I've been getting your emails this week wondering where I've gone. Have I disappeared? Have I broken an arm? A leg? An artery?
Obviously not. As you can see from this actual photograph I'm just fine. I'm not hurt, not injured (that's just pizza sauce) or institutionalized. I've just been working on updating the guts of my website, which - like playing chess against a piece of fruit - is taking longer than you would think.
In addition to updating and performing maintenance on my website I've also been spending a lot of time doing what I'm sure a lot of you are doing - I'm counselling my good friend Instagram. As one does when their friend goes off the rails and starts acting mental.
My once unassuming and likeable friend Instagram is now loud, obnoxious and unrecognizable. Sandy has donned her satin pants, curled her hair and become Tik Tok Rizzo.
Instagram, which used to be a pleasant, mind numbing way to start my morning, is now an outer space circus assault complete with screaming robots.
I miss the days (last week) when I could quietly scroll Instagram in the morning and be greeted by quiet photos of homes, people and baked goods that conjured up unrealistic expectations for my own life.
I don't like this new Instagram with robot voices and endless screaming Reels. I do not. If you don't either feel free to vent in the comments. This is a safe space.
Then of course there's Philip. He's my dog. Lip turned 6 months old a week ago and I turned 172. Taking care of a puppy is like taking care of a baby only harder because you can't stick your puppy on a shelf in the closet for a few hours.
We started puppy training classes last week and being the very first social event I've had in the past 2 years, I dressed for the occasion. That means I carried my 12 year old Prada purse which I filled with hot dogs.
But mainly I'm a week late getting back to writing because of updating the website. If you like, I could write a whole post on what's involved with running a successful website. It's even harder than taking care of a puppy or a shelf baby.
I've also been making a LOT of sourdough bread in many different forms, most recently sourdough sandwich bread, cinnamon/raisin swirl sourdough, Japanese milk bread sourdough and this weekend I'm going to try chocolate sourdough with walnuts.
That's the nice thing about having a dog. Calories burned prying open their mouths to retrieve partially swallowed socks, cats, shoes and Kleenex 97 times a day is enough of a workout to allow eating 2 or 3 loaves of bread daily.
THESE are a few of the other things I've been doing:
Boosted a battery
I boosted Pink Tool Belt's battery when it died in a parking lot a few weeks ago.
You can learn how to boost a battery in this post.
I also had a neighbour help me boost my own battery just last week. So it's kind of timely knowledge to have in February if you're in North America.
CBD Seeds
I'm back searching for CBD seeds to grow this year.
And at anywhere from $45 - $90 for 5 seeds, I want to make sure I'm getting what I want. High CBD, low THC.
Maybe a 1:1. Definitely autoflower.
I understand that means nothing to many of you. It meant nothing to me until about 2 years ago.
Last year I grew autoflower CBD seeds from Dinafem and turned them into Cannabutter and it worked great, I just thought I'd try a different seed. 🤷♀️
Pot pies
Eating Turkey Pot Pies with french fries and canned green beans because I like my winter menus to come from 1972.
After Thanksgiving I made a whack of homemade turkey pot pies, as I do every year, and froze them.
You can make them with chicken as well obviously.
Listen to me. They are DELICIOUS. Make them.
Reading
I few weeks ago I asked my Instagram followers if they could recommend a book for me.
Lots of people had recommendations and I finally decided on the book Pachinko.
It's so great when you ask someone for a book recommendation and they give you examples of other books they liked. - it lets you know if you have the same taste in books.
I am really liking it. It's the first book in a long time that has me going to bed early because I'm so looking forward to reading it.
Well, I'm off to finish some work on Monday's post which involves tools, a water pump and a live wire tester.
Everything's back to normal.
Pat
I loved the book Pachinko! It was a wonderful story (sad in some parts) but so well written. I had to google 'Pachinko' machines to see if they were a real thing & apparently they are! who knew?
dirk
Yup! Instagram is total crap now. Sound off! or you will die.
What fools. We need the next thing because they are done
Mary Ann Conner
Wow soo happy to see you have returned and are as enjoyable as ever. Delighted to see The handsome Lip is still alive and well..puppies are not easy but if you can hang in there things do get better. My white standard, Baxter, who will be 2 in August is probably 1 of the smartest dogs I’ve ever had...smart but very “talkative”. How is Lip in this regard? I also would like to get B cut in the same way...we went with the puppy cut but I think B would look wonderful with a fluffier look. Does it have a name? Anyway...it’s great to see you back!
Karen
Hi Mary Ann! Lip is also talkative but he's learning not to bark. Not endlessly anyway. When he yawns he absolutely SCREAMS. It sounds like a loud cartoon yawn. And he does it ALL the time. It's hilarious. ~ karen!
Kathy
I don't know why, but I've always loved groomed poodle feet. They're not pretty, but weirdly elegant? They look articulate. And prehensile? I don't know. They just make me stare.
Karen
They look like chicken feet, lol. So maybe prehistoric?? ~ karen!
SHONA DOCKTER
I hate reels. I hate stories. Stick to pics, Insta!
Fran Schwitek
Welcome back! I have missed your hilarious, helpful and comforting posts!
Terri Walters
Hey Karen,
I've been missing your posts. I have a couple of favourite bloggers that I like to follow
including you! Other than the bloggers I am not into any other social media, life is
too short to waste it on "garbage".
Glad you are back safe and well. Enjoy your puppy, they don't stay young forever!
Take care,
Terri
Janet
Yep, IG is becoming tik tok or a crappy lipsync competition. I have it muted when I scroll so I don't have everyone's reel blaring at me. Maybe I'm getting old and crotchety, but I hate it!
Cathy
Hi Karen
Your hog is adorable love the name Lip 😂
When you find CBD seeds try to make sure they have a low sent as the plants grow. We have people that live near us and the first year they grew plants it got so terrible with the stench before it was harvested. Luckily last year it was better.
Cherie
Hi Karen Welcome back. And an early Happy Valentine's Day. Thanks for the book recommendation. To round out a none too perfect 2021, I broke my ankle in 3 places on Dec. 28th while playing a game with our sock, tissue, plastic, underwear eating 8 month old pup, Annie. Long story, but it has meant a much too long stretch without much activity except Netflix, Sudoko, books and more books and a lot of ranting and raving, patience not being my strongest point. about how much I dislike this confinement. Now I have your site to help occupy my inactive days and hours, too and none too soon. It is always good for a laugh to say nothing of all the wonderful ideas.
Tracy
I used to love Instagram. It started going down hillva few years ago when they quit showing the accounts you follow in chronological order and just showed the ones THEY thought you should see. Now it's becoming Tic Tok. And if you don't do reels on your own account, hardly anyone sees you. I don't get on there very much anymore.
Jane
Karen, I'm interested in the Japanese milk bread sourdough. I've been itching to try my hand at Japanese milk bread. Ever since the yeast shortage back when the pandemic started and I started my sourdough starter, I've been making bread with the starter to the point that I've nearly forgotten how to use yeast. 😃 So, a milk bread sourdough sounds perfect! The recipe please! Pretty pleased!
Karen
Hi Jane! I used The Perfect Loaf's recipe and it was great. ~ karen!
Jane
Thanks very much, Karen! I've checked out The Perfect Loaf before, time to go back to it. Aside from milk bread, also pretzel, bagel, ..., now if I can only get my English muffin game going...
Kunyi Mangalam
Have you been listening to my inner thoughts? Just last night I had a thought fly through my brain: Where is Karen? Why haven't I seen anything from her? I rationalized your disappearance from my life: Well, she's a landlord-ish' - meaning she likely has things to solve for tenants. It's not that she doesn't love us (me) anymore. Or... she's organizing her seeds. Again, not a rejection of us (me). So.... it's great to hear from you again. I know the message is to uplift us (me) as we wait for spring to start planting.
Thanks for the reco for books and canna seeds. I tried a couple years ago, and it was a dismal failure. I'm curious enough to want to try again.
Karen
Yup, I'm here!! I really am liking the book. :) ~ karen!
Cyndia
I hear you on the puppy classes! We just had our second one and our three month old, 35lb Akita is NOT an "A" student. Wish Lip could join us at night school - that portrait of him is priceless!
Karen
Our biggest problem with school is getting him there and back without him throwing up! He does NOT travel well. ~ karen!
Beth
I hear you about Instagram! And all those herky jerky reels!! It's like visiting the Louve but forced to be on a moving sidewalk at sprinting speed! To be fair, I have never visited the Louve, but you get my drift!
Karen
I do, lol. ~ karen!
Mary W
HEY! Your cute picture with the pizza sauce was really ME! The crust recipe link no longer exists! You had me at that crust picture and now what am I going to do? Create my own? I just had my tongue all set for pot pie tonight and now you see me in the picture above! HELP
Karen
The crust link? Like the dough for the pot pie you mean? I'll go check it. ~karen!
Mary W
I found it - the original from someone else was the one I looked for and it was no longer available. I'm determined to make a batch of this GORGEOUS crust to keep handy! Thanks for the recipe!
Nancy
For CBC seeds, try Crop King Seeds out of BC. I grew some "Dutch Treat" last summer and am very happy with the crop I harvested.
Karen
Oh, thanks Nancy, I'll have a look! ~ karen
Mariah
So glad you’re back! Instagram is on my “once was” list. Not worth the b.s. to visit the site.
ErinG
So glad to hear from you again!
172. Nailed it. Our pup is nearing 16mo, so I have hope. And a lot more grey hairs.
IG has turned into my sad place. I only post photos to keep in touch with family now. Scrolling makes me feel empty. I remember when it was so fun to check in on my virtual community and see ACTUAL PHOTOS, not ads and boring flat posts created on Canva. Now I can hardly find those original pals in all the noise the algorithms are throwing my way.
Hang in there with the updating. I'm crop planning and thinking of spring to keep sane.
Karen
I feel like I may never get to crop planning this year.😫 ~ karen!
ErinG
You've got enough experience to wing it for a season. Things may not be perfect, but you will grow good food. Maybe you can just rotate your plans from past year to different beds?
Tara F.
Hi Karen,
I Love your blog!! Your articles are so funny and help empower women to be strong and self reliant. I feel I am a woman that can do many things that some rely on their spouse to do, but I learn so much from you too!! I already knew how to jumpstart a car and see that you had a link to the portable jumper kits but the links didn't work. I have had a Gooloo kit for years and my husband and I have gotten similar kits for each of our 3 boys and now for our 2 almost daughter-in-laws so they are safe in our harsh winters (North Dakota). For anyone looking into one of these kits, I recommend finding one that has USB ports on them incase you get stranded and need to charge a phone as well. Thanks for all your wonderful advice and articles and I can't wait to see what else I can learn from you!!!
Karen
Thanks Tara! Now you definitely have me sold on a jumpstarter, lol. I'll go check my links. ~ karen! (see? this is part of the updating process I speak of)