Halsted M. Bernard @cygnoir@mastodon.social

Whoops, I never did a proper #introduction!

I often describe myself as a:
* #writer of fiction … I write and perform stories
* chronicler of foibles … I am an online #diarist
* wrangler of chaos … I am a #librarian and database designer

My about page has more:
https://cygnoir.net/about/

What I'm up to now:
https://cygnoir.net/now/

Our basil and chives plants were out of control, so I finally harvested them! 🌱 I am now learning the art of oven-drying. The whole place smells like YUM.

Geocaching, already one of my favorite adventuring methods, is improved drastically by the presence of random cats. 🧭😻

Today @funkyplaid and I had a picnic lunch in Council Crest Park and hiked part of the Marquam Trail. 🥾🌲🧭 Perfect weather, beautiful surroundings, stellar company. And we geocached, too!

Tonight: a bubble suspended before the pop for hours and hours. How did we do it? Could have been the soap, the wind, the lack of careless elbows, the breath inside, or all of it, or none. I’ll stop wondering and be grateful.

Today our library building was open to the public for eight hours straight. A year and a half ago I had no idea what an achievement that could be. Months of planning to get back to what I took for granted.

Last night, when the heat broke, we went outside and let the breeze carry our voices around the street. 30° drop, temp free-fall. Hosing off our feet. Soft chat with neighbors. I fell asleep hugging a frozen towel.

Tonight was Tigard’s first Pride parade! 🏳️‍🌈 I asked for help decorating my car, and the thirteen-year-old grand marshals of the parade obliged with liquid chalk and awesome quotes. Here’s my favorite!

Finished reading: Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe 📚 What a triumph of a graphic novel, relating eir deeply personal experiences with meaningful and compelling images. I loved it! https://micro.blog/books/9781549304002

Shoved myself outside of my comfort zone tonight to attend a social gathering with other local writers. It was so far beyond what I had hoped for that I’m still beaming with delight!

Watching the sun set in a virtual world. 🌅 What a time to be alive!

Currently reading: The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker. I loved The Golem and the Jinni, so I am thrilled to be reading the sequel! 📚 https://micro.blog/books/9780062468741

Resurfacing: https://www.cygnoir.net/2021/05/31/resurfacing.html

Today’s cooking project: a bit of vegan breakfast happiness with Minimalist Baker’s Easy Tempeh Bacon. 👩🏻‍🍳 Flavorful and protein-packed! https://minimalistbaker.com/easy-tempeh-bacon/

I’m delighted with the color and shading of Oblation Olive ink! 🖋 https://www.oblationpapers.com/oblation-olive-fountain-pen-ink.html

This is a fun pattern to knit! 🧶 It will look gorgeous once it is blocked.

📚 Reading: “Riverine” by Danielle Jorgenson-Murray, a beautifully bittersweet story about a woman married off to a river. Published in Reckoning, a journal of creative writing on environmental justice. https://reckoning.press/riverine/

Can’t get enough of Lo-Fang’s cover of “You’re the One That I Want”. 🎧 Finally, a version that captures the creepiness! https://song.link/https://music.apple.com/us/album/youre-the-one-that-i-want/1147088543?i=1147088785

Next on the needles: I’m practicing YO (yarn over) with this drop-stitch scarf pattern. 🧶

Pen friends: Oblation Papers & Press is having a sale on fountain pen ink, including their own new brand! Oblation Olive looks beautiful. And peep that dusky purple Kyo No Oto Sakuranezumi. 😍🖋️ https://www.oblationpapers.com/pens-ink/ink/bottled-ink/

The one thing I wanted so badly to give FunkyPlaid for his birthday today was a visit to Scotland, our other home. But we indulged in high tea from Lovejoy’s, and a friend sent some lush Scottish treats. Missing our family and friends there so much!