The Girdle of Melian

got to attend a talk given by Robert Swan! From his website: " Robert Swan is a world class Speaker and Polar Explorer. He was the first person in history to walk to both the North and South Poles, earning him the high distinction of OBE, Officer of the Order of the British Empire and the Polar Medal by Her Majesty the Queen." I asked about sound in Antarctica; he said it's so quiet, when you stop moving, that you can hear your blood moving about inside you! The United Nations flag at the North Pole! I learned that there are 16 years to go until 2041, which will see "the re-negotiation of moratorium on mining in Antarctica, which designates Antarctica as a “natural reserve, devoted to peace and science”" .  Have you visited or do you know anyone who's visited Antarctica?

uring the kids' school break, we visited the Titanic Exhibit , and we also went to the nearest Vivarium! Autumn in the neighbourhood Python! Yellow ratsnake! Puff adder! Stellio! Hermann's tortoise! Do you have a vivarium near you? Or an insectarium?

rafts! But first, it's Insecure Writer's Support Group Day! The awesome co-hosts for the October 2 posting of the IWSG are are  Diedre Knight,   Lisa Buie Collard,   Kim Lajevardi,  and  JQ Rose ! Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. Remember, the question is optional October 2 question - - What creative activity do you engage in when you're not writing? I knit! And now and then I bake... On the other hand, I didn't carve these pumpkins... ...but I made the stuffed peppers! And the grape cake in the background! I didn't make these either! Earrings by a friend's daughter, art I clipped on by smolbus This looks like nothing -- it's one square! To be added to squares knit by others, t

ooks! My Books Read list is still out of control ! I've recently updated the Books Read page , and since then have read at least five more stories! I'm now at nearly 3,000 stories read on Archive of Our Own, along with other novels, poems, etc. By necessity, the lists for myself and the kids now cover both 2023 and 2024. I will need a new plan for 2025! This post is part of the official record, because here is the second batch of all the photos of library books and other books read (mostly by the kids) that I just don't have time to type up the titles and authors of! Including The Collected Poems of JRR Tolkien , a brand new collection! Torso of Air by Ocean Vuong After by Richie Hoffman I blogged about these children's classics a couple of weeks ago The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, such a good book! Do you keep track of your reading? How do you organise your lists?