The Bluestocking. All gerbils welcome, must have own frou-frou skirt.

[Magpiecomplex]

New thread!

Maybe it's like facial hair, @MyrtleLion, and it's something that happens to older lady lions? I know I have to get busy with the tweezers at least once a week. 😢

A while ago, Britinme, you mentioned cardinal birds, I was so envious that you could see them! On my several visits to the US I've seen lots of strange-to-me-birds, but never the cardinal - perhaps I was too far south?

I used to think they were fairy-tale birds, I didn't think they could be real, they were so cute and so...red, and they only appeared on Christmas cards from the American cousins. Like a red version of the bluebird of happiness
Before Christmas I had a severe episode of tweeness - I blame the Bluestocking and its cute furry équipage - and bought this Xmas decoration, because it looked a bit like the denizens of the Bluestocking, and look what was perched on Inkymoose's antlers! [it is Inkymoose because I say so, OK?]

..and it's even cuter from behind, look how they are snuggling up
<thinks: thank heavens for anonymity, I'd never live this down..😨>

edited to say that the cardinal bird looks purple against the red background.. which would make it a bishop bird instead of a cardinal bird I think?
It's proper red in real life.

I don't 'do' cute, but that is cute.

I've pressed your love button. Hope that helps.

I've made macaroni tomato cheese with the other half of yesterdy's soup, and I'm having it with some sourdough that I made on sunday night that was torturing me with the smell because I wasn't allowed to eat any until I got home and then I was in too much pain. It is bloody lovely.

Thank you Alison. I think we are in the same place on the 'don't-do-cute-but-awwwww-cute' spectrum
I also think that the animals are very well modelled, the deer's face is beautifully done I think.
It's cheap, resin, made in China, but I think it's well made, as well as cute.

I'm glad you can tuck into some nice proper food again and hope that means you'll be feeling much better soon.

In other news I am poking online acquaintances who post USian shit of the "A transgirl playing soccer / badminton / some sport has no effect on you but Elon Musk..." variety, by pointing out who actually is affected.

Entertaining for two reasons. One, it shows that at least some of the Righteous have realised that gender bolleaux was in fact important in the presidential campaign - so much for "nobody cares". Two, playing "who will unfriend whom first" turns out to be quite fun.

Student discount cake?
Hmmm I'm well up my 60s so I doubt it!! But thank you for the ego boost! 😀

The snow is very pretty and Christmas cardish indeed, but it's a pain in the arse to shovel. I avoid this pain because DH generally does it and if it's deep enough the snowblower gets the worst off.

@MarieDeGournay cardinals are just gorgeous. Our neighbours have a bird feeder right next to the fence between us so I see them around that. We also get goldfinches and of course chickadees.

cardinals are just gorgeous. Our neighbours have a bird feeder right next to the fence between us so I see them around that. We also get goldfinches and of course chickadees.

Cardinals! Chickadees! Not real birds! My seven-year-old self would reckon you were living in fairyland😄

..and on seeing your photos, 7-year-old me would have known that you lived not just in fairyland, but next door to Santa as well

It has no puffin. < Does sad face>

It doesn't have an android, a beetle, a dean, or even a 16-17th century French feminist philosopher either, but you are the only one complaining, there's always one🙄...
😄😄😄

I'm imagining what it would look like if it did have a an android, a beetle, a dean, a 16-17th century French feminist philosopher etc etc - 'we're going to need a bigger moose'😂

Not to mention a dragon.

And a lion.

I couldn't settle so I made candles and wax melts.

This annoyed DH but he didn't complain. He just put his headphones on. And also our mortgage payment coming down because of the interest rate cut cheered him up.

As did news that I don't have one of the two autoimmune genetic disorders I am being tested for. This is good news because it means I will only be in plaster for six weeks (and not three months) when I have my ankle surgery.

I have been shortlisted for a six month interim role, which is also good news. Here's hoping for an interview and the job.

I very enjoyed the different birds when we lived in Pennsylvania for a couple of years - blackbirds with go-faster stripes. Otoh American robins aren't quite as cute as European ones.

Those are good news indeed myrtle!

Fingers crossed, Myrtle.

Very good news, @MyrtleLion!

Good grief, Myrtle! One minute you're making exquisite models & the next it's candles & wax melts! Is the messiness of the wax the perfect antidote to the fiddliness, precision & cleanliness of the model-making? I once finished working on a quilt & to celebrate I did a vigorous, large-scale, messy housecleaning job as it was the exact opposite (& I'm not one of nature's housewives so it was an unusual treat). Simply not having to worry about keeping everything pristine was a joy.

Hope you get the interview & the position.

Alison - get welly soon.

PS coffee ice cream is best with shredded dark chocolate in it. Mmmmm. Just saying.

I'm SO gender non-conforming I have no idea what a wax melt even is. I thought it was an insult!

Even I couldn't cope with that, not with my delicate disposition at the moment! It has coffee beans in it which is super duper smashing great.

I think I understand what a wax melt is, but don't know what the advantage is vs just using essential oils.

I have a puffin decoration for my Christmas tree. It's in breeding colours but I've learned to live with that. I'd show you a picture but it's in the loft.

Good luck Myrtle.

Complaining??? I'm asserting my boundaries. Puffins are important.

As are lions, philosophers, dragons etc. 😀