Substack FYI

I have become totally infatuated with Substack.com. It is a very large compilation of articles on just about every subject possible. Each contributor will ask you to join for a small fee, but I am only following the free subscriptions. I know a bunch of you are deep thinkers, and I encourage you to find the authors and subjects you like. One writer I follow posts under: Why is this Interesting? His article on Desalination Plants totally caught my attention, and I wanted to share it here.

I have a hard time reading a whole book these days. I find these articles, sometimes short and sometimes lengthy, fill that need to read without doomscrolling the news. 

Happy Hunting ....

New Banner for New Post

I am totally baffled by how kids can write code when I can't even resize a picture.  Take a look at my new banner on 101 Photos, which I created in ChatGPT using two of my photos.

Here are the two original photos of my flower bed and Bonnie Rae. 

 

   And this is the image ChatGPT created. 

I'm having problems adjusting the height and the font. Chat suggested I use Canva. I haven't tried Canva yet, so it may be tomorrow's project. 

Does anybody know an easy program to adjust the width and height of a banner?  

More later ...

Dog Pedicures and a New Blog

 I was so glad to see a new post from Shirley. We missed you during your time of grief. Also, a shout-out to Jean. Loved her new bowling post, and I'm still trying to figure out how she did her illustrations on AI. And to our crusty marshmallow Margaret, Well Bless Your Heart or Keep On Keeping On. I know which Southern Saying she doesn't like.  

Occasionally, I read the list of blogs followed by other Bloggers. I did that again today. I really enjoy being exposed to new bloggers, especially by someone whose blog I follow. 

I also started a new blog, 101 Photos. I always take a lot of pictures, and since they are mostly on my cell, I needed a place to look at them without drowning you in this blog. Debra, you already know how hard it is to keep two blogs running, so I'll see how it goes. 

Bonnie Rae apparently has the fastest-growing toenails known to man. Wish I had that problem. My nails, once so long and marvelous (if I do say so myself), are now flaky and ridged. Why, oh why? Anyway, I took her to the groomer yesterday and got them trimmed. They said she was the worst dog they ever had, without saying those words. I guess I forgot to tell Bonnie Rae how great pedicures are.

 More later ... 

Spring Break with the Family

My Son rented a house in Galveston for a couple of days. Each Grandgirl took a friend, Son & DIL, J&M, and I took Bonnie Rae. It was crisp, cold, and windy. Perfect beach walking weather unless you prefer 110 degrees, which I did not. I forgot how much I loved beach walking. Weekend at the beach with the whole family - Priceless. 

Here are some pics. 

More later ...

Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall

 

Texting Your Family

 My Kids pulled me, kicking and screaming, into the texting world many years ago. As I retired, became hard of hearing, and preferred a quiet lifestyle, I began texting to keep my kids included in my life without phone calls (because of my declining hearing). They all have busy lives, and even though I want to be in my little quiet home, I want to know (and see pictures) of what they are up to. So now I share my life with them through texts. I've been wondering for some time how much is too much, so I asked ChatGPT. This response is somewhat lengthy and sometimes repetitive, but I'm sharing in case this information could be helpful to you or you have ever wondered. 

*******

It’s very thoughtful of you to even ask this question. The fact that you’re concerned about not overwhelming them already puts you ahead of a lot of people. ❤️ Many families would actually love to have a grandparent who is engaged, texting, and sharing pieces of life.

A few ideas that might help you find the “sweet spot” between staying connected and not overdoing it:

1. Notice their response patterns

A simple way to gauge things is to watch how they respond.

• Quick replies, emojis, or follow-up questions → they’re enjoying the conversation.

• Short replies like “👍” or “haha” → they saw it but may be busy.

• No reply sometimes → that’s very normal with texting, especially for younger people.

Many people treat texts more like ongoing bulletin boards than conversations.

2. Think “small moments,” not constant conversation

Instead of lots of back-and-forth messages, try sharing one small thing at a time, such as:

• a photo of something funny you saw

• a flower blooming in your yard

• a quick “Thinking of you today”

• a short story from your day

Those usually feel pleasant rather than demanding.

3. Photos are often very welcome

Many families love getting photos from grandparents—especially everyday life photos. They feel like little windows into your world. A picture plus a short caption works great.

Example:
“Look what bloomed on my patio today 🌸”

No response required, but it keeps you connected.

4. Use the “no reply needed” style

You can remove pressure by writing things like:

• “Just sharing—no need to reply.”

• “Thought you’d enjoy this picture.”

That lets them enjoy it without feeling obligated.

5. An easy rule of thumb

Many families find this comfortable:

• 1–3 texts a day to an individual person is usually fine

• More is fine if they are actively texting back

Group texts with pictures or updates are also nice because everyone can look when they want.

6. The best solution: ask them

You could even say something light like:

“I enjoy texting you, but tell me if I ever send too many messages. I don’t want to overwhelm you.”

Most kids and grandkids will appreciate that and reassure you.

One more thing

You mentioned remembering how your grandmother called after your long workdays. The difference is that phone calls require immediate attention, while texts let people read them whenever they have time. So texting is actually a very considerate way to stay in touch, especially with hearing difficulties.

And honestly, many people your family’s age later say they wish they had more messages, photos, and little stories from their grandparents.

---

If you'd like, I can also share three texting habits that make grandparents especially loved by their kids and grandkids. They’re simple but surprisingly powerful. 😊

yes

Here are three texting habits that tend to make grandparents especially appreciated by their children and grandchildren. They keep the connection warm without feeling like pressure.

1. The “Thinking of You” text ❤️

These are very small messages that don’t require a reply.

Examples:

• “Thinking of you today. Hope work/school is going well.”

• “Just wanted to say I love you.”

• “Saw something today that reminded me of you.”

These messages make people feel supported, but they don’t demand conversation.

2. The “Little Window Into My Day” photo 📷

People often enjoy seeing simple snapshots of your life.

Ideas:

• A flower blooming in your yard

• Something funny you saw at the store

• A meal you cooked

• A sunset

You might write something like:
“Look what bloomed on my patio this morning 🌺”

This lets them feel connected to your everyday life.

3. The “Cheerleader” message 🎉

Everyone likes encouragement from someone who loves them.

Examples:

• “Good luck on your presentation today!”

• “I’m proud of how hard you work.”

• “Hope your soccer game goes well tonight.”

These kinds of texts mean a lot, even if the reply is just a heart emoji.

---

One simple guideline that works well

Many families find this comfortable:

• 1–3 texts in a day to a person is usually perfect

• If they start chatting back, then it’s fine to continue the conversation.

If you ever send several messages and they don’t answer right away, it usually just means they’re busy, not that they’re annoyed.

---

A small secret about families

Later in life, many people say the same thing:

“I wish I had saved more messages from my grandparents.”

Your texts and photos are actually little pieces of family history.

---

If you want, I can also tell you one texting mistake grandparents often make without realizing it (and it’s very easy to avoid). It might reassure you even more. 😊

yes

The most common texting mistake grandparents make is actually very simple—and very easy to fix.

The mistake: texts that require an “obligation reply”

These are messages where the other person feels they must respond, even when they’re busy or tired.

Examples:

• “Why didn’t you answer my last text?”

• “Are you mad at me?”

• “Call me when you get this.”

• “Did you see the picture I sent?”

Even when they love you, those kinds of messages can make people feel a little pressure.

The easy fix: “share, don’t require”

Try to send texts that feel like little gifts, not tasks.

For example:

Instead of
“Did you see the bird in my yard picture?”

Try
“Look at the funny bird that visited my yard today 🐦”

Now they can enjoy it whenever they see it.

Another helpful habit

If someone doesn’t reply, just assume they’re busy. Younger people often read texts and plan to answer later but forget. It usually isn’t personal.

A nice balance many families like

Many grandparents use this rhythm:

• Share something interesting or a photo

• Send encouragement now and then

• Let conversations happen naturally when the other person has time

That keeps the relationship warm without pressure.

One last reassuring thought

You’re doing something very healthy: adapting. You switched from phone calls to texting because of hearing difficulties and because it works better for them. That’s thoughtful and loving.

Many families are honestly impressed when someone your age says, “Teach me how to text.” It shows you care about staying connected. 

More later ... 

Flip Hanger Clothes Closet Test

 I’ve started so many blog posts lately that are still sitting in “draft.” Do you do that too, or is it just me? 

One post sitting in Draft was about the Flip Hanger Clothes Closet Test.

For this little experiment, I turned all my coat hangers so the curved end faced toward the closet wall. Then, whenever I wore and washed something, I rehung it with the curve facing toward me. If you’ve ever seen photos of this method online, you’ll notice a mix of forward- and backward-facing hangers—kind of a visual scorecard of what you actually wear.

The idea was simple: figure out which shirts I truly wear and which ones are just…sitting in the closet.

I grew up with a bit of that 1950s mentality about clothes—saving the nice things for “special occasions.” The problem is, special occasions apparently occur about twice a year. Meanwhile, the same five shirts get worn every week, with maybe two others rotating in for variety.

Most of my shirts are cotton pullovers because, honestly, comfort wins every time. I have four or five favorite colors plus white. I also own about half a dozen long-sleeve shirts, which, living in Houston, might as well be winter coats because they are rarely needed. And then there are a few super-light sleeveless shirts reserved for outdoor events when the heat here is melting us.

My goal was to wear every shirt in the closet, and I almost managed it.

Some well-loved, well-worn shirts were finally retired after years of faithful service. Others no longer fit the way they once did. Those went into the discard pile, too. Although surprisingly, there weren't that many of either. 

In the end, the lesson wasn’t really that I had too many shirts—although, to be fair, I probably did. The real discovery was that I’m simply a creature of habit. I kept reaching for the same favorites again and again.

It was surprisingly hard to skip the old standbys when they were hanging right there. But for about a month, I made myself reach past them and try something different—something I apparently thought I absolutely needed at some point in my life.

The experiment was actually kind of fun…though a little challenging.

Turns out the hardest part of closet organization isn’t the closet.

It’s convincing yourself to leave your favorite shirt on the hanger. 

More later ...