Episode 244: Defeated by a Cat

This episode will upload August 2, 2025 

Comments are welcomed! Either comment here or go to our group on Ravelry.

Buy Dr Gemma a Ko-Fi, if you're enjoying the podcast and feeling up to it. Remember that I am still working, though, so feel free to give the money to a charity instead.

I will NOT add you to any of my follower groups currently, due to robo-accounts. Please follow me here. You can contact me through our group on Ravelry or on this blog.

Warm Thanks : 

Turbogal: for loving on my custom-made minifigure.

To the folks signing up for CFR11! 

My community: in Finch, on Reddit, on the ground in the SCV, in this group.

My two finches are having a pajama party. 

 Finch app ID is XRVW2WQW3C.

Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 11 (2025): ALL INFO IS RIGHT HERE!  It's the info thread on Ravelry. Yes, I made my hotel reservation.

Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 11 is scheduled for OCTOBER 11, 2025. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

This is a Developing thread, so check back often.

Registration for CFR 11 (2025):

Via Paypal to Dr. Gemma at gemmadw AT yahoo.com
Payment is due at time of registration and is NOT refundable.**
Sign-up dates:
Everyone: July 1, 2024 BUT If you have EVER attended a CFR--automatic admission--July 1, 2024. Returning people get first dibs in spaces before August 30.

We have hotel issues, sadly. Please sign up asap!

Limited to 50 people.

What's On My Hooks and Needles:

Finished:  not yet!

In Progress:

 Stash toss 2025 (56 in, 28 out):  no new yarn. Hooray! 

Virgo sweater: onto the sleeves! Started a sleeve.

The 10-square bag:

Doing the sides, all the blocks are joined. Done up the side panels. Thinking of the liner, digging out an old flannel sheet.

Lakeside cardigan : Remaining: 1 set of front on panels, each is 2x2, weaving those ends, attaching, then major remaining seams.

September Sweater: It's crocheted and has been on my Rav projects page for months. 225 to 150 chain. I’m about half way through the second torso piece. Train progress!

Alfresco 2nd rectangle, finished 1 skein of 2nd side

Random ESCs: tails and tummies for 4 chickens

Quilt squares and organizing—none this week—we are at 69 finished so far. 10 more in the early stages. BUT I finished ironing all the quilting fabrics that I bought before Joann’s closed. Fusible interfacing pre-cut rectangles for t-shirt quilts

Dizzy Blondes: finally plied the  persimmon colored Lisa Souza BFL and the camel hair/silk mix; started the LS BFL Giverny

Using the electric eel 6.1.

Strategy: change things up a bit to refresh yourself

AW shoot! Thursday I ran again! Hiking LA: Saturday: brief solo train outing to Glendale. 

Donate used running shoes: Soles4Souls or One World Running

Upcoming:

Mountain Gallop: August 16, 2025

Be The Light 5K: Sept 21, 2025:

Jeepers Creepers 5K: Oct 19, 2025.

Santa Clarita Marathon 5K, Nov 9, 2025

Santa Clarita Turkey Trot 5K: Nov 29, 2025

Fluffy Books: 

Finished listening to My Calamity Jane. Finished listening to My Imaginary Mary at night. Now listening to Can’t Spell Treason without Tea

Something I Really Like: Moomin Adventures, vols 1 and 2 and Ninja Keto Chow ice cream

Project back episodes on Proton- episodes 141-180 of the original series are up for the month of July

Put a Lid on It: tea tasting:

zoodles!

Using up meat leftovers:

The return of the electrolyte drink! Ketorade!

In a pint jar:

Juice of half a lemon

2 TBSP apple cider vinegar 

1/2 tsp No Salt

1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt

5-10 drops liquid stevia

Fill rest of jar with sparkling water

Blather: 

The boycotts: keeping the faith

The Bead Show at Pasadena Convention Center

LGBTQ+ LIFELINES:

Community Resources:

Books I’ve Used: A Knit/Crochet Library on the Ravelry group for CogKnitive

My Favorite Resources to Buy: The entire list can be found right here.

Skills and techniques list : links

My linktree

 

Calendar: 

Yarnopoly and Second Saturday Stitchers—look them up on Facebook! meet-ups on the 2nd Saturday of each month (usually)

Sit and Stitch group: 9-noon, 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at Joanne Darcy Library in Canyon Country

SCV Free Craft exchange: Find them on Facebook. 

Mountain Gallop 5K: August 16, 2025

Labor Day: Aug 30- Sept 1, 2025

Birthday break: Sept 4-7, 2025

Be the Light 5K Sept 21, 2025

Jeepers Creepers 5K: Oct 19, 2025.

Santa Clarita Marathon 5K, Nov 9, 2025

Santa Clarita Turkey Trot 5K: Nov 29, 2025

CFR 11 (2025): Oct. 11, 2025. 

And Minerva gets the last word: I won.

Episode 243: Flockin' Around

Shownotes can be found on our blog at cogknitivepodcast.blogspot.com and also on our group on Ravelry.

Check out this episode!

Episode 243: Flockin’ Around

This episode will upload July 26, 2025 

Comments are welcomed! Either comment here or go to our group on Ravelry.

Buy Dr Gemma a Ko-Fi, if you're enjoying the podcast and feeling up to it. Remember that I am still working, though, so feel free to give the money to a charity instead.

I will NOT add you to any of my follower groups currently, due to robo-accounts. Please follow me here. You can contact me through our group on Ravelry or on this blog.

Warm Thanks : 

Turbogal: for a wonderful comment over on the Ravelry group that includes a link to a British gardening show with its instructions on how to propagate plants from cuttings. (To see the video you’ll have to bypass the website request to sign up, and then watch an ad, but it’s worth it!) Thank you so much!

Chrisaah: for you. We can rebuild him

My community: in Finch, on Reddit, on the ground in the SCV, in this group.

My two finches are camping together in Iceland to catch the beautiful summer evenings after a day of exploring Reykjavík.

 Finch app ID is XRVW2WQW3C.

Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 11 (2025): ALL INFO IS RIGHT HERE!  It's the info thread on Ravelry. Yes, I made my hotel reservation.

Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 11 is scheduled for OCTOBER 11, 2025. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

This is a Developing thread, so check back often.

Registration for CFR 11 (2025):

Via Paypal to Dr. Gemma at gemmadw AT yahoo.com
Payment is due at time of registration and is NOT refundable.**
Sign-up dates:
Everyone: July 1, 2024 BUT If you have EVER attended a CFR--automatic admission--July 1, 2024. Returning people get first dibs in spaces before August 30.

We have hotel issues, sadly. Please sign up asap!

Limited to 50 people.

What's On My Hooks and Needles:

Finished: ESC 5: Noelle

In Progress:

 Stash toss 2025 (56 in, 28 out):  no new yarn. Hooray! 

Virgo sweater: onto the sleeves! Started a sleeve.

The 10-square bag:

Doing the sides, all the blocks are joined. Done up the side panels. Thinking of the liner, digging out an old flannel sheet.

Lakeside cardigan : Remaining: 1 set of front on panels, each is 2x2, weaving those ends, attaching, then major remaining seams.

September Sweater: It's crocheted and has been on my Rav projects page for months. 225 to 150 chain. I’m about half way through the second torso piece. Train progress!

Alfresco 2nd rectangle, finished 1 skein

Quilt squares and organizing—none this week—we are at 69 finished so far. 10 more in the early stages. BUT I finished ironing all the quilting fabrics that I bought before Joann’s closed. Fusible interfacing pre-cut rectangles for t-shirt quilts

Dizzy Blondes: finally spinning the 2nd braid  persimmon colored Lisa Souza BFL.

Using the electric eel 6.1.

Strategy: wisdom is the ability to find alternatives.

AW shoot! Hiking LA: Saturday & Sunday: not Saturday, due to Woobles bash. Crafting catch-up day on Saturday. Sunday was 2 great phone calls with chums and some B&N damage. Monday I awoke with no pain in my foot for the first time in 3 weeks!

Donate used running shoes: Soles4Souls or One World Running

Upcoming:

Mountain Gallop: August 16, 2025

Be The Light 5K: Sept 21, 2025:

Jeepers Creepers 5K: Oct 19, 2025.

Santa Clarita Marathon 5K, Nov 9, 2025

Santa Clarita Turkey Trot 5K: Nov 29, 2025

Fluffy Books: 

Listening to My Calamity Jane for crafting. Listening to My Imaginary Mary at night.

Something I Really Like:  House of Joseon Apricot Blossom Peeling gel AND

Best Dogs ever--a tribute to Norwegian Elkhounds

Project back episodes on Proton- episodes 141-180 of the original series are up for the month of July

Put a Lid on It: Ninja Cremi

The return of the electrolyte drink! Ketorade!

In a pint jar:

Juice of half a lemon

2 TBSP apple cider vinegar 

1/2 tsp No Salt

1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt

5-10 drops liquid stevia

Fill rest of jar with sparkling water

I gave in!

 

Blather: 

The boycotts: keeping the faith

LGBTQ+ LIFELINES:

Community Resources:

Books I’ve Used: A Knit/Crochet Library on the Ravelry group for CogKnitive

My Favorite Resources to Buy: The entire list can be found right here.

Skills and techniques list : links

My linktree

 

Calendar: 

Yarnopoly and Second Saturday Stitchers—look them up on Facebook! meet-ups on the 2nd Saturday of each month (usually)

Sit and Stitch group: 9-noon, 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at Joanne Darcy Library in Canyon Country

SCV Free Craft exchange: Find them on Facebook. 

Mountain Gallop 5K: August 16, 2025

Labor Day: Aug 30- Sept 1, 2025

Birthday break: Sept 4-7, 2025

Be the Light 5K Sept 21, 2025

Jeepers Creepers 5K: Oct 19, 2025.

Santa Clarita Marathon 5K, Nov 9, 2025

Santa Clarita Turkey Trot 5K: Nov 29, 2025

CFR 11 (2025): Oct. 11, 2025. 

And Minerva gets the last word: She put me on a diet!

Episode 242: Now I'm a Minifigure!

Check out this episode!

Episode 242: Now I’m a Minifigure!

This episode will upload July 19, 2025 

Comments are welcomed! Either comment here or go to our group on Ravelry.

Buy Dr Gemma a Ko-Fi, if you're enjoying the podcast and feeling up to it. Remember that I am still working, though, so feel free to give the money to a charity instead.

I will NOT add you to any of my follower groups currently, due to robo-accounts. Please follow me here. You can contact me through our group on Ravelry or on this blog.

Warm Thanks : 

Kimmel: for a thought-provoking comment on the Rav page about social media and kids. A quote I really appreciate: “ We still worry about online bullying and shaming so we are careful to not speak disparagingly with our bodies, compare ourselves to others in our community but also to question if statements are fact or opinion. I just hope it’s enough to get through the first year or so of puberty when the thinking brain begins to change wildly.”

My community: in Finch, on Reddit, on the ground in the SCV, in this group.

 

  . 

Celebrating 100 days with both my finches. Here’s what that looks like inside the app.

 Finch app ID is XRVW2WQW3C.

Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 11 (2025): ALL INFO IS RIGHT HERE!  It's the info thread on Ravelry. Yes, I made my hotel reservation.

Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 11 is scheduled for OCTOBER 11, 2025. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

This is a Developing thread, so check back often.

What's On My Hooks and Needles:

Finished:

Nope.

In Progress:

 Stash toss 2025 (56 in, 27 out):  no new yarn. Hooray! 

ESC 5:

Virgo sweater: onto the sleeves! Started a sleeve.

The 10-square bag:

Doing the sides, all the blocks are joined. Done up the side panels. Thinking of the liner, digging out an old flannel sheet.

Lakeside cardigan : Remaining: 1 set of front on panels, each is 2x2, weaving those ends, attaching, then major remaining seams.

September Sweater: It's crocheted and has been on my Rav projects page for months. 225 to 150 chain. I’m about half way through the second torso piece. Train progress!

Alfresco 2nd rectangle; here’s the first:

Quilt squares and organizing—none this week—we are at 69 finished so far. 10 more in the early stages. BUT I finished ironing all the quilting fabrics that I bought before Joann’s closed. Fusible interfacing pre-cut rectangles for t-shirt quilts

Dizzy Blondes: finally spinning the 2nd braid  persimmon colored Lisa Souza BFL.

Using the electric eel 6.1.

Strategy: Reducing the Doomscrolling: Puzzle books, Finch, crafting

AW shoot! Hiking LA: Saturday & Sunday: in Glendale with Beloved Son for some time out. And I bruised my right foot, so still no running

On the way by train to Glendale for a fun day

Running gear check IV:

Tech: earphones by Shokz, GoPro in chest harness, bear spray, body alarm, smart watch, apps on phone, running belt by Nathan for water, phone, inhalant

Donate used running shoes: Soles4Souls or One World Running

Upcoming:

Mountain Gallop: August 16, 2025

Be The Light 5K: Sept 21, 2025:

Jeepers Creepers 5K: Oct 19, 2025.

Santa Clarita Marathon 5K, Nov 9, 2025

Santa Clarita Turkey Trot 5K: Nov 29, 2025

Fluffy Books: 

Listening to My Plain Jane at night. Listening while working on India Holton’s The Geographer’s Map to Romance as I stitch—finished this evening

Something I Really Like:   National Parks Crafting page! Knitting, crochet, and some great projects

Project back episodes on Proton- episodes 141-180 of the original series are up for the month of July

Put a Lid on It: 

Tea Tasting: white chocolate mint by Plum Deluxe

The return of the electrolyte drink! Ketorade!

In a pint jar:

Juice of half a lemon

2 TBSP apple cider vinegar 

1/2 tsp No Salt

1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt

5-10 drops liquid stevia

Fill rest of jar with sparkling water

Blather: 

  

Try taking a picture of this dog. Go ahead.

Glendale outing

 

 

Bionic hand:

 

The boycotts: keeping the faith

LGBTQ+ LIFELINES:

Community Resources:

Books I’ve Used: A Knit/Crochet Library on the Ravelry group for CogKnitive

My Favorite Resources to Buy: The entire list can be found right here.

Skills and techniques list : links

My linktree

 

Calendar: 

Yarnopoly and Second Saturday Stitchers—look them up on Facebook! meet-ups on the 2nd Saturday of each month (usually)

Sit and Stitch group: 9-noon, 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at Joanne Darcy Library in Canyon Country

SCV Free Craft exchange: Find them on Facebook. 

Mountain Gallop 5K: August 16, 2025

Labor Day: Aug 30- Sept 1, 2025

Birthday break: Sept 4-7, 2025

Be the Light 5K Sept 21, 2025

Jeepers Creepers 5K: Oct 19, 2025.

Santa Clarita Marathon 5K, Nov 9, 2025

Santa Clarita Turkey Trot 5K: Nov 29, 2025

CFR 11 (2025): Oct. 11, 2025. INFO

And Minerva gets the last word: I spinz with you!