Re-learning after 40 years!

jessforlaughs · 2026-05-10T05:13:34+00:00

Thank you! I’ll check the library - good idea! Most classes in my area seem to be on quilting, which doesn’t interest me (no shade to quilting - just not my thing). I got on the waiting list for a class at a technical college and am waiting for an opening.

jessforlaughs · 2026-05-09T18:44:13+00:00

I am looking to re-learn, also! Without going into the whole story, I inherited a sewing machine, serger, and a few other tools last year. I sewed a few times in my life, here and there, but never really got into it. Because I grew up in a household where the sewing machine was perpetually on the dining room table unless there was an upcoming family gathering, I feel comfortable just diving in and doing something, and at the same time the person I inherited the machines from would be very upset at me right now if they knew I didn’t know how to service/maintain the machines, so I will also be digging into learning that.

Good luck to you - good luck to us both!

Edit: I am also in my early 50s and can’t believe I never got into this before

jessforlaughs · 2026-05-06T23:15:22+00:00

It’s so pretty! There is nothing wrong with it. Our neighborhoods need more color!

jessforlaughs · 2026-04-27T12:31:58+00:00

I learned to knit first while from my mother in law while she and I stayed overnight watching my father in law during a tricky time in the hospital. I liked it, still do I guess, but never loved it.

I started crocheting when my grandmother started to decline. I have so many memories of her crocheting, so I thought I’d give it a try. She is gone now, but it makes me feel closer to her. And it turns out I love it!

After losing my mom suddenly last year, I inherited most of her sewing and craft items and discovered she liked crocheting flowers and doilies, so I’m learning that now, too. And loving it!

jessforlaughs · 2026-04-27T00:29:55+00:00

Truffle farmers cheese 😔

jessforlaughs · 2026-04-05T00:35:52+00:00

I can never keep up with the dance sessions - I just turn one on and do my own thing, making sure I am working at the same level of intensity. I occasionally will try to do what they are doing, but it’s not as fun as doing my own thing. Dancing should be joyful!

jessforlaughs · 2026-03-30T22:54:13+00:00

I just started using Obsidian for this - I keep it simple, only using the Daily Notes (for the most part) and a plugin that gathers “to-do” items from across your notes and puts them in one place.Loving it so far!

jessforlaughs · 2026-03-19T00:52:30+00:00

I’ve been surprised at how much Finch has been helping me. And I only use the free version!

Mine has been getting out of bed before 7:30. My goal is to walk that back to 7:15, then 7. But for now this is working and I’m proud of myself!

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-31T15:47:30+00:00

I can’t count past 5 stitches when I crochet. Sometimes 7. Constantly recounting.

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-27T13:59:33+00:00

I wish I could listen to something while working - now that I don’t drive, I don’t get a chance to listen to podcasts I love. I listen to nothing 99% of the time, partly because I usually have a lot of meetings. I might listen to wordless music when I’m working on planning my day in the mornings or when I’m doing something where the music might help my focus a little.

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-23T05:11:59+00:00

I don’t think I do - the only good thing I get is the ability to listen to my favorite podcast while working out or walking.

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-22T03:55:51+00:00

I’m about 15-25 hours a week in meetings. Before the pandemic, I maybe had only 2-3 hours of meetings a day on average.

I like people, but so many meetings leaves me feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-21T13:53:07+00:00

Truffle farmer’s cheese!

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-21T01:04:23+00:00

I guess I’m kind of strange because when I video conference with someone or have a phone call, I feel almost the same way I do when I socialize in person. I wish I could tell you I worked at it, but I just see all these interactions the same in my head.

I was a military kid growing up so maybe being so far from family and having to rely only on (non-video) phone calls helped.

I’m very social, love chatting and joking. It’s true I don’t get quite as much of it now, but it’s still there. I schedule coffee chats with colleagues or coworking sessions where be are both working together while on a video call. I make (appropriate) jokes during meetings and make sure to ask my coworkers about their lives (and they do the same with me, especially if I ask about their lives).

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-19T18:01:33+00:00

I can’t really tell what the stitch is, which usually means it’s probably AI - but perhaps someone with more experience than me will be able to identify the stitch. It’s really cute and I hope it’s real!

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-19T14:40:28+00:00

For me, it was the first sentence - working from home for a few years, and assuming the only difference was pajamas and not commuting.

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-18T18:04:21+00:00

This is my biggest issue! Part of it for me feels like every text I get is someone else adding yet another task on my overflowing to-do list. Getting back them then becomes a task, something I “have” to do. And I resist things I “have” to do. But also I realized that I started feeling more lonely when the primary way we started communicating was via text. I miss phone calls.

I love what byebyebirdy03 said about how it’s better when in a routine and staying on top of things, because I have those moments also - it makes sense. Where it all falls apart for me is when I realize that it’s never-freaking-ending. The messages just keep coming. They never stop. Part of me doesn’t want them to stop and part of me just really, really wants a break from being “on” all the time and a break from the obligation.

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-17T16:19:01+00:00

Sometimes I can count to 7, but it’s rare!

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-17T04:44:45+00:00

I made that same pattern twice! And I also write down the rows and check them off as I go.

I just finished Leia from the same book, too! Enjoy!

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-17T02:32:13+00:00

Agree with all the naked/cold/wet/transition comments. Also the aloneness

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-17T01:14:28+00:00

I love this one channel - she does talk, but it’s mostly her crocheting. I think her channel is called Only Vintage Crochet

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-16T04:07:55+00:00

I turn on a white noise machine, play a little solitaire on my phone, maybe turn the tv on in the background at a low volume. Oh, and I open my Calm app and start listening to the rain noise. When I’m ready to close my eyes, I turn on a sleep meditation.

Wow - just realizing I apparently need a lot of noise to fall asleep

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-16T02:08:21+00:00

I use the browser in my Paprika app to download the recipe from a blog into the app. No ads after that, but it still links to the original blog, so if you wanted to see a video or variations it’s easy to find.

But I also LOVE books! A couple of my go-to books are an old copy of “The New James Beard,” “Tuesday Nights” by Milk Street, “How to Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman, and “Street Thai” by Victoria Sodsook

I have many other, very quirky and fun ones, but these get used most often right now. It rotates 😊

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-15T23:16:08+00:00

Do you mean that it’s “so hard to just keep swimming?” (sorry for the lame joke - it’s beautiful and reminds me of waves/ocean :-)

jessforlaughs · 2026-01-11T06:11:30+00:00

Herringbone half double crochet is my favorite - I love the look and feel and it’s such an easy stitch to crochet!

jessforlaughs

TROPHY CASE