I rescued these three gorgeous slabs of thick granite from my neighbour’s trash. I have no idea what I’m going to do with 15 lbs of granite but I’m thrilled with them nonetheless. 😂

My delightful friend (and professional photographer) Dani aka @curiouscrone.bsky.social took some pictures of me last week. This one is my favourite.

Once upon a time a time I thought 70 was so old I wouldn’t want to live past that age. Thankfully my idea of what aging means and how it can feel has changed! Thank you Dani for joining Rowan and I on the podcast this week! @mavenofmayhem.bsky.social @curiouscrone.bsky.social

I really wish I had an internal control panel with a series of lights beside helpful tips like ‘you feel like shit because you’re hangry. Eat a banana ffs.‘

The first hour or two of moving to my newly upgraded iMac (from my 10 year old one) were heady and exciting. The 8 hour long tail of figuring out which goddamn folder had my Lightroom export presets and where to put them now is making me weep. This is why I only upgrade my tech once a decade.

This week’s art/science mash-up: chlorophyll printing, with nothing but two leaves and sunlight. How cool is this?

Pretty reflections despite the fire smoke haze this morning as I kayaked around (and through) Upper Duck Island in the Ottawa River this morning. I’m always fascinated by this odd little spot - it feels like a secret.

Oof, this was painful 😣 Connections Puzzle #782 🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟩🟦🟨🟩 🟩🟦🟨🟦 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟦🟦🟨🟨 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟨🟨🟨🟨

This hot sunny weather is perfect for cyanotypes - making photo prints from sunlight. Some of these worked better than others, but it’s fun to learn and experiment. And I have no shortage of photos in my library!

Seven months after they rolled out the change, Instagram finally got around to making my grid rectangular today. Thanks for not forgetting me and my 300 followers entirely 😂

The other day I drew a subway-style map for The Hobbit, and it was very well received. Some of you asked if I could do one for LoTR, so I have! Forgive the eel watermark; I'm working on making these something you can buy, if you like.

Needed an anklet. Made an anklet! (Possibly related: it’s hard to take a flattering photo of your own ankle)

Such an amazing show - my first-ever Bluesfest. Future acts have a lot to live up to.

I am excited to announce that local corn is in season and if my family isn’t sick of it by harvest season, I haven’t done my job.

Oh shit, now I need a new starting word!! 😂 Wordle 1,491 1/6* 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Got a new toy - literally, a toy camera. It’s a faux TLR digital camera and the lack of control over everything except composition is a fun new challenge.

Gift of a summer evening watching a free concert from the #OttawaSymphonyOrchestra at AY Jackson Park in Manotick. Great to encounter friends and neighbours , plus #MerryDerry!

Quick getaway to Toronto with my middlest kid to see Briston Maroney in concert with Peach Pit. Decided to risk driving instead of the GO train & were rewarded with a perfect parking spot and amazing dinner at LibertySoho. Then collected rocks on the beach on the way home. #summer2025microadventures

Amazing news!

Oh there’s the rain. This is probably the wrong moment to remember I have laundry on the line out back. Getting a nice rinse! 😂

That was very cool (pardon the pun). The thunder got more and more intense, everything got very still, then a burst of wind set all the tree branches in motion for maybe 10 seconds. No rain, but the temperature dropped significantly and the wind settled. Oh hello cold front!

I’m sitting on the porch listening to the sudden and ubiquitous thunder that is rolling and roaring without pause back and forth across the sky, creeping closer and closer. I think it’s about to get a lot cooler!!

40 plus appreciation post! Reskeet with a pic if you’re over 40. Do I get bonus points for turning 56 in a few weeks?

Took advantage of the #CanadaStrongPass today for free lockage through the Long Island Locks on the #RideauCanal. It’s nice having a UNESCO world heritage site as your backyard playground. :) Such a perfectly photogenic day to be out!

This is who runs this account.

Have you read Braiding Sweetgrass? It truly changed my world view and I’m so grateful for that. I genuinely think every person should read it.

Seeing what's happening in the USA and globally, created this small tool based on a bunch of years making banners and signs 🏳️‍🌈✊ Banner Planner v1.0: Sizes, materials, making methods based on the budget, situation and people you have contributing to make signs. iancapstick.github.io/bannerapp/ba...

Name 3 films you’ve seen more than 10 times: Star Wars (actually more than 100x) Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Love Actually

I am surprisingly bad at Connections, given how my brain usually leaps frantically from thing to thing, but today’s puzzle with the gerunds was positively painful. Connections Puzzle #732 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟦🟪🟦 🟦🟦🟪🟪 🟦🟦🟪🟦 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟪🟪🟪🟪

Fun adventure selling rocks and pouches for magic secrets and other upcycled folk art - as well as 1 card tarot readings - at Manotick’s Dickinson Days festival today! So many folks wanted to talk about my rocks. 😂 And now I need 2 days of solitude and silence to recharge my people battery, please.

The ‘if laugh then share’ rule applies to BlueSky too!

It would have been a perfect morning out if it weren’t for the wildfire smoke. (Me with my middlest kid Simon.)

I hadn’t really considered that the rich might just eat each other.

I would have been satisfied with 5 - 10 total cumulative sales of my eBook on rock wrapping, even knowing it had potential. Five sales in the first 24 hours has me downright giddy. External validation FTW!

1. Florida banned cities from lighting up bridges rainbow colors for Pride. So the people of Jacksonville did it themselves using flashlights and gels. They opened the drawbridge to block them. So they marched to a different bridge. The latest from S. Baum. Subscribe to support our journalism.

Well this is an amazing bucket-list achievement: I wrote a book! It’s a 54 page eBook with detailed instructions on basic rock wrapping techniques, supplies and materials, including 3 unique projects. And it comes with over 60 mins of YouTube tutorials too! curiouscrone.etsy.com/listing/4313...

Q: Why do we have “Pride Month?” A: There are children, adolescents, teens, young - middle age - and older adults who feel like being dead might be better than being L G B T Q and that is not okay.

Whoa, just watched the season finale of Doctor Who. Delighted that I managed to miss any spoilers, but wowza, what a finish!! 🤯

Cool storm clouds out over Richmond village tonight!

In 2020 we had to regrade our backyard to create a swale. The grass never really retook, and it’s sort of a meadow out there now. I just mowed down the dandelions and native violets and found huge patches of native wild strawberry plants, along with lots of self heal and clover. Benign neglect FTW!

We could all do with some wholesome trans content and this had me bawling: here’s the moment where Beth McCarthy gave a trans person a new name at her concert. 🎥 @Bethmaymcarthy on instagram

Just did a tarot reading at the 692 coffee shop here in the village for someone who purchased a reading I donated to a fundraiser. I think occasionally of just setting up (with permission) in a coffee shop and offering readings. Maybe one day!

I really enjoyed reading this.

Post with the five shows you would be happiest to have to rewatch over and over as your sole TV diet. Here are mine: Doctor Who Ted Lasso QI The Detectorists MASH

One week later, dog still smells like skunk. 😂 (this is an old photo - she’s still not allowed back on the furniture, much to her dismay)

Bought some chemicals to make cyanotypes last weekend and it feels like six years since the sun has come out. What a brutally dreary stretch of weather. But I’ll be ready when it comes back! ☀️☀️☀️

I need more local Ottawa folks to follow. Who’s interesting here on BlueSky?

I am so in love with this story

I’ve been using Canva (the free version) to create an eBook PDF about rock wrapping. I keep expecting it to say I’ve reached some sort of limit but I’m over 50 pages and several hundred uploaded images and I still haven’t hit any limits. That’s impressive for a free product!

When you are literally laughing out loud and walking around your house showing something to people…