Bones rules
Feb. 8th, 2026 11:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
marycatelli posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
book_loveBones rules; or, Skeleton of English grammar by John B. Tabb
Turn-of-the-last-century grammar lessons. Basic, sound grammar, with some additional interest in his choices of sentences to analyze. Many from poems, and with some interesting placing of the parts of a sentence.
He does note that any word can be used as a verb, even then.
Turn-of-the-last-century grammar lessons. Basic, sound grammar, with some additional interest in his choices of sentences to analyze. Many from poems, and with some interesting placing of the parts of a sentence.
He does note that any word can be used as a verb, even then.
Lasagna Roll Ups
Feb. 8th, 2026 02:30 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
budgetbytes_feedI love lasagna in all its forms, especially these cute little Lasagna Roll Ups that are perfectly portioned for meal prep. Stash a few portions of these in your freezer for a rainy day and you will THANK yourself later. Promise. Lasagna roll ups are flexible and you can fill them with whatever you like, sausage, beef, or even make them vegetarian as I have here with a light spinach-ricotta filling. No matter the flavor, they’re delicious and fun to eat!
“I can vouch that this lasagna is delicious. I have been married 47 years and my husband declared that this was the best meal I have ever served. I won’t lie. This is a labor intensive preparation; but worth it in the end, with that kind of compliment!”
Patti
Delicious Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna Roll Ups
Lasagna roll ups have all the same components of lasagna, but they’re combined in a different form. Instead of layering the ingredients into a casserole dish, the filling is spread onto each lasagna noodle and then rolled into a perfect little portion. Sauce is poured over the top and then they’re baked to perfection! This recipe I’m sharing here has a vegetarian ricotta and spinach filling, but it’s honestly so easy to customize, and I’ve shared some ideas for different variations at the end!
Recipe Success Tips
- Prep your spinach first. I like using frozen chopped spinach here because it’s budget-friendly and lasts for ages in the freezer. Thaw one 10 oz. package (microwave defrost works, or let it thaw in the fridge overnight), then squeeze out as much water as humanly possible. You should end up with about 1 cup tightly packed spinach after squeezing.
- Boil a little extra pasta. I recommend boiling the whole pound of pasta because it’s inevitable that some will tear or stick together! The extra pasta gives us a little wiggle room. Stir gently, and only boil until just al dente. Overcooking makes them too delicate to roll. If you end up with broken pieces or extra noodles, don’t toss them. Layer them at the bottom of the dish with some pasta sauce to stop them drying out in the oven.
- Don’t overfill the noodles. A little goes a long way. This recipe makes 16 rolls, and I stick to roughly a heaping ¼ cup filling per noodle (spread it thin from edge to edge). If you pile it on, the noodles are way more likely to split, and the filling will squish out the sides when you roll.
- Use the noodles right away. Lasagna noodles love to stick together and dry out fast once they’re drained. I roll mine as soon as they’re cool enough to handle. If you need a minute, gently toss the drained noodles with a tiny bit of oil, so they stay mostly flexible and easier to work with. Don’t leave them too long though!
- To make this recipe extra easy, I used a simple jar of pasta sauce. If you prefer to make your own, you can use my slow cooker spaghetti sauce, or my quick weeknight pasta sauce for a meat option.
- Prep it ahead. You can assemble the lasagna roll ups, cover the dish tightly, and refrigerate. When you’re ready to bake, let the dish sit out while the oven preheats so it can take the chill off. You may need a few extra minutes in the oven since everything is starting cold, but it’s an easy win for busy nights.
Lasagna Roll Ups
Lasagna Roll Ups are a fun take on the classic Italian dish. Perfectly portioned for meal prep, customizable, and freezer-friendly!
Servings 8 (2 rolls each)
Calories 439kcal
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Mixing bowl
- Casserole Dish
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients
Lasagna
- 16 oz. lasagna noodles $1.84*
Spinach and Cheese Filling
- 15 oz. whole milk ricotta cheese $2.67
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded, $1.74
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated, $0.45
- 1 large egg $0.16
- ¼ tsp salt $0.02
- ¼ tsp black pepper freshly cracked, $0.02
- 10 oz. frozen spinach thawed, $1.26**
Sauce and Cheese
- 23 oz. pasta sauce jar or homemade, $1.74
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded, $1.74
Instructions
- Gather all your ingredients. Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add 1 tsp salt to season the water, then add the lasagna noodles. Boil the noodles just until al dente (they become too delicate to roll if they are too soft). Drain the noodles in a colander.
- While the noodles are boiling, drain the thawed spinach, squeezing out as much of the excess water as possible. Add the spinach to a bowl with the ricotta, 1 cup of the mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, salt, and pepper. Stir until everything is evenly combined.
- Once the lasagna noodles have cooled enough to touch with your hands, lay a few noodles out onto a clean surface. Spread about ¼ cup of the spinach and cheese filling onto each noodle, spreading it from edge to edge. It's okay if the filling is thin or doesn't create a solid layer. Roll the noodles up, then place in a large casserole dish. Repeat with the remaining noodles until you've used all of the filling. You should get about 16 roll ups and you may have a few noodles left over (those will be back up in case any tear).
- Once all of the noodles are filled, rolled, and placed in the casserole dish, pour the jar of pasta sauce over top. Top the lasagna roll ups with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake the lasagna roll ups for 30 minutes in the preheated 400ºF oven. Serve hot and enjoy!
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Notes
*Each lasagna noodle makes one bundle. Two rolls is one serving. I like to get the flutter-edge noodles instead of flat noodles because they make the prettiest roll ups.
**I use roughly 1 cup of frozen spinach (once thawed and squeezed), but fresh spinach will also work. If using fresh, sauté it in a little oil until very wilted and most of the moisture is cooked out. A 10 oz. bag of fresh spinach should work.
Nutrition
Serving: 2roll ups | Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 16g | Sodium: 772mg | Fiber: 4g
How to Make Lasagna Roll Ups Step-by-Step Photos
Gather all of your ingredients and preheat the oven to 400ºF.
Make the filling: Add the thawed and squeezed 10 oz. frozen spinach to a large bowl with 15 oz. ricotta cheese, 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, ¼ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp pepper. Stir everything together until evenly combined.
Now add 1 large egg. Stir until evenly combined.
Cook the noodles: Boil 16 oz. lasagna noodles until al dente, then drain in a colander. Do not let the noodles overcook or they’ll be too delicate to work with. You’ll only need 16 noodles, but you’ll likely have a few more if you boil an entire 16 oz. box. It’s always good to have a few back up in case they tear as you’re filling and rolling.
Fill the noodles: Lay a few of the lasagna noodles out onto a clean surface and spread a thin layer of the cheese filling onto each noodle from edge to edge. The filling does not need to be thick or in a solid layer because it adds up when the noodles are rolled. I used a heaping ¼ cup of filling per noodle.
Add the baking dish: As you fill and roll the noodles, place them in a large casserole dish.
Pour one 23 oz. jar of marinara sauce over the roll ups.
Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella evenly over top.
Bake: Cover the baking dish and bake the roll ups for about 30 minutes in the preheated 400ºF oven, or until the sauce and cheese are bubbling up around the edges. Serve and enjoy! (Garnish with parsley for a little extra color, if desired.)
Variations to Try!
If you want to play around with this recipe, you’ve got options. A few of these ideas are ones our readers have shared or ones I’ve tried out over time. Here are some delicious variations to try:
- Try mascarpone, cottage cheese, or cream cheese instead of ricotta
- Sauté 1 diced yellow onion and 2 cloves minced garlic in a little olive oil until soft, then mix into the ricotta filling
- Add about 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ½ tsp garlic powder, and/or ½ tsp onion powder to the filling. If you want heat, add ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- Swap the spinach for browned Italian sausage or ground beef for a meatier version (not as budget-friendly, but very filling)
- You can also brown Italian sausage or ground beef and add it to the pasta sauce
- Swap the sauce for vodka sauce, a spicy tomato pasta sauce, or whatever jarred sauce you love most
- Add some basil pesto to the filling for a herby flavor
- Sauté thinly sliced mushrooms, diced red peppers, shredded zucchini, and/or shredded carrots, then fold into the filling (similar to my garden vegetable lasagna roll ups)
- Leave the egg out to make it egg-free. The egg helps bind the cheese filling and keeps it moist and rich. I’ve forgotten the egg before, and the roll ups still turned out delicious, just not quite as moist!
Serving Suggestions
Some homemade garlic bread and a nice side salad would be perfect to pair with this meal and will add some color and freshness to the plate. If you want another easy bread option, my no-knead focaccia is SO good here. Some simple veggie sides wouldn’t go amiss either. Roasted broccoli is a favorite of mine because you can pop it in the oven right alongside the roll ups at 400ºF and let everything cook at the same time. Sautéed Brussels sprouts are also a great choice when you want something a little crisp-tender and healthy. But the roll ups are pretty filling on their own, so you won’t need to add much to make it a meal!
Storage & Reheating
These pasta roll ups will stay good in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days, so make sure to portion them out into airtight containers after cooking for quick grab-and-reheat meals for the rest of the week. After the portions are chilled in the refrigerator you can transfer some to the freezer for longer storage (up to three months).
To reheat the frozen lasagna roll ups, either let them thaw in the refrigerator over night before reheating in the microwave, or go straight from the freezer to the microwave, making sure to use the defrost function first.
More Baked Pasta Recipes
Our Lasagna Roll Ups recipe was originally published 16/1/11. We have updated it to be the best it can be and republished 2/8/26.
The post Lasagna Roll Ups appeared first on Budget Bytes.
Just one thing: 8 February 2026
Feb. 8th, 2026 07:03 amjazzyjj posting in awesomeersIt's challenge time!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished!
Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished!
Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
15 Quesadilla Recipes
Feb. 7th, 2026 02:30 pmbudgetbytes_feedQuesadillas are one of my favorite budget-friendly meals because you can fill them with anything, and it’s always delicious. All you really need is a stack of tortillas, some kind of cheese, and whatever you already have on hand. Beans, veggies, leftover chicken, a spoonful of dip, even breakfast staples all work beautifully! To prove just how versatile and affordable they can be, I pulled together 15 quesadilla ideas that take inspiration from classic favorites, with plenty of room to remix the fillings based on what you like (or what you already have)!
Vegetarian Quesadillas
These vegetarian quesadillas are my favorite kind of easy! Made with mostly pantry staples, a handful of veggies, and a whole lot of melty cheese. They’re hearty enough to count as dinner, but flexible enough to use whatever you’ve got hanging around.
1. Black Bean Quesadillas
Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas
These Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas are an easy vegetarian snack or light meal that are filling, flavorful, and freezer-friendly!
$6.73 recipe / $0.67 each
Get the Recipe
These black bean quesadillas are such a staple with black beans, corn, cheddar, and taco seasoning, and they’re done in about 15 minutes. They also freeze GREAT. Make a batch, stack with parchment, and you’ve built your own stash of emergency meals!
2. Spinach and Mushroom Quesadillas
Spinach and Mushroom Quesadillas
These Spinach and Mushroom Quesadillas are filled with melty, creamy cheese, sautéed mushrooms, and a healthy dose of spinach.
$5.73 recipe / $1.15 each
Get the Recipe
If you’re into creamy-but-not-heavy, these spinach and mushroom quesadillas are the move. Sautéed mushrooms, a solid hit of spinach, melty cheese, and a little sour cream make up the simple and delicious filling. I also love that it’s a 30-minute recipe from start to finish.
3. Roasted Corn Quesadillas
Roasted Corn Quesadillas
These smoky Roasted Corn Quesadillas are a fast and filling lunch that can be kept in the freezer for a fast meal or snack.
$7.52 recipe / $1.07 each
Get the Recipe
These roasted corn quesadillas are all about the smoky, fire-roasted corn flavor (with frozen roasted corn being a game-changer!). You can keep it super fast with cooked chicken, or make it vegetarian by swapping in black beans or pinto beans. Either way, it’s a freezer-friendly lunch or snack I think anyone will love.
4. White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas
Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas
Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, these insanely delicious Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas make an awesomely fast weeknight dinner.
$3.99 recipe / $1.00 per quesadilla
Get the Recipe
Creamy, filling, and quick, these creamy white bean and spinach quesadillas take about 20 minutes and lean on cannellini beans, spinach, pepper jack, and sour cream for a rich, cozy filling. I’d serve it with something tangy (salsa or pico) to cut through the creaminess.
5. Spinach Artichoke Quesadillas
Spinach Artichoke Quesadillas
Use your leftover party dips to make a delicious lunch the next day, like these super creamy Spinach Artichoke Quesadillas.
$2.31
Get the Recipe
This spinach artichoke quesadilla recipe is the ultimate leftovers hack! It turns leftover spinach artichoke dip into lunch with rotisserie chicken and hot sauce in just 10 minutes.
6. Kidney Bean Quesadillas
Cheesy Kidney Bean Quesadillas
These Cheesy Kidney Bean Quesadillas are quick, budget-friendly, and packed with flavor. A family favorite and perfect for busy weeknights or meal prepping!
$4.05 recipe / $0.81 serving
Get the Recipe
These cheesy kidney bean quesadillas are proof that a lonely can of beans can become dinner. I whip up a quick, budget-friendly filling using kidney beans, taco seasoning, a frozen veggie mix, and cheddar to make a cheap, flavorful filling that my whole family loves.
Cheesy Chicken & Meat Quesadillas
These are the crowd pleasers I can see showing up at a game day spread or a family meal where you know the plates will come back empty. They’ve got big flavor with minimal effort, plus a few nice shortcuts (hello, rotisserie chicken and make-ahead fillings!).
7. BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
Ultimate Chicken Quesadillas Recipe
These Ultimate Chicken Quesadillas are packed with colorful ingredients and deliciously tangy BBQ sauce!
$10.01 recipe / $2.00 serving
Get the Recipe
These BBQ chicken quesadillas are called ‘ultimate’ for a reason! Chicken, cheddar, jalapeños, black beans, cilantro, red onion, and BBQ sauce are all packed into one crispy tortilla. For time-saving, the filling can be prepped ahead and kept in the fridge, or the quesadillas can be assembled and frozen for later.
8. Chicken Spinach Quesadillas
Creamy Chicken and Spinach Quesadillas
These Creamy Chicken and Spinach Quesadillas are seriously simple, but still deliciously dinner-worthy. Perfect for busy weeknights or picky eaters!
$6.31 recipe / $1.58 serving
Get the Recipe
If you’re feeding a picky eater, this one keeps it simple while adding some greens to their plate. I think these creamy chicken and spinach quesadillas hit the sweet spot of comforting and not-boring, with spinach tucked into a cheesy filling that just works.
9. Hawaiian Ham Quesadillas
Hawaiian Ham Quesadillas
Hawaiian ham quesadillas with a creamy cheesy filling, ham, pineapple, and green onions.
$9.36 recipe / $1.04 each
Get the Recipe
Do you like pineapple on your pizza? How about in a quesadilla? Because, honestly, it works! These Hawaiian ham quesadillas nail the sweet-salty combo with ham, pineapple, mozzarella, and a little cream cheese for an extra creamy melt!
Globally INspired
I love these because they’re a little unexpected in the best way. They keep the quesadilla comfort factor but borrow big flavors from other cuisines, so dinner feels fun without getting complicated.
10. Kimchi Quesadillas
Kimchi Quesadillas
Kimchi quesadillas are an easy to make quick meal or snack that use only a few simple ingredients to pack a huge flavor punch.
$1.90 recipe / $0.95 serving
Get the Recipe
Kimchi and cheddar are an unexpectedly perfect combo, and this kimchi quesadilla recipe turns it into a quick 20-minute meal with just 5 ingredients. It also sneaks in eggs for extra staying power!
11. Mediterranean Quesadillas
Mediterranean Quesadillas
Mediterranean quesadillas filled with a mix of spinach, feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, and red onion.
$11.42 recipe / $1.14 each
Get the Recipe
These Mediterranean quesadillas are a fun switch-up from the usual with briny feta and olives, smoky roasted red peppers, spinach, and a sprinkle of oregano, all held together with melty mozzarella. I love that you can swap in whatever is priced well, and you’ll still end up with something bright and briny and very snackable.
Perfect for Breakfast
Breakfast quesadillas are one of my favorite solutions for mornings that need to be faster (or for nights when breakfast-for-dinner sounds like the only correct answer). These recipes range from freezer-friendly meal prep to 10-minute single servings.
12. Sausage and Eggs Breakfast Quesadillas
Sausage and Egg Breakfast Quesadillas
Sausage and egg breakfast quesadillas are an easy and filling breakfast option that is also freezer-friendly, so you can stock up for later!
$5.02 recipe / $0.84 each
Get the Recipe
These sausage and egg breakfast quesadillas are simple (sausage, eggs, cheese, tortillas), filling, and built for stocking your freezer, so it’s ready whenever someone needs a grab-and-go breakfast or even a quick lunch.
13. Banana and Peanut Butter Quesadillas
Peanut Butter Banana Quesadillas
Peanut butter banana quesadillas are a quick and easy single-serving dessert that you can make in minutes with pantry staples!
$0.86 each
Get the Recipe
This crispy tortilla, creamy peanut butter, chocolate chip, and soft banana filling is underrated. Since this peanut butter banana quesadilla is single-serving, it’s ideal for making my daughter one of her favorite flavor combos with no pile of leftovers to deal with later.
14. Chili Garlic Breakfast Quesadillas
Chili Garlic Breakfast Quesadilla
These quick and easy Chili Garlic Breakfast Quesadillas are the perfect fast, filling, and comforting breakfast for busy mornings.
$0.83 each
Get the Recipe
Egg, cheddar, spinach, and a swipe of chili garlic sauce come together in these easy chili garlic breakfast quesadillas. I love how it tastes bolder than the effort involved, and it’s easy to tweak depending on my mood (more sauce when I want heat, less when I’m keeping it mellow).
15. Green Chile Breakfast Quesadillas
Green Chile Breakfast Quesadillas
Gooey Monterrey Jack, zesty green chiles, and a crispy tortilla dress up your morning eggs in these quick and easy Green Chile Breakfast Quesadillas.
$4.20 recipe / $1.05 each
Get the Recipe
These green chile breakfast quesadillas are for anyone with a can of green chiles hanging out in the pantry! Toss them into an egg-and-cheese quesadilla (add cilantro if you’ve got it), and you’ve got a simple, filling breakfast on a budget.
More Recipe Roundups
The post 15 Quesadilla Recipes appeared first on Budget Bytes.
Sunday 08/02/2026
Feb. 8th, 2026 10:49 amlhune posting in 3_good_things_a_day1) More lovely sunshine ♥
2) Which gave me the energy to give my kitchen a quick but more decent cleaning, floors included, with the balcony door open.
3) Dinner at my parents’s place which means wood burner or or swinging bench in the garden, depending on the weather
2) Which gave me the energy to give my kitchen a quick but more decent cleaning, floors included, with the balcony door open.
3) Dinner at my parents’s place which means wood burner or or swinging bench in the garden, depending on the weather
Texts From Superheroes
Feb. 7th, 2026 09:00 pmtextsfromsuperheroes_feedTexts From SuperheroesFacebook | Threads | Patreon | Instagram | BlueSky
#76 A Small Hurdle (part 1 of 1, complete)
Feb. 7th, 2026 10:20 pmdialecticdreamerA Small Hurdle
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1086
[Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 11 am]
:: Aidan brings up a strange duplication of effort, and asks for an explanation. Part of the Edison’s Mirror (Teague Family) story arc. ::
Back to A Hopeful Errand
To the Edison's Mirror Landing Page
On to
Aidan picked up each of the bills that Deirdre had dropped onto the table, his frown deepening as he laid them out, carefully turning them all to face the same way in the stack. He tapped them with his index and middle fingers held together. “Win… She left this money to pay for the meal, and I presume to tip the server. You changed plans to add a meal for Mac and Ed, which is appreciated, but what should happen with this?” He tapped the bills again, silently.
Win’s hands slowed to a stop, resting her fingertips on the edge of the table across from him. “What would you do?”
( Read more... )
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1086
[Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 11 am]
:: Aidan brings up a strange duplication of effort, and asks for an explanation. Part of the Edison’s Mirror (Teague Family) story arc. ::
Back to A Hopeful Errand
To the Edison's Mirror Landing Page
On to
Aidan picked up each of the bills that Deirdre had dropped onto the table, his frown deepening as he laid them out, carefully turning them all to face the same way in the stack. He tapped them with his index and middle fingers held together. “Win… She left this money to pay for the meal, and I presume to tip the server. You changed plans to add a meal for Mac and Ed, which is appreciated, but what should happen with this?” He tapped the bills again, silently.
Win’s hands slowed to a stop, resting her fingertips on the edge of the table across from him. “What would you do?”
( Read more... )
Daily Check In.
Feb. 7th, 2026 06:11 pmadafrog posting in fandom_checkinThis is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Saturday to midnight on Sunday (8pm Eastern Time).
Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
Poll #34195 Daily poll
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 21
How are you doing?
I am okay
13 (61.9%)
I am not okay, but don't need help right now
8 (38.1%)
I could use some help.
0 (0.0%)
How many other humans are you living with?
I am living single
10 (47.6%)
One other person
7 (33.3%)
More than one other person
4 (19.0%)
Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
Website Updates
Feb. 7th, 2026 06:09 pmysabetwordsmithThanks to fuzzyred, the series Peculiar Obligations now has its own landing page. This series features Quakers and organized crime, particularly with pirate allies.
fuzzyred, the series Peculiar Obligations now has its own landing page. This series features Quakers and organized crime, particularly with pirate allies.
Early Humans
Feb. 7th, 2026 02:51 pmysabetwordsmithThese 773,000-year-old fossils may reveal our shared human ancestor
Exceptionally well-dated fossils from Morocco capture a moment nearly 800,000 years ago, right at a major turning point in Earth’s magnetic history.
Fossils from a Moroccan cave have been dated with remarkable accuracy to about 773,000 years ago, thanks to a magnetic signature locked into the surrounding sediments. The hominin remains show a blend of ancient and more modern features, placing them near a pivotal branching point in human evolution. These individuals likely represent an African population close to the last common ancestor of Homo sapiens, Neandertals, and Denisovans.
Exceptionally well-dated fossils from Morocco capture a moment nearly 800,000 years ago, right at a major turning point in Earth’s magnetic history.
Fossils from a Moroccan cave have been dated with remarkable accuracy to about 773,000 years ago, thanks to a magnetic signature locked into the surrounding sediments. The hominin remains show a blend of ancient and more modern features, placing them near a pivotal branching point in human evolution. These individuals likely represent an African population close to the last common ancestor of Homo sapiens, Neandertals, and Denisovans.
Birdfeeding
Feb. 7th, 2026 02:46 pmysabetwordsmithToday is sunny and cold. Much of the snow has melted.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 2/7/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I refilled the hopper feeder.
I've seen a female cardinal.
EDIT 2/7/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
There were two cardinals in the forest garden, but it was hard to tell colors at dusk.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 2/7/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I refilled the hopper feeder.
I've seen a female cardinal.
EDIT 2/7/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
There were two cardinals in the forest garden, but it was hard to tell colors at dusk.
I am done for the night.
Check-In Post - Feb 7th 2026
Feb. 7th, 2026 07:29 pmbadly_knitted posting in get_knittedHello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.
Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?
There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.
This Week's Question: What is your favourite thing to make?
If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.
I now declare this Check-In OPEN!
Vermont Came to New Jersey
Feb. 7th, 2026 11:54 amzesty_pintoIt's now the third weekend of intense cold. Last weekend we took a trip to NYC and while we didn't see much (it was mostly a gear run since Michelle ordered new boots), we did see where the snow gets stockpiled and melted in the Financial district. Pretty cool stuff ngl.
The cold has been debilitating a lot of our travel options. Honestly, I'd power through but Michelle is more sensitive to it and I think we're both suffering some illnesses as she's right now got painful skin and I'm still dealing with being tired and walking around in my old work boots gave me bruised toenail that looks ready to be cut off if the rest of my big toe didn't look fine (there's no pain unless pressure is applied and it's starting to feel normal again). Not a big deal, I have other boots that have been gathering dust for years.
At home I'm getting some work done; submitted a hundred images to stock and need to word them out but I have so many and keywording is very tedious stuff. I'm also stuck on one day's worth of shots where I still have 2k more shots to process (the seals) and I'd love to clear this but I'd also love to be more active now that my toe is not throbbing.
Still thinking of things to do. It's too windy to be by the shore, I learned my lesson after visiting Staten during that winter storm. Might try to hit the Bronx Zoo today? We'll see. It's bright enough that ambient light indoors should be pretty good. No idea for tomorrow. I will say that we handled the previous week through NYC dressed like we're braving a Vermont winter, but it worked. Subway travel might be the way to get around for Sunday if we decide to hit NYC again (for what I dunno).
It was the nephew's birthday on Thursday and he got a Switch 2 because he has a family that loves to spoil him (guilty). I took some photos and after looking through them yesterday I think the funniest thing is he's going goblin mode throughout the day.
Like imagine seeing someone that looks like this through half your shots
I feel like I'm atrophying. Did some pushups and struggled with 10. I moved the ringfit stuff up to my work room but I apparently have too much work to be distracted by it lol sigh. Going to need to force myself to work on myself more, maybe when we do the evening TV watching.
I found a site that lets me stream the Sister Boniface Mysteries, which I found out is a branch off of another more serious serial drama. I keep thinking this means it's a UK version of Elsbeth, a little more silly though with nun shenanigans.
So yeah, trying out other BBC comedies. Found this one called Dad and it's downright cartoony but I love it for that. Someone said it was canceled for being too similar to 2point4 children, so now I'm trying to find out how to watch that too. I mention this because there's very little to watch these days. I think even if we still had Hulu I'd probably be meh.
If anyone knows anything about Microwave Society that's bad by the way, please let me know because otherwise I am very amused at these three dudes' energy.
Oh, and on the subject of media: happy Iron Lung Day for everyone that wanted the Melania doc to eat shit to celebrate.
The cold has been debilitating a lot of our travel options. Honestly, I'd power through but Michelle is more sensitive to it and I think we're both suffering some illnesses as she's right now got painful skin and I'm still dealing with being tired and walking around in my old work boots gave me bruised toenail that looks ready to be cut off if the rest of my big toe didn't look fine (there's no pain unless pressure is applied and it's starting to feel normal again). Not a big deal, I have other boots that have been gathering dust for years.
At home I'm getting some work done; submitted a hundred images to stock and need to word them out but I have so many and keywording is very tedious stuff. I'm also stuck on one day's worth of shots where I still have 2k more shots to process (the seals) and I'd love to clear this but I'd also love to be more active now that my toe is not throbbing.
Still thinking of things to do. It's too windy to be by the shore, I learned my lesson after visiting Staten during that winter storm. Might try to hit the Bronx Zoo today? We'll see. It's bright enough that ambient light indoors should be pretty good. No idea for tomorrow. I will say that we handled the previous week through NYC dressed like we're braving a Vermont winter, but it worked. Subway travel might be the way to get around for Sunday if we decide to hit NYC again (for what I dunno).
It was the nephew's birthday on Thursday and he got a Switch 2 because he has a family that loves to spoil him (guilty). I took some photos and after looking through them yesterday I think the funniest thing is he's going goblin mode throughout the day.
Like imagine seeing someone that looks like this through half your shots
I feel like I'm atrophying. Did some pushups and struggled with 10. I moved the ringfit stuff up to my work room but I apparently have too much work to be distracted by it lol sigh. Going to need to force myself to work on myself more, maybe when we do the evening TV watching.
I found a site that lets me stream the Sister Boniface Mysteries, which I found out is a branch off of another more serious serial drama. I keep thinking this means it's a UK version of Elsbeth, a little more silly though with nun shenanigans.
So yeah, trying out other BBC comedies. Found this one called Dad and it's downright cartoony but I love it for that. Someone said it was canceled for being too similar to 2point4 children, so now I'm trying to find out how to watch that too. I mention this because there's very little to watch these days. I think even if we still had Hulu I'd probably be meh.
If anyone knows anything about Microwave Society that's bad by the way, please let me know because otherwise I am very amused at these three dudes' energy.
Oh, and on the subject of media: happy Iron Lung Day for everyone that wanted the Melania doc to eat shit to celebrate.
Rules Update
Feb. 7th, 2026 10:57 amsoc_puppet posting in queerly_belovedHello, everyone! I've got some minor rules updates for the community that I want to alert everyone to. They're pretty much all about use of cut tags. (To learn more about cut tags, check this article of Dreamwidth's FAQ or this tutorial post; you can also use Details/Summary HTML instead.)
First, remember to put any content that would require a CW tag under a cut. Unlike Tumblr and some other sites, blanket blocking a tag is more complicated on Dreamwidth, and jump-scaring compulsive readers is probably better avoided!
Second, in addition to properly age labeling any 18+ content, put any NSFW content under a cut. If it's legal in the US, it's legal to share in this community, but I don't want anyone to get in trouble at work for scrolling through this community on their break!
Finally, please put any images that are over 500 pixels in any dimension under a cut, as well as utilizing a cut for posts that are significantly longer than a few hundred words. In addition, if you're sharing more than three images, please put the majority of them under a cut. This is to keep things neat and tidy on reading pages, reduce load times (for images), and to let any compulsive readers out there decide whether they want to read the whole post or not.
I'm also planning to add a new Content Warning label for drugs and/or alcohol; if you have suggestions for any others, please let me know!
I'm welcoming feedback on all of these, or any of the other community rules, so if you have any thoughts to share, I'd love to hear them! Please also take this as an excuse to review the community rules overallas I apparently needed to do myself, oops. And thanks for spending time at Queerly Beloved with me!
First, remember to put any content that would require a CW tag under a cut. Unlike Tumblr and some other sites, blanket blocking a tag is more complicated on Dreamwidth, and jump-scaring compulsive readers is probably better avoided!
Second, in addition to properly age labeling any 18+ content, put any NSFW content under a cut. If it's legal in the US, it's legal to share in this community, but I don't want anyone to get in trouble at work for scrolling through this community on their break!
Finally, please put any images that are over 500 pixels in any dimension under a cut, as well as utilizing a cut for posts that are significantly longer than a few hundred words. In addition, if you're sharing more than three images, please put the majority of them under a cut. This is to keep things neat and tidy on reading pages, reduce load times (for images), and to let any compulsive readers out there decide whether they want to read the whole post or not.
I'm also planning to add a new Content Warning label for drugs and/or alcohol; if you have suggestions for any others, please let me know!
I'm welcoming feedback on all of these, or any of the other community rules, so if you have any thoughts to share, I'd love to hear them! Please also take this as an excuse to review the community rules overall
Cowboy Mashed Potatoes
Feb. 7th, 2026 06:44 amnverland posting in recipecommunity
Cowboy Mashed Potatoes
Total Time: 45 mins Servings: 8
Ingredients
2 lbs. Yukon gold or russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups frozen fire-roasted whole kernel corn
4 strips bacon
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 fresh jalapeño, seeds removed and diced (1/4 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces and softened
1/4 to 1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup sliced green onions
Directions
In a 5 to 6 qt. Dutch oven, add potatoes, 1 teaspoon salt and enough water to cover. Bring to boiling, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 12 to 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Add frozen corn and cook for 2 minutes to heat through. Drain potatoes and corn, return to Dutch oven.
Meanwhile in a medium skillet over medium heat, cook bacon, flipping halfway, 7 to 8 minutes, or until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet with tongs and set aside on a paper towel lined plate, reserving bacon fat in skillet. Add onion, jalapeño and garlic. Cook and stir until tender and onions just begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Add onion mixture, butter and 1/4 cup sour cream to the potato mixture. Mash with a potato masher until desired consistency (it should still be chunky.) Stir in cheese, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper. Add more sour cream, if desired. Transfer to a serving dish. Crumble cooked bacon overtop and sprinkle with green onions.
Just One Thing (07 February 2026)
Feb. 7th, 2026 04:36 amnanila posting in awesomeersIt's challenge time!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished! Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished! Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Saturday 07/02/2026
Feb. 7th, 2026 10:37 amlhune posting in 3_good_things_a_day1) Woke up with sunshine streaming in through the window ^_^
2) Long hot shower
3) Visit to the librarybefore I pick up my bike, (will be for next week)
BONUS: Lunch on a sunny terrace of a bar nearby
2) Long hot shower
3) Visit to the library
BONUS: Lunch on a sunny terrace of a bar nearby