Today is the last day of the A - Z Blogging Challenge. Today, Z is for zeal.

A long time ago I was a volunteer for a web directory called Zeal, they called the people who worked for them zealots. They gave us badges instead of actual pay. It was different from the Open Directory, where I also worked. But, Zeal closed down years ago. Now I work for BOTW, Best of the Web. Sometimes, I wish I was putting in more time there. I do like finding sites to list and tidying up existing listings.

Anyway, zeal is my word for the day of zed because zeal is about having passion and finding something you really enjoy and care about. Zeal is an action word. What are some things you have zeal (persistent, fervent, devotion to a cause) for? Do you have some of these things in your life each day? How can you find time or space to fit in at least a little of something you feel zealous about into each day?

I began looking into the idea of Domme women and submissive Daddys after finding a group for this on Fetlife: Dominant little girls/ submissive daddies. I looked online for more about this idea but came up with very little. The best I found so far is a post on Miss Violette Thorngate.

... the dynamic of a manipulative young girl in control and an older man under her pretty little thumb can be SO exciting!

I also just received a sweet belated Valentine from someone, reminding me that my daddy/Girl role model is the delicious Claudia from Interview with the Vampire. She plays the innocent to manipulate the older men in her life to her advantage, by turns seducing and drawing their pity, threatening and indulging them. One of the best moments for me is the scene in the film when her piano teacher scolds her with a rap on the knuckles for a misplayed piece. She turns to look at him in a sort of incredulity. The next cut has her happily playing the piece perfectly, for her own pleasure, and the teacher slumping over, drained of his life force.

This isn't how I see the submissive Daddy relationship going. The manipulating isn't my thing at all. My games are more along the lines of Scrabble.

Still working on this idea. Trying to understand what makes it appeal to me and how it fits into my Domme philosophy of life. I do know it has a lot more to do with romance and courtship than manipulation.

The buttermilk syrup caught my attention. I've never thought of anything but maple syrup, traditional for Canadians. But, buttermilk is one of my favourite things. This is something I'd like to try. No flour on hand at the moment, I used it up making buttermilk pancakes.

German Pancakes with Buttermilk Syrup

Ingredients

• 6 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

BUTTERMILK SYRUP:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• confectioners' sugar

Directions

Place the eggs, milk, flour and salt in a blender; cover and process until smooth. Pour the butter into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish; add the batter. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the first five syrup ingredients; bring to a boil. Boil for 7 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Dust pancake with confectioners' sugar; serve immediately with the syrup.