@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

"Put your ear against the tree," he said, "and listen."
She pressed her ear up against the hollow tree.
"It's buzzing!" she whispered. "But I want to see! Hold me up!"
"Hold on tight," he said. He stood up on his hind legs and raised her his full four meters into the air. (4/5) #wss366

The bear carefully snubbed out his cigarette and then let Brunhilde scramble up on his shoulders. She squealed and clung to his fur as he rolled onto all fours and headed into the woods.
"There," he said, pointing up at a hollow in a tree.
"I can't see anything!" she said, squinting. (3/5) #wss366

"They have a hive nearby where they live," the bear said.
"Where is it?" she asked.
"I think there are several around the picnic park," the bear said. "But I've only found one."
"Show me!" Brunhilde demanded, lifting her arms over her head. (2/5) #wss366

The bear leaned back against his favorite rock and fired up a cigarette. A bee landed on his nose. He took a big puff and released a stream of smoke that chased the bee away.
"Hey! Hey! Where do the bees come from?" Brunhilde asked, watching the honeybees visiting clover in the grass. (1/5) #wss366

My son decided to do something else this time, rather than come with me to the Nebulas. I sent him a picture with the view from the hotel room, saying, "This view COULD HAVE BEEN YOURS."

He said, "u is pretty lucky
get to look at cars
and lowes
oh sorry loews"

I'm sure he's feeling really jelly.

@philipbrewer We got a pizza that I would describe as New England style: thin crust, oily sauce. It's good! It's certainly not Chicago Style, but we're not in Chicago: We're in Rosemont!

I am at Crust Brewing in Rosemont, Illinois with @philipbrewer drinking a Boomer IPA after a harrowing drive through Chicago. But we are checked in, parked, and unloaded — and it is HAPPY HOUR!

I like to sit on this bench by the hotel portico with my cup of coffee to watch the sunrise.

Emancipation Plowhorse Black IPA with @philipbrewer at Aspen Tap House.

"A shot of overproof rum is $12," the barmaid said.
"By me spars and barnacles!" the old pirate said. "How many doubloons be that?"
"Do you have a tap card or smart watch? It can do the currency conversion for you."
"I have no carrrd!" the pirate said. "But I have me smarrrt phone." #wss366

I haven't written a post about my writing for a while: https://stevendbrewer.com/writing-diversions/

I am enroute to the Nebulas… https://stevendbrewer.com/enroute-to-the-2026-nebulas/

I am reliably informed that these are SHORT-TAILED VOLES. Know how you can tell? BECAUSE THEY HAVE SHORT TAILS!

The mama is about the size of a can of tomato paste. And the babies are the size of your thumb. They're adorable!

THERE ARE LITTLE BABY ONES! No way to get a picture — sorry.

Volewatching is even more fun than birdwatching.

Interese, ja estas paseroj. Estas 7 aŭ 8 nestoj en unu el la morusaj arboj. La fruktoj en la arboj maturiĝis je malsamaj rapidecoj. Mi neniam vidis tiom da paseroj nestoj en unu loko antaŭe. Kutime ili nestas en truoj, mi kredis, sed jen ili konstruis nestojn kun truoj. Tre interese!

maturajn fruktojn, formanĝis la paseroj… nur ruĝaj restas / ripe fruits, gobbled up by the sparrows… just red ones left #hajko #haiku #esperanto

en densa ombro… folioj de l' tilio, kaj sia fruktoj / en dense shade… linden's leaves, and its fruits #hajko #haiku #esperanto

matena stelo, gvidas min okcidenten… preter la montojn… / morning star, leads me west… beyond the mountains #hajko #haiku #esperanto

"One minute!" she said. "Get ready!"
Booboo tried again, but she still had no idea what she was sensing that allowed her to judge how much longer the noodles needed to cook.
Mama-san leaned forward one more time.
"Now! Take them out now and strain them!"
Booboo pulled the pot off the burner and poured it out into a colander.
"How can you tell when they're ready?" she asked.
"Oh!" Mama-san said. "If you lean forward a little, you can see the clock over there." (2/2) #wss366