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I made fudge last night from Mom's recipe! It was not a resounding success. But not a total failure, either. Following the directions as to temperature and timing and all results in a very...gritty...fudge. I think I need a lower temperature that still achieves the various landmarks (it's a bit vague on heating speed, to put it mildly) and a bit more work getting that sugar all melted in. But it tastes good, so once I get the texture right I'll be in good shape. I think I'll take another run at that tomorrow night. And meanwhile it does taste good, at least, and I ended up with all the various implements clean and not caked with fudge, thus proving to myself that I can actually achieve that. This makes me happy.
I have been reading fiction again - short stories now. Anthologies: Warrior Princesses (which I'm partway thru and not so impressed with), Knight Fantastic (just barely started, so far mediocre), and Children of Magic (finished, mediocre - though I enjoyed most of the stories, there was none there that didn't have some weakness that made it less than perfect even at first read). The last has one of the best lines I have encountered in a while however! It is in a story by Tanya Huff. The girl is young, spoiled, and learning magic. She is a trial to her tutor. Witness:
I've been doing lots of CROSS SUMS. (Kakuro. They've been around for decades, and they've been called cross sums. Now they are called Kakuro and they sell wildly well. I'm glad there are lots more of them as I love these puzzles, they're fun brainless mind-candy exercises. But I still find it silly that they've suddenly caught on here because they caught on in Japan. Riding on the coat-tails of sudoku, which have been around just as long, under the simpler name 'number place'.) I love them, even if the name thing makes me fidget. I can do them very quickly, for the easy ones, just flying. I once did some while sitting in the car as Mom got my various prescriptions filled, after I'd had all four wisdom teeth removed (all of them under the gums - I was out cold for that and was not awake all that long when I was doing the puzzles). I find them soothing, comforting, ordered. Even when they're confusing.
From Ye Olde Quicksilversmith I ordered three medallions, which I am really very happy with. The pictures on the site are accurate, though the actual impressions are somewhat neater/tidier and more detailed (rather than less). I think I may order more from them, now that I have seen them. Then again, just now I am wearing one fairly exclusively, so perhaps I should wait on that thought. (They botched my address when shipping - I am glad the post office managed to deliver. But the product is lovely. If you order from them, provide your address and order in writing. They don't take Paypal or any other form of online payment, though, so you'll need to call to give your credit card number if you email the other details.)
I have been reading fiction again - short stories now. Anthologies: Warrior Princesses (which I'm partway thru and not so impressed with), Knight Fantastic (just barely started, so far mediocre), and Children of Magic (finished, mediocre - though I enjoyed most of the stories, there was none there that didn't have some weakness that made it less than perfect even at first read). The last has one of the best lines I have encountered in a while however! It is in a story by Tanya Huff. The girl is young, spoiled, and learning magic. She is a trial to her tutor. Witness:
"I want a wand."
"You don't need a wand."
"I want a wand."
"Use your finger." He sighed. "Use a different finger."
I've been doing lots of CROSS SUMS. (Kakuro. They've been around for decades, and they've been called cross sums. Now they are called Kakuro and they sell wildly well. I'm glad there are lots more of them as I love these puzzles, they're fun brainless mind-candy exercises. But I still find it silly that they've suddenly caught on here because they caught on in Japan. Riding on the coat-tails of sudoku, which have been around just as long, under the simpler name 'number place'.) I love them, even if the name thing makes me fidget. I can do them very quickly, for the easy ones, just flying. I once did some while sitting in the car as Mom got my various prescriptions filled, after I'd had all four wisdom teeth removed (all of them under the gums - I was out cold for that and was not awake all that long when I was doing the puzzles). I find them soothing, comforting, ordered. Even when they're confusing.
From Ye Olde Quicksilversmith I ordered three medallions, which I am really very happy with. The pictures on the site are accurate, though the actual impressions are somewhat neater/tidier and more detailed (rather than less). I think I may order more from them, now that I have seen them. Then again, just now I am wearing one fairly exclusively, so perhaps I should wait on that thought. (They botched my address when shipping - I am glad the post office managed to deliver. But the product is lovely. If you order from them, provide your address and order in writing. They don't take Paypal or any other form of online payment, though, so you'll need to call to give your credit card number if you email the other details.)
