To all who celebrate, Merry Christmas! I post this image most years - it is one of my favorites. It is the first dedicated Christmas themed stamp issued by the United States in 1962.

I honestly think that many people don't know what their public libraries offer besides books. I think that everyone should go on a public library treasure hunt in 2026. Go explore what your library systems offer at no cost to you. Report back to me :)

Kicking off my holiday break with a finish: Small Frosty by Shannon Christine. Completed December 12, 2025. #CrossStitch

One more week of work before I’m off for the Christmas holiday period! (I’m taking some extra leave…it’s use it or lose it.) I’m getting a head start with my holiday read/project… #sewing #quilting

When reality and a Stephen King plot collide…

This took a while for me to finish. I still need to weave in the ends and block it but otherwise, this scarf is completed! #Crochet #Yarn 🧣

Sitting Penguin by Shannon Christine. Completed November 22, 2025. (This one was a very fun stitch!)

Time for crafts and a new start - and time to learn how to do a French knot. #CrossStitch

Christmas Mug Small 3, designed by Shannon Christine. (I am a slow stitcher, so I love her free, small designs!) #CrossStitch

BlueSky just verified the White House account. I responded by doing the only appropriate thing:

It took forever for Amazon to deliver this…but it’s finally here! As I re-learn #crossstitch, I’m amazed at all the new artists and innovative designs. These are probably 2026 projects…but I wanted to go ahead and purchase it, to help one of the Canadian artists hurt by the tariffs.

My heart is so full this morning. I’m kitting up my next cross stitch project. I have floss…SO much floss. But I couldn’t find DMC 597 and 598. As a last resort, I looked in the bin of floss I inherited from my mom when she passed. Found both of them. Somewhere, she’s smiling. ❤️ #crossstitch

Finished September 19, 2025. #CrossStitch

It doesn’t really feel like fall yet but I’m clearly in the fall “crafting” mindset! I’ve cranked out a stack of crocheted dishcloths this week. And even kitted out and started a small Halloween cross stitch project. 🍁 🍂

Sunday reading….🧶

This was fun! Thank you to MSU’s College of Arts & Sciences for the invite. #generativeAI #AI

It’s been a week, with flooding at home and at work, a week long online conference, and several deadlines. I decided I needed a break from house trauma (and water damage) and worked on a craft project: I present my iPhone cosy!

@axios.com Thank you for the #AxiosAISummit livestream for those of us not in New York!

I’ve worked in academic libraries a LONG time…and InterLibrary Loan still feels like magic! Thanks to the Mississippi State University Libraries ILL folks, this is my holiday weekend read.

BREAKING: President Trump just fired our nation's Librarian. My statement here:

My ATA (American Topical Association) exhibit is finally up on the web. #philately #stamps ataexhibits.com/wp-content/u...

It's official. 15% ICR on NSF grants. My favorite line: "Reducing administrative burdens for awardee institutions." Say the opposite of what is true... the communication strategy of our time: www.nsf.gov/policies/doc...

I’m planning to try something more adventurous than tacos for Cinco de Mayo but wanted to also experiment with some new ingredients. I’m thinking maybe Arroz con Pollo? There are a lot of variations…any suggestions? Other dishes I might try? Suggestions welcome!

Why yes, I did spend my Friday afternoon off sorting floss! (This is not the main collection, this is the overflow.) #CrossStitch

Lunches next week: taco bowls with taco meat, Spanish rice, and TexMex beans. #brownbaglunches

On the menu for this week - a recipe from my college days, tabbouleh! (And a thank you to spell check for helping me out.)

@corybooker.com Thank you.

It was either start drinking or buy crafts….dealing with stress with my first order from 123Stitch! #crossStitch

@alostrich.bsky.social For some reason, I kept thinking of you while watching this video! 🤣

“By eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services, the Trump administration’s executive order is cutting off at the knees the most beloved and trusted of American institutions and the staff and services they offer...” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/a...

Friday, back in the office and attending Mississippi State University’s online conference: Food and Agriculture as National Security Conference.

It took detaining a white Canadian woman for the public to get a glimpse into ICE detention. The stories she tells—of her dehumanizing experience & that of so many other women—are horrifying. This is America. Not new to this administration, just ramped up. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

The economic value of a research university to its state….#HigherEducation

Today: a veggie taco stew that is fantastic and about $4 for the entire pot (yeah for beans!)

This dish takes a while to prep and cook, so I’m a day early for Saint Patrick’s Day. (Lots of leftovers for the week!)

These are the senators who collaborated with the GOP. Schumer Fetterman Cortez Masto Durbin King Shaheen Gillibrand Schatz Hassan Peters Don’t let them forget it. No peace for them.

Time for some spring break creativity! I’ve been digging through the cross stitch stash….

I love Canadians. Look at the length of the red carpet that was rolled out for US Secretary of State Rubio in Canada. 😂😂😂

@schumer.senate.gov If you cannot step forward in this critical moment and show some leadership, then it is time for you to step down and let the next generation lead this fight.

✋

Any @democrats.senate.gov that collaborates with republicans on this budget needs to be held accountable. Do not do this!!!

This was a surprise! Check out the researcher profiles. And while you’re there, check out some of the cool research done at Mississippi State University! www.research.msstate.edu

Lunch prep for the week: beef stir fry and rice!

Hate that it has come to this, but it's time to consider PubMed vulnerable to enshittification. My latest post @plos.org discusses the lines we need to fight to hold – and alternatives we can rely on internationally: absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/02/14/w... #medlibs

TOMORROW- Friday, February 28th is BLACKOUT FRIDAY! If you believe we are in danger of losing our Democracy forever, FIGHT BACK! Let's make our voices heard in numbers too big to ignore. JOIN US if you've had it with Comrade Krasnov. 🤬 🇷🇺 #24HourEconomicBlackout

This ended up bigger than I had planned…but it’s still yummy! Tex Mex potatoes.

WYOMING: “Thank you, Madam chairman.” “I prefer ‘Mister’ chairman.” “Well you all voted preferred pronouns cannot be compelled speech.”

JSTOR has compiled a list of 2025 funding opportunities to help libraries digitize, describe, & preserve their collections. These programs support a range of initiatives, incl. audiovisual preservation & community archives. Explore the details here: bit.ly/4hlhQcf

Exciting #OpenAccess news! Our initiative University Press Library Open has hit a major milestone, with 10,000 OA titles now available in its digital #library on uplopen.com. Scholars around the world can now read and download content from leading academic presses with no paywalls or subscriptions.