#IronWood Pizza

[caeloservare]

I hear you've been fraternizing with faunus in the worst streets of Mantle lately. What do you have to say about that?

Got any interesting, scandalous rumors?

"Not much and I'm afraid I will disappoint you." Afraid is wrong word. He's pleased to disappoint.

"It was never a secret I do not pick my friends based on any of their physical traits nor their birth place or living address."

[itsclydebitches]

RWBY Recaps: Vol3E1 "Round One"

Hello, everyone, and welcome to a new collection of RWBY Recaps!!

This is a unique project in that instead of writing purely for my own entertainment, these recaps are part of the Fandom Trumps Hate auction (you can check them out here if you're interested in learning more). Specifically, these recaps are a gift for the lovely Kae who requested some meta on the earlier Volumes, or work that focused on Ozpin and/or Ironwood. I figured that Volume Three would touch on all those requests and, frankly, it's an era of RWBY that I was already interested in covering. Volume 3 was a turning point for RWBY's tone and overall mythology and I'm eager to see what I think of it in 2024, after six additional seasons and a rather chaotic overhaul.

(If anyone is reading this from the future, one of the reasons why it took me so damn long to get the first recap out is because finding official streams of RWBY has become a fool's errand as it changes ownership. Fun!)

Anyway, the game plan is simple: cover all of Volume Three at an undetermined, though hopefully steady-ish pace from here on out. Technically, the deadline for our FTH fandowrks is at the end of 2024, however, I absolutely plan to continue this series past my 5k promise. As always, this will be a RWDE-focused meta (though I'm eager to see how much nostalgia carries me through the season), so if you Don't Like; Don't Read.

Everyone got that? Great!

Now, indulge me for a moment and cast your mind back. It's October of 2015. Pizza Rat is a tumblr icon, Left Shark still reigns, and everyone is arguing over whether a dress is gold and white, or blue and black (it's the former FYI ;). Amidst such quality memes RWBY begins airing again on the 24th, presumably bringing with it another season of stellar choreography and simple, if entertaining conflict. Team RWBY has just helped contain a massive breach courtesy of Cinder's machinations, Torchewick is in Ironwood's custody, the White Fang is falling under Salem's puppeteering, Penny has revealed her android identity as well as her supposed fate to save the world, the girls are beginning to acknowledge the responsibility of their chosen career path, and the mysterious Raven has been identified as Yang's birth mother. All in all, RWBY has a lot to play with going into its third season.

It's notable then that we open peacefully. The viewer is treated to a number of environmental shots to set the scene, including one of the forest with its iconic falling Fall leaves. Ruby is positioned at the edge of a cliff with her signature rose petals drifting behind her. Stylistically it fits the scene, though from a literal standpoint it also implies that she used her semblance speed to get here. Given the momentary reveal that she's speaking to her mom, that's a rather heartwarming detail.

Sidenote: has anyone given any thought to cliffs in this series? It only occurred to me recently how often they show up, often during character milestones. Here we have Ruby talking to Summer for the first time, her (bodiless) grave situated at the end of a cliff. The Beacon initiation involves chucking the kids off a cliff and seeing how they fare, an action that is the catalyst for the group's introductions/growing dynamics. Shooting Oscar off the edge of Atlas solidifies Ironwood's turn from anti-hero to outright villain. Though I'm far from a fan of this scene, Ruby's (ridiculous) near-fall off the cliff during the fight with Cordovin preludes her (supposed) growth in leadership as she stands up to Qrow. Penny lets herself fall from Amity after sacrificing herself to get it up into the air. Then, of course, we've got the girls falling off of Ambrosius' bridge, taking them to a world where - execution aside - the intention was for them all to go through major developments: Ruby is literally reborn, Jaune experiences a lifetime of struggle, Yang and Blake finally admit their feelings, and Weiss... gets over her whole country being destroyed?

Idk, we'll have to come back to that one.

I clearly don't have a big takeaway here, just the acknowledgement that this is a visual RWBY gravitates towards. Might do a whole side meta on it some day...

Anyway, as said we realize quickly this is Summer's grave with her name carved into the headstone along with "Thus kindly I scatter." Notably, she also has her rose motif there and it's likewise prominent on Ruby's belt in this scene. Looking back, we can see how RWBY did a better job at the start of sprinkling in these significant character details before, you know, dropping them completely and then attempting a rapid-fire resurrection. Meaning, I would have bought into the emotion of Ruby giving her pendant up in Volume 9 if we'd gotten these moments consistently throughout the story's run. It wouldn't take much, just a reminder every couple of episodes to maintain the momentum. Give Ruby a scene where she explains that this rose was left by Summer before she disappeared and she's treasured it ever since. Show a flashback where we learn that it was really left behind for both girls and Yang handed it down to Ruby when she was old enough to keep track of it. Give us a minor conflict where it's lost during battle and Ruby unnecessarily endangers herself in an attempt to retrieve it (perhaps in Volume 8, setting up that the object itself is not as important as the intangible love it represents). Hell, keep it lighthearted where Yang gets Ruby something rose related at the gift shop, Nora tucks a Rose into her hair while wandering the wilderness, Qrow gives the pendant a cheeky flick while talking about how Ruby's as stubborn as her mom. My point is there are a million ways the show could have built towards that scene in Volume 9 - ways like showing us that rose on Summer's gravestone - but the show dropped the ball halfway through.

Here and now though, Ruby begins catching Summer up on everything that's happened to her since she started Beacon, which serves as a useful way to catch the viewer up too - both those who, for whatever reason, may have started RWBY with Volume 3, and those who just need a hiatus refresher.

Ruby is delightfully awkward here, a personality trait that I think becomes more forced as the series goes on. She jokes that she hasn't gotten kicked out of Beacon yet - while doing that cute little rock on her heels thing - and says that she's able to "keep [Yang] in line" by being on the same team. She follows that up with, "...that was a joke" which is just quintessential Ruby to me. Love it.

She recaps that Yang has grown a lot as a fighter since Summer left, the rest of their team is made up of Blake and Weiss, together they form Team RWBY and yes, that's as confusing as it sounds. She's stopped bad guys and met some "odd" teachers, including Ozpin.

(THAT'S MY BOY!!!)

Looking back, this is actually a fascinating couple of lines. At least, I think they have the potential to be fascinating if RT had followed a clear writing path. Ruby wonders again why Ozpin let her into Beacon early, but shrugs it off under the assumption that he'll tell her one day. "You know how he is."

Yeah, I do, Ruby. Do you?

We already knew from their initial interaction that Ruby knew who Ozpin was - she recognizes him on sight - though him posing the question implies that he never visited Patch post-her birth. At least, not recently enough for Ruby to have formed a memory of them meeting. I can only assume then that she's heard enough about him from Tai and Qrow to a) be sure of his identity (any promotional material/news about Beacon would have helped with that too) and b) believes strongly that her impression of him formed since entering Beacon aligns with what her parents presumably said about him: "You know how he is." The fact that this is in reference to Ozpin's secret keeping makes me wonder how often that came up around the dinner table. Did Tai ever express frustration, a la Ironwood, that they're clearly being kept in the dark about things? Did Qrow ever dodge the girls' questions about where he's been because he can't be honest about his spy activities, aligning Ozpin's reputation with secrecy by virtue of working for him? The casualness with which Ruby shrugs off Ozpin's secrets to Summer heavily implies that Ozpin's cagey history is both well known to the family and accepted.

Honestly, I would have loved to see this woven into Ruby's core characterization, perhaps even an extension of her "simple soul." Give me a girl who is intrinsically accepting of people, including their need to keep certain things close to the chest. Teammate deliberately kept her faunus identity under wraps? Friend hides the fact that she's an android from the whole world? Ruby accepts them. Ruby gets it. The fact that Ruby does, canonically, accept their duplicity without so much as a blink is, I think, one of the reasons why I expected her of all people to be more sympathetic towards Ozpin's hidden identity. We can argue about the girls' right to the truth via participating in this war till the cows come home, but at the end of the day Ozpin's secrets are intrinsically tied up in his family, his history, and the trauma surrounding both. Let the others get mad, prioritizing information over personal motivations (that does fit their characterizations well, with Blake perhaps being an exception), but Ruby? The show has never been willing to commit to the kind of dark story that would result in a 180 character growth - endlessly forgiving protagonist becomes jaded and cynical as she experiences The Horrors - and little moments like this one further emphasize to me that Ruby, specifically Ruby, is uniquely suited to helping Ozpin not just fight, but finally finish this war. It should never have been (just) about her talent with a scythe, or even the rarity of Silver Eyes. The Gods wanted Ozpin to unite humanity and here's a young woman who unabashedly loves everyone that the world tends to despise: secret keepers and drunk uncles and faunus and Schnees and scary androids. Ruby should have been the emotional bridge!!

Okay, I swear I'm not going to make this series a rehash of my issues with the later Volumes lol. Inevitably some things are going to crop up though.

Moving on, Ruby mentions that Tai is here too and the viewer gets to see his avatar for the first time, albeit from a distance. In keeping Summer updated on her... husband? Wait, were they married? Well, in keeping her updated on her partner, Ruby says that, "He's, you know... Dad," which, unlike the Ozpin line, is just plain funny. Sure, most of her talk is very exposition-y and absolutely functions as a soft lead-in to new content, but that's not to say a story should ever put absurd dialogue in a character's mouth simply for the sake of the viewer. That is, Ruby should never say, 'Oh, Tai is here! You know, my Dad?' because the person she's talking to, Summer, knows damn well who Tai is. Television has actually gotten better about this as a whole. Once upon a time a medical drama would have the doctor yelling, 'Her skin is turning yellow - she's jaundiced! Her liver is failing!' to ensure that the viewer understood precisely what 'jaundiced' meant, never mind how absurd it was for a professional to be shouting that among their peers. (Granted, medical dramas as a whole are absurd. I say that with love.) Despite RT's general inexperience, RWBY belongs to an era of televised storytelling where leaving certain things unsaid is par for the course.

Here, the unspoken information is what it means for Tai to be, you know, Tai. We don't really know who Tai is yet- personality-wise, I mean - so Ruby's comment functions more as a way to set up our expectations rather than to connect with us in agreement. We now expect Tai to be the kind of guy who does things to make his teenage daughter sigh and go, 'That's Dad...' and we, presumably, look forward to seeing that.

Granted, the three things we do know about Tai at this point in the story consist of:

He's a fellow Huntsmen (which is an insane job)

He let his daughter join Beacon two years early to also become a Huntress (also kinda insane but I support him)

He maintains a relationship with said daughter and daughter Sr by sending them their dog in the mail (do I really need to say it?)

Based on that I suppose we can guess as to what Tai is like lol.

He calls Ruby away so they're not late for the match and she sends a last message to Summer over her shoulder: "It was good to talk." As we transition, a murder of crows flies across the sky. Or is it an unkindness of ravens? I can barely tell in real life, let alone when they're animated blobs, but either option works well enough given the upcoming revelation about the Branwen twins.

Cutting to the arena a little time in the future, the viewer is treated to some establishing shots that, while simple, are honestly pretty cool. I believe this is our first introduction to Atlas' floating environments and showing a bit of Beacon Academy in the background helps give us a sense of scale.

This event is clearly popular, with the stadium absolutely packed with people (even more are trickling in from ferrying ships) and, to RT's credit, they did a bit of work to convey diversity in this world. We see a decent variety of skin tones as well as faunus characteristics, to say nothing of the cool designs many of the competitors will get. Beyond the main cast still being overwhelmingly white, I'd say the biggest issue here is the lack of body diversity, what with everyone having the same, stick-thin figure. Yeah, RT is clearly using the same base model copied a hundred times and I'm very aware of their previous status as a small, independent company, but such visuals nevertheless stand out in a series that's been pushing a minority plotline for three seasons.

The camera swoops down to follow Team RWBY in the midst of a battle which, again, is staged in a way that's clearly meant to catch up/invite in new viewers. It's very trailer-esque as each shot lingers on Weiss, Blake, and Yang for a moment before finishing with Ruby, complete with a twirl of Crescent Rose. This is the show visually reminding you of what it's really about. Sure, we might have started with Ruby speaking peacefully by a grave, but at the end of the day RWBY is the story of a team engaging in combat situations.

Oobleck and Port are announcing the event and Oobleck throws out his standard "Doctor" when his title goes unacknowledged.

You know, I started RWBY nearly a decade ago. Four years ago I secured a PhD, so I feel that now.

Port provides another handy info dump for those "just now joining us." AKA the viewer who has no idea what a Vytal Festival is, but this is as good an excuse as any given that people are still entering the stadium. Simply put, all the Kingdoms' huntsmen schools are competing as teams first, then as duos, then as individuals to determine the final winner who will have achieved "victory for their kingdom!" Age and year are irrelevant, which makes perfect sense given the nature of RWBY's combat. You've got young prodigies like Ruby and people who sneak into Beacon like Jaune, and though the other schools/years probably don't have as much drama going on, the variety of semblances, weapons, dust use, and personal experience really makes this anyone's game. A first year might easily beat a fourth year if they won the genetic lottery with their semblance, or a student from School A might trounce someone their age from School B, depending on how much their school has sent them into real combat situations.

Given all that, I kinda wish the Festival had developed the other Kingdoms more, given that it's the perfect opportunity for the cultures to learn from one another and/or butt heads. In a perfect world, one where RT had some sense of where their story was going, I would have loved to see:

Strong development of Vacuo's citizens, especially given that it will be the focal point of Volume 10 and possibly the end of the series (if we ever get that...).

Though the gag that Weiss excepts strict, militaristic fighters from Atlas only to get Neon is funny, that 'Don't judge a book by its cover' lesson really doesn't align well with what Volume 7 and 8 try to push. Better, perhaps, to set up Atlas' dictatorship tendencies before swinging hard in that direction (and I'll get into how what we do see doesn't make the cut).

How Remnant's racism gets displayed in a highly public competition. Do Blake and the other faunus face more discrimination now that they're in the public eye? Do asshole citizens challenge wins because no way did a faunus beat that human?

How different schools approach training their huntsmen. Specifically, everyone seems to abide by the four-person team structure, so why would this competition eventually highlight duos and individuals? It seems counter to what Beacon, and by extension all the other schools, are trying to promote. This setup would make more sense if we were shown that different schools have radically different curriculum. Maybe it's eventually 1v1 because Vacuo's individualist, survival-based culture teaches huntsmen to fend for themselves; teammates are just another liability. Maybe Atlas, being militaristic, prizes safety in numbers and has students train in groups of six rather than four. Maybe Mistral is incredibly semblance-focused (a way to develop Neptune's phobia rather than just making it a gag; a fighter who can't or won't use their semblance is considered effectively useless) and if you can negate that aspect of their style somehow, you find they're lacking severely in weapon-based combat.

Again, I know that RWBY, particularly early RWBY, only had so much time per episode, but looking back it feels like there are a lot of missed opportunities in this world-watched event. None of this is even taking into account Cinder sneaking into the school, or Penny being outed as an android. If any RWBY rewriters are reading this, the Festival is a potential goldmine of characterization and cultural development. If you're going to write random RWBY books, write some about that!

One moment of cultural significance that is shown though is the Atlas security hovering around the arena. They mostly keep to the background, without any single appearance being obtrusive (yet). This is one of those moments where (some) fans look back and say, "See? Ironwood was always a controlling, military-obsessed bastard," but the reality is that this is incredibly tame by real world standards, to say nothing of the realities of RWBY's fantasy world. Regardless of how you feel about the, uh... motivations behind the security in your country (because that's a whole other conversation), you expect there to be some level of professional oversight when that many people are meeting in one place. That's a reality we have to work with, which includes all the potential pitfalls, biases, manipulations, and accidents that come with any large-scale endeavor. Toss in the fact that RWBY's security is designed to defend against man-eating monsters and I'm honestly surprised it isn't presented as dystopian here. Meaning, we easily could have been given a story where people are comparatively safe from grimm in modern day Remnant and the security functions primarily as outside control and/or a fear-mongering tactic. It's not that security is inherently unnecessary, but those walls have done a damn good job for the last generation or so, so why is James so insistent on populating this festival with his probably not-needed robots? Seems sus 🤔.

As it stands, grimm DO attack people on the regular (that was kind of a big part of last Volume's finale), security IS necessary (according to many other council professionals once James raises the issue), and it's arguably MORE necessary now - during the festival - because there are so many potentially negative emotions just waiting to crop up. Instead of "Seems sus," the reaction to having defensive robots around is more, "No duh." At the very least RWBY might have had the characters react to the security with suspicion/fear, even if that doesn't totally track with the rest of the worldbuilding, or better yet, demonstrate that there are major issues with AI leading the charge (robot mistakes kid in grimm mask for real grimm and fires a shot!). Granted, we get that through the hacking at the very end of the Volume, but here and now the Atlas ships seem to be used primarily for transporting viewers, the crowd is fully at ease with these guys, and — as we'll see later — the prospect of additional security in the form of AI is greeted with enthusiasm, not wariness, simply because it will keep real, breathing people off the front lines. Those are all important things to keep in mind when you consider whether a) The show took a very sharp turn in Volumes 7-8 or b) The show capitalized on a long established, slow burn plotline.

(Psst the answer is 'B')

ANYWAY, Oobleck is yelling about the "Spectacular spectacles on which to speculate on!" and I love him all the more. While he and Port narrate we get some non-animated shots of people viewing the Festival from around the world, though frankly it doesn't do much to help RWBY's worldbuilding. Some people watch the fights from a camper outside, others are in a minimalist apartment, still others are in what's basically a bar... if you're looking for intriguing backgrounds to drum up interest in the world outside of Beacon, you're not going to find it here. The presence of various faunus individuals is really the only thing that distinguishes these settings from a show based in the real world.

Onto the fighting! (It's about time :p) The girls are facing off against Team ABRN (pronounced "Auburn") from Haven and they're decent for a couple of one-off characters. I like the design of the girl with the skateboard - Reese - and how her weapon, the board itself, gives her a lot of flexibility in battle. Since it functions as a hoverboard she has a lot of maneuverability, she can use the board as a shield, a projectile, adapt its abilities via Dust, and - of course - she can pull both sides apart to duel wield the guns. Looking at all that flexibility, it is a little lame that she 'loses' that particular encounter with Blake by slipping on the ice, but then we're not really supposed to care about these characters. They exist solely to get us hyped for the battles to come and give a quick primer on how those battles will work. AKA, now we've learned that the battlefield itself has hazards the girls must circumvent.

Blake is cute here though. She's so concerned and I'm like yeah, girl, that looked like it hurt 😬

This whole exchange has that same vibe: one of casual playfulness, which makes perfect sense given that this is supposed to be a fun competition. They're exhibition matches, not real attempts to take the other team out (which is why Yang's supposed act later in the tournament will be seen as so heinous). The guy with the pink hair (Nadir) full on pouts when Ruby successfully traps him in a block of ice and, of course, we have the classic "Got your back!"/"My BFF!" lines in response. The girls are enjoying themselves and that's so damn wholesome to see after all the tragedies - plot and writing-wise - of the later Volumes.

Team ABRN are able to make a bit of a comeback and - *gasp* - the girls have to actually think creatively/combine techniques in order to get the upper-hand. Blake successfully tricks Reese with a clone and catches her in the midriff with a quickly timed ribbon, cleanly knocking her out of the ring. It's here that we learn a team member can be eliminated via leaving the bounds, or having their aura dip too low (remember when that was a thing?) I know I just said there's teamwork, and there absolutely is here, but it did stand out to me how Blake just like... disappears after this moment? I mean she comes back, but it's clear RT wanted each girl to have her moment in this battle, despite the fact that any member who successfully defeated their opponent would be rushing off to help the others. That should be a near defining win condition - defeat one opponent and suddenly it's a 2 vs 1 situation for someone else - but that expectation falls by the wayside until the fight's final moments.

It's a good fight though. Not the greatest by RWBY standards, but it was no hardship to rewatch for this recap either. Weiss pulls out an epic ice hand that ensnares two of the members, now rolling chaotically across the arena, and clearly she thinks this is the end of the fight. However, Arslan — the monk-type who favors hand-to-hand combat (or the one with the "Eastern martial arts influence" according to the RWBY wiki...)— simply rolls her eyes, plants her feet, and shatters the ball with a single hit. Gotta admit, it's pretty cool.

Of course, Team RWBY still comes out victorious in the end. With all of Team ABRN now in one place, the girls have one of those lovely mind-reading moments and pull off a coordinated attack, allowing Yang to sucker-punch them all out of the ring. Again, it's nice to see that kind of teamwork, as well as the adorable way they all stand there, mildly shocked that they won.

I'll take that over the brazen, cocky confidence they've gained any day.

The only thing I'm kinda iffy about regarding this fight is how Team ABRN feels a little less like a full-fledged team to me, and more like a faint Team RWBY echo. It's most noticeable in the Yang vs. Arslan sections where you've got two yellow-coded, hand-to-hand snarkers facing off. Blake and Reese both feel like the cool, alternative style members of their teams, and then you've got the Weiss-Ruby duo trying to overtake the Bolin-Nadir duo. It's admittedly a subtle familiarity that lessens with each example, but it stood out to me in the re-watch; like Team ABRN only exists to give Team RWBY someone vaguely similar to overcome. Which, granted, they do. These are not characters we're going to follow as the series progresses, so in most respects they've done precisely what they needed to do and in a way that looks cool and feels entertaining. So this isn't a criticism, really. More an acknowledgment that RWBY is a series with limits and if we want to know more about these characters/flesh them out beyond their paralleling characteristics, we'll have to do that ourselves in the fanfic.

As Ruby jumps into the air in a victory celebration, we PowerPoint slide cut to the festival later that day where she nearly collapses, asking if anyone else is starving.

Yeah, child. You just made it through a physically intensive battle in front of an audience while existing as a teenager. Of course you're hungry. Blake's stomach gives a giant, embarrassing growl in response and Weiss sarcastically bemoans the fact that there's nowhere to eat at the food-focused festival. Good times, good times.

Ruby: "It's okay, Weiss. I forget about the fair grounds too."

Before they can grab lunch though Weiss declines a call from her father and an old 'acquaintance' suddenly shows up.

Emerald.

You know, kudos to Katie here because Emerald's laugh and, "Good to see you, Ruby" sounds so fake to me now. It just oozes, 'I secretly hate you but am pulling out all my acting skills to convince you otherwise' energy. Obviously RWBY has a host of villains/antagonists that have done a plethora of heinous things, but there's something particularly skin-crawling to me about seeing Emerald in retrospect. Part of it is the deception. I don't know about anyone else, but I personally would prefer a villain who's upfront about their nature from the get-go, rather than one who pretends to be my friend before stabbing me in the back. The first scenario just lacks the same emotional punch, you know? Though the other part of it is, of course, knowing where everyone ends up. Beacon will fall. Ozpin will "die." Pyrrha will actually die, and our heroes will be sent out into a war they're in no way ready for. Yes, Salem is our ultimate Big Bad, yes Emerald has her sympathetic moments and does a heel-turn into "good guy" territory four Volumes from now... but I think the fandom often forgets that she willingly and actively participated in this horror show. This isn't someone just along for the ride because their crush manipulated them, this is someone with a working brain between their ears who has PLENTY of time to consider the ramifications of this and still went, "Yeah, I'll lie my way into orchestrating a massacre."

All this hindsight angst is interrupted by the joke (and I use that term with great reservation) that Ruby must have dropped her wallet because "Girl pockets are the worst!" Sorry, but that has such cis-guy-trying-to-relate-to-women-and-failing-miserably energy to me. Like yeah, I also hate the super small/outright fake pockets that they often sew into women's clothing and I too have smiled at women promoting pockets as part of their independent brands... but somehow hearing the RWBY writers reference it just doesn't land. It's not #problematic, just cringy.

Emerald butters them up a bit by complimenting their fighting and Weiss notes that they haven't seen Emerald's teammates in action yet. We cut to their battle where they dominate the other team, complete with a disguised Neo showing her real eye color before she knocks the competitor out. "[They did] really well," says Emerald in the fakest humble tone ever heard.

Ruby invites them all to lunch and Emerald - clearly horrified by the prospect - dodges by claiming that her teammates are too socially awkward for a meetup. In her defense, Mercury is in the process of randomly sniffing a boot, so although this is absolutely just an excuse, she's also not wrong. Like, at all lol.

Fishing for more info, Emerald asks who's moving onto the doubles round and it turns out that Team RWBY voted for Weiss and Yang. There are three things that I love about this moment:

They voted. Yes, Ruby cheekily tries to make it sound like this is all coming from her genius as team leader, but at the end of the day they decided as a team who would represent them. It's a small detail, but those stand out so much more now that we have Ruby vocally and angrily calling the shots.

(This is a ridiculous side-note I'm 99.9% sure I've mentioned before, but every time I talk about Ruby's intense form of "leadership" in the latter Volumes, I'm reminded of Rick's, "This is not a democracy!" in The Walking Dead. If you know, you know.)

They chose Weiss and Yang. From both an in-world and meta perspective, it's actually a little surprising that Ruby isn't representing them. As established, she's team leader. The team is named after her. She's the protagonist of the show. She's also, canonically, a prodigy wielding an insanely deadly weapon. Yet it's refreshing as a viewer to have a new duo taking the spotlight and within the story-world this choice reinforces Point #1: They're a team and no matter how individually talented any one member may be - or even what titles they hold - they are, at the end of the day, all on equal footing. Why shouldn't Yang and Weiss represent?

The way they both respond to this reveal is dang cute. Weiss' "I will happily represent Team RWBY" while curtseying to Emerald vs. Yang's "Yeah! We're gonna kick some butt!" while slamming her fists together. It's a great contrast and shows why these two might have been chosen. Though powerful on their own, their styles and personality are different enough to compensate for any flaws.

With all that out of the way Emerald rejoins Mercury and her smile immediately drops. She's disgusted at having to get all buddy-buddy with them, but "Orders are orders." She has this classic villain moment where she expresses shock over how they're just so happy all the time and I'm like oh, honey. Darling. Morally misaligned baby girl. Just give it a few Volumes.

We cut to Team RWBY at lunch and aRE THE BOWLS SUPPOSED TO BE THAT BIG?

I recalled that they were big as a visual gag, but not half the girls' size. Honestly? Great choice. I too want to live in a world where you can get insanely giant noodles a millisecond after you order them.

Deviating from the others, Blake nods at the seller dude and receives an equally giant bowl filled with fish. You know, I really wish RWBY had done something with the faunus' animal traits rather than turning them into an endless joke. The concept of a god merging humans with literal animals and then, generations down the line, cat-people being influenced by cat instincts as well as human instincts (because remember, we're animals too) is actually really interesting to me... but navigating the racial implications of that takes a level of nuance that RWBY was never interested in exploring. So we're just left with a Blake who is fish obsessed and chases laser pointers and hates dogs and we're supposed to laugh at all that, rather than buying into her teachings that many people use these traits to dehumanize the faunus.

Anyway, Weiss shows off a bit and pays for all their food. At least, she tries to. Turns out her card has been declined, which is more than a little confusing to her given that she was "barely into [her] monthly allowance." Hmm, could that possibly have anything to do with her ignoring her father's phone calls? Surely no one knows.

Luckily, Pyrrha shows up and offers to pay instead (it's nice having a famous BFF, huh?), but like... what were the girls' initial plans? None of them were expecting Weiss to pay, yet they act like Pyrrha is saving the day by showing up, implying that they don't have the money to cover their meal. The shop guy even takes Blake's fish away, leaving her despondent. So what? Were they planning to eat and just worry about the bill later? Actually, that sounds exactly like something these chaotic preteens would do lol. Yang especially. She was introduced while "buying" a drink before destroying the whole dang bar.

Speaking of teenagers, they all finish their bowls with the kind of appetite only seen in 14-71yos. Although, it was a near thing for Jaune. He's very close to barfing (callback!) and Nora encourages him to "aim it at the enemy!"

She continues ragging on him for a bit, failing to come up with any compliments while hyping up her team. Pyrrha is a world-renowned fighter, Ren is basically a ninja, she can bench five of herself, and Jaune is... Jaune. Nora also doesn't include him in her secondary list which implies that Jaune a) hasn't trained as much (or, more realistically, hasn't gotten as much out of it) as the others, b) doesn't possess an "awesome" weapon, and c) is still frequently yelled at by Glynda.

Poor Jaune. I don't say that very often anymore, but he's going through it here lol.

All of this leads to Nora spiraling at the possibility of them losing. This includes the oh-so-causal drop that she and Ren "have no parents and no home left to go to" which is a HELL of a thing to throw out in a comedically framed breakdown. I mean, being orphans is sad enough, but "no home left to go to" won't be explained until we learn that their town was basically wiped off the map, so damn.

Team RWBY reassures them that a fight with actual rules is nothing compared to what they've already been through. You know, the murderers, extremists, and sociopaths. "Oh," gushes Ruby, "imagine what it'll be like when we graduate!"

As Port and Oobleck call Team JNPR to the arena for their match we cut to Emerald and Mercury settling in to enjoy the festivities. In retrospect, this right here is a really nicely composed shot:

It tells us that Emerald is serious about going through with this destruction (again, she's no manipulated damsel), but she's not getting the same personal enjoyment out of it like Mercury is, as showcased by the smirk. The focus remains on them with Team RWBY framed in between. This is the villains' Volume. They're going to win. Our eyes follow the soon-to-be champions not of the festival, but the battle, while our heroes are literally and metaphorically trapped between them. Finally, Yang is the only one who looks back. We won't know this for several episodes, but she's at the heart of their plan and has every reason to cast the almost-but-not-quite-worried glance over her shoulder. Subtle foreshadowing, how I love thee.

It's shit like this that makes my brain go, "It used to be good! RWBY used to be fun AND occasionally insightful! Those overworked animators were uplifting a mediocre story and the result was good!!!"

As they take their seats who should show up but Cinder, casually using her semblance to pop a kernel of popcorn (power move). "Even if you know how a story ends," she says, "that doesn't make it any less fun to watch." True that! I mean, she's talking about knowing that Team JNPR will be moving on because they need Pyrrha to murder Penny, but I agree with the sentiment outside of that context.

Actually, do they ever explain how they manipulated the fights? I mean, they obviously entered and are winning their own battles and we know that Mercury will be staging his injury with Yang... but here Cinder makes it sound like she's pulling strings in every match. Toss that onto the list of development I would have liked for this Volume: what precisely are they doing behind the scenes? I'll have to pay careful attention going forward to make sure I don't miss anything because right now all I can recall is them looking at Penny's blueprints (presumably obtained via Watts).

Team JNPR's area is randomized into a forest and mountainous land before the battle commences. We end on that cliffhanger, complete with the superhero-esque freeze shot.

And that concludes the first episode of Volume 3! As well as my first recap in a long while. If you've followed me at all you'll know that work has been my personal Big Bad the last two-ish years. Given the scope of my responsibilities and the energy they extract, I simply don't have the time or means to write the way I used to. However, I feel like if I can muster up the willpower to finish this on tonight of all nights (people reading from the future: check the posting date and you'll understand), then I must be getting a little better at carving out writing time in my hectic schedule. All hail self-improvement!

On that positive note, everyone have a wonderful night. Or at least try to. Seriously. Text a loved one, treat yourself to a favored snack, do something that feels fulfilling. Take some deep breaths and I'll see you for the next one.

~Clyde❤️

[howlingday]

Ironwood: Dammit all!

Winter: What's wrong, sir?

Ironwood: I'm trying to order pizza, but I keep getting these personalized ads about being a stubborn old man!

Winter: I don't think you're a stubborn old man, sir.

Ironwood: Of course you don't, Schnee. I would know. And look at this! Butt insurance?! Who would buy butt insurance?!

Jaune: (Butt barely fitting in pants) Y-Yeah, that sounds... That sounds really stupid.

Winter: Sir, it sounds like a lot of data brokers have collected data on you. They could sell that data to Salem.

Ironwood: WHAT?!

Winter: Not to worry, sir, because you can get rid of that data with today's wonderful sponsor! MARIGOLD DATA REMOVAL~!

Ironwood: HOORAAAAAAAAAAAAAY~!

[dragynkeep]

Ais. How dare you say pineapple is good on pizza. You know it's for shit like this why ironwood or rengoku would never sleep with /marry you. It's because rengoku and ironwood have standards.

I say we all bully them out of this blasphemous taste.

[bestoffsetsmokers]

Unleash Your Inner Chef: Dive Into the World of Traeger Grills

Ah, the sizzle of meat hitting the grill, the aroma wafting through the air, and the anticipation of that first bite of perfectly cooked barbecue. If you're a grilling enthusiast, you know the magic that happens when you fire up your grill. But not all grills are created equal, and if you're looking to elevate your grilling game, you need to consider Traeger Grills.

What Sets Traeger Grills Apart?

Imagine a grill that combines the convenience of an oven with the smoky flavor of a traditional barbecue pit. That's exactly what Best Traeger Grills bring to the table. These innovative grills use wood pellets as fuel, giving your food that unmistakable wood-fired taste without the hassle of charcoal or propane.

The Wood-Fired Difference

Forget about bland, uninspired grilling. With Traeger, every meal becomes a culinary adventure. Whether you're smoking ribs, searing steaks, or baking a pizza, the natural flavors imparted by hardwood pellets take your dishes to the next level.

Precision Temperature Control

One of the standout features of Traeger Grills is their precise temperature control. Thanks to advanced technology, you can set your desired temperature with the turn of a dial and trust that your grill will maintain it with unparalleled accuracy. Say goodbye to guesswork and hello to consistent results every time.

Choosing the Right Traeger Grill for You

With a variety of models to choose from, finding the perfect Traeger Grill for your needs can seem daunting. But fear not! We're here to break down the options and help you find your grilling soulmate.

Traeger Pro Series

For those who demand nothing but the best, the Traeger Pro Series is a top choice. With features like WiFIRE technology for remote temperature control, ample cooking space, and rugged construction, these grills are built to impress even the most discerning grillmasters.

Traeger Ironwood Series

Looking for the ultimate combination of performance and convenience? The Traeger Ironwood Series has you covered. These grills boast innovative features like Super Smoke mode for extra flavor infusion, double-wall insulation for superior heat retention, and a built-in meat probe for precision cooking.

Traeger Timberline Series

When only the absolute best will do, turn to the Traeger Timberline Series. These premium grills feature all the bells and whistles you could ever want, including Tru Convection technology for even heat distribution, a massive cooking capacity, and stainless steel construction for durability that lasts a lifetime.

Tips for Grilling Success

Now that you've chosen your Traeger Grill, it's time to take your grilling game to new heights. Follow these tips to ensure every cookout is a smashing success.

Preheat Like a Pro

Before you start cooking, make sure to preheat your grill to the desired temperature. This not only ensures that your food cooks evenly but also helps to create those beautiful sear marks that make grilled dishes so visually appealing.

Use the Right Wood Pellets

The type of wood pellets you use can have a big impact on the flavor of your food. Experiment with different varieties to find the perfect match for your favorite dishes. Whether you prefer the bold smokiness of hickory, the sweet aroma of apple, or the robust flavor of mesquite, there's a pellet for every palate.

Don't Peek!

It's tempting to constantly check on your food while it's cooking, but resist the urge to peek! Every time you open the lid, you let out valuable heat and prolong the cooking process. Trust in your Traeger Grill to do its job, and save the peeking for when it's time to flip or remove your food.

The Joy of Grilling with Traeger

Grilling isn't just about cooking food—it's about bringing people together, creating memories, and savoring the simple pleasures of life. With a Traeger Grill by your side, you can take your outdoor cooking adventures to new heights and become the backyard hero you were always meant to be.

So what are you waiting for? Fire up your Traeger Grill, gather your friends and family, and let the good times roll. Because when it comes to grilling, the only limit is your imagination.

[annwynisland]

Misc Extras

DIYs

Cardboard chair

Cherry lamp

Golden flooring

Golden garden bunny

Golden piggy bank

Golden vase

Ironwood DIY workbench

Log chair

Log garden lounge

Natural garden table

Open wooden shelves

Orange rug

Ornament mobile

Shell fountain

Tiki torch

Recipes

Baked potatoes

Fish-and-chips

Mixed-fruits crepe

Pear jam

Pear tart

Pizza margherita

Potato potage

Veggie cupcakes

Extra Gyroids

Bendoid (2)

Boioingoid (3)

Flutteroid (3)

Petaloid (3)

Spikenoid

Squeezoid (2)

Stelloid (3)

Tockoid

Tremoloid (3)

Whirroid (2)

Xylophoid (2)

Extra Music

K.K. Stroll

K.K. Swing

[bluesandbbq]

Another #pizzafriday • Easy speasy on my Traeger Grills Ironwood 885 • @traegergrills @stonefirenaan @olde_virdens @huyfongfoods @cheesecowswows • 🌶️🧀🍕 • #BBQLou #traegeron #teamtraeger #traegerhood #traegergrills #goodfoodgoodmood #cheesecowswows #sriracha #pizza (at Oak Ridge House of Blues) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnW63__ObuX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[skinrangeonline]

Why does it become necessary to use ayurveda for joint pain treatment?

Problems like joint pain are not seriously taken by many people. They often look for over the counter medicines like painkillers for oral consumption and topical ointment for local application. It does subside for some time. But the problem does not go away easily.   

Yet we have to carry on with our busy life, we have to go to the office or school or any institute to continue with our service or studies. But we often neglect the health of joints and bones due to pressure of work or studies and we do suffer from different types of diseases in joints and bones. Joints are the significant parts of the body. These meeting points of bones cause flexibility and movement in different parts of the body.  

Long hours of standing or sitting jobs , dependency on processed and fried food items like pizza, pasta or anything baked in the microwave , tinned vegetables or any ready meal do not really boost healthy digestion. Unhealthy eating habits along with alcoholism trigger development of Trans fats. These trans fats accumulate in the form of toxins and cause redness in the area of joints followed by mild to severe form of pain, inflammation and swelling.

Joints need proper nourishment with nutritious food items rich in vitamin D, C, D, iron, magnesium and zinc and massaging with Ortho Veda oil ,With the increasing age or lifestyle disorder, cartilage in the joints gets destroyed. Cartilage helps in boosting flexibility and movement. As it gets weakened, it does make the body stiff, immobile and painful.

Massaging with the Ortho Veda oil , you can experience following health benefits like:

1)     Blood circulation in the affected joints followed with warmth and flexibility.

2)    Reduction of inflammation, pain, swelling and stiffness.

3)    Supply nutrition to the joints and boost lubrication. It delays the cartilage damage and hardens the bones.

4)   Ortho Veda oil is made from 54 natural ingredients on the basis of telpak vidhi . In the ayurvedic preparation,  Giant potato, Brahmin ginseng, Vigna, Saffron crocus, Camphor, Indian ironwood, Bitumen, RocksaIt, Cardamom, Licorice, and Nutgrass, Cow milk, Black sesame oil and  Wild asparagus have been used. There is no artificial ingredient mixed. The ayurvedic composition helps in bringing improvement from root level. It is the most suitable for altering any type of joint pain or arthritis.

5) It will help in healing pain arising out of injury or wounds.

6)   It will bring relief from stress or headache.  

7) Affordable Ortho Veda oil price.in India.  You will be just paying a discounted Ortho Veda oil price by ordering from SkinRange online.

8)   No adverse effects seen by using Ortho Veda oil. It has disinfecting properties.

Method of using this oil

You can apply and massage with the oil on the affected area for either once or twice a day.

For experiencing superior results, you can use them in the mornings and evenings.

 However, it's better to get advice from a physician for using this 100% natural product.

So, buy this pack of six bottles of pain relief and joint massage ayurvedic oil and experience the ultimate results of recovery within a few days!

[livelikebrent]

Stop 5: Syracuse, NY

“She just has such a natural beauty. She’s one of the prettiest girls I know.” Brent adored Amanda and said this about her on multiple occasions. Brent adored Drew too. They were some of his best friends from back home in Wilkes-Barre. I adore them too.

Originally, Stop 5 was supposed to be Acadia National Park in Maine...but I simply did not carve out enough time for the trip (oops!). So, with that trip being postponed until the spring the obvious second choice was Syracuse to visit 8 month pregnant parents to be, Amanda and Drew! The last time Brent and I stopped through to visit Syracuse (rather briefly) was after we had gone camping in the Adirondacks in July of 2015. I remember we parked the Jeep at Forked Lake Campground and hiked maybe about a half mile to our spot which was right next to the lake and was picture perfect (until it rained later that evening). The site came with a picnic table and benches and whoever had the site before us, placed several tree stumps around the “fire pit”. So we set up the tent, hammock and walked around the area a bit.

I started dinner while Brent went to get more firewood from the car. Then hopped in his hammock with a Bells Two Hearted Ale. Brent came back with firewood and flowers he picked along the way for me. After we ate we enjoyed the fire and beers before it started to downpour. We didn’t mind though as we planned on waking up with the sun the next morning to go on quite the hike.

Pictured above is us a smidge tired and sweaty after an upwards hike for 3 hours and 4,626 ft. at the top of Giant Mountain in New York. I like hiking but I like to work towards something. That something could be a killer view, waterfalls or anything to keep me motivated. This was quite the view and I remember that the camera couldn’t truly capture the depths of the mountains and how beautiful the view actually was. I also remember Brent struggling a bit during the hike...at one point (I think we were about a third of the way to the top) I looked at him and told him we didn’t have to complete the hike and could just turn around. I could barely even finish that sentence before he looked at me and said, “I didn’t just beat cancer.” When he said the word “just” he drew out the “uhhh” in an annoyed voice. He said that if he could beat cancer and he could get to the top of the mountain. Did any of you just chuckle while hearing him say this in your head? I did. He was a determined and smarty-pants at times. That’s what I liked about him. Not only did he have motivation but determination.

Brendan and I pulled up to a cute little house with a Blazer in the driveway marked with a “LiveLikeBrent” sticker on the back windshield. Amanda, belly and all, came out from the garage led by Bear, their puppy. Bear is a gorgeous mix of German Sheppard and who knows what else and has the softest coat I’ve ever felt. Drew and Amanda gave us the tour of their home and property. During said tour, Drew said he was sold on the house just by the backyard. Their home sits on a decent sized lot with a backyard that backs up to the woods. There’s a slight up slope towards the back of their property where they have Adirondack chairs in front of a fire pit. I originally thought it was a pizza oven due to the fact Drew isn’t a stranger in the kitchen. Turns out that’s what he eventually wants to do with it. So obviously I’ll be back but only when that’s completed.

After we got settled we hopped in the car and went to Emipre Brewing Co. for a late lunch and some beers. As we pulled up I didn’t realize how massive of a facility Empire was...I suppose the name is fitting. On the other hand, Drew couldn’t get over how packed it was. I mean, it was a Saturday afternoon. In October. In Syracuse. With perfect weather.

“Empire Farm Brewery, est.2016, is the largest Farm Brewery on the East Coast. Over 22 acres were developed for educational and beer production purposes. Boasting a new 60 bbl automated brewhouse, the Empire Farm Brewery is producing kegs and bottles for regional, national and international distribution. Bottled lineup includes 3 time consecutive Great American Beer Fest gold medal winner; Skinny Atlas Light, White Aphro, Slo Mo’ IPA, East Coast Amber Ale, and World Beer Cup gold medal winner; Black Magic Stout.  Located in Cazenovia, NY, the property also grows hops, lavender, vegetables, herbs, and fruits for use in the brewing process and to support the needs of Empire’s downtown brewpub.

The agricultural component was designed in conjunction with Professor Matthew Potteiger and the graduate student body from the Department of Landscape Architecture, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The Empire Farm Brewery was the class project for ESF’s spring 2012 semester.”

Reading that makes the place sound somewhat dreamy, right? It kinda was. The inside was nice, still smelled somewhat new. The place was jammin’ and as we were ordering our beers and a lemonade for the mama to be, a table opened up. What was neat about the place was that they had long communal picnic tables and “round” tables made out of tree trunks which is where we sat. There is a patio out back with tables, a bar and several corn hole sets. I kept looking around not being able to get over the size of the place. We ordered some food and caught up with one another. Drew knew Brent from back in the day in grade school and had been friends ever since. Amanda met Brent through mutual friends later in life in high school. Brent mentioned to me the first time Amanda told him she liked Drew. It was at a concert of sorts (most likely moe. or something along those lines) where she said it and Brent’s reply was something similar to “Yeah, me too.” ... but she corrected him on what she actually meant. They’re a super sweet couple. The first time I met them was New Year’s Eve 2014. They were staying the weekend at Brent’s apartment in East Falls. I remember Drew cooking dinner for all of us at Danny and Dana’s place. He made quite the meal with nice steaks. The following day I remember learning that apparently eating pork on New Year’s Day is a Polish tradition. I think we even had some venison if my memory serves me correctly. At that point in time, I just knew Drew as the friend that could cook and Amanda as “the most naturally beautiful girls” Brent knew...and his best friends of course.

We ate, drank and tossed around baby name ideas. After Empire we decided to do “fall things” (with the rest of the state of New York) since the weather was so beautiful. We drove to a place called Tim’s Pumpkin Patch. Why did we drive close to a half hour and pass maybe half a dozen orchards and pumpkin stands just to go to Tim’s? Well, first of all it has a 4.4 star rating on Google...so there’s that. But in addition to pumpkin picking they have a brewery, bakery, animals and well, Amanda insisted. When we arrived, I bought everyone some farm feed along with beers and ciders before going to visit the animals. After we cooed over the baby goats, pigs and cows we stopped for some fresh apple fritters before heading into the corn maze. The maze was so difficult we ended up coming out where we began and probably didn’t even touch half of the maze. If the sun wasn’t setting we probably would’ve given it another shot. But at that point we wanted to pick our pumpkins, snag a quick photo of the parents to be and hit the road.

When we got back to Drew and Amanda’s home we were greeted by Bear who quite honestly Brendan and I could not get enough of the entire visit. By the way, he is SUCH a good boy.

We hung out for a while. Amanda and Drew then ended up taking us to a place called Seneca Street Brew Pub where I had a Cider Creek Smoked Up Cider. I thought it ruled and was very much alone on this. Give me anything and everything smoked and I’ll consume it...meat, cheese, beer and ciders. This brew pub was in the basement of a renovated church with a bottle shop on top. It truly didn’t feel like a church by any means but was still a cool spot. The bottle shop had dozens and dozens of locally brewed beers, ciders and some wines. I did fail to take a photo of this place. (I actually forgot to take a lot of photos over the weekend!) After we had a drink we walked down the street in downtown Manlius to IronWood Pizza for some dinner. It had a cool vibe inside and an extensive craft beer list. It had an alternative atmosphere with some cool graffiti on the wall in the main dining room and had somewhat industrial touches around the place.

After we ate we went back and the boys built a fire. There was a meteor shower the night before so we hung out in hopes to catch a meteor or two. Drew said he had been listening to some of Brent’s playlists and suggested that we throw one on. So we did. We played some of Brent’s music from Spotify and enjoyed the night. You can view and play Brent’s public playlists on Spotify right here. Note: I’m not sure if they will disappear once his subscription is not renewed. So please download or screenshot the playlists for future reference if you wish!

Sunday morning was a treat. Amanda and Drew have their Sunday ritual which is checking out the Central New York Regional Market. Brendan had already had his eye on visiting this place. The market has been there for YEARS and has Sunday flea markets, Saturday farmers markets and even serves as a live music venue occasionally. The market has several “sheds” which are extremely long structures with garage doors along the sides where vendor after vendor set up for the day. You can find pretty much anything there. Some people bring their junk, some have brand new items with price tag stickers still on them and then people who have some neat odds and ends. I walked out of there with three silver candle stick holders that just need some polish that I bought for a whopping $2. Amanda and Drew found a metal tub type bucket, kitchen tools and some Simpsons books...yes, as in the TV show. According to Drew the place was “empty” and gets packed in the summers. But I actually thought there were a decent amount of vendors there...but I would have no problem making the trip back up in the summertime. I LOVE flea markets, antique shops, thrift stores, indoor markets, outdoor markets, whatever sort of place that has potential for cool finds.

Speaking of cool finds, we “found” some barbecue too. It was just about lunchtime and before Brendan and I even got to Syracuse that weekend, we decided we would go to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. I actually had no idea this place originated in Syracuse but had been to a location in Brooklyn several years back. We made it right before the Sunday afternoon rush and got a table in a booth. Amanda had mentioned a couple of times that they had solid bloody marys. She ordered a virgin and I told the waitress I’d take Amanda’s vodka. It was a really good bloody mary. It was spicy and whatever dry rub of their’s they rim the glass with was spot on. We started with their fried green tomatoes to share and then ribs, pulled pork, corn bread, mac and cheese were ordered...but I don’t even think that was half of what was order for the table.

This photo above it definitely one of my new favorites. I’m full again just looking at this picture. After I ate my sandwich I could hardly touch the rest of my sides. Or even think about them. Everything tasted so flippin’ good but I felt as though I was busting at the seems. I remember telling everyone I needed to lay down to digest and slumped over in the booth. I have no idea how the boys pack it away.

Just like every trip I take, I find at least one worthy spot for a #LiveLikeBrent sticker. I think that most people would agree that Dinosaur was more than worthy. I spoke to the bartender and gave her the revised version as to why I was there and why I wanted this sticker in their establishment. She gave her condolences but was super touched to hear what I was doing to honor Brent. So if you ever find yourself at the bar of Dinosaur Barbeque in Syracuse a sticker for Brent is there just to the right of the tap system on the back ledge of the bar.

We made our way back to the house to try and digest for a bit.The boys relaxed in the basement (which is massive by the way) and watched some of the Sunday football games. Amanda, Bear and I got in the car and went to Green Lakes State Park for a walk. It was a pretty drive and as you enter the park you also pass through what looked like a nice golf course. We parked the car and started to walk. Turns out the lakes are actually green. The two glacial lakes in the park lie at the base of a gorge. I learned that they are rare meromictic lakes meaning their layers within the water never physically mix. We walked a bit over a mile which made me feel better about the amount of food I had recently inhaled. As we walked we talked about losing Brent, when Amanda lost her father and how the boys have been back in Philadelphia. Ps. Philly Friends - This is the part where I tell you she misses you all and Drew wants me to tell everyone Syracuse isn’t that far...so you all need to visit them.

When we got back, the boys were snoozing in front of the television. Then Brendan showed up in the kitchen and made some coffees. Drew and Amanda’s home is decorated with flea market finds, family heirlooms and pieces they have found along the way. It’s got this farm house vibe but nothing that seems like you can just go and pick-up from the home decor section at Target. (P.S. -  There is NOTHING wrong with Target, by the way. I basically live there myself.) But I started asking about an antique cabbage slicer Amanda had hanging above the kitchen sink. I didn’t know what it actually was until she told me but see them all of the time now when out at antique shops. It turns out it belonged to her grandfather back in the day. They also have a couple of letter trays on the walls that hold little knick knacks. I think at their previous apartment they held stones as well. As I was asking about items around the house, Amanda pulled out a stoneware crock which held kitchen tools...and some actual tools. I didn’t realize it until Brendan started asking about the crocks but there are several around their home. Some for decor and others serving a purpose. They were really cool and completely Amanda’s style. Amanda also collects retro kitchen tools with the green handles. She actually just bought the one dead center in the photo on the counter at the market earlier that day. I think we decided it was a pastry/cookie cutter that you roll along dough. It had the shapes of suits in a deck of cards: heart, diamond, club, and spade. It was kinda neat. Amanda pulled out almost every tool and told us about them. She likes the way they look mainly but said when she’s out at the market a lot of people will try to paint the handles green to make them look like antiques and she tried to avoid the replicas.

We finished up our coffee and played with Bear one more time before packing up. Drew woke up from his slumber but claimed he was awake the entire time. We said our goodbyes, packed up the car and made our way back south.This is the part where I remind everyone that even though Amanda and Drew have a little one due literally any day now...they still welcome visitors. This is also the part where I tell you Brent told me Amanda and Drew are having a boy (even though they don’t know the gender of the baby). Maybe Brent was having a “chemo brain” moment when he told me confidently that it’s a boy or maybe he just knew or maybe it’ll just be a coincidence. Or maybe...they’ll just have a little baby girl. Either way, I’m excited to see the little bundle of joy the next time I go to visit them upstate. Thank you so much for having us for the weekend, Drew and Amanda. We love you, Bear and the little one on the way!

[caeloservare]

“ why are you making hot pockets at 3 am? “

3am starters

James flinches surprised. He didn’t expect anyone to catch him on having midnight snack. Well, late midnight snack.

“Yang Xiao Long...” He’s getting defensive and seems like that’s a lecture incoming. Probably. It’s 3 am - who knows how functional Ironwood at the time is. He likely doesn’t really know that himself. “As the General here, I am pretty much allowed to do what I see fit in any given situation, including a surprise muster at 3 am.” Generous of him, it’s only hot pockets, right?

Okay, it’s not the real reason.

“We run out of leftover pizza.” He admits with a sigh. “Want some?” James smiles. Who would know best how to hide a midnight crime if not the General himself.

[an-undercover-bi]

Come to Bugsburg!

It is 1633 EDT (4:33pm) on October 23rd and I am opening my island to visitors :). We’ve got items and DIY recipes free for the taking on the beach to the left of the airport.

The native fruit is the peach and the native flower is the hyacinth. :) We have all fruits available for the picking.

The Dodo code is 82B83.

Below is the inventory of items on the left beach at the time of opening:

DIY recipes-

Bamboo basket

Bamboo bench

Bamboo speaker (2)

Bamboo sphere

Cabin wall

Cherry umbrella

Classic-library wall

Cutting board

Full-body glowing-moss suit

Glow-in-the-dark stickers

Golden arowana model

Golden garden bunny (2)

Golden vase

Grass skirt

Hedge standee

Iron armor

Iron doorplate

Ironwood dresser

Log extra-long sofa

Nice branch

Peach surprise box

Peach wall

Pear rug

Pear wall

Pine bonsai tree

Plain wooden shop sign

Shell arch

Shell table

Spooky standing lamp

Street piano

Terrarium

Tree-stump rug

Tree’s bounty little tree

Trophy case

Tulip surprise box (2)

Wild log bench

Windflower fan

Wooden-block bed

Wooden ladder setup kit

Woodland wall (3)

Cooking DIY recipes-

Jarred mushrooms

Orange marmalade

Peach smoothie

Plain cupcakes

Pumpkin cupcakes

Seafood pizza

Tomato bagel sandwich

Fruit cupcakes

Items-

Blue shag rug

Yellow Persian rug

Large Paradise Planning rug

Spooky rug

Ranch lowboard

[howlingday]

Ren: You called us for a team meeting, Jaune?

Jaune: Yeah, but don't worry. We just need to discuss some things.

Nora: Is it about breaking legs?

Jaune: Uh, no?

Nora: Is it about breaking Grimm?

Jaune: No.

Nora: ...Is it about breaking Grimm's legs?

Jaune: CODENAMES! We are discussing... codenames. Listen, we're Huntsmen and a Huntress now, and General Tin Man wants us to come up with codenames when we're out in the field.

Ren: I don't see the purpose of making codenames when we're already distinct enough from one another

Nora: And where's this field, by the way? Are there any Grimm and or legs there?

Jaune: Just... humor me, okay?

Ren: Fine.

Jaune: Thank you. I have a list of ideas to help us brainstorm this. (Points to Ren) Bishop, (Points to Nora) Rook, (Points to himself), and Knight!

Ren: Seriously?

Jaune: H-Huh? Is something wrong?

Nora: I wanna be the horsie!

Jaune: Uh, o-okay, that's fine. I, uh, (Looks at mostly blank paper) I have plenty more ideas. Uh, (Points to Ren, Nora, and himself) Knife, Hammer, and Shield!

Ren: No.

Jaune: Jade, Spinel, and Amber?

Ren: I don't think so.

Jaune: Eeny, Meeny, Miney-

Ren: No.

Jaune: ...Alright, I guess I'll order some pizza.

Nora: (Squeals excitedly)

---------------------------------------------------

Jaune: King... Queen... and Jack?

Ren: No.

Jaune: (Yawns) Fine! You do it! I'm going to bed. Just submit it to General Ironwood. (Leaves)

Ren: (Looks at Nora)

Nora: (Swallows pizza, Wicked grin)

---------------------------------------------------

Jaune: I'm in position, over!

Ren: (Via comms) Who is this, over?

Jaune: (Sighs) You know it's me, Ren.

Ren: Didn't copy that... over.

Jaune: ...Good Boy Vibes reporting in, over!

Nora: (Via comms, Snickering) Copy that, over!

Jaune: (Groans) We are soooo having another team meeting after this!

[epicmoonintensifies]

Part One: Headcanons: A Relationship with Qrow

What have I been asked for?

Ironwood headcanons.

What have I not been asked for?

This.

What am I doing???

… This.

Have some Qrow Relationship Headcanons, Part Two!

🖤

Okay I said he wasn't a big crier but let me clarify something because by some standards, he really isn't, but comparatively–

(Listen growing up in the tribe + the anxiety he developed from dealing with his semblance combined into a trainwreck of emotional processing issues, so he very often struggles to cry when all he wants to do is have a breakdown, but–)

He sniffles and tries to hide tears when it's not the time for this, dammit, but the second he's alone with you it's big fat tears and heaving sobs against your shoulder and shaking so hard and for so long that he's wrung out and lethargic for the rest of the day because he has such a hard time crying that when he finally gets to, it's like a dam has broken.

He brings you shinies that he finds. Not any shinies, not foil wrappers and coke cans, but brass buttons and lost earrings and colored glass and anything that catches the light that is also interesting, and you can use them to decorate or craft into something else or keep in a jar because these are tokens of affection but also evidence of his funny little bird habits that he denies having, ha

Speaking of which!!!

N E S T

"I'm not actually a bird; I don't nest," he says, building a nest, which he will nest in.

Soft things soft things soft things, all together, meant to be a safe soft space, the places where The Best Cuddles happen, just hold him there until he doesn't feel like a mess.

Play. With. His. Hair. Pls.

He wants to feed you let him feed you. Or at least let him pay for the freaking pizza, okay, it makes him feel good about himself.

Nobody messes with you, because everybody knows about Qrow. Just saying.

Mmmm ravens and crows both mate for life and that translates in his human brain much more strongly than anyone would guess.

He's gonna keep you, he has too, he's never been this close with anyone before and he doesn't know how the hell he's supposed to let go if you ever decide that this isn't working out–

(There's a ring in a box that he's too scared to touch, so he waits and he waits and he hopes that you might bring it up first because how is he supposed to be braver than the knot of fear in his chest?)

He can't fly with you so he settles for a fast drive on a country road with the top down so that he can feel the wind on his face while you're by his side, but he'd do anything to give you a chance to fly.

He's good at fixing things because he was so sick of breaking everything around him and you can feel it in the rough calluses of his hands, where the work was put into making himself dangerous and effective and efficient, but he's so gentle when he touches you that it takes time for you to get used to it.

He sees you holding Yang and Ruby, tucked in at your sides, and he melts buttery-soft around the edges.

The girls adore you and end up in your house a lot because apparently anybody who can get Qrow to be a sober, not-entirely-depressed person is the responsible babysitter version of the "It's free real estate!" meme, according to Tai.

(Hey guess what, Qrow's semblance doesn't act up as much when he's emotionally stable! Who would have thought!!)

But you embrace your role as the fun aunt and treat Ruby and Yang like the darlings they are, recruiting them to help you make sweets or cheer Qrow up or play very, very important games of hide-and-seek.

He is big spoon. He is little spoon. He is whichever spoon. Pls, spoon. Big spoon kisses and nuzzles the back of your head and plays with your hair and holds you. Little spoon holds your hand and curls up against you like he wants you to squish him down small.

Let him spoooooon.

Play fighting. Play dancing? Both? Maybe. Hard to tell.

Sings. Hums. Catches little bits of birdsong while he's in one form and translates them into something comprehensible when he's human. Mostly for you.

Ohhhhhh boy does he dote on you when you don't feel well.

He might tease you a bit at first when he thinks you're just being a wimp, but if you're actually sick or hurt or on your period, he is Nurse Qrow, to the rescue.

I'm not saying that he's good at it, I'm just saying he does it.

He tries.

He can bring you water and cuddle you and make sure you're comfortable but all the food is gonna be takeout and leftovers because he doesn't trust himself to boil water, okay. His semblance isn't trustworthy and he won't tempt fate with chicken noodle soup.

You don't "go out" on dates very often because it's safer to keep Qrow in a space that you've sort of baby-proofed. You have mastered stay-at-home romantic dates, and Qrow actually loves them because he's a sap and also because dinners by candlelight and making a blanket fort and pretending it's a movie theater is… well, in the tribe, romantic pairings were a battle. This is so different and, quite frankly, the height of romance, as far as Qrow is concerned. He's convinced that you're spoiling him.

So he spoils you in return, but the the ring in the box burns and he can't stand not knowing–

He cuddles and kisses and hides his blush against your neck as he tries to find words but can't, so he just pulls out the box and hopes that you'll understand when the ring inside gleams and glitters in the dim light all he can bear to say is, "Please."

[andrastianreject]

I have a lot of duplicate DIYS & Recipes that I would love to give away. They are 100% free to take and there is no limit to how many you can take. They can be for you or maybe for a friend, it doesn’t matter. I update this list every day, multiple times a day. If you need some materials for the DIYS or Recipes I will provide if I have the ability. Again this is a free service and I really want nothing in return, I’d just rather give them away as opposed to selling or trashing them.

How you wish to get them is up to you! I will happily open my gates so you can take them or I will happily come over to your island. Just let me know ahead of time and I hope this helps people. BUT I will purge them at the end of the month if they aren’t taken and start over the next month. Minus the food recipes and any good DIYS I know people like.

[ ] Apple Jam x2

[ ] Baked Potatoes

[ ] Cake Salé

[ ] Cherry Pie x2

[ ] Coconut Pancakes

[ ] Fish & Chips

[ ] Fruit Pizza x2

[ ] Gnocchi di Carote

[ ] Gnocchi di Zucca

[ ] Mushroom Pizza

[ ] Mushroom Potage

[ ] Mushroom Salad

[ ] Plain Scones

[ ] Potato Curry

[ ] Potato Potage

[ ] Sugar Crepe

[ ] Veggie Crepe

[ ] Gift Pile

[ ] Glowing-moss Pointed Cap

[ ] Glowing-moss Rug x2

[ ] Gold Helmet

[ ] Iceberg Flooring

[x] Ironwood Dresser

[ ] Knight’s Helmet

[ ] Red-leaf Pile

[ ] Ruined Seat

[ ] Shell Bed

[ ] Shell Fountain

[ ] Shell Table

[ ] Shellfish Pochette

[ ] Suspicious Cauldron

[ ] Tree’s Bounty Little Tree

[ ] Vine Garland x3

[ ] Vine Lamp

[ ] Yellow-leaf Pile

Last update: February 13th - 8:50 a.m

[annwynisland]

Crafting Catalogue

Regular DIY and food recipes in single list. All items in alphabetical order, recommended to ctrl + F to search. Names spelled in US English.

Acorn pochette

Aji fry

Anchoas al ajillo

Apple dress

Apple jam

Apple jelly

Apple smoothie

Aroma pot

Axe

Backyard lawn

Baked potatoes

Bamboo bench

Bamboo doll

Bamboo flooring

Bamboo hat

Bamboo noodle slide

Bamboo shelf

Bamboo sphere

Bamboo stool

Bamboo-slats fence

Bamboo wall decoration

Barbell

Barred-knifejaw carpaccio

Barrel

Basement flooring

Basket pack

Beekeeper's hive

Big festive tree

Birdbath

Birdhouse

Block fence

Bone doorplate

Bonfire

Bonsai shelf

Bread

Bread gratin

Brick fence

Brick oven

Brick well

Brown sugar

Brown-sugar cupcakes

Campfire

Cardboard chair

Carpaccio di capesante

Carpaccio di marlin blu

Carrot bagel sandwich

Carrot cake

Carrot potage

Carrot scones

Cherry dress

Cherry lamp

Cherry pie

Cherry smoothie

Cherry speakers

Cherry umbrella

Cherry wall

Chic tulip crown

Clam chowder

Classic pitcher

Clothesline

Coconut juice

Coconut pudding

Cookies

Cool windflower wreath

Corrugated iron fence

Cosmos crown

Country fence

Cute lily crown

Dark wooden-mosaic wall

Decayed tree

Deer decoration

Destinations signpost

DIY workbench

Document stack

Donation box

Drinking fountain

Festive rug

Festive top set

Festive tree

Festive wrapping paper

Fish and chips

Fish bait

Fishing rod

Flimsy axe

Flimsy fishing rod

Flimsy net

Flimsy shovel

Flimsy watering can

Floral swag

Flour

Forbidden altar

Fountain

Foxtail

Frosted pretzels

Fruit cupcakes

Fruit scones

Frying pan

Garbage-heap flooring

Garbage-heap wall

Garden bench

Garden wagon

Gear tower

Giant ornament

Giant vine

Gift pile

Glow-in-the-dark stickers

Glowing-moss boulder

Glowing-moss dress

Glowing-moss pointed cap

Glowing-moss stool

Gnocchi di carote

Gnocchi di patate

Gold armor

Gold bars

Gold-screen wall

Golden altar

Golden arowana model

Golden decorative plate

Golden flooring

Golden garden bunny

Golden gear apparatus

Golden gear tower

Golden piggy bank

Golden vase

Grass skirt

Gratin

Green bamboo fence

Green bamboo mat

Grilled sea bass with herbs

Hanging terrarium

Hay bed

Hearth

Hedge

Hedge standee

Holiday candle

Hyacinth wreath

Illuminated present

Illuminated reindeer

Illuminated snowflakes

Illuminated tree

Iron-and-stone fence

Iron armor

Iron fence

Iron hanger stand

Iron wall lamp

Iron wall rack

Iron worktable

Ironwood bed

Ironwood cart

Ironwood cupboard

Ironwood DIY workbench

Ironwood kitchenette

Jingle wall

Karei no nitsuke

King Tut mask

Ladder

Large cardboard boxes

Large lattice fence

Leaf

Leaf umbrella

Libra scale

Log bed

Log bench

Log chair

Log dining table

Log fence

Log garden lounge

Log pack

Log round table

Log stakes

Log-wall fence

Log wall-mounted clock

Manga-library wall

Manhole cover

Mermaid bed

Mermaid chair

Mermaid flooring

Mermaid screen

Mermaid wall clock

Mini DIY workbench

Mini golden dharma

Mixed-fruits crepe

Mixed-fruits pie

Mixed-fruits sandwich

Mossy garden rock

Mountain standee

Mush lamp

Mush log

Mush low stool

Mush parasol

Mush table

Mushroom curry

Mushroom potage

Mushroom wand

Mushroom wreath

Natural garden chair

Natural garden table

Natural square table

Net

Nice branch

Ocarina

Old-fashioned washtub

Olive-flounder meunière

Open wooden shelves

Orange end table

Orange hat

Orange jelly

Orange pie

Orange rug

Orange wall

Organic bread

Ornament crown

Ornament mobile

Ornament tree

Ornament wreath

Outdoor bath

Pancakes

Pansy table

Pansy wreath

Park fence

Paw-print doorplate

Peach chair

Peach rug

Peach smoothie

Pear hat

Pear jam

Pear jelly

Pear tart

Pesce all'acqua pazza

Pizza margherita

Plain scones

Plain sink

Plain wooden shop sign

Plate armor

Pot

Potato curry

Potato galette

Potato potage

Potted ivy

Pound cake

Pretty tulip wreath

Pretzels

Pull-apart bread

Pumpkin bagel sandwich

Pumpkin curry

Pumpkin pie

Pumpkin pound cake

Recycled boots

Recycled-can thumb piano

Red-leaf pile

Ringtoss

Robot hero

Rocking chair

Rocking horse

Roost sablé cookie

Rope fence

Rope-net flooring

Round glowing-moss rug

Ruined arch

Sardines in oil

Sauna heater

Sautéed olive flounder

Savory bread

Scorpio lamp

Sea-bass pie

Seafood pizza

Seaweed soup

Shell bed

Shell fountain

Shell music box

Shell partition

Shell rug

Shell speaker

Shell stool

Shell wreath

Shovel

Silo

Simple DIY workbench

Simple well

Skateboard wall rack

Ski-slope flooring

Ski-slope wall

Sleigh

Slingshot

Small cardboard boxes

Snowflake pochette

Snowflake wreath

Spaghetti napolitan

Spooky arch

Spooky candy set

Spooky carriage

Spooky chair

Spooky fence

Spooky garland

Spooky lantern

Spooky lantern set

Spooky scarecrow

Spooky standing lamp

Spooky table

Spooky table setting

Spooky tower

Spooky treats basket

Spooky tree

Spooky trick lamp

Spooky wand

Squid-ink curry

Squid-ink spaghetti

Stack of books

Stacked shopping baskets

Stall

Standard umbrella stand

Star wand

Stone arch

Stone axe

Stone fence

Stone stool

Stone table

Stone tablet

Stone wall

Stonework kitchen

Succulent plant

Sugar

Swinging bench

Tabletop festive tree

Tall garden rock

Tall lantern

Tension-pole rack

Tiki torch

Tiny library

Tire stack

Tire toy

Tomato bagel sandwich

Tomato curry

Tomato juice

Tomato puree

Traditional balancing toy

Trash bags

Tree standee

Tree's bounty arch

Tree's bounty little tree

Tree's bounty mobile

Turkey Day casserole

Turkey Day chair

Turkey Day decorations

Turkey Day garden stand

Turkey Day hearth

Turkey Day table

Turkey Day table setting

Turkey Day wheat decor

Vaulting pole

Veggie basket

Veggie crepe

Veggie cupcakes

Vertical-board fence

Vine hanging chair

Vine outfit

Watering can

Wave breaker

Western-style stone

Whole-wheat flour

Wild log bench

Wooden-block bookshelf

Wooden-block chair

Wooden-block stereo

Wooden-block table

Wooden-block toy

Wooden box

Wooden bucket

Wooden chair

Wooden end table

Wooden fish

Wooden ladder set-up kit

Wooden low table

Wooden-mosaic wall

Wooden simple bed

Wooden table mirror

Wooden wardrobe

Zen fence

Zen-style stone

[bluesandbbq]

Easy #pizzafriday • Cheap frozen pizza, extra cheese and pepperonis please; baked on my Traeger Grills Ironwood 885 for 18 minutes @ 400°F, smash • @traegergrills • 🔥🧀🍕 • #BBQLou #traegeron #traegergrills #traegerhood #traegernation #teamtraeger #pepperoni #pizza (at Oak Ridge House of Blues) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl9FZuMu8sQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=