Rene Astle 🍁🌻
@castle88.bsky.social
Author of science fiction and fantasy where characters find their families and their place in the world ... or the universe. Reader of same. Urbanist and environmentalist (the former stemming from the latter). She/her. Find me at reneastle.substack.com.
Do you love science fiction? Do you love free books?
Join us as we countdown to 2026 with a month of free science fiction.
Find a new book every day at heathertexle.com/CountdownTo2...
#FreeSFBooksCountdown
Join us as we countdown to 2026 with a month of free science fiction.
Find a new book every day at heathertexle.com/CountdownTo2...
#FreeSFBooksCountdown
November 28, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Do you love science fiction? Do you love free books?
Join us as we countdown to 2026 with a month of free science fiction.
Find a new book every day at heathertexle.com/CountdownTo2...
#FreeSFBooksCountdown
Join us as we countdown to 2026 with a month of free science fiction.
Find a new book every day at heathertexle.com/CountdownTo2...
#FreeSFBooksCountdown
There's a village growing near where I live.
November 21, 2025 at 11:12 PM
There's a village growing near where I live.
Walks can be great for writing. I now have an ending to the story I'm working on.
Of course, I still need to write the stuff between where I am and the end.
Of course, I still need to write the stuff between where I am and the end.
November 9, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Walks can be great for writing. I now have an ending to the story I'm working on.
Of course, I still need to write the stuff between where I am and the end.
Of course, I still need to write the stuff between where I am and the end.
Can confirm... there were indeed churros.
October 27, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Can confirm... there were indeed churros.
October 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I realize I'm only one woman but these are the DVDs I currently have from the library.
October 25, 2025 at 5:36 AM
I realize I'm only one woman but these are the DVDs I currently have from the library.
Hey #yyj, do you love Halloween? Do you love supporting creators? Do you love books?
Join us at the Halloween Market this weekend!
I'll be there with @dcgreschner.bsky.social - stop by and say 'boo!'
Join us at the Halloween Market this weekend!
I'll be there with @dcgreschner.bsky.social - stop by and say 'boo!'
October 23, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Hey #yyj, do you love Halloween? Do you love supporting creators? Do you love books?
Join us at the Halloween Market this weekend!
I'll be there with @dcgreschner.bsky.social - stop by and say 'boo!'
Join us at the Halloween Market this weekend!
I'll be there with @dcgreschner.bsky.social - stop by and say 'boo!'
If I can figure out how to put this thing on, I'll bring at least partially dressed up at the @halloweenmarketyyj.bsky.social in a couple of weeks
#scifi #urbanfantasy
#scifi #urbanfantasy
October 15, 2025 at 12:53 AM
If I can figure out how to put this thing on, I'll bring at least partially dressed up at the @halloweenmarketyyj.bsky.social in a couple of weeks
#scifi #urbanfantasy
#scifi #urbanfantasy
And I couldn't find any non-dairy ice cream so I had to make my own - vanilla and brown sugar.
October 13, 2025 at 3:06 AM
And I couldn't find any non-dairy ice cream so I had to make my own - vanilla and brown sugar.
It's autumn in my hemisphere - the perfect time to re-stock the to-be-read shelf. Or maybe you're looking for a distraction from *stuff*.
Check out Kobo's boxset sale. Use the code BOXSET on checkout to get 25% off on a slew of boxsets, including Bloodborne Pathogens.
www.kobo.com/ca/en/p/octo...
Check out Kobo's boxset sale. Use the code BOXSET on checkout to get 25% off on a slew of boxsets, including Bloodborne Pathogens.
www.kobo.com/ca/en/p/octo...
October 12, 2025 at 2:30 PM
It's autumn in my hemisphere - the perfect time to re-stock the to-be-read shelf. Or maybe you're looking for a distraction from *stuff*.
Check out Kobo's boxset sale. Use the code BOXSET on checkout to get 25% off on a slew of boxsets, including Bloodborne Pathogens.
www.kobo.com/ca/en/p/octo...
Check out Kobo's boxset sale. Use the code BOXSET on checkout to get 25% off on a slew of boxsets, including Bloodborne Pathogens.
www.kobo.com/ca/en/p/octo...
Carrot pie. I'm trying to perfect a veganised version of the pie my mom told us was pumpkin.
She swore later in life that she hadn't told us it was pumpkin but it's what I grew up thinking was pumpkin so I didn't understand why I didn't like pumpkin pie.
She swore later in life that she hadn't told us it was pumpkin but it's what I grew up thinking was pumpkin so I didn't understand why I didn't like pumpkin pie.
October 12, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Carrot pie. I'm trying to perfect a veganised version of the pie my mom told us was pumpkin.
She swore later in life that she hadn't told us it was pumpkin but it's what I grew up thinking was pumpkin so I didn't understand why I didn't like pumpkin pie.
She swore later in life that she hadn't told us it was pumpkin but it's what I grew up thinking was pumpkin so I didn't understand why I didn't like pumpkin pie.
Getting ready to put away this year's bean harvest. Next year's seeds have already been separated.
Most prolific was Grandma Walters, a Romano-esque pole bean that broke its support system halway through the summer. But propped it up and it delivered.
Most prolific was Grandma Walters, a Romano-esque pole bean that broke its support system halway through the summer. But propped it up and it delivered.
October 8, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Getting ready to put away this year's bean harvest. Next year's seeds have already been separated.
Most prolific was Grandma Walters, a Romano-esque pole bean that broke its support system halway through the summer. But propped it up and it delivered.
Most prolific was Grandma Walters, a Romano-esque pole bean that broke its support system halway through the summer. But propped it up and it delivered.
My non-traditional baechu kimchi step 1 ... quartering and salting the cabbage.
As a veggivore, I omit the fishy ingredients but it's still tasty.
Next it sits, having the water drawn out then I vigorously massage the paste into it, pack it in a crock and let it ferment.
As a veggivore, I omit the fishy ingredients but it's still tasty.
Next it sits, having the water drawn out then I vigorously massage the paste into it, pack it in a crock and let it ferment.
October 2, 2025 at 3:36 PM
My non-traditional baechu kimchi step 1 ... quartering and salting the cabbage.
As a veggivore, I omit the fishy ingredients but it's still tasty.
Next it sits, having the water drawn out then I vigorously massage the paste into it, pack it in a crock and let it ferment.
As a veggivore, I omit the fishy ingredients but it's still tasty.
Next it sits, having the water drawn out then I vigorously massage the paste into it, pack it in a crock and let it ferment.
I'm sure this is not traditional at all (given the nooch and vegan butter) but colcannon with store bought potato but garden rutabaga root and greens.
September 29, 2025 at 12:19 AM
I'm sure this is not traditional at all (given the nooch and vegan butter) but colcannon with store bought potato but garden rutabaga root and greens.
Some autumn hydrangeas from the local garden.
September 27, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Some autumn hydrangeas from the local garden.
Library books are very shiny - but excited to pick this up today. I might need to put aside the Eating to Extinction re-read to get started on this.
September 19, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Library books are very shiny - but excited to pick this up today. I might need to put aside the Eating to Extinction re-read to get started on this.
This was the overflow bike rack at the rec centre tonight. It doesn’t show the kid who rolled up at the end, telling his mom the best way to attach a helmet to the bike. 😄
#yyj
#yyj
September 16, 2025 at 3:22 AM
This was the overflow bike rack at the rec centre tonight. It doesn’t show the kid who rolled up at the end, telling his mom the best way to attach a helmet to the bike. 😄
#yyj
#yyj
Took some visitors to the local garden attraction. It's a bit pricey, and I was worried there wouldn't be much to see this time of year. I was wrong.
September 12, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Took some visitors to the local garden attraction. It's a bit pricey, and I was worried there wouldn't be much to see this time of year. I was wrong.
Beans, beans, everywhere beans...
The harvest continues. I might have a problem.
The harvest continues. I might have a problem.
September 10, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Beans, beans, everywhere beans...
The harvest continues. I might have a problem.
The harvest continues. I might have a problem.
Managed to get a couple of milk crates home. Would have been a lot easier if the bike lane-to-cross street transitions along the Shelboure lanes weren't so jarring (or, better yet, the lanes were continuous sidewalk style).
@saanichbc.bsky.social
@saanichbc.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Managed to get a couple of milk crates home. Would have been a lot easier if the bike lane-to-cross street transitions along the Shelboure lanes weren't so jarring (or, better yet, the lanes were continuous sidewalk style).
@saanichbc.bsky.social
@saanichbc.bsky.social
My second favourite season - after the bean harvest - has begun: molasses kiss season. But they must be Kerr's.
August 30, 2025 at 8:08 PM
My second favourite season - after the bean harvest - has begun: molasses kiss season. But they must be Kerr's.
Not much yet but the harvest has begun.
August 12, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Not much yet but the harvest has begun.
Rainy vacation day means picking up the guitar, tuning it, refreshing my memory enough to play a few chords then stopping because my fretting fingers hurt.
And now I want to use fretting in place of a curse word instead of forking.
And now I want to use fretting in place of a curse word instead of forking.
August 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Rainy vacation day means picking up the guitar, tuning it, refreshing my memory enough to play a few chords then stopping because my fretting fingers hurt.
And now I want to use fretting in place of a curse word instead of forking.
And now I want to use fretting in place of a curse word instead of forking.
I'm amazed that iNaturalist not only picked out the frog in this photo but correctly identified it. A slightly invasive American bullfrog.
But their alarm call is so cute! Meep!
californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/...
We also saw a tiny garter snake. A great hike in the woods.
But their alarm call is so cute! Meep!
californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/...
We also saw a tiny garter snake. A great hike in the woods.
August 4, 2025 at 11:50 PM
I'm amazed that iNaturalist not only picked out the frog in this photo but correctly identified it. A slightly invasive American bullfrog.
But their alarm call is so cute! Meep!
californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/...
We also saw a tiny garter snake. A great hike in the woods.
But their alarm call is so cute! Meep!
californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/...
We also saw a tiny garter snake. A great hike in the woods.