Positivity!    

Chatterbox: Chirp at Cricket

Positivity!    

Positivity!      

It's a truth universally acknowledged that life can kinda suck. Especially nowadays, what with Covid, climate change, the Russian-Ukrainian war, and all the other problems humanity is struggling with, it's horribly easy to get lost in the darker sides of humanity, and forget about the light. So let's not forget. Let's remind each other of all the beautiful, whimsical, goofy, adorable, sparkly, touching, hilarious, extraordinary parts of life. 

Post random fun facts. Post cute pictures of your pets. Post artwork you've made. Post the fantabulous grade you got on that math test. Post what the sunset looked like last night. Post something, anything, that makes you smile. 

So when we can't see the light for the darkness, we'll make our own. We'll set the shadows alight with moonlight and sunrises and candle flames and fireflies. 

Together. 

submitted by Snazzycakes , age 13 she/her, Sesquepedalian
(April 3, 2022 - 1:56 pm)

Yeah, I do not know anyone that doesn't like baby Bermuda petrels!

submitted by Peregrine Falcon, age Fledgling, At the tree
(July 13, 2023 - 9:49 am)

elephant seals.

submitted by fallen leaf
(July 10, 2023 - 1:41 pm)

Take a couple of chocolate chips and a fresh raspberry (or strawberry or blackberry) and eat them together. It tastes amazing!

submitted by Poinsettia
(July 14, 2023 - 5:12 pm)

Go swimming (if you can) or eat ice cream, especially during the summer. 

submitted by Moon Wolf, age lunaryears, A Celestial Sky
(July 14, 2023 - 7:49 pm)

Today was a good writing day :D my WIP is fantasy, but what I really like is just writing conversations.

submitted by Artemis
(July 18, 2023 - 12:30 pm)

speaking of my wip, i just finished my second draft :D

submitted by Artemis
(July 22, 2023 - 1:59 pm)

Ooh, congrats! There's nothing like the satisfaction of finishing a piece of writing~

submitted by Poinsettia
(July 28, 2023 - 3:45 pm)

Thank you! <3

submitted by Artemis
(July 30, 2023 - 7:26 pm)

Today is my dad's birthday and my mom and I made a crumble to celebrate. It was really fun to do--like a pie, but less fussy (you don't have to make crust). I like baking and making things in my spare time and recommend doing either of those.  Studies have shown that doing things by hand is good for your mental health, which is nice to know.

submitted by Seadragon
(July 31, 2023 - 8:12 pm)

Nice! I've never heard of a crumble before but I'll look it up! Was it good (I assume it was)? Also, happy birthday to your dad! Sometimes I like to bake cupcakes or muffins, but oddly not anything else. But it IS rly fun! I want to do a... uhh... blanking on the name right now. Apple spice I think? But I didn't know about the mental health part, that IS nice to know!

submitted by CelineBurning Bright, age As Needed, The FireMist Sea
(July 31, 2023 - 11:00 pm)

The crumble was delicious, and I had it with ice cream, which made it even more delicious. If you'd like I can give you the recipe.

submitted by Seadragon
(August 3, 2023 - 6:22 pm)

Ooh, really?! YES PLEASE!! As long as it doesn't have any nuts... I'm allergic. But my mom and I are always saying we need to bake and we almost never do so we were like we're baking THIS SUMMER and plus we like to try new things so this is perfect (plus sounds so good!)!

submitted by Celine@Seadragon, age As Needed, The FireMist Sea
(August 7, 2023 - 10:06 am)

Very sorry for not getting back to you about this, things happened and I have not been able to access the CB for a few days. Unfortunately, the crumble does have hazelnuts, but you could try leaving them out and use flour instead, as they're part of the crumble topping? Also, the recipe is in weights instead of volume measurements, but if you have a kitchen scale then you can use that. Without further ado: 

Ingredients (for the filling):
Butter (for greasing)
450g/1 pound cooking apples
115g/4oz blackberries
grated rind and juice of one orange
50g/2oz light brown sugar

Ingredients (for the topping):
175g/6oz flour (all-purpose I think)
75g/3oz butter
75g/3oz white sugar
25g/1oz chopped hazelnuts (substitute with something else; they are ground up to add to the topping so you could use flour?)
2.5ml/1/2 tsp crushed cardamom

Method:
Butter a 2 pint (1.2 liter) baking dish generously. Peel, core, and slice the apples and place them in the dish. Scatter blackberries over them and sprinkle with orange rind and brown sugar. Mix flour and butter in another bowl until they resemble coarse breadcrumbs, then add white sugar, hazelnuts (in this case something else) and cardamom. Spread the topping mixture over the fruit and press down on it until it forms a sort of crust. Bake it in a preheated oven at 200 degrees C/400 degrees F for 30-35 minutes until golden. Serve hot, with custard, ice cream, or something similar. 

submitted by Seadragon
(August 9, 2023 - 8:05 pm)

ACKK THANK YOU SO MUCHHH!!! And it's totally fine, no worries! :) I'll let you know when we bake it (and thx for the hazelnuts tip)! Unfortunately, we are going on a trip soon and won't be able to bake for a while. I think we have all the ingredients (and a scale too) though. SERVED HOT WITH ICE CREAM?!? Yes please!!

submitted by Celine@Seadragon, age As Needed, The FireMist Sea
(August 9, 2023 - 9:57 pm)

I love this thread! I've been reading along for a little bit and now, NOW, decide to share something with you.

Also, my CAPATCHA, who is now christened Picturesque, (mispronounced ad "Pic-squeak), says [xwbad]... XW was bad? Who is XW?

101_0480 copy 2.JPG
submitted by Nyxie, age eons, smwhr
(August 7, 2023 - 8:36 am)