Randi Lee Anderson
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randileeander.bsky.social
Randi Lee Anderson
@randileeander.bsky.social
51 followers 45 following 160 posts
📚 Author of A GREAT SIBERIAN SILENCE, #amquerying adult high fantasy THE WHITEMAIDEN
🎨 Artist, oil painter
🌿 Gardener (zone 6b) and tree-hugger
🌐 eng/deu/рус

🔗 https://randianderson.com
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randileeander.bsky.social
Absolutely losing my mind over the fact that Avatar played "Don't Go Into The Forest" tonight at Stage AE in Pittsburgh!!! They must have heard my wish. 🤣 #metal
Swedish metal band Avatar performing "Dance Devil Dance" on stage
November 22, 2025 at 5:15 AM
randileeander.bsky.social
Also, hello again, Bluesky. I've been away on account of my mentals, but here are some fall pictures from my local park. #getoutside #fallcolors
Red-orange maple tree standing next to a creek in a public park. A red-orange maple tree stands next to a footpath, a fountain, and a grassy field covered in leaves. Red-orange maple tree standing next to a creek in a public park. Evening sunlight illuminates the top half of the tree.
October 25, 2025 at 2:51 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
I've been super sad and scared and angry lately, so I made a trip to confession and then went on an early fall hike with my bub. Nature is healing. #getoutside
View of the forest on the edge of Colyer Lake near Boalsburg, PA, USA. View through an opening in the trees to Colyer Lake and more trees in early fall colors. View of a man walking on a trail through a pine forest with some deciduous trees in early fall colors. Ferns on the forest floor
September 14, 2025 at 2:25 AM
randileeander.bsky.social
THIS is why they got rid of de minimis? Their justification is even stupider than I expected.
News article text: On July 30 this year, President Trump signed an executive order that would suspend the de minimis rule for all U.S. imports, with all products coming into the U.S. being tacked with duties and tariffs according to their country of origin. The Trump administration has defended the move as a way to crack down on criminal activity, such as counterfeit products and fentanyl, from entering the country, as well as helping to lower the trade deficit. "For too long, this loophole handed criminal networks a free pass to flood America with fentanyl, fake goods, and illegal shipments. Those days are over. We are securing the border, restoring fairness to trade, and protecting American families," U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said in a statement late last month.
September 9, 2025 at 1:10 AM
randileeander.bsky.social
Much stress lately, so this week I've turned back to painting for some restorative creative time. This is a Rose of Sharon study (with bee!), oil on canvas, 12x12 inches. Almost done! #oilpainting #botanicalart
Square oil painting of a fully bloomed pink Rose of Sharon flower with a pollen-covered bee collecting nectar.
August 29, 2025 at 4:04 AM
randileeander.bsky.social
"Edelweiss," oil on panel, 12x9 inches. Inspired by watching THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE as well as the 60th anniversary of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. #oilpainting #botanicalart
Unframed oil painting of three edelweiss flowers against a black background.
August 17, 2025 at 5:33 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
Plein air in the Finger Lakes. 🩵 This watercolor sketch was done over a glass of dry rosé at Living Roots overlooking Keuka Lake. #pleinair #watercolorpainting
Two watercolor plein air sketches in a small sketchbook. One is of an orange "Firebird" coneflower, and one is a landscape of hills around a lake with a winery in the foreground.
August 2, 2025 at 8:32 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
End-of-July garden beauties. 💚🌱 The cardinal flowers have so many visitors, including two hummingbirds (Ruby and Reuben) and plenty of bumblebees. #garden4wildlife
A cardinal flower blooming in a small garden outside a house. Red nasturtium growing among carrots.
July 31, 2025 at 9:57 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
Did a little plein air at a fundraiser event today! This is a view from the RE Farm Cafe at Windswept Farm in State College, PA. Oil on 10x8 gessobord. #oilpainting #getoutside #pleinair
Landscape painting with hydrangeas in the foreground and a ridge in the distant background. A plein air oil painting set up on a tripod in front of some hydrangeas, a field, and some ridges in the background.
July 26, 2025 at 8:12 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
I heard a rustle in my front garden and thought it was a dirty chipmunk at first. 😂 Ah, backyard wildlife.
#toads #wildlifegarden #garden4wildlife
A large brown toad (possibly a Fowler's toad) in a corner of a garden. Close-up of a large brown toad in a garden.
July 24, 2025 at 11:25 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
THE THOUSAND NAMES by Django Wexler was languishing on my TBR list for way too long. I love me some flintlock fantasy, and so far this one is not disappointing!
(Mode: listening to the audiobook and reading the ebook at the same time. Fwiw, the print/ebook cover is better.)
#booksky 📚
Screenshot of the Audible Audio cover for the fantasy novel THE THOUSAND NAMES by Django Wexler.
July 24, 2025 at 1:27 AM
randileeander.bsky.social
For July 20's "moon" prompt, we have the start of an unpleasant vision.
#WIPsnips #writesky #writingcommunity #epicfantasy
Screenshot of text from a fantasy novel, reading: "Minutes down the road, he closed his eyes for just a moment to drink in the peace again. When he opened them, it was night. He startled and dropped his guitar—or thought he did. The guitar was no longer there, nor was the horse beneath him. A long ribbon of road stretched out in front of him toward a sickly pale moon, swollen and round in the empty blue-black sky, with only a sliver of shadow along its side. As Felix watched, the sliver widened, sliding over the face of the moon like a curtain being drawn. From the darkness streamed a cloud, and as the cloud neared and grew larger; it quivered and twitched like a swarm of bats."
July 20, 2025 at 6:11 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
This was the first day in a while that the weather was actually reasonable (looking at you, humidity), so I went out in the garden for some #pleinair practice after work. 😊
#oilpainting #getoutside
A small square oil painting of a spruce tree rising above other trees and catching sunlight. It sits in a pochade box in front of a garden. A pochade box holding a small oil painting sits on a tripod in front of a garden.
July 19, 2025 at 12:14 AM
randileeander.bsky.social
This snippet is from THE WHITEMAIDEN, in which the immigrant MC faces the disdain of authorities raiding her community. This was written a decade ago. 🤦‍♀️
#WIPsnips July 13 word prompt: "random"
#writingcommunity #writesky #epicfantasy
Screenshot of text from a fantasy novel, reading, "The unshuttered windows of the hill-home were all dark, yet the lantern-bearing watcher pounded on the door. 'Open up!' he said. 'By authority of the Watchtower of Elna.' 'It’s no one at home,' Catirna said. The watcher paid no attention, as if she’d just muttered random syllables. He joggled the doorknob, found it locked, and shot his partner a look of annoyance. 'Tell this stonefarmer’s [redacted] to open the door.' Though what he’d asked was clear to all, Catirna waited for the polite translation before she reached into her coat pocket."
July 13, 2025 at 5:25 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
Despite the hammam weather, I successfully finished my street painting at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts! It's a Turk's cap lily in the Smoky Mountains, based on an oil painting I did last fall after a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. #chalkart #streetpainting
A large 4 foot by 6 foot chalk painting on asphalt, featuring an orange lily in the foreground with mountains, mist, and a sunset in the background. The artist poses with a large 4 foot by 6 foot chalk painting on asphalt, featuring an orange lily in the foreground with mountains, mist, and a sunset in the background.
July 13, 2025 at 12:08 AM
randileeander.bsky.social
So, question for the gardening community, especially those in zone 6b or nearby. Every time I grow carrots in spring, they take much longer to grow than I anticipate. 🥕 It's hot now. Should I just let these grow until fall or what? 🌱
Carrot greens growing thick in a garden.
July 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
Interestingly enough, I had NO instances of "somebody" in my current draft! So my July 6 #WIPsnips post will have to be "someone," namely a minor character with outsized attitude when she comes to the defense of another woman. I love her.
#writingcommunity #writesky #epicfantasy
A screenshot of text from a fantasy novel, reading, "Someone stood in the crowd—it was a young woman, the matriarch of the Canda-Livet, tall and thick-limbed and heavily pregnant. Silver lion fur draped her neck and arms. 'Enough of this, Canda-Mullen,' she snapped, her voice booming through the hall. 'I’ve not come for a matriarchal roasting, nor care I whatsoever for some prissy Norlinthish counts, and I’d beg you to get on with the important business.' "
July 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
The big bad thing that I've been dreading for several weeks happened a couple of days ago. Stuff has not been good. Fortunately, I have a Golden Retriever of a partner who knows I love flowers.
A large yellow lily in a floral arrangement.
July 3, 2025 at 10:27 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
Felix is unsure whether this is a dream or something more...
#WIPsnips prompt for July 3 is "deep," and this is a twofer!
#writesky #writingcommunity #epicfantasy
Screenshot of text from a fantasy novel with these words: "The scent of decayed leaves was strong in his nose; the mist curled through twilight-dark branches and prickled his skin; and he both felt and heard the snapping of twigs beneath his boots, even as another pair walked in step behind him. 'Don’t turn around,' said a deep female voice, speaking Mireki. It was Anya, his namegiver. All he wanted to do was turn around. 'Are you really here?' he said. 'Or are you a dream?' The darkness deepened on the forest path as they walked farther, perfectly in step, their footfalls consistent as a heartbeat."
July 3, 2025 at 9:45 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
This has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad month, but look at these beauties in my garden. 🌱 #bloomscrolling
A marigold beginning to bloom. One blooming tiger lily flanked by two spent blooms amid some bee balm. A red blanket flower Round leaf of a nasturtium
June 28, 2025 at 4:49 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
Okay, it's been years since I've done #WIPsnips, but I'll give it a go! Word prompt: "whistle." This is from PROPHETFIRE, the sequel to a #fantasybook I'm editing for publication. The drafting's been on hold for a while, but I'm getting into it again, yay!
#writesky #writingcommunity #epicfantasy
Screenshot of text from a fantasy novel with these words: "So he played, softly. It was so soft at first that it almost seemed like he wasn’t playing, that the music was coming from elsewhere, a lover’s serenade from a nearby street. Everyone fell silent, and the slow, lyrical, lingering tune seemed to settle the air around them, to warm their bones, to soften the light of the fire, to pull them—or at least Catirna—gently closer toward the center. How long it went on, she could not tell, but after the final note resonated in the room and faded, silence reigned. She could not speak; even Glenhue and the boys said nothing. Only Felix looked uncomfortable. 'I’m a heartbinder,' he said, at last. 'Are you ever,' said Glenhue. He gave a soft whistle."
June 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
Here's a screenshot:
June 25, 2025 at 9:47 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
I got this false goat's beard (Astilbe) a couple of years ago at a native plant sale, and I look forward to its blooms every year. 🩷🌱 #bloomscrolling
False goat's beard plant beginning to bloom with pink flowers. False goat's beard plant beginning to bloom with pink flowers.
June 25, 2025 at 9:37 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
Anyone in the gardening community 🌱 have any good remedies against rose worms (rose sawfly larvae)? Hand-picking hasn't been working.
Knockout roses with some leaves damaged by rose worms.
June 24, 2025 at 10:34 PM
randileeander.bsky.social
In spite of being ill, Dmitry Andreevich decided he wanted to go for a nighttime stroll. #catsofbluesky
Silhouettes of a person and a cat on a wall at night.
June 24, 2025 at 3:16 AM