Crafting Update, May and June 2025

Jul. 1st, 2025 10:03 am
althea_valara: Icon of teal colored yarn, with the words "Stand back, I have YARN!" on top. (yarn)
[personal profile] althea_valara
I didn't post one of these last month, because I had been working on a secret project. I intended to finish that project in June, but it was not to be, partially due to busyness but mostly due to the fact that I am designing my own thing and ran into snags. Here's hoping I can finish in July!

(Some folks around Dreamwidth know what the secret project is; I'm keeping it secret HERE though so if you comment here, please don't give it away? Thanks!)

[click pics to embiggen]

A pivot table, showing I crafted for 40 hours in May and 32 hours in June on four projects.
[Image Description: A pivot table, showing I crafted for 40 hours in May and over 32 hours in June on four projects.]

I had hoped to finish several projects in June, not only the secret one. I did manage to finish the Capybara. It's pretty big! And it was for a Nerdopolis challenge. The theme was "Rodents", and of course I chose a Capybara because there is a capybara mount in Final Fantasy XIV, so perfect nerd cred tie-in.

A crocheted capybara, done in the African Flower technique.
[Image description: a stuffed crocheted capybara, done in the African Flower technique. It is made up of different shaped motifs crocheted together. It is largely a light brown in color with creamy white on its neck, belly, and rump.]

The Mosaic Cardi is still in process. I'm on the right front now. It's kinda a weird construction, not one I have encountered before, and I can't say I'm really enjoying it because long rows of HDC are (a) LONG, (b) boring. Can't wait until I get to the mosaic part.

The Sophie Scarf was supposed to be done this month for another Nerdopolis challenge. The theme was "How do the fine folks in your Nerdery travel?" and of course I chose the chocobo, so the scarf is yellow in color. I just, you know, ran out of time. I might finish it this month, we'll see.

The last sound I will hear....

Jul. 1st, 2025 07:55 am
cz_unit: (Default)
[personal profile] cz_unit
So this weekend I drove up to Baitcon. Main roads were clogged so I took back roads up to NY state. And while driving I found something interesting:

I now know the last words I will ever hear, and the last words I will ever say.

It's kind of interesting, you wonder what the last thing you will hear, will it be comforting words from loved ones? Will your last words be those of wisdom or insight or something else?

"AbortABORTABORT!!!!!"

Yep, that's it. I heard it in my ears as I went to pass someone on a 2 lane road and they sped up. Saw the oncoming car, and realized I had a second to make the last decision of my life. The above is what I heard as I gunned the 928, and pulled in front of this guy a second before the car blew by me in the other lane.

At a speed of 100mph and 60mph that would have been the end. And I would have been at fault, no doubt about it. And everything would have gone dark. But apparently that did not happen and I think I'm here typing this. Maybe. Maybe I'm in the final stages of death somewhere on a NY side road and all of this is a hallucination.

It's like being in a bardo, a space between spaces. It was an amazing weekend, perfect camping weather, good food, good people, good times. Cool, nice breeze, good fire in the evening, big comfortable inflatable mattress. Everything was nice.

But it's Tuesday now and things have not winked out so I think I made it. But if I didn't that was an incredibly stupid thing to do, and I will never do something like that again. I still have a lot to live for and about 19 years left to live it. I'd rather enjoy those days, and the people I share them with.

So yeah, my last words may be to abort the bad decision I made except this time there is no way out. Except in this case maybe there was. Maybe I did pull it all out of the fire...

We shall see. On to the day!

Very late

Jul. 1st, 2025 03:40 am
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
Been over at [personal profile] mashfanficchick's place with zer and zer friend Trish.

Went over after breakfast and coffee and showering and washing my hair.

We spent the time in talking and watching The Lincoln Lawyer. Finished the first season which is why I'm writing so late. We got lunch from Jersey Mike's and had snacks for dinner.

Had discussions by phone with Laurie, John and the Kid about the renting to Ricky situation.

Bed now.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. Bed now.

3. Good TV.

4. The Kid.

5. Family.

6. Friends.

Goal Checking

Jun. 30th, 2025 08:34 pm
zhelana: (Trek - doctors)
[personal profile] zhelana
Finished This Month

Finish reading 3 books with a Jewish protagonist


Progress This Month

Exercise every day in 2025
Weight lift every day of 2025
Brush teeth 360 times in 2025
Shower weekly 2025
Go to fighter practice 12 times in 2025
Art Every Day 2025
Paint 12 times in 2025
Write in Spanish every day of 2025
Write in Russian every week of 2025
Finish my memoirs
Write 300k words in 2025
Write weekly 2025
Work through a book of writing exercises
Read 2 pages of Spanish every day 2025
Read 12 new fiction titles 2025
Clean 2 minutes per weekday 2025
Clean 10 minutes per week 2025
Cook 12 times 2025
Watch a video in Spanish every week 2025
Watch a video in Russian every week 2025
Read 3 science textbooks
Read 3 social science textbooks
Read 3 history textbooks
Work through 3 math textbooks
Read 12 new nonfiction titles 2025

1SE for June 2025

Jun. 30th, 2025 10:04 pm
nanila: me (Default)
[personal profile] nanila


I can't quite believe how much has happened this month. At least 60 days of stuff were packed into June's 30. And now we're halfway through the year. Dear Time, Please slow down, Love, Me.

Monday

Jun. 30th, 2025 07:57 am
susandennis: (Default)
[personal profile] susandennis
Bonny popped in yesterday. She had some spam email she wanted to check but mainly she was bored and she was killing time til 5 pm when she could have her cocktail. Bonny is an odd duck but a nice, odd duck. I had been out in the elbow working on the puzzle and met 'new girl' Jackie's son. He's large but his hands are massive. He reached out to shake mine and I just wanted to hold and study his - never seen anything like it. Also Hazel and John came out to chat. So I got all my neighborness done with very little effort on my part which is how I like it.

Today I have nothing. Next Monday, aqua yoga starts up again. But, today is free. USPS sent me an email of my coming postal mail and there is a letter/bill/something from the company that manages the condo. Maybe it's a refund check - hahahaha. I will need to go down and see when the mail comes.

I quit taking the allergy pills because they quit working but that was a month ago and I am so tired of my nose running so I started up again today. Fingers are crossed but I did add more Kleenex to my subscribe and save order. My ankles are being weird. They are fine right now but this weekend they were very swollen. Not my feet. Not my legs. Just my ankles. They looked like they had a tractor tire around each one. Dr. Google was baffled. Even Dr. AI was scratching his silicone on that one.

I haven't used my feet like I did last week and they are grateful. And they do not hurt. And I am happy about that. I am taking them to the podiatrist tomorrow. Along with all my shoes.

I spent way way way too much money last week. Last month. So July is going to see some cutbacks. I have the money but I don't need any more shit. I really don't and I don't have any place to put it. Even groceries. I'm working hard on eating out of the freezer this week. I'm nearly out of bread and eggs. Maybe a grocery run tomorrow after the podiatrist.

PXL_20250629_233630016

Chaosium Convention Melbourne

Jun. 30th, 2025 11:49 pm
tcpip: (Default)
[personal profile] tcpip
My weekend started on Thursday evening, venturing out with Kate R., to the deco Sun Theatre in Yarraville, where a 20th anniversary screening of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Call of Cthulhu" was showing with the making of the film, and with a Q&A session with the director and the producer. It was an especially clever low-budget film, deciding to produce in a 1920s style; black-and-white, silent, and with inexpensive but real special effects. Distacted by dinner, we ended up entering the cinema a good twenty minutes late, so on Monday we decided to watch again at my very local cinema (i.e., my place).

It was all a prelude for Chaosium Con, held at the Moonee Valley Racing Club with some 250 people in attendance. Chaosium is quite a fascinating company, as a producer of board games and role-playing games. Established fifty years ago this year, they have produced a great number of games which are very well received by aficionados, including the high fantasy "RuneQuest" once considered a serious rival to Dungeons & Dragons, "Stormbringer" from the world of Michael Moorcock, Larry Niven's "Ringworld", the highly acclaimed "Call of Cthulhu", and the literary brilliance of the Arthurian "Pendragon", and so many more. The company is "just right" in terms of size; large enough to be a successful global publisher, small enough to have personal connections with the fan base. This probably the right time to mention that my main RPG project for the second half of this year will be writing a campaign for "Call of Cthulhu" with the working title "Fragments of Time, Slices of Mind"; it involves "The Great Race of Yith", and that's all you need to know.

I was there to look after the RPG Review Cooperative stall, which did quite well because RPG fans love rummaging through old games from the 80s, 90s, and 00s. I became good friends with our neighbouring stall run by a blacksmith (Morgan F) and a 3D printer (Ash M). It also turns out that our Cooperative was also the only non-Chaosium sponsor of the convention, albeit with a modest sum. Also from the Cooperative, Liz B., worked on the registration desk, Karl B., ran several sessions of his post-apocalyptic Australian-setting RPG, and Chris McC., ran a session of "Superworld" set in Perth. I am encouraging the committee to release a double-issue of RPG Review for Chaosium games, new and old, this year. They have made an incredible contribution to the gaming world, and it will certainly be a real pleasure to explore and publish with the incredible and creative energy.

Pridefest!

Jun. 29th, 2025 10:17 pm
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
After staying up very late watching our new binge, The Lincoln Lawyer, [personal profile] mashfanficchick and I got up late this morning. Stuff was going on by email and text about the cottage rental, too. I showered and dressed, and we went to Starbucks for coffee, and some egg bites.

Then we headed in to Pridefest. It was hot but not too bad, and one of the stalls was giving out free sunblock. We walked all through the fest, I only bought some lemonade and something Korean to eat, but there was a lot of free stuff.

The Kid called me about the cottage right when I was getting off the subway there, so we talked that through and decisions were made.

Nice thing, I was wearing my Bard Alumni baseball cap, and a girl caught up to me, and it turned out she was an incoming Freshman, and wanted to know what it was like. So I gave her a glowing report, and she was happy, so that made me feel good.

Eventually we finished everything, and we took the subway back, though [personal profile] mashfanficchick didn't go home, ze went to zer father's cause it's his birthday. I went back to zer apartment to pick up my overnight stuff, and kill time til the Uber home would be cheaper at night.

I got back successfully, and packed my stuff, and I ordered my tickets for my trip to the cottage, I am going on a Thursday because I thought that would be cheaper ticketing than Saturday. It wasn't but it's two extra day so OK.

Then I Teamed the FWiB. We were on for about an hour and a half when his brother called and he had to get off. Which was OK because it was time for me to call Middle Brother. Who is doing fine.

Then I packed up the computer, and went to Uber home. That was weird. I put in the request, and was told there was someone 4 minutes away. But he kept getting further away rather than closer! And just when I was about to cancel the ride and request another, the app reset, and I got another driver, also about 4 minutes away. Good, I thought. But almost immediately the app rest again, and I got a third driver, who did in fact show up and take me home. Weird!

I got home, and all was well. I unpacked a bit, fed the pets, and started here.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. The cottage rental situation is settled.

3. Got my tickets.

4. Pridefest!

5. Was able to reassure that girl.

6. Got home eventually.

Photo cross-post

Jun. 29th, 2025 04:31 pm
andrewducker: (Default)
[personal profile] andrewducker


We had a nice day on the beach in North Berwick. A few of Sophia's old nursery friends, getting back together, with a few siblings thrown in. They got on like it wasn't mostly a year since they last saw each other, and they had a ball digging holes, wading through seaweed and climbing on rocks. The weather was just as fabulous as it looks here.
Original is here on Pixelfed.scot.

Sunday

Jun. 29th, 2025 07:52 am
susandennis: (Default)
[personal profile] susandennis
Baseball starts at 10:30 this morning with the Phillies game. The Mariners game is about 11:30. Yesterday, the Mariners game was on Fox with Fox broadcasters so it was the first time I have gotten to see a Mariners game all season. They lost. But, I enjoyed it.

The guy who sold me the blinds has now had plenty of time to respond to my email even if only to say there's nothing he can do. So far, I have heard crickets. He requested a review and I gave him a glowing one just after installation. Dude, I can edit that sucker. And will. I'll give him until Tuesday. The reality is, if you had told me at the first decision point that I could have these shades but I'll never be able to open my window OR I can live without shades, I would have picked what I have now. BUT I would have sure liked that discussion. Plenty of people here have shades and can open windows. Of course, I've never seen any I like as well as these but still...

It's a hot, sunny morning and I'm thanking those very shades.

Scott and Julie were very surprised that they were going to sleep in daylight and waking up in daylight. They've been to Alaska so it's not a totally foreign concept but they had not experienced it here in the lower 48.

At elbow coffee yesterday, we learned that David (Noelle's husband) is not doing well and John (Hazel's husband) has issues that sound like heart related. Joan is also, I think, deteriorating pretty quickly. She is still mentally sharp but her 93 year old body seems to be checking out. I suspect that this time next year, my neighborhood will look very different.

My friend, Martha, said she ran into Dick and Jen, who are moving into Myrna's apartment. They were actually moving some stuff in! They said they had tried to find me but I wasn't home. This was last week when we were out boosting the economy.

Today will be baseball and knitting and a great appreciation of my life. There's nothing like having people you know and trust come and see what you have and how you live and be so admiring of it all to nail down your gratitude for everything. It's the greatest thing.

I think I'll put some clothes on now and go get yesterday's mail before anyone else gets awake.

20250628_200627-COLLAGE

New series to watch

Jun. 29th, 2025 02:43 am
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
Got up later than I should have, had breakfast and coffee, showered and dressed, and still managed to make it to my Al-anon meeting on time.

The meeting was very good, I went to the diner afterward. Then took the bus home.

I packed clothing and my laptop, and came over to [personal profile] mashfanficchick's. We had dinner and I Teamed the FWiB. And we have discovered a new series to watch, The Lincoln Lawyer. Watched a bunch of episodes and now going to bed.

Laurie texted me a lot today, and the Kid called me, about the cottage stuff.

That's about all. Very late, need to get to bed.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. New series to watch.

3. My meetings and the people at them.

4. The weather was not too hot today.

5. Air conditioning.

6. Popcorn.
susandennis: (Default)
[personal profile] susandennis
Volleyball was wild this morning. We had more players than we have had in a long time. One of our regulars who stopped coming about a year ago, was back. Apparently his doctor, in front of his wife, asked him if he was still playing volleyball and when they said 'no', his doctor told him to get back at it and his wife saw that he did. It was fun.

The on to Elbow Coffee. Not that much fun. Two of my favorite guys are not doing well medically. The daughter of one of my neighbors was there and she is a teacher with many many many complaints about how poorly teachers are paid and treated. Elbow Coffee, she thinks, is an appropriate place to share all of her feelings. (It's not.)

BUT now all of that is over. I got one of the three new pairs of shoes that I ordered and I think they might be good. I should have all three of them here before my appointment with the podiatrist and I'm taking them all with me. I want to find out which to keep and what I need to be looking for.

I have no reason to leave my apartment now today or tomorrow or really even Monday. I probably will but knowing I don't have to is luxurious.

20250628_113441-COLLAGE

A complaint about modern life.

Jun. 28th, 2025 10:49 am
andrewducker: (lesbian tea)
[personal profile] andrewducker
When I am Emperor anyone selling bowls, plates, etc will have to certify whether you can microwave food in them without them getting hotter than the food.

Is microwave transparency really too much to ask?

Family stuff and Al-anon

Jun. 27th, 2025 10:31 pm
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
Had the alarm set for 10:00 but hit the snooze button til almost 11:00. Then got up and had breakfast.

Had therapy which was good. Then had coffee, showered and dressed.

Did a little cleaning, as I'm trying to get back to my resolution to do a little bit every day. I emptied the overflowing trash can of junk mail and took it out

I heard back from both John and Laure about the cottage deed and I now have the paperwork. Laure Facebook messaged me about the cottage insurance, and renting the cottage to Ricky. I have to call the Kid to discuss.

I spoke to Jen, [personal profile] mashfanficchick's lawyer, about the cottage deed and she gave me some helpful advice.

Finally at 5:15 I left for my Al-anon meeting in the Bronx. Had pizza for dinner first. The meeting was small but good. M gave me a ride to the bus stop afterward.

Got home and Teamed the FWiB. Then fed the pets and started here. Got the entry almost all finished when I did something and most of it disappeared and I had to start over. *grumble*

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. My meetings and the people there.

3. The living room looks better.

4. My therapist.

5. My family.

6. It was nice and cool today.

And now they are on the road again

Jun. 27th, 2025 11:05 am
susandennis: (Default)
[personal profile] susandennis
We had a lovely breakfast and a visit and a chat about their next trip here and then they got into the car and headed out.

It was really fun to have them here. They have a short list of places in the US they still want to see and those they want to revisit. And then I showed them, on the map, the route western from Charlotte through Asheville, over the mountains and then to Memphis and beyond. It's section of the country they have never seen that is very different from what they have seen. They think 2 years and that that might be their last trip.

It is 11:15 and the Pride parade is downstairs at 11:30 and I'm not going. Martha will shame me for it but I'm peopled out. I did my Pride bit for the year with the dolls.

I just want to put my feet up and knit and not talk to anyone for about a week. Or at least a day.

I do need to do a load of laundry.

Oh one interesting bit to note. Years ago, before Kripy Kreme donuts even had retail shops, you could get them in any grocery store always. Then they opened stores. I'm pretty sure, in the south, you could still get them at grocery stores, out here they have always been a shop only donut. Until now. We first found them at Walmart. I bought a box of 6. They were fabulously fresh! Then, yesterday, we were in a Target and they had them! I bought a box of 6. They were fabulously fresh! I told Scott and Julie that I have to buy a box everywhere I see them to let them know how much I approve of this third party retail scheme.

Also of note, TJ Max has some lovely clothes for fat girls. I did not know this until this week. I am now over clothed but not unhappy about it.

Julie pronounces Minneapolis Minini-apolis. It's very cute.

A good time was had by all - the dets

Jun. 27th, 2025 06:54 am
susandennis: (Default)
[personal profile] susandennis
TL;DR My friends came. They loved Timber Ridge. We shopped and shopped and shopped and shopped. And had a great visit. My feet are broken. I have an appointment with a new (to me) podiatrist on Tuesday. The Pride monsters were a huge hit and now it's back to dolls. My new window shades have a fatal error. Regular life resumes this afternoon.

The details.

Julie and Scott live on the South Island of New Zealand in a beautiful tiny town. They have been all over the United States in all the big cities. This tour - two months - is driving around - first Canada and then the western United States (except California).

Even in the biggest town in New Zealand, they shopping opportunities are not what they are here in the US. They just don't have the selection and they have the add on of 'shipped to small island far away' tax. So here, particularly Julie, wallows in all the choices available. The last time they were here, two years ago, they wanted to shop and, for some reason, we ended up down in Federal Way where we discovered chain shop heaven. Lovely stores of Old Navy, Skeechers, Walmart, Target, etc.

This time they wanted to go back to all those places plus they found North Bend Outlets on Google and wanted to go there.

So we started at North Bend which is not too far up the road. And a lovely drive. But the outlet mall there is a bust and a half. The stores were sparse and empty. But, they drive was lovely. And we saw other stuff.

So we came back here and toured Timber Ridge and Issaquah. They are pretty impressed with Timber Ridge. and Issaquah always presents nicely.

Tuesday we went back to Federal Way and did not miss any stores. Julie had a ball and Scott got new shoes and it was a huge hit. Wednesday, there was more shopping and we found the Issaquah troll which was way more impressive than I expected.

Yesterday, Thursday, it was into Bellevue to that huge, lovely, downtown mall. And then to the conveyor belt sushi place for lunch. Fun and delicious.

In between, we've been enjoying Timber Ridge. We've eaten in all the dining rooms and tried all the various serving options except lunch. All have been pretty impressive.

Today they leave. They are taking the next few weeks to drive from here via Salt Lake City and Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore to Chicago where they will fly to San Francisco and then home. It's such a wonderful trip.

Meanwhile, my feet are just screaming at me. Finally, on Wednesday, I sent a note to my doctor asking for referral to a podiatrist or any other suggestion. She got right back to me with a couple of podiatrist options and I was able to get an appointment here in Issaquah for this coming Tuesday! Yeah.

Oh and it's window washing time at Timber Ridge. I have a panel of three windows. The middle one opens. They use it to hang out and wash the outside of all three panels. It's a good system. Except. When the shade guy designed and the installer guy installed, none of us realized that the scheme will completely bar me from ever opening that window again. So no cleaning. Ever. I have now sent him a note asking what he can do about it. I'm guessing nothing. And it's not fatal. But they should not have been installed that way. Weird and a little annoying.

Today is the Timber Ridge Pride parade which is just about the same time Scott and Julie were planning on leaving and will block in their car. I suspect it will be a short parade and not interrupt the leaving for long.

And now I think I'm caught up. I should get dressed and ready. They will text me when they are up and we'll meet in the dining room for breakfast.
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