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Here is my card for the National Crafting Month Bingo fest over in [community profile] allbingo. The fest runs from March 1-30. (See all my 2026 bingo cards.)

If you'd like to sponsor a particular square, especially if you have an idea for what character, series, or situation it would fit -- talk to me and we'll work something out. I've had a few requests for this and the results have been awesome so far. This is a good opportunity for those of you with favorites that don't always mesh well with the themes of my monthly projects. I may still post some of the fills for free, because I'm using this to attract new readers; but if it brings in money, that means I can do more of it. That's part of why I'm crossing some of the bingo prompts with other projects, such as the Poetry Fishbowl.

Underlined prompts have been filled.


NATIONAL CRAFTING MONTH BINGO CARD

SmudgesInk PensCrochetingTanglesFood
Mended ClothesThreadTimeStoneWoodworking
ArtisanTensionWILD CARDYarnColors
WritingUpcyclingSewingTapeGarden Crafts
Rag RugsLacking StorageSmall SpacesRibbonPoetry



Here is my entry for the National Crafting Month Meet and Greet post...

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Birdfeeding

Mar. 1st, 2026 02:23 pm
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Today is cloudy and chilly.  It rained yesterday afternoon and evening.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 3/1/26 -- I pulled dead stems from some containers in the old picnic table garden and the new picnic table garden.

EDIT 3/1/26 -- We hauled the 5 new rocks to the purple-and-white garden.  We hauled the huge bag of potting mix into the foyer.

EDIT 3/1/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I've seen a large flock of sparrows, a male cardinal, and a starling.  I heard a squirrel barking in the trees but didn't see it.

EDIT 3/1/26 -- I dug up some snowdrops from the parking lot and moved them to the log garden and the purple-and-white garden.  There are still a lot left.






.
 

Emotional Neglect

Mar. 1st, 2026 01:48 am
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[personal profile] cosmolinguist wrote a long, detailed discussion of emotional neglect that I suspect will resonate with many of my readers. 

Today's Adventures

Feb. 28th, 2026 11:27 pm
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today we went out shopping.

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Bingo

Feb. 28th, 2026 11:13 pm
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
I made blackout on my 2-1-26 card for the Valentines Bingo fest! \o/

Read more... )

Books

Feb. 28th, 2026 08:13 pm
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
March's book is The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher over at [community profile] bookclub_dw.

Civil War Musings

Feb. 28th, 2026 03:19 pm
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[personal profile] heron61
At this point, I suspect that civil war in the US in inevitable, and may be the "best" of a series out truly terrible options, since if we don't have one, I fear that when our our side takes control of the US again, the politicians involved won't deliver the sort of serious consequences (long prison sentences and in some cases executions) to keep the fasc from trying again in less than a decade. Also, I remain haunted by a quote I saw on Facebook several weeks ago "When they write histories of this time, they'll say that the US civil war started on January 6, 2021", I have great difficulty saying this is incorrect.

War Again

Feb. 28th, 2026 03:14 pm
heron61: (Amerika The Vile)
[personal profile] heron61
In years past, I've said that if the US attacked Iran I'd purchase and fly an Iranian flag, but after the Iranian government killed so many protesters, I can't. Instead, we have three nations at war, the US and Israel vs Iran, and the absolute best outcome for the entire planet would be all three of the leaders of these three nations to die in the war asap.

Food

Feb. 28th, 2026 03:19 pm
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
People want to avoid ultra-processed foods. But experts struggle to define them

The American diet is killing us. On that point, public health experts largely agree.

And in recent years, people who want to make Americans healthier — across the ideological spectrum — are targeting ultra-processed foods, which make up the majority of what Americans eat.


Read more... )

Birdfeeding

Feb. 28th, 2026 03:05 pm
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is partly sunny and mild.

I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 2/28/26 -- I cut and labeled four more water jugs. These are for flower mixes: Part-Shade Wildflowers, Edible Flowers, Fragrant Flowers, and 20th Anniversary Prairie Wildflowers. I skipped the Monarch Mix because that includes a bunch of nectar annuals like zinnias and cosmos which prefer warmer weather; I may make a jug for this later in spring.

EDIT 2/28/26 -- I sowed and taped the jugs.

EDIT 2/28/26 -- I carried the jugs to the parking lot and secured them with salvaged string.

The honeybees are out in force today. They are investigating everything to see if it is a flower. I am not a flower, but at least they finally found the actual flowers. In addition to the lavender crocus, there are now two yellow ones by the log garden and a white one in the rain garden. Many of the snowdrops are open too. :D Yay flowers!

EDIT 2/28/26 -- I dug up several clumps of volunteer daffodils that had seeded themselves into the parking lot, and transplanted them all around the house yard to go under various trees where they will be safer. I still need to move a lot of snowdrops, though.

I've seen a male cardinal. I've heard the red-winged blackbirds singing, but haven't seen them.

EDIT 2/28/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I saw a pair of house finches courting plus an extra male.

I am done for the night.

New Year's Resolutions Check In

Feb. 28th, 2026 01:22 am
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
We made it to the end of February! \o/ If you have completed any of your short-term goals or subgoals, and/or you're still chugging away at your ongoing goals, then pat yourself on the back. You worked hard for that. About 95% of New Year's resolutions crash and burn before the end of January. If you're still going, you have beaten the odds!

I'm continuing to track goals at the end of each month. So far it seems to be helping, so that's encouraging. I'm looking at my goal list more often and trying to keep ticking off more of them.


These are the previous check in posts:
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 9
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 16
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 23
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 30

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Philosophical Questions: Government

Feb. 28th, 2026 12:04 am
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People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

In an ideal government, what should a good citizen provide to their government and what should that government provide that good citizen?


A good citizen should provide respect as earned, a reasonable share of taxes, contribution to society, well-informed opinions on public matters, and civic participation such as voting.

A good government should provide survival needs or the means to meet them, responsible spending of taxes on public goods, respectable laws, honorable leaders, and the ability to do things at larger scale than individuals could do alone.  And not meddle in things that are none of its business.




Books

Feb. 27th, 2026 09:02 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
"ENTANGLED LIFE" DISCUSSION POST is up on [community profile] bookclub_dw.  If you've read the book, it's time to talk about mushrooms.  :D

Space Exploration

Feb. 27th, 2026 06:03 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Six planets will align in a rare ‘planetary parade’ this weekend

Six planets will be visible in the evening sky. Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter will be bright enough to see with just your eyes.

Uranus and Neptune will be much dimmer, so binoculars or a telescope will make them easier to find.


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Moment of Silence: Neil Sedaka

Feb. 27th, 2026 05:51 pm
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Singer and songwriter Neil Sedaka has passed away. His hits included "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," "Laughter in the Rain," and "Love Will Keep Us Together."

Read more... )

Pinetree Garden Seeds Order

Feb. 27th, 2026 03:11 pm
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My seeds arrived from the earlier Pinetree Garden Seeds order. :D

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ysabetwordsmith: A blue sheep holding a quill dreams of Dreamwidth (Dreamsheep)
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These are active communities in Dreamwidth from Winter 2025-2026. They include things I've posted, but only the active ones; the thematic posts also list dormant communities of interest. This list includes some communities that I've found and saved but haven't made it into thematic posts yet. This post covers J-Z.

See my Follow Friday Master Post for more topics.

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Birdfeeding

Feb. 27th, 2026 01:34 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is sunny and warmer with a nice breeze. :D

I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows and a male house finch.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 2/27/26 -- I cut and labeled four water jugs. These will hold Shithouse Marigolds, Black-eyed Susan, Milkweed, and Purple Aster. These are all flowers that I know can handle harsh conditions.

EDIT 2/27/26 -- I taped the jugs, moved them to the parking lot, and secured them with string.

I've seen a starling. Red-winged blackbirds are calling, but I haven't seen them. They arrived way early again this year, so I suspected that they'd wind up in my yard, regretting their poor life choices. At least it has cover and water here.

Crocuses are blooming, still all pale lavender. But there is a white bud in the rain garden!

EDIT 2/27/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 2/27/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I've seen a fox squirrel at the hopper feeder.

EDIT 2/27/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 2/27/26 -- I finished trimming dead stems off the wildflower garden. I still need to cut down the tree seedlings and rake more leaves off it, but the old grass is gone.

A yellow crocus is blooming by the log garden. Snowdrop flowers are opening. :D

EDIT 2/27/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

Recipe: African Spice Cookies

Feb. 26th, 2026 11:47 pm
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today I made African Spice Cookies. :D

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Photos: Water Garden

Feb. 26th, 2026 11:44 pm
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
My second garden craft today was making a mini-water garden. (See the House Yard and the Worm Bin.)

Walk with me ... )
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