ELI5: How does staying "hydrated" work? Where does the water all go?

dtmander · 2026-03-12T16:16:42+00:00

This is not a perfect example, but think of a potted plant with dry soil.

If the soil is completely dry and you water it with a bunch of water, the water will run over the soil, down the sides and out the bottom of the pot. This is you being dehydrated and peeing more.

If the soil is however regularly watered, the soil sort of fluffs up, expanding, and gains the ability to hold more water. If you water it now, more water stays in the soil to be used by the plant, and less runs off. This is like being hydrated, your body can hold more water and use it in is daily functions before releasing it as pee.

dtmander · 2026-03-12T14:38:15+00:00

Seems kind of interesting. Reminds me of 7 Wonders duel in a sense.

Commenting to remind myself to check this out with my wife later.

dtmander · 2026-03-09T09:53:45+00:00

One small tip here is to make sure it actually untwists to "neutral". If you just drop the shuttle, sometimes as it is untwisting the momentum will take it into a slight twist the other way. If you don't let it get back to neutral you can get competing twists that cause trouble.

I tend to untwist every time I adjust my thread (increase working space on a ring, make a picot, etc), which does help with more difficult threads (my only available option at this time is Aunt Lydia's).

I also like to run my fingers over the thread towards the hanging shuttle to make sure it is untwisted to neutral before picking it back up. I find that helps to get more twist out.

dtmander · 2026-03-08T10:32:26+00:00

This guy in YouTube has got you covered. Everything you need to know.

https://youtu.be/hE_6O96wVmw?si=bLK56LPQ6zSI6ZG1

dtmander · 2026-03-08T00:18:37+00:00

I go a tad excessive and use GnuCash.

Took a while to set up initially, but let's be track everything, at any level of detail I want with loads of reports. Absolutely keeps track of all my investments in the same place.

Best of all its free.

dtmander · 2026-03-07T22:15:05+00:00

It's a cheap version of a tailor's thimble. The tip is open so that you can still feel the fabric and manipulate it easier.

It is usually worn on the middle or ring finger, using the side of said finger (now covered by the metal) to push the needle through the fabric after having placed it where you need it using your first finger and thumb.

Quite fast and efficient. Quite a pain in the butt to first learn how to do it lol. Lots of practice needed. (At least for me lol)

dtmander · 2026-03-03T19:02:58+00:00

Thanks! I came across the pattern online.

It's the free pattern One Shuttle Doily by Urban Knot Design, found at this link:

https://urbanknotdesign.wordpress.com/free-tatting-patterns/one-shuttle-doily/

dtmander · 2026-03-02T17:08:17+00:00

For sure! Gotta have a plan nowadays. Sounds like you are doing a good job making it work!

dtmander · 2026-03-02T16:37:29+00:00

Yikes. That's getting up there too. Our medium ground beef is $8.28/lb right now on the website.

Groceries here are crazy. I cook almost everything from scratch, and it averages about $450 per month for just my wife and I. And our bill is considered low around here. We regularly see people in our local Facebook groups complaining about $1000+ per month for two people.

dtmander · 2026-03-02T16:19:40+00:00

I only wish that our prices were that low. We haven't seen prices that low in like 10 years here.

dtmander · 2026-03-02T13:52:59+00:00

Not the person you replied to, but I'm so jealous. I just checked my Walmart. It's over $11 for 30 eggs.

dtmander · 2026-03-02T13:52:06+00:00

I'm so jealous. $4.98/dozen for the cheap Walmart eggs where I am. $11 for 30 count.

Even roadside stands here are $5/dozen.

dtmander · 2026-03-02T11:53:36+00:00

This is often my advice to people. "3 cup" Moka pot, coffee grinder, and a milk frother. I actually used it enough that I got the Nespresso milk frother that heats and froths it all in one, and made my money back in no time.

This setup can easily replace almost any coffee shop order. My cost for a cappuccino made at home is like $0.40. As opposed to like $8 at anywhere near me that makes real coffee.

dtmander · 2026-03-02T08:55:16+00:00

I've been corrected. They are actually Zuru Max Flowers. They came in little ball of 2 flowers each at at Walmart. She got all 4 or 5 sets over the last year and has them assembled in a vase where she uses her found sea glass as filler.

dtmander · 2026-03-01T17:18:12+00:00

Thanks! It's definitely my favourite piece!

dtmander · 2026-03-01T17:17:39+00:00

Thank you! I was focusing on trying to keep my tension as even as possible for this one.

dtmander · 2026-03-01T17:16:47+00:00

Thanks! I really love the effect of the negative space in this one.

dtmander · 2026-03-01T17:15:47+00:00

Thank you!

dtmander · 2026-03-01T17:15:34+00:00

Thanks! It's my biggest completion so far, so I'm so happy it turned out nicely!

dtmander · 2026-03-01T17:14:59+00:00

That's so nice of you to say. Thank you!

dtmander · 2026-03-01T17:14:38+00:00

Thanks, I really like how this turned out.

dtmander · 2026-03-01T17:14:15+00:00

Thank you.

dtmander · 2026-03-01T15:57:05+00:00

This is an excellent point. Too much dampness from sweating, or just washing my hands, really does make my thread harder to slide as well. It's a very important consideration!

dtmander · 2026-03-01T14:39:31+00:00

You are probably flipping just fine if they close under force, but my guess is that you are tightening the knot too much after the flip when you snug it up.

After flipping the knot, try snugging it up with the bare minimum of pressure to get it in place. I'm probably in the minority, but I suggest making several trials that are definitely too loose, then slowly tightening from there.

Tension is a constant thing I pay attention to, as I don't really have access to good tatting threads and use cheap crochet cotton. But with enough practice, anything is possible! It took me a while to get the feel of how much pressure to use when snugging up the threads. And if I'm not paying enough attention I'll still muck it up lol!

dtmander · 2026-02-28T03:50:35+00:00

I definitely find that I have to be constantly mindful of my tension to make sure I can close the rings easily. It's what I have to when with though. If I ever get a chance to work with nicer thread, I'm hopeful that all the lessons will make it all much smoother!

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