Category Archive for "Living in Michigan"

May 2026 Recap

Friday, June 5, 2026 0 Etsy, Feral Cat Crafts, Garden, Living in Michigan, Misc. Blatherings No tags Permalink

We’re almost through the first week of June, so it’s time for a May 2026 recap. The month was busy. We survived the Whisker Mixer. Everyone who attended seemed to have a good time (myself excluded, of course). We netted $2,000 more than I had anticipated. Most importantly, it’s over for another year. On to the Mutt Market!

In happier news, Mom and I went to the greenhouses and planted the cemeteries in Lansing. It’s always one of the best weeks of the year!

I set a limit on my garden spending this year, and held to it. I’ve been working on dividing and moving perennials, so that has filled in some of the space as well. I was just planning on weeding the driveway border bed, but the lily of the valley had gotten so bad, everything had to be pulled, removed, and planted with something else. I’ll be interested to see how it matures as it will be a huge change from previous years.

Mom had minor surgery on her foot, so she has been working on the driveway garden at her house. I did finally get over and start weeding and planting her backyard. The next step is to divide and replant her perennial grasses. I figure it will take about three more sessions to get all of that done. April was the rainiest month on record in our area. May was quite dry and quite cold right up until the end. I suspect June may be hot and humid.

In May, I put together the first Wish You Were Here snail mail club and got it up on my Etsy. I went through my list of sales and sent a postcard I made (above) to the 50 most recent zine customers to let them know about the mail club. So far, I’ve had seven out of 25 total sales. It sure would be nice to get some positive reviews back on the ones I sent, and sell some more. I am still at this point planning on making one in late August for autumn, and maybe a surprise one for Halloween.

Each package, priced at $9.93 plus $2.05 shipping gets you a vintage postcard from my collection, a double-sided newsletter featuring my vacation memories, three stickers, a bookmark, a card with an entry to win a bag charm, and a handwritten letter, all wrapped up in a vellum sleeve and sealed with a wax seal. This snail mail club is a stand-alone; you don’t need to sign up in perpetuity and have to cancel later if you don’t want it. Convenient, right?

Also in May, I finally painted up my most recent zine on tardigrades, and I even made a video of it for my YouTube Channel. It is also for sale on my Etsy page, but no one has purchased a copy.

My plans for June include my Summer Reads, starting with Timothy Egan’s The Worst Hard Time, which is a non-fiction book about the great American Dust Bowl. I sketched out a cute snail mail thing, and I plan to carve it and print it using linocut printing, which I haven’t done in quite awhile but I enjoy. I am also planning on painting with gouache using some vintage postcards as reference images. I haven’t sold any bag charms or beaded items in awhile, so I’m going to step away from that and focus on maybe getting more snail mail club sales, making a few more zines, and just doing art to satisfy myself. I seem to have a plethora of doctor appointments in June, so maybe I can get myself sorted out.

January 2026

Friday, January 23, 2026 0 Feral Cat Crafts, Garden, Living in Michigan, Misc. Blatherings, Weather Update No tags Permalink

January 2026, as a month, is moving pretty fast. January 2026, each day, is an eternity. The month started out with a bit of a warm thaw, and since then we’ve had lots and lots of snow and terribly cold weather. Today’s high should top out around two degrees. For the high. Not counting wind chill. There’s not an end in sight until sometime at February.

In the meantime, I’ve been busy with projects for Feral Cat Crafts and Etsy. I’ve done well with football themed purse charms, selling one for the Chicago Bears and one for the LA Rams. I made up a few for the upcoming Olympics (pictured above). Over the next few weekends, I’d like to get a couple of mystery trinket boxes up in the store. I’m also working on a trio of mini zines with a music theme. One is done, one is started, and the third I haven’t even put thought into.

You might have seen my garden resolutions post. I’m continuing to watch garden videos and take a few online webinars. I signed up for Michigan State University extension’s Plant Quest, and have one more webinar to go for that. I especially loved the section on gravel gardening, and it gave me a new idea for the “Paw Garden” at the shelter! I’m signed up for Foliage Driven Garden Design in February. I’ve got lists and notes everywhere!

This month I seemed to have a ton of meetings for work. I went and did the teen night at the Marshall District Library, and the generator project at the shelter was FINALLY completed (nearly a year later!). Next project, stray side dog kennel indoor ceiling replacement.

February, just a week away, I’ll be working on finishing up the newsletter at the shelter, continuing to post twice weekly Substacks for the shelter, and getting through the annual audit and animal welfare org groups meeting. I’m working on various projects for Twin Peaks Day and will need to get something together for staff member Valentines. By the end of February, we will have earlier sunrises and later sunsets, and hopefully a return to temperatures at least nearer to freezing.

2026 Garden Resolutions

Monday, January 19, 2026 0 Garden, Living in Michigan No tags Permalink

We are in the midst of a polar vortex. The only thing getting me through is daydreaming about gardening, watching gardening videos, researching new garden ideas, and setting my 2026 Garden Resolutions. One week until the sun again rises before 8:00am. Two weeks until the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. We just need to last a little while longer!

Gardening Trips and Tours

One of the highlights of my summer is going to the annual Battle Creek Garden Tour put on by Leila Arboretum Society with my Mom. We always have the best time, and come out with so many different ideas! It’s an incredibly inspirational journey. Of course, the 2026 Battle Creek Garden Tour is on the top of my list of what to do this year (here’s last year’s visit, in case you’re interested!).

Battle Creek isn’t the only garden tour, though. In 2026, I’d like to see if we can’t go on one more tour somewhere not too far away.

I follow Garden Crossings YouTube channel online and it is amazing. This summer, I’m going to take Mom over to Zeeland to visit the Garden Crossings store and gardens.

Better Stay Up on Cemetery Pots

Year before last, I did fantastically with the six cemetery pots we maintain for family and friends. At the end of the season, there were still flowers alive in all of the pots! Last year got away from me unfortunately. This year I have a better plan! I want to spend more time riding my bike during the summer. I’ll drive to the cemetery, park, and go on a bike ride. Then, I’ll bike through the cemetery and water the pots before ending my trip! If I can find it, I’d like to try planting Jamesbrittenia Safari Dusk in a couple of the pots. It likes full sun and can handle some dryness.

New Side Garden

Last year I had planned on putting in the new side yard garden, but ran out of time and energy. This is hopefully the year! We’ll plant some shrubs, trees, and ornamental low grasses.

Revamp Back Gardens

Since the willow trunk fell last year, I’d like to add some larger pots to that area. I attended the Michigan State University Extension program Plant Quest 2026 this month, and the first presentation was on incorporating traditional houseplants or tropical plants into your outdoor gardens. Last year I had massive elephant ears that were amazing. I saved the tubers, but who knows if they will survive as I never have luck with that. But if they do, they will join Persian Shield and Fuschia Gartenmeister (provided I can find them) in pots in the back.

Move and Divide Front Gardens

The front gardens consist of two parts, the main garden which surrounds the vegetable garden (fenced area), and the border garden along the drive and porch. Over the years, some of the plants have become HUGE and crushed out other plants. This year is a year of moving and dividing. The yucca at the bottom of the drive border will be pulled and moved to the back yard. I’ll be putting down cardboard and soil on that bed to hopefully finally (!) choke out the lily of the valley, and will be planting Peach Melba Crocosmia in the space, along with some asters. In the photo above, I’ll be removing the metal edging, and in the dirt space I’ll be planting some creeping thyme which should flow right into the yard, as well as a few plantings of Lemon Coral Sedum (if I can find it). In terms of items crowded out or overgrown, I’ll need to divide the daisies in the driveway border and pull the Autumn Joy Sedum from up near the porch. Both of those will either go back by the yucca, or wind up out at the shelter. Our maple by the veg garden is growing leaps and bounds, and I know at some point in time the veg garden won’t be able to have vegetables any more and a lot of the garden in that area will become more shady. As it is, I water that bed regularly, but the drive border is hot, dry, full sun and stands on its own.

Vegetable Garden

We’ve been contemplating putting in a greenhouse where the vegetable garden now sits. With the maple, it wouldn’t be a long-term solution but it could be a great place to do some seed starting and expand the growing season earlier in spring and later in autumn. I’m giving more thought this year to what we grow our vegetable in. For a few years we’ve used those grow bags. I have been looking into instead using large jute bags they use for coffee bean transportation for the roasters. I have heard if you double them up, they can last a season or more as long as you don’t try to move them. And when they give out, they can be composted. Bob shared with me information about new pesticides that have been approved for use in the US, and it is concerning. Having a greenhouse or cold frame could be the thing that allows us to safely keep eating lettuce and arugula in colder months. Something else I’d like to try this year was a tip given by my friend Susan. She places two cloves of garlic in each of her veg containers, and says it grows along with the veg and seems to stop some of the insects from bothering the plants. I think it’s well worth a try! Last year’s tomato worms were disgusting!

Other Gardens

I have some ideas and plans for gardening at the shelter as well. I have been going back and forth between cardboard or tilling. I’d like to turn some of our invasive fields-gone-wild into native wildflower fields that help pollinators. And I’d like to make the beds by the front of the building and the pots look even better this year. I’ve also sent Mom so many ideas for her garden, I’d like to help her make some of them happen. Because isn’t gardening with others always more fun?! Let me know what items are on your 2026 Garden Resolutions list!

Autumn Update

Tuesday, September 23, 2025 0 Etsy, Feral Cat Crafts, Garden, Living in Michigan, Misc. Blatherings, Weather Update, Zines No tags Permalink

Holy cats, I’ve missed so many updates! As of yesterday, it is now officially autumn, so here is my autumn update covering what I did over the summer and what I have coming up.

Crafts

In my last update, July 7, I was working on items for the August Mutt Market. Mom broke her wrist and was in a brace for the market, and she didn’t get to work on all of the stuff she wanted to. Here’s my market prep video, and my market recap video. I did well with some things (a few purse charms, key rings, Blind Date with Books, and lip gloss key rings, making a total of $200. Other things, like all of the Halloween bracelet stacks, didn’t do well at all. I’ve got them up on my Etsy, and they still aren’t selling.

Honestly, if none of the Halloween stuff goes, I’ll break down the sets and give them in the staff member Halloween gift bags next month. I love making bracelets in general, and Halloween stuff in particular. I’m not sure why they aren’t selling. If you’re interested in Feral Cat Crafts, and whatever I’m doing with craft projects, the Facebook page for FCC is here.

Family

In July, Mom and I drove down to Bowling Green to see Aunt Suzie, Gail, and Sydney. I had such a great time! Love them so much. We were also fortunate to have a few coffee sessions with Cyn and Evan. And my monthly video calls with Amy and Kat bring so much joy. Bob and I worked on various small projects around the home, but really just enjoyed spending time together. It was a great summer.

Mom and I went on the annual Leila Arboretum Society Battle Creek Garden Tour again this year, and had an AMAZING time. You can see the video of the garden tour here. It gave me so many ideas, as well as recharging my soul. I used some of the inspiration to remake an old garden bed (photo of before and after, above). I made a full video as well, in case you want to see how it went. This summer was hot enough, but more than that, it was SO HUMID. The heat index was regularly over 100° and I felt like I was melting every minute. June and July were overly wet, and August was overly dry. The vegetable garden reflected the weirdness of weather, but the flower beds looked fantastic.

Zines and New Projects

I have been selling a good number of zines on my Etsy, and over the weekend I completed another one. It’s painted in gouache with added photos and hand lettering. I dropped it off at the printer, and should have it back this week and maybe get it up on Etsy over the next weekend. This one is about Halloween costumes, past and present.

My latest project is a new Etsy, separate from Feral Cat Crafts, called Whiskers & Words Book Club. Mostly, it’s a print on demand (POD) attempt, but there are some things like stickers and book marks. I’ll also make some bracelets (that probably won’t sell) and maybe have some Blind Date with Books or other items up there, too. The Facebook for Whiskers & Words is here, and I share all kinds of book things as well as doing my promotion for the Etsy shop.

I have a few October craft projects planned, and will hopefully get some YouTube videos up for those, too. It often seems like I’m managing quite a lot online, with multiple Instagrams, Facebook pages, and YouTubes. Any time you look for advice on why stuff on Etsy isn’t selling, it’s because you need to post more on your social media! I’m managing so many different things now, I probably need Chat GPT to put together a schedule for me. It sure would be nice to see some responses from what I’m putting together, at least. Is it all just going out into the nothing of the universe?

June Crafts

Monday, July 7, 2025 0 Feral Cat Crafts, Good Reads, Living in Michigan, Misc. Blatherings, Summer Reads No tags Permalink

I somehow missed all of June. It was super hot and even when it was in the 80s, the humidity just sucked the life out of everything. I did manage to get some crafts done somehow, so here are the June Crafts update. First, I kept making purse charms (see above). I mostly did a beach or coastal chic theme for them, but this one above is a pink coquette theme. I put them up on my Etsy, and have sold none.

I also made a ton of phone charms. I really like to make them, like the purse charms! I put them up on my Etsy, and again have sold none. I made one and did a tutorial for my YouTube channel (for the love of all that is holy, please please subscribe and if you watch a video, can you just like it? Please?), and put it on my own phone. It did hold up to the wear and tear, but it bugged me so much I took it off after about ten days. How do the young people manage to use phones with charms on them?

Here’s some more purse charms! Only these aren’t for the store. My dear friend Amy came for a short visit to the shelter on her way to vacation, and I made her a cat-themed purse charm and a dog-themed one for her sister Mary (with whom I was on the school paper, The Crystal, back in 1993). Seeing Amy was one of the highlights of my summer for sure.

Bob suggested I try making some bracelets, and so that is the plan for July. I’m making stacking bracelets, sets of threes. I’m also making some Halloween-themed bracelets, as I saw that people start searching Halloween stuff in July on Etsy. Will they sell? I don’t know. I like stackable bracelets, especially surfer or beach themed bracelets, but generally if it’s something I like, it might not sell.

I’m not officially doing a summer reads this year, but I have been reading. Since my last reading update, I’ve completed the following:

Hospital Hill by Katherine Anderson (hard copy)
The Long Walk by Stephen King (audible)
We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin (audible)
Paper Ghosts by Julia Heaberlin (audible)
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods (hard copy)

I’m most of the way through the audible format of Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd, and I’m getting ready to start Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. The Long Walk was quite memorable and it’s coming out as a movie September 12. I’ve already forgotten what We Are All the Same in the Dark was about, though I know it was a murder mystery. Her Paper Ghosts was a murder mystery as well, and pretty good, about a woman who takes a suspected serial killer with dementia on her search to find out if he killed her sister, but I wonder if I will remember it in a few months. I felt the same about The Lost Bookshop, which was about 100 pages too long to get to the point it needed to make. Murder at Gulls Nest is about a nun who left her order to solve…you guessed it…a murder mystery! Again, kind of cute but probably will be forgettable after a few weeks. I need to update my reading journal and do a YouTube recording soon.

The Mutt Market is just over four weeks away. What all will I finish? I suppose some of it depends on how hot and humid my art space is. Last night it was over 80 degrees and I had two fans blowing on me. I managed to get a little work done, as it felt cooler in there than it had in the previous several days.

End of May

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 0 Etsy, Feral Cat Crafts, Kitty, Living in Michigan, Misc. Blatherings, Weather Update, Zines No tags Permalink

Suddenly, it’s the end of May. The month went super fast, as happens this time of year. Why doesn’t February or March go so quickly? Anyhow, the Whisker Mixer is over. My Blind Date with a Book basket (above) was really successful and went well over value. I’ve kept quite busy, working on items for the Mutt Market booth. I had three different varieties of bookmarks created, including this one:

I’ve been making purse charms of all varieties:

Charm bracelets and necklaces:

And key chain wristlets of several varieties, including silicone beads and the sewn ones I made last year:

I know, I know. The sewn ones didn’t sell last year. Maybe they will this year? I will be making matching airpod case pouches to go along with them. I also have plans to make larger, quilted pouches. I have yet to start any of those sewing projects as I’ve been busy with beads and charms. My plan is to get these up on Etsy, and maybe sell some before the Mutt Market. I’m back to watching tons of market and studio vlog videos on YouTube which always makes me think I could be successful, except the only thing I’ve been successful at selling are zines.

Speaking of, I did teach a zine class to four middle school students at the Marshall District Library this month. Those kids were so energetic and cute, and you know how I feel about kids in general. I’ve never seen anyone so happy about using old magazines for collage.

Morris came back to us. He was adopted out nine years ago. It’s an unfortunate situation.

Overall, May was more cold that average, with three days well below average. Mom and I did the greenhouses on the 21st and planted the cemeteries on the 23rd as Memorial Day was early this year, on the 26th. I planted our gardens on Memorial Day, and I’m crossing my fingers that we don’t get another frost as this upcoming few days are cold and rainy again.

April Update

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 0 Animals, Battle Creek, Crochet/Knitting, Kitty, Living in Michigan, Misc. Blatherings, Weather Update No tags Permalink

The most important April update? Spring is here! It actually looks and feels like spring now, and I feel like myself again. It surprises me how much of the year I don’t feel like myself at all because of the weather. I was meant to live in a world of 72 degrees and sunshine.

Bob and I were actually sick in April, for the first time in a long time. I was off sick from work two days. I also started the Aimovig self-shot for headaches and migraines. And guess what? It is working! It’s reduced my number of days with headaches by 2/3 and most of the days when I have a headache, it’s not a day-long thing. I’ve had two migraines in April, compared to 7 or 8 in March.

We snagged Tuxie #2, got him fixed and got him a home. Since then, we’ve seen two black cats and a tortie, but as of yet they are not coming around for treats.

With the reduction in headaches, I’ve had a weird mental clarity. This is how normal people live! I made this bracelet for a coworker, and will maybe make similar for the Mutt Market craft fair along with purse charms and lip gloss key chains.

I crocheted 11 cup cozies for the coffee pull for the upcoming Whisker Mixer. Then I worked on a shell-stitch sleeveless top which, when completed, will probably be too ugly to wear. Now I’m working on some crochet head kerchiefs for the Mutt Market craft fair.

I put together a basket called Blind Date with a Book for the Whisker Mixer. It has a bottle of wine, wine mug, two pairs of cozy socks, two packages of cookies, coffee, one of those thumb holder book openers, and a cute cat bookmark. The centerpiece of the basket is the blind book, pictured above. I had so much fun putting it together, I’m going to look at my book shelves at home and make six or so blind date books, and may put a few up on my Etsy. The bits and pieces to decorate it are inexpensive and I already have the books and would normally just donate them to Goodwill. This way, maybe I can make a few dollars and enjoy my creativity. I also have a pattern to make some box-shaped pouches for the Mutt Market, so I may give those a try.

Prep for the Whisker Mixer has been a nightmare with the venue. We actually had to change the date right before we sent out the invites. Ticket sales are slow, so I’m not really sure how everything will turn out. Fingers crossed.

It is nearly May. Cass’s 10th birthday is coming up May 6. I miss him so much. Looking forward to greenhouse day and cemetery day with Mom. I’m so glad spring is here!

Mid March Update

Friday, March 14, 2025 0 Animals, Art Projects, Crochet/Knitting, Living in Michigan, Misc. Blatherings, Painting, Weather Update, Zines No tags Permalink

It’s mid-March, and so it’s time for a Mid March Update. I’ve been working on various projects, and experiencing some bits of joy in between some mental issues most unpleasant. I’ll focus on the former here, and obsess about the later in a destructive manner of my own making.

Art

I’ve been making more Artist Trading Cards, both collage and some small paintings as well. My goal is maybe three painted ones a week, quick studies. Will I improve if I do this type of practice for a year? Probably not. The first three are pictured above. I rather like the one with ink on the right. I’ve used both the neocolor ii and gouache paint for them.

I finished the full-sized Who is Who zine and had 50 of them professionally printed. They are up in my Etsy store, where no one has purchased one. I have sold a couple more of the Cats zines though and might need to consider printing another round. Maybe I should just make zines about cats.

Crochet

I have almost finished the crochet baby blanket for a Board member who is going to be a grandma for the first time. It’s Lion Brand Ice Cream Baby Yarn, waffle stitch using a 5.0mm hook, and has a ripple edge. If I had yarn left and some ambition, I’ll make a hat to match. I also signed up to make eight or so crochet cup cozies for the Whisker Mixer coffee pull May 15. I can just about finish one in an evening.

Substack

I joined Substack. So far, I’m posting “interviews” with some of the shelter cats. I got one of those kiddie cameras that prints thermal black and white images for something new to play with, above. If you are interested in that kind of thing, check out my Substack here.

Misc. Other Stuff

Mom had cataract surgeries the end of February/beginning of March. She did great with the first one and hopefully will heal up with the second with no issues (we’re only a couple of days out). She can’t bend over for a week after each eye, so I’ve been on litterbox duty with Fanny, pictured above.

The weather has been a bit better, though still up and down. In the 70s today, very cold and maybe snow tomorrow. We are less than a week until the spring equinox, so the cold won’t last forever. The maple tree buds have started to pop and the pussy willows are out on the CWBP trails.

February Update

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 0 Art Projects, Etsy, Good Reads, Living in Michigan, Misc. Blatherings, Zines No tags Permalink

Holy cats, all of January has passed. Time for a February update. It has been a busy start to the year. I’ve kicked up my exercise routine, made significant changes to my eating, been reading and working on various projects. The weather has been rough for me. January was mostly below-average temperatures, including some single-digit highs. February is also expected to have mostly below-average temperatures. It is wearing on my soul, as often happens. I have seen flocks of robins here and there, and I suspect they aren’t enjoying it any more than I am.

Zines

So far in 2025, I’ve sold three zines on Etsy. I created the 2024 Year in Review zine (Detroit Lions had a great year, zine illustration above). I also made a fast mini-zine, Alternative Things to Celebrate in February Other Than Valentine’s Day that I included in my pen pal letters. I’m working on a mini zine on haikus, and I started the full zine about the World Health Organization. The Year in Review was professionally printed, and I will do the same for the W.H.O. zine.

One of the zine purchases was a lovely person who purchased my Cats mini zine and a sticker for her mom for Valentine’s Day. I wanted to do up a really nice package, so I made a little mini-journal as well:

If you would like to help me pay for my printing costs and receive a zine in the mail, check out my Etsy store here. All purchases get a few fun bonuses added. Maybe you’ll get some stickers, or a bonus zine, or an original Artist Trading Card!

Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)

You may recall in the past that I used to make and trade Artist Trading Cards, or ATCs. Or you might remember that I often make altered playing cards collage-style as a stress relief tool, and I even made a zine called Collage for Motivation (available on my Etsy store!). I am in an ATC group on Reddit and one on Facebook, and a few folks asked for trades so I sent out a few including these two (of three) from the series called My Blue Heart. The third one went in the Valentine’s Etsy order.

Valentine’s Projects

Speaking of Valentine’s Day, I always put together small packages of items for my staff members. I had been seeing these keychain charm lip balms on social media and on Etsy, and I decided to make some. It’s really fiddly work that requires good manual dexterity and good eyesight. I don’t have either of those things these days, so there’s a fair amount of frustration and swearing in the creation. I think they are cute, though. I hope the staff members like them.

Reading

Finally, the February update for reading. I’ve listened to two of the Murderbot series audio books by Martha Wells. They are sci-fi and really short, like four-hour listens. I love them! They were recommended to me by a pen pal and I recommend them as well. I also picked up Shadows in the Ward by one of my pen pals, Katherine Anderson. It is a super fast and fun spooky read.

Misc. Thoughts

January again was a rough month. We had lots of anticipation as to what would happen after the inauguration, and the results have been even worse than I could have expected. Each day reading the news is a new horror. We are living in some weird timeline, a Star-Trek mirror universe. It is not good. So for the end of this February update, I encourage you to take time to take care of yourself and feed your soul. Just like on Twin Peaks (Twin Peaks Day is February 24), each day give yourself a present. Don’t plan it. Don’t wait for it. Just let it happen.

October Recap

Monday, October 28, 2024 0 audiobooks, Living in Michigan, Misc. Blatherings, watercolor, Zines No tags Permalink

Spooky season and the month of October has gone so fast; time for an October recap. This first photo reminds me of a stained glass window or an oil painting.

I was hoping to do something to, I don’t know, celebrate spooky season. But Halloween is three days away, so it’s all kind of missed me. I haven’t even watched a horror film. I did manage to put staff gifts together, which is always kind of fun. And I sent Halloween cards to family and friends.

I’ve been thinking of my 2025 goals and starting to think of putting together my new bullet journal. This thinking has led me to shut down my Etsy except for zines, and end the whole Feral Cat Crafts Facebook, Insta, plans for craft fairs, all of it. I did manage to get two mini-zines done this month. One is a memory zine, and the other is an instructional zine for the upcoming Slow Stitch Meditation Roll class I’m teaching at the senior center November 6. Both zines were colored with Caran D’Ache neocolor ii crayons, which I am absolutely loving. I guess you would call them watercolors, or maybe pastels?

We’ve been working on finishing up the roof project, and have started cleaning up the leaves. Soup day went well enough. I finished listening to the audiobook of “Slewfoot” by Brom, and started listening to “Fantasticland” by Mike Bockoven. Slewfoot started out pretty good, but I didn’t think the ending was great.

November will be busy, with starting to write out holiday greeting cards for work and home. I’ve got the aforementioned class I’m a bit worried about. And then there is Thanksgiving. I hope to have my holiday gift shopping done entirely by the end of November. Not sure what the election results will be, though everyone is a bit on-edge.

What are you working on?

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