It's not even just mice. We've returned two wild snakes and a salamander to the outdoors over the past few months. Catching them before the cats do is a challenge.

Go next door! They have one dog, and he's old!

Okay, I know it getting cold at night, and pretty chilly during more days. But the neighbors don't have dogs, cats, ferrets, and a snake. Why do mice want to come in OUR house???

At first, I thought I wouldn't be able to watch when he eats. It's actually been good for me, though. I learn more about him (like what an unhinged snake jaw looks like), we talk while he eats, and...well, cows are adorable but I still eat beef.

And my dude had to work for his food tonight! The rodents usually do the rodent version of Deer In The Headlights. "Holy crap, that snake is gonna --" and that's it.

Not this one! This one tried to play a very strategic round of Not Today Satan. But Shai-Hulud knows that game well, grabbed a foot, and hugged tight.

My snake's kind do live birth. He is a dude. My dude is a solo artist.

I know all of these things...yet I'm still a little afraid every time I clean his tank that I'll find he has laid eggs.

I'm going to try making bara brith. I want to do this right...or, as right as I can. If anyone has a trusted recipe they will share, I promise to do everything I can to avoid screwing it up. And I won't tell anyone it was your recipe if I do screw it up.

The math points are a joke in our house because sometimes I can accurately do mental math, or I have better than common understanding of a concept, that everyone else in the house is just left with, "That's...um...no math for me right now!"

"This has only happened 3 times in 150 years, so we know it has a low chance..."

Maybe? That might be true, but not based on what's being pointed out. That's not really how probability works. I have dyscalculia. I only get so many math points per week. It's Friday, but I'm not wasting the points on explaining something I know the person doesn't want to understand.

I got the book to be one last try before I give up. After a couple of chapters...okay, maybe giving up isn't on the menu anymore. I can try more. A week later, I did my first Grand Tableau.

I really didn't think I was going to be able to add this to my skills. Her book is so good!

If anybody is interested in learning to read Lenormand cards and thinks it's too hard compared to generic oracle decks, or too much to remember that's different from tarot, then you want Erika Robinson's book "The Language of Lenormand"!

This is Warner. Warner is my polka dot plant. Warner can't read calendars. Warner decided "almost November" means "time to make a flower".

What do you do if you're leading Eurydice out of the Underworld?

Changed the strings on my banjo uke today. It came with Aquila strings. I've used Aquila strings on my guitar. Really don't like them on the uke and banjo uke, though. I use La Bella Uke Pro strings on my ukulele, so that's what I changed the banjo uke to. Both are concert, not soprano, and I like the sound I get from the La Bella tenor/concert strings.

My ears HATE that initial tuning after changing strings, though!

I did two readings today. One with the Southern Gothic Oracle deck of cards, and one Lenormand. The Copperhead turned up in the first reading, the Snake in the second. Deception and bad influences for the Copperhead, and the overall Lenormand reading showed the Snake as problems.

Not a surprise. Times are hard. Times have been hard. I worry that many people are forgetting joy is possible because it's been too rare for too long.

Love yourself. Be gentle with yourself. You are a treasure.

Christmas season gives me no joy, so I create my own every year. Sometimes that's a treasure hunt full of riddles just to find your gift. This year, I'll pretend I don't know what's odd about the sweaters.

Tiny sweater knitting continues. Everyone in the house is getting a sweater for Christmas this year. I'll make tiny boxes and fold them up like full size sweaters, place them in their boxes, and wrap them. #CoSoKnitting

Dear Cat,

I am proud of you for catching the mouse! On a related note, please DO NOT put a still live mouse in my lap when I'm knitting! Or any other time! WTF?!

Love,
Your Human

I recently went back to playing Pokémon Shield because I need a portable way to have fun without straining my shoulder.

I would like to announce that, after 20+ years of playing Pokémon, I have the full set of Eeveelutions! It's the first time for me.