so my friend Kea picked this recipe and helped me make them.

Can't help that I have a favorite food blog.¯\_(ツ)_/¯

your story now

So in honor of Harry Potter's birthday, and because I just don't care what anybody thinks anymore, I thought I'd share the HP fanfics I've reread most often over the years since, like, 2005. And maybe some other ones if I remember them.

Some disclaimers: Some of these are not written in a style I enjoy all that much. Some of them were written before book 6 or 7 came out so there are...inconsistencies with canon. But! I still enjoy them! I tend to regularly rotate between these stories (and some non-HP ones, for variety), just keeping a tab open on my phone at all times. So they're at least that good?


This is the one I reread the least, probably. I do love it though (begun pre-HBP, finished pre-DH):

Do Be My Enemy for Friendship's Sake by ByMerlinsBeard (140K words, PG)

Summary: Laura has been a good friend to Percy for seven years. She took his side during a fight between Percy and Oliver their second year. So why, during their seventh year, is Percy allowing his friend to be lonely and miserable? A fellow Gryffindor decides to try to ease Laura's loneliness by interfering in her life. The result is that Laura must suddenly deal with new relationships, including an unlikely reconciliation with Oliver.
Laura succeeded in being a good friend when she only had one friend. Now she must learn how to be a good friend to several people... including herself. Oliver/OC

Why I like it: I love this peek into minor characters' lives (Harry Potter is barely mentioned) and a glimpse into the wider wizarding world. Also, romance. Also, one of my favorite lines of any fic that I quote to myself whenever I'm jumping to conclusions.


If you think canon (at least within the seven books) is the way to go, may I suggest a little something by Northumbrian?

This one was just finished after like 7 years:
Strangers at Drakeshaugh by Northumbrian (190K words, PG13)
Summary: The locals in a sleepy corner of the Cheviot Hills are surprised to discover that they have new neighbours. Who are the strangers at Drakeshaugh? When James Potter meets Muggle Henry Charlton, his mother Jacqui befriends the Potters and her life changes.

Why I like it: A unique look at what Harry Potter and his life look like from the outside. Like, the way outside. Like...a Muggle's point of view.


It might be better to read this one first, though (just for a little more familiarity with characters and what's going on with them):
Hunters and Prey by Northumbrian (125K words, PG13)
Summary: Harry Potter has a mission: to track down the Death Eaters who escaped after the Battle. Nothing is more important, is it?

Why I like it: It uses an asynchronous storytelling style to drop clues that tie together in a satisfying conclusion (though the story's not over).



Probably my all-time favorite fanfic series is Oblivious by Pallas. You have to pretend that you don't know anything about HBP (since Oblivious, at least, was written pre-HBP) and you also have to pretend to care about Remus and imagine him a little more important to the story than he ended up being. So if you can handle that (and some interesting writing style choices), here you go!

Oblivious by Pallas (180K words, PG)
Summary: What if there were more to Remus Lupin's bite than a badly timed stroll in the woods? Secrets emerge when a feral comes to town...

Why I Like it: Important backstory and character development so Imperius makes sense and lands more satisfyingly. Also, it's funny and moving and I cried during lunch at work last month while I was reading it.

Imperius by Pallas (200K words, PG)
Summary: “Imperius…Werewolves…You Know Who…” The last words of a dying man force Remus Lupin into a dangerous investigation at the infamous Feral Institute.

Why I like it: I just love how well this story fits together! I read like 3 paragraphs aloud to my mom recently and she said "Sounds like a good story" and it is. (Also funny and moving and maybe I cried during lunch during this one)


Pallas also wrote what may be the best post-DH fanfiction ever, a fix-it fic for those who love Remus and Tonks. Still fits within canon!

A Little More Time by Pallas (120K words, PG)
Summary: Was it possible to save two lives without altering history? Was it possible to given them a future twenty years after they had supposedly died? Teddy Lupin thought so...

Why I like it: Sometimes you just want a happy ending!!!


And here's a newer story that I've been enjoying. Yeah it's great that Harry's an Auror but don't you think he'd rather be a teacher, really? So this is a story exploring that possibility.
Blackboards and Broomsticks by Glisseo (95K words, PG, INCOMPLETE)
Summary: At twenty-five, Harry Potter is at a crossroads in his life. He's achieved his dream of being an Auror, but it's not all it's cracked up to be, and with one child and another on the way, he's missing out on precious time with his family. But being an Auror is all he knows how to do - right? So he's in for a surprise when Professor McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts, offers him a job as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher ...

Why I Like it: I love the concept and in my opinion it's pretty well-written!

"Hey...Leslie..." you might be saying now. "These are great but what if I don't...really want...to read huge novel-length fics that aren't even canon??"

Well. That's a bit more tricky. Mostly because when I read one-shots I don't usually remember them as well.

But hey, why don't you take a gander on Northumbrian's page?? There are some shorter ones there. Pay attention to the rating and whether they're complete or not, but they're all basically part of the same larger story. You can do it. (I like the MIT ones) Also some other novel-length ones that are good, I just don't like them as much as the ones listed above.

I also really like the cute ladyknightley stories, so there's some fun to be had there.

And how about this one, a James/Lily? I've read so many over the years but because this one is relatively recent (and I loved it so much) it's stuck in my mind better.
Where the Air is Rarefied by thirty2flavors (7K words, G)
Summary: If pressed, later, she’d say it was exhaustion that caused her to forget who she was talking to, and it was that same exhaustion which prevented her from foreseeing the inevitable fall-out of telling James Potter, “Ugh, no thanks, I hate flying.”

Why i like it: I love (LOVE) reading early courtship stories, and this one is just...really good.


And finally, no list of HP fanfic recs would be complete without that predictive text algorithm one that made the rounds recently.
Harry Potter and the Portrait of What Looked Like a Large Pile of Ash -- Chapter 13, The Handsome One by Botnik Studios

I admit, I only included that one because this fanart tickles my fancy. I just love Harry so much!!




So there you go. I know I'll post this and immediately remember other stories that I've just loved but this, I daresay, is a good start. Happy Birthday, Harry.


Edit: Oh I forgot to shamelessly self-promote. This story is only 1,000 words so way more doable than the rest of these. So.
Catchphrase by Cinderella Angelina (that's me)
Summary: Percy Weasley meets Penelope Clearwater.
Why I like it: Minor characters and a meet-cute.


Edit again: oh dang I forgot dirgewithoutmusic's AUs
(I mean, I've mentioned them before, but you know)
These ones, on top of being AU, play a little more fast and loose with canon than I am entirely pleased with, but if I ever want to cry these are the ones to go to. Without fail I get teary. I remember the first time I read the Snape one I literally had tears streaming down my face AT my desk. So ... these are also up there.

found a calling sweet [2]

I made it through another quarter of being FHE mom.

Here were the cookies of the month! (Not including May, but I'll just give you a teaser that the May cookie was well received.)

January: Marshmallow creme chocolate chip. I've made these several times since and they are WINNERS.
https://thefoodcharlatan.com/marshmallow-creme-stuffed-cookies-recipe/

February: Just the regular old sugar cookie recipe from my mom.

March: Lemon poppy seed. A week or two later I made an almond version and those were yummy too.
https://www.melskitchencafe.com/lemon-poppyseed-sugar-cookies/

April: I re-purposed the chocolate truffle cookies from November and tried to make them Mexican hot chocolate ones. But I went a little too easy on the cinnamon and cayenne, so the heat was barely noticeable. I'll try again sometime.
http://constantsatellite.blogspot.com/2018/12/found-calling-sweet.html

trace all my books [2018]

I finally made another vlog. I didn't talk about very many books considering it was for a whole year. I just haven't been into stuff this past year I guess. I took more pictures of books than I'd remembered (also, sorry about the pictures in the video. I'm not smart enough to figure out iMovie enough to get them to look right), but it's okay. I like the focus on my true passion, Pride & Prejudice fanfiction. (At least...in 2018 that was my passion.)

Here's the video! (7 min long)

Books (and other works) featured in this video:

Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm -- the main girl has to go to Scotland for her older sister's reality show wedding to a duke. Luckily she has a friend in a guy her age (who for sure wouldn't be a prince in disguise.......).

Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West -- I don't remember this book any better than I did when I talked about it in the video. There's a girl, she has a list, I feel the feelings.

Party of One by Joy Beth Smith -- being single in the Church. Not doctrinal.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik -- She's a moneylender that has a knack for turning silver to gold. The fae king decides to marry her because of this. (Rumpelstiltskin adaptation, I believe.)

Fire and Heist by Sarah Beth Durst -- Oceans 11 with were-dragons. (Not the actual plot of Oceans 11, just the feel. I assume. I don't think I've seen it.)

The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson -- The judge boys have cruelly chased augur Wren her whole life. She's the only one that can infiltrate the judge stronghold to bring power back to the augurs. She has to deal with the judge boys, conflicting loyalties, damaged power sources, and her weird urge to eat banana peels.

Pyeongchang & Prejudice by AMarguerite -- Lizzy and Jamie Bennet are sibling ice dancers that have a goal to medal at the Olympics. Darcy (Charlie Bingley's skating coach) doesn't think they can do it. File available upon request!

An Ever-Fixed Mark by AMarguerite -- It's Regency England. People have the name of their soulmate written on their wrist. Elizabeth Bennet has Fitzwilliam on her wrist. She visits Hunsford and meets Colonel Fitzwilliam. They immediately hit it off and decide to get married. What does Darcy think about all that? Here's the link but I'm not sure it'll work, so for this one...file also available upon request.

I also mentioned The Land of Heart's Desire by MrsVonTrapp -- Incomplete. Anne of Green Gables what-if. What if there had been a boy at Anne's orphanage, so the Cuthberts adopted him instead? Anne and Gilbert may somehow still find each other, but what has changed? Link, but be prepared for the same agony I feel because it hasn't been updated since August.

And for Miraculous Ladybug stuff...I have read so much I don't even remember what the good ones are. I'd be willing to dig if someone wants links, though. I'm also your gal if you want RTD-era Doctor Who fanfiction or Harry Potter fanfiction. Since I'm laying it all out there now.