@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca cover
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

EllenInEdmonton

@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca

English teacher to adults adjusting to a slower pace in #YEG after life in HCMC, Việt Nam. Lots of interests & connections.
Sorry, I don't follow empty accounts or boosters. I hide most boosts.
She/her
#YegBike
#Sewist
#Houseplants
#Paddling
#Books
#Genealogy
#Travel
#Camping
#Hiking

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TheConversationUS , to bookstodon group
@TheConversationUS@newsie.social avatar

Young people are reading , but they’re rejecting the identity of ‘reader,’ which perhaps has more to do with community, wealth and gender than whether someone actually reads.
https://theconversation.com/gen-zers-and-millennials-are-still-big-fans-of-books-even-if-they-dont-call-themselves-readers-228569
@bookstodon

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@TheConversationUS @bookstodon
I know a lot of other generations filled with folks who don't identify as readers! It's an activity that we fall in love with and continue or not.

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@noodlemaz @TheConversationUS @bookstodon
I agree that there's a difference between having a hobby and seeing that hobby as part of your identity. I tend to get caught up in so I generally identify myself according to my hobbies/interests, which are many!

kimlockhartga , to bookstodon group
@kimlockhartga@beige.party avatar

@bookstodon

I have FOMOOB*
There is no cure.

*Fear Of Missing Out On Books

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@kimlockhartga @bookstodon
I can attest that if one becomes addicted to it slightly reduces the yearning for all of the books! Excited to be heading off on a 4-week though. I suspect I'll get through some nice long as well as some print and ebooks. My k-drama watching will definitely be less.

kamikat , to sewing group
@kamikat@horrorhub.club avatar

@sewing I ran out of the handdyed green for the straps and binding. Do y'all like the handdyed brown or solid green?

On a dressmaker's mannequin sits a princess seamed bodice in handdyed greens with solid green straps and neck binding

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@kamikat @sewing
I like the brown but it's your garment!

youronlyone , to Random stuff
@youronlyone@c.im avatar

Isn't the hippocampus where short-term memory is stored? Why did the said it is for long-term ? It's also actually stored in parts of the brain, the hippocampus only acts as a catalyst to store, not access, right?

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@youronlyone
Oh, but what's a good without an amnesia storyline!

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@youronlyone
Haha, that was a rhetorical question! But yes, I'm also watching the , which is very good quality. Unfortunately, I'm also watching 2 other sageuks so I'm a bit confused about which dowager queen and left-state minister is which but that doesn't detract too much from the main action.
And then, there's the amazing , , and . I seem to have enough on the go at the moment!

dbsalk , to bookstodon group
@dbsalk@mastodon.social avatar

I really need to start keeping notes on how/why I put a book to my TBR pile. The East Indian by Brinda Charry was added about a year ago, and I don't remember how I found out about it. A truly unique tale about an Indian boy winding up first in England and then Virginia during the 17th century efforts at colonization, for me this book is historical fiction at its absolute best. It might be one of the best books I pick up in 2024. @bookstodon

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@dbsalk @bookstodon
Awesome! Sounds right up my alley so it's been added to my TBR list!

TootTropiques , to bookstodon group
@TootTropiques@c.im avatar

"Good and evil are not fixed, stable entities but are continually trading places... Balance itself is the good."

--Haruki

@bookstodon

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@TootTropiques @kimlockhartga @bookstodon
I also loved this surreal book so much and am tempted to reread it except that there's a steady stream of new good reads to keep me interested.

countcol , to Random stuff
@countcol@mastodonapp.uk avatar

Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish and he will spend a fortune on equipment he will use twice a year.

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@Cryptomon @countcol @sewing @handarbeiten
I spent a LOT on notions/fabrics/patterns/classes for the first couple of years but now, I'm using thrifted fabrics/notions, and re-using patterns and skills that I've learned. It's become cost-effective now.

youronlyone Mod , to Philippines, the Pearl of the Orient Seas
@youronlyone@c.im avatar

From 2010 to 2017, there was a thing called that we Aseans started as a grassroots movement. We were all bloggers from across, well, or South-East Asia.

Some of us joined together to produce one of the best multi-authored regional blogs. We talked about our cultures, write about what makes the region awesome. As well as, try to address the oftentimes silly and sometimes heated debates.

It's all gone now. Forgotten. The blogs dead or offline. We all grew up, got busy with our personal lives, and moved on separately. And the important reason? We lost interest in it as we started to see ASEAN was, is, and will never be for the grassroots.

That was the end of what was once a vibrant grassroot ASEAN Citizens effort. We did it all voluntarily. Without a single recognition from the top-down organisation that is ASEAN.

I had friends from , , , , , , , , and yes, even from (). (I'm from the .) It was fun. It was not tiring at all. It was because we saw a bright future for ASEAN, and we believed in it completely.

But today? ASEAN is still a top-down organisation. They kept trying to get the grassroots involved, but they are always failing. Why? Because it is a top-down organisation, as simple as that. They will never understand until they shift their mindset and approach to bottom-up.

Who is ASEAN really for?

(P.S I want to restart this grassroots movement, but I just no longer have the spark. Give me a very good reason why I should give it another chance. Or, at least, guide the new generation.)

@asean @pilipinas @philippines @pinoy

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@ubi @goblin @youronlyone
Having lived in and travelled through many Asian countries, I'd say that there is a LOT of online activity but the platforms and styles of interaction vary dramatically from one country to the next, many of which have local chat platforms that dominate a lot of activity.

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@youronlyone @ubi @goblin
Yeah, KakaoTalk for Korea, Line for Japan, WeChat for China. There are probably others I'm not aware of but those were countries where I needed to contact locals so I had to download the apps. A lot of those platform have a variety of popular group chat features. FB was quite popular in VN, when the government would allow it.

liztai , to Random stuff
@liztai@hachyderm.io avatar

Heading to my hometown of Georgetown, Penang tomorrow! I make a point to visit it every year during Cheng Beng :)

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@liztai Such a lovely spot!! Make sure to get some photos taken by the most interesting murals.

DanielMenjivar , to Toronto
@DanielMenjivar@mastodon.social avatar

I am out of the house today, for the first time in over a week. Two weeks? More? It’s been so long I can’t remember!

Stopped by Tacos Moras on St. Clair West in for a delicious Torta. The bun! So good.

Lightly toasted bun with melted cheese, beans, guacamole, carne asada, onions and cilantro.

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@DanielMenjivar @sewing
I'm hoping to visit at least one fabric shop in and/or even though I don't urgently need additional fabrics. Still, it's a sensory delight to explore a space with so many colours and textures!

DanielMenjivar , to sewing group
@DanielMenjivar@mastodon.social avatar

Let’s talk about seam guides, @sewing!

What are your favourite seam guides to use when ? Do you use the same one every time, or vary it depending on what you’re sewing? Do you always use a seam guide, or just sometimes? Never? Do you prefer to align w/ the right edge of the presser foot and move the needle position on your domestic sewing machine? Tips? Tricks?

Personally, I try to use mine as much as possible and pick one depending on what I’m sewing (or how long it takes to install).

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@Libellule @DanielMenjivar
I have the rolled hem foot and would really like to get good at it. Limited success so far. I really like that magnetic seam guide and use it for most sewing, even when my seam width is the edge of my presser foot. I need to have some play days just to figure out how to do a variety of seam finishes. At least I've sorted out French seams quite nicely!

@sewing

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@jodmentum @DanielMenjivar @Libellule @sewing
if you can find it anywhere, that magnetized guide is the bomb, assuming there's a lot of metal on your machine!

EllenInEdmonton ,
@EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

@swachter @sbourne @Libellule @DanielMenjivar @sewing
I was gifted a very delicate fabric that I love and I really hope that I'll be able to make a garment with rolled hems out of it! Practice will clearly be needed beforehand.

jules , to bookstodon group
@jules@lgbtqia.space avatar

January reads already! This year is flying by. Some very entertaining and absorbing fantasy and SF, a creative romance or two, a historical mystery, and some middling fiction that I don't know if I'd really recommend (Alongi, Van Pelt).

@bookstodon

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  • EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @patchworkbunny @jules @bookstodon
    I abandoned Bright Creatures quite early on. Looks like that was a good call!

    MarianHellema , to bookstodon group Dutch
    @MarianHellema@mastodon.nl avatar

    @bookstodon

    Foster
    by
    Claire Keegan

    This is a really beautiful novella. An Irish girl in the 1980s is staying as a foster child with family. Everything is different from what she is used to.

    It would have been easy for Keegan to make a dramatic story out of this. But she didn't. It has a sad, but sober style, which makes it all the more powerful.

    Highly recommended.

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @MarianHellema @bookstodon
    Thanks for sharing. I worked with children in care for 3 decades and that unfamiliarity is one of the most jarring aspects for most of them.

    DanielMenjivar , to sewing group
    @DanielMenjivar@mastodon.social avatar

    Spent the afternoon in my room, making a pattern out of an existing pyjama top for my wife. I still need to trace out the sleeve, but I’m happy with my progress so far. Slow but steady. @sewing

    A large cutting table littered with oak tag pieces and various pattern drafting tools; you can see the front and back pattern pieces close to the front, with the scrunched up pyjama top near the back.

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @DanielMenjivar
    I'd really like to create some templates for myself like this. I took a class and got the concept but I made the mistake of not trying to do it right away!

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @DanielMenjivar @sewing
    Haha, I have a strict policy against punishing myself with perfectionism! I do want to get good at techniques that will allow me to wear my clothing for a lot longer (like French seams) but I refuse to look at wobbly seams or other items that nobody else would actually notice.

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @DanielMenjivar @sewing Cool. I learned the technique but I haven’t yet made something by tracing like that.

    the_bookwolf , to Romancelandia group

    Books with playlists. 🎧🎶🎵

    I read a book over the weekend called The Mixtape by Brittainy C. Cherry. It was an awesome book. There were a lot of song references, and I did a search to find that the songs had been put in a spotify playlist. I've always loved the idea of books that have playlists, and now I'm looking for books that do this. Any recommendations? I've also started listening to lo-fi music while reading and doing computer stuff. Any spotify playlist recommendations for music to read to would be awesome! @bookstodon @romancelandia

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @the_bookwolf @bookstodon @romancelandia
    Sounds good. Added the audiobook to my queue on Everand.

    CindySue , to bookstodon group
    @CindySue@bookstodon.com avatar

    I finished a book that wasn't for work! First one in like 3 months. I decided last night to try a romance which is a genre I haven't read much of in the last couple of years. I started the book last night and finished today.

    My headphones are dead so I can't finish what I was doing for work. I complained to the husband and he said to read a book. So that is exactly what I intend to do.

    @bookstodon

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @CindySue @bookstodon
    Sometimes, a romance or suspense story is a good reset. Also, I notice that most folks who read the highest quantity choose a lot of books in those genres. Personally, I only enjoy them as an occasional diversion but it's great to have a range of reading material to choose from!

    kamikat , to sewing group
    @kamikat@horrorhub.club avatar

    @sewing Confession time: I have been sewing for 35 years, many of those as a pro wedding/evening gown maker, in alterations at a bridal shop and a teacher at various fabric shops that I have worked in. I have never attempted shirring. Every time it comes back in fashion, I buy the stretchy thread and a pattern, put them in a drawer and walk away. This time is it. I think the top view would be perfect with wide leg jeans. Do you have a tutorial you like?

    https://thefoldline.com/product/pattern-scout-joni-blouse-and-dress/

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @kamikat @sewing
    Haha, I'm glad to know about how much experience you have because I was looking at your makes and thinking, "I should be able to make underwear"! Of course, I can learn how but I won't unrealistically expect it to look as pro as yours!

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @kamikat @sewing
    For the last year, I've focussed more on techniques than on the finished product and I'm pretty glad about how that's worked out. I really haven't sewn for the last 2 months but it's still on my mind a lot of the time. There's a shop in that sells Superwash wool jersey and I think it would be great to have wool undies for days when I'm going to get good and sweaty!

    bibliolater , to bookstodon group
    @bibliolater@qoto.org avatar

    Did you have a goal for 2023? Did you meet it? I did not have a goal; but, I did read quite a few books over 2023. I cannot say how many exactly as I did not keep a written record. Is keeping a record important? Should keeping a record be my for 2024?

    @bookstodon

    attribution: Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
    Page URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plate_8-_Man_in_a_hat_reading_a_book_with_a_magnifying_glass;_from_Icones_ad_vivum_expressae_after_Giovanni_Battista_Piazzetta_MET_DP883386.jpg

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @bibliolater @bookstodon
    Keeping a reading reord is a habit that I'm very happy I developed about 10 years ago because I was rebuying books that I'd previously finished and forgotten. Also, I love to be able to go back and talk about favourite features with other readers. I just use GR because it's readily accessible, I can scan ISBNs of books that interest me and I can bookmark whatever other readers recommend. Nice to see what my friends are reading.

    davidho , to Random stuff
    @davidho@mastodon.world avatar

    I need a time machine:

    The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami, translated by Philip Gabriel (Harvill Secker) coming in November 2024.

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @davidho
    Ooh, is worth waiting for!

    8 , to Random stuff
    @8@kpop.social avatar

    Any good kdramas lately

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @youronlyone @8 @kdrama @kdrama I dropped Twinkling Watermelon when they focussed on the past, without the deaf parents. I need to check out Tell Me You Love Me. And I'll say yet again that is epic.

    CultureDesk , (edited ) to Random stuff
    @CultureDesk@flipboard.social avatar

    Time to debate one of life's most important questions: Where should you store your condiments? Salon's Mary Elizabeth Williams talked to food advisors about what belongs in the refrigerator, and what goes in the cupboard. Where do you keep yours?
    https://flip.it/ftv_Dj

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @CultureDesk Ketchup goes in the garbage.

    cendawanita , to Pinoy
    @cendawanita@mefi.social avatar

    Friend: [daughter] needs a compass for scouts... Mr DIY should have right?
    Me: well, if not, confirm Muslim goods store would have.
    Friend: I didn't even think of that...

    (Oklah, friend not Muslim mah, hahahah)

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  • EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @cendawanita Haha, makes sense when you think of it! I used to host couchsurfers in and there were many who asked me which way it was to Mecca! I couldn't really help them.

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @cendawanita Yeah, I did a lot of my hosting in the days before smartphones were ubiquitous.

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @cendawanita Haha. Map applications became critical as soon as they were available. One of the very first apps I bought was SkyView, one that I use regularly to tell me where planets, constellations, and satellites are in the sky.

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @cendawanita Oh, I still love "real maps" but as somebody who visited a lot of Asian countries where I don't speak or read the language, paper maps were a lot less practical. Here in North America, I have paper maps/books for everywhere I want to visit so that I can see the "big picture", not just an arrow that takes up most of the screen.

    EllenInEdmonton , to Random stuff
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    I saw very high ratings for so I hesitated about upgrading my Viki pass to watch it. I almost quit during the first 3 episodes which seemed to be about very ordinary life for young ladies and lords in the Joseon era. Suddenly, in E4, it became VERY interesting, with Joseon being invaded by Genghis Khan. Apparently, the inspiration for the series was Gone With The Wind, which makes sense. Anyway, I'm on episode 6 and will probably watch pretty relentlessly this week.

    elisse , to sewing group
    @elisse@mas.to avatar

    So... I really, really, REALLY want to get better at sewing. I can sew some simple things like zipper bags, but it's like every time I completely forgot the last time and have to start over again.

    I am desperate for a step-by-step for complete beginners guide that I can use to retain some knowledge and will allow me to build up confidence and skills. I don't mind if it's paid, I just want to truly improve. Any recommendations, friends?

    Boosts super appreciated 💗

    @sewing

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @elisse @sewing Although I still hit hurdles, I've found that the patterns and instructions from and are much more detailed than those of the main companies and are relatively easy to modify. I also found a woman in the area who will print up copyshop-sized PDFs, which are much easier to work with and store. I paid for 2 video lessons from Sew Liberated. They aren't cheap but they break down the instructions extremely well, providing images and videos.

    jules , to bookstodon group
    @jules@lgbtqia.space avatar

    I guess I was reading a lot while I was off Mastodon for much of this month?! November's reads were pretty good. Some diverting MM romance, some historical-set witchery, some SF, and some harder to categorize. Standouts: Babel, Amatka, and of course the new Murderbot, System Collapse. Not really worthwhile: Lessons in Chemistry (or the adapted series either, sad to say).

    @bookstodon

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @jules @bookstodon Interesting. Most folks I know loved Lessons in Chemistry. I didn't read it because the title and cover art led me to believe that it was a romance. Babel has really stayed with me, my criteria for a great book.

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @jules @mvilain @bookstodon Yeah, I have a limited tolerance for endless "coincidences".

    jodmentum , to Random stuff
    @jodmentum@mastodon.social avatar

    I feel like I’ve been run over by a dump truck. Allergies. Migraine. Sciatica. Shoulder instability and neck pain all at once. Ugh.

    updated: coñññññño.

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @jodmentum Ugh, so many first-timers this fall! I also tested positive yesterday and I was fortunate to qualify for, and receive Paxlovid. It's worth exploring if it's still your first 5 days with symptoms. Heal well.

    youronlyone , to asianpop group
    @youronlyone@c.im avatar
    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @youronlyone @sirsean @kdrama @kdrama @asiandrama I started but dropped it in about Ep 3 when they were mainly in the past. I was much more interested in the characters and stories in the present day, especially the deaf parents and Deaf Culture.

    Polyhymnia , to sewing group
    @Polyhymnia@toot.wales avatar

    Ok votes please! I've almost finished my winter party dress (with shades of a C18 wrapping gown/piratical banyan)... but what colour buttons should I use? Option 1, soft green, perfectly pick up the colours of the leaves, or option 2, dark pink, which go more with the base colour. Both types of buttons are 15mm in diameter, so don't affect the size of buttonhole to be set. @sewinguk @sewing

    Button option 2, dark pink 4-hole corozo nut buttons, with slightly recessed central holes, and a wide flat border. Shown against the dress fabric. Several (17) buttons in the picture.
    Button option 1, soft darkish green 4-hole corozo buttons, with a narrow raised rim, shown against the dress fabric. Several (many-many-many-two) buttons in the picture.

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar
    scottsews , to sewing group
    @scottsews@mstdn.social avatar

    Time to be nosey! So what sewing projects are you working on? @sewing @sewing

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @DanielMenjivar @donkeyherder @scottsews @sewing @sewing Great job! I love French seams and felled seams, especially on fabrics like flannel that will easily unravel. It also makes a backup seam in case one seam breaks.

    hobiis , to Random stuff
    @hobiis@federatedfandom.net avatar

    I'm back, seeking another recommendation! Your last recommendations were great and I have many of them bookmarked for the next time I want those specific vibes.

    This time, though, I'm seeking a drama I can binge watch tomorrow while I'm alone in the house (for once). I'm in the mood for romance but not with teenagers, minimal cheese/cringe factor, and some good chemistry between the leads. I have access to Netflix, Disney, and all tiers of Viki.

    A Time Called You and See You In My 19th Life are off limits for me rn, I'm mostly through King the Land but again it's off limits rn, and I'm dropping Backstreet Rookie after 3 episodes.

    I think what I really want are the vibes of A Good Day to be a Dog, which I've watched through ep 3, but in a binge-able drama that isn't too cringe! Help pls...

    EllenInEdmonton ,
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @hobiis My Lovely Liar was a recent romance that had a lot of fun elements. Hometown Cha Cha Cha and Legend of the Blue Sea were also good. Thanks for the recommendation for Descendants of the Sun from fans out there. Starting right out with action and romance and what looks like it will be an interesting story. My request was for an evenly balanced romance, not a "Cinderella Story".

    EllenInEdmonton , to Random stuff
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @AnnaAnthro @liztai
    I don't think you'll be sad about that. It starts to crackle very quickly! Good combo of romance/mystery. The leads both have great backstories and they're super fun to watch.

    EllenInEdmonton , to Random stuff
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar

    @AnnaAnthro @liztai
    I prefer to wait until a drama is fully available before watching but a bunch of my crew is obsessed with and now I am too!

    EllenInEdmonton , to Random stuff
    @EllenInEdmonton@mstdn.ca avatar
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