C. W. Maurer
@cwmaurer.substack.com
Author of epic fantasy and low-tech sci-fi. Engineer, coach, gamer, mom, and hobby collector in New England.
Fueled by tea, video game soundtracks, and dog snuggles.
(She/her)
Fueled by tea, video game soundtracks, and dog snuggles.
(She/her)
Traditional Halloween Eldritch Horror game was delayed a week because of kid activities, but snacks and tea have been served, and it's time to watch the world fall into chaos. But the board game version, so it's fun Lovecraftian chaos.
November 8, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Traditional Halloween Eldritch Horror game was delayed a week because of kid activities, but snacks and tea have been served, and it's time to watch the world fall into chaos. But the board game version, so it's fun Lovecraftian chaos.
Appa says that it is time for scritches, not naps.
November 6, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Appa says that it is time for scritches, not naps.
A plus of living in an old New England town is that the mill buildings house all sorts of fun businesses and workspaces. Like the women's club/co-work/makerspace I got around to joining so that I can write without laundry threatening from the next room.
10/10 Autumn sky through old window views.
10/10 Autumn sky through old window views.
October 31, 2025 at 3:21 PM
A plus of living in an old New England town is that the mill buildings house all sorts of fun businesses and workspaces. Like the women's club/co-work/makerspace I got around to joining so that I can write without laundry threatening from the next room.
10/10 Autumn sky through old window views.
10/10 Autumn sky through old window views.
My wind ensemble does a costumed fall concert every year, which I love because I *usually* go with slightly obscure nerdy costumes, and they're more likely to recognize them in that crowd.
I don't think that will be an issue this year.
This year we're gonna be ✨️Golden✨️
💃🎶
I don't think that will be an issue this year.
This year we're gonna be ✨️Golden✨️
💃🎶
October 25, 2025 at 4:52 PM
My wind ensemble does a costumed fall concert every year, which I love because I *usually* go with slightly obscure nerdy costumes, and they're more likely to recognize them in that crowd.
I don't think that will be an issue this year.
This year we're gonna be ✨️Golden✨️
💃🎶
I don't think that will be an issue this year.
This year we're gonna be ✨️Golden✨️
💃🎶
Anyone want to purchase my handmade version, which I have been developing for years to best meet the needs of modern individuals, and didn’t throw together in 30sec?
Classic, intuitive checkmark system!
2-sided cards for flexibility!
Color-coded to assign tasks to categories!
On sale $89.98
Classic, intuitive checkmark system!
2-sided cards for flexibility!
Color-coded to assign tasks to categories!
On sale $89.98
October 17, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Anyone want to purchase my handmade version, which I have been developing for years to best meet the needs of modern individuals, and didn’t throw together in 30sec?
Classic, intuitive checkmark system!
2-sided cards for flexibility!
Color-coded to assign tasks to categories!
On sale $89.98
Classic, intuitive checkmark system!
2-sided cards for flexibility!
Color-coded to assign tasks to categories!
On sale $89.98
Garden green beans are still going strong, but kiddo is pretty tired of them
Today's strategy: turn "green bean/ground beef tart" (GBx2 plus onion, cheese, herbs on puff pastry on sheet pan) into a "pizza pocket" (same things but folded up in pizza dough, then dip in marinara)
Bets on how it goes?
Today's strategy: turn "green bean/ground beef tart" (GBx2 plus onion, cheese, herbs on puff pastry on sheet pan) into a "pizza pocket" (same things but folded up in pizza dough, then dip in marinara)
Bets on how it goes?
October 1, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Garden green beans are still going strong, but kiddo is pretty tired of them
Today's strategy: turn "green bean/ground beef tart" (GBx2 plus onion, cheese, herbs on puff pastry on sheet pan) into a "pizza pocket" (same things but folded up in pizza dough, then dip in marinara)
Bets on how it goes?
Today's strategy: turn "green bean/ground beef tart" (GBx2 plus onion, cheese, herbs on puff pastry on sheet pan) into a "pizza pocket" (same things but folded up in pizza dough, then dip in marinara)
Bets on how it goes?
9 y.o. got a birthday gift from a friend. The parents apologized, but I don't know any better forms of harmless, mildly annoying entertainment that will only survive a week anyway
He hasn't gotten the "prank" part, but there's been a lot of joyful running around yelling "Here comes Mr. Fartyman!" 💨
He hasn't gotten the "prank" part, but there's been a lot of joyful running around yelling "Here comes Mr. Fartyman!" 💨
September 26, 2025 at 2:52 PM
9 y.o. got a birthday gift from a friend. The parents apologized, but I don't know any better forms of harmless, mildly annoying entertainment that will only survive a week anyway
He hasn't gotten the "prank" part, but there's been a lot of joyful running around yelling "Here comes Mr. Fartyman!" 💨
He hasn't gotten the "prank" part, but there's been a lot of joyful running around yelling "Here comes Mr. Fartyman!" 💨
Starting to shell some of the scarlet runner beans as the pods dry out, and I can't get over how pretty they are.
🌱
🌱
September 22, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Starting to shell some of the scarlet runner beans as the pods dry out, and I can't get over how pretty they are.
🌱
🌱
Kiddo got a new board game for his birthday. So it will be race cars 24/7 in our house for a while.
September 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Kiddo got a new board game for his birthday. So it will be race cars 24/7 in our house for a while.
Better be the best salsa ever, because now the oven is giving us error codes and I don't know what trying to roast a bunch of tomatoes did to cause that trouble
Probably a bunch of steam at a reasonably high temperature. But still.
Anyway, that's another 5+ pounds of garden tomatoes dealt with.
Probably a bunch of steam at a reasonably high temperature. But still.
Anyway, that's another 5+ pounds of garden tomatoes dealt with.
September 12, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Better be the best salsa ever, because now the oven is giving us error codes and I don't know what trying to roast a bunch of tomatoes did to cause that trouble
Probably a bunch of steam at a reasonably high temperature. But still.
Anyway, that's another 5+ pounds of garden tomatoes dealt with.
Probably a bunch of steam at a reasonably high temperature. But still.
Anyway, that's another 5+ pounds of garden tomatoes dealt with.
Sometimes the Garden Guardian keeps an eye on the neighborhood from the porch while I harvest things. Other times he follows me around demanding the Bean Tax.
Could anyone refuse such a floof when he asks so nicely for just a few cronchy beans?
Could anyone refuse such a floof when he asks so nicely for just a few cronchy beans?
September 11, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Sometimes the Garden Guardian keeps an eye on the neighborhood from the porch while I harvest things. Other times he follows me around demanding the Bean Tax.
Could anyone refuse such a floof when he asks so nicely for just a few cronchy beans?
Could anyone refuse such a floof when he asks so nicely for just a few cronchy beans?
So. Gardensky (is that what we call that social corner?).
What does someone do with...just far too many elderberries.
Already made some jam.
Still have these and more to be picked. Plus two other plants that aren't ripe yet.
We do not currently have winemaking supplies, unfortunately.
🌱
What does someone do with...just far too many elderberries.
Already made some jam.
Still have these and more to be picked. Plus two other plants that aren't ripe yet.
We do not currently have winemaking supplies, unfortunately.
🌱
September 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM
So. Gardensky (is that what we call that social corner?).
What does someone do with...just far too many elderberries.
Already made some jam.
Still have these and more to be picked. Plus two other plants that aren't ripe yet.
We do not currently have winemaking supplies, unfortunately.
🌱
What does someone do with...just far too many elderberries.
Already made some jam.
Still have these and more to be picked. Plus two other plants that aren't ripe yet.
We do not currently have winemaking supplies, unfortunately.
🌱
Busy couple of days in the garden.
Guess it's time to make more salsa.
🌱
Guess it's time to make more salsa.
🌱
September 5, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Busy couple of days in the garden.
Guess it's time to make more salsa.
🌱
Guess it's time to make more salsa.
🌱
The tomatoes have been quite productive this summer. So I was confused by the one plant where they started to ripen but never turned red.
Turns out one plant out of the bunch (all grown from last year's red tomatoes) has yellow tomatoes.
Picked 5lbs yesterday.
Today we make roasted tomato salsa.
Turns out one plant out of the bunch (all grown from last year's red tomatoes) has yellow tomatoes.
Picked 5lbs yesterday.
Today we make roasted tomato salsa.
September 2, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The tomatoes have been quite productive this summer. So I was confused by the one plant where they started to ripen but never turned red.
Turns out one plant out of the bunch (all grown from last year's red tomatoes) has yellow tomatoes.
Picked 5lbs yesterday.
Today we make roasted tomato salsa.
Turns out one plant out of the bunch (all grown from last year's red tomatoes) has yellow tomatoes.
Picked 5lbs yesterday.
Today we make roasted tomato salsa.
Labor Day weekend pizza in the brick oven. At least if Appa doesn't steal all the fuel first.
🍕 🐕
🍕 🐕
August 31, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Labor Day weekend pizza in the brick oven. At least if Appa doesn't steal all the fuel first.
🍕 🐕
🍕 🐕
Looks like the seeds in the sunflowers have developed enough for the goldfinches to stop by for lunch.
(Phone camera photos continue to be less than ideal, but it's what we have)
(Phone camera photos continue to be less than ideal, but it's what we have)
August 27, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Looks like the seeds in the sunflowers have developed enough for the goldfinches to stop by for lunch.
(Phone camera photos continue to be less than ideal, but it's what we have)
(Phone camera photos continue to be less than ideal, but it's what we have)
A little late on this, but that's alright because we started cooking today's lunch Thursday night.
Went to a picnic today and brought the brisket that has become our annual tradition. Sous vide cooked for 36 hours, then finished in the woodfire oven Husband has been building. It was so good.
Went to a picnic today and brought the brisket that has become our annual tradition. Sous vide cooked for 36 hours, then finished in the woodfire oven Husband has been building. It was so good.
August 23, 2025 at 11:14 PM
A little late on this, but that's alright because we started cooking today's lunch Thursday night.
Went to a picnic today and brought the brisket that has become our annual tradition. Sous vide cooked for 36 hours, then finished in the woodfire oven Husband has been building. It was so good.
Went to a picnic today and brought the brisket that has become our annual tradition. Sous vide cooked for 36 hours, then finished in the woodfire oven Husband has been building. It was so good.
I can't get over the number of happy little bees enjoying the sunflower pollen the past few days.
This is the first year we've intentionally grown sunflowers (had some volunteers near the bird feeders last year), and they are quite fun.
This is the first year we've intentionally grown sunflowers (had some volunteers near the bird feeders last year), and they are quite fun.
August 20, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I can't get over the number of happy little bees enjoying the sunflower pollen the past few days.
This is the first year we've intentionally grown sunflowers (had some volunteers near the bird feeders last year), and they are quite fun.
This is the first year we've intentionally grown sunflowers (had some volunteers near the bird feeders last year), and they are quite fun.
Home again (and feeling far more human after a shower) just in time to join Appa on the porch for neighborhood watch as a storm rolls in.
⛈️ 🐕 🏡
⛈️ 🐕 🏡
August 17, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Home again (and feeling far more human after a shower) just in time to join Appa on the porch for neighborhood watch as a storm rolls in.
⛈️ 🐕 🏡
⛈️ 🐕 🏡
Forgot to include the sign. Which is fitting
August 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Forgot to include the sign. Which is fitting
It's been real, World Con!
Time to head back to New England, process the many interesting conversations I've had over the past few days, catch up on sleep, and get back to real-life responsibilities (assuming my flight leaves on time and I don't get stuck in Chicago...).
See you in 2027!
Time to head back to New England, process the many interesting conversations I've had over the past few days, catch up on sleep, and get back to real-life responsibilities (assuming my flight leaves on time and I don't get stuck in Chicago...).
See you in 2027!
August 17, 2025 at 3:09 AM
It's been real, World Con!
Time to head back to New England, process the many interesting conversations I've had over the past few days, catch up on sleep, and get back to real-life responsibilities (assuming my flight leaves on time and I don't get stuck in Chicago...).
See you in 2027!
Time to head back to New England, process the many interesting conversations I've had over the past few days, catch up on sleep, and get back to real-life responsibilities (assuming my flight leaves on time and I don't get stuck in Chicago...).
See you in 2027!
How long can we keep crocheting before con-brain has us skipping multiple stitches per row? 🤔
August 16, 2025 at 1:40 AM
How long can we keep crocheting before con-brain has us skipping multiple stitches per row? 🤔
I found coffee, so I guess I'm even more officially in Seattle now.
Also found a quiet corner to do some edits in while the social battery recharges a bit.
Also found a quiet corner to do some edits in while the social battery recharges a bit.
August 14, 2025 at 12:23 AM
I found coffee, so I guess I'm even more officially in Seattle now.
Also found a quiet corner to do some edits in while the social battery recharges a bit.
Also found a quiet corner to do some edits in while the social battery recharges a bit.
