House Gardening Hacks

With the first signs of spring arriving unfurling in the northern hemisphere, it's time to give your green space (if you're lucky enough to have one) a little tender loving care. And if you're looking to change things around, turn over a fresh leaf perhaps, this Facebook group has plenty of innovative hacks to incorporate into your gardening routine. You will for instance learn how to create an easy-to-harvest potato tower out of recycled milk crates or grow a selection of salad greens in a barrel. You can use old egg cartons to organize bulbs for a splendid flower path or use mason jars to protect vulnerable seedlings from late frost. Make organic fertilizer from banana peels or turn your herb garden into an attractive spiral feature spread across multiple tiers. Discover the best companion plants for your tomatoes and how adding a tiny hack to your bird bath will attract more feathered friends. Here and there, you will also find household tips and wellness insights.

Members: 215.3k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

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Work Memes

 Start your Monday with just a sprinkling of humor in your newsfeed. Clever puns about cops and robbers. A genius take on resume stuffing. There are Byzantian levels of ulterior motives that can be inserted into every moment and aspect of your work day. Various manifestations of stress. Wellness vs well, coffee. Mental challenges to keep your brain cells in motion. The juxtaposition between expectations and reality. Benefits debunked. Wry observations about work-life balance. Work related cat memes (why not?). The joys of anticipating a day off. Having worked weekends many years myself, it's great to see that weekend workers are also acknowledged. It's always great to see a massive Facebook Group (and this one is huge) that maintains its cohesion and identity - and the memes were enjoyable, mainly because they touch on so many aspects of work culture, with humor that feels authentic and makes you think. 

Members: 3.8 million, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

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The Giant Army of Tuxedo Cats

I said goodbye to a very special tuxedo lady just about three years ago, so to honor our sweet Beanie, I am visiting her tribe tonight. In case you're not a cat person, tuxedos are black-and-white, cats, found in any number of pattern variations. Pink noses. Black noses. Multi-colored toe beans. Mostly black. Half-half. You name it. One household had no fewer than four tuxedo, each with its own distinct pattern. And if this group is any indication, then many are the hobbies and interests of that great army of tuxedo cats. Naturally there would be at least one who stands in stern judgement of his human's woeful mismanagement of household affairs. There were goofballs, comedians and memes-in-training, as well as a tuxedo enjoying his spaghetti, and several tuxedos on outside patrol. One tuxedo boss had his own box - Yay! Whoa, wait, here's one with his very own miniature cardboard replica of a Costco warehouse - talk about bosses. But then, I guess nothing beats the elderly gent who had just celebrated his twenty-third birthday. Congratulations, dude! That's no small feat, for a feline. 

Members: 42.3k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

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Oddities, Curiosity, antiques & Skulls

One of the reasons why I love this blog so much, is because once in a while it enables me to stumble upon something truly strange. Like this space. Some of the items listed here wouldn't be out of place in a grisly horror story. There is quite a selection of body parts, for one. For example, if you're curious about the going price for a black bear skull, you've come to the right place. In fact, skulls are hardly a rarity here. There are deer, cattle, horse, fox, rabbit, rock hyrax and many more to choose from. I suppose reminders of mortality hold a strange fascination to many of us, and there's nothing more honest than incorporating the real thing in a work of art. But it's not just Thanatos in his many guises grinning back at you. There are other, equally fascinating objects to muse about. A collection of pendants in labradorite and sodalite. More bones, this time encased in beautifully crafted miniature coffins. More labradorite, this time with a fox skull. Earrings of coyote teeth. Miniature paintings. Agate that seems to mimic a gorgeously blue sky. Hair accessories made of bone. Magical opals. Bone pendants. Carved antler. A pair of enigmatic skull keys. A real boar heart. Most things (but not all) are for sale, but sometimes the poster is just looking for advice or showing off an unusual project. 

Members: 113.2k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: Animal body parts.

Go here to visit or join. 

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Tell me you're neurodivergent without telling me you're neurodivergent

To begin with, here's a confession from my corner. I'm also neurodivergent (diagnosed about 3-4 years ago). So, this particular space felt familiar and welcoming, as well as infinitely fascinating and insightful. There are gags and serious posts about that ever-evolving dialogue with your own mental processes. There are journeys and life stories that offer hope for the future, because different people are at different stages of self-acceptation. There are questions about adulting challenges and strange anxieties; medication and other supportive tools and strategies; talk about getting over-stimulated by things most neurotypicals relegate to the realm of background noise; talk about superstitions, symptoms not covered in the diagnostic bible, superpowers. And owls, which I found interesting. I also loved an alternate take on the proverbial biological clock that has nothing to do with female reproduction - and quite frankly makes a lot more sense. But there are also discussions about sensitive topics, such as how to handle trauma and triggering memories. There are many daily posts and a fair amount of engagement on each. No judgement. Only real sharing, real support. I loved this community. 

Members: 719.9k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: Occasionally, uncomfortable topics.

Go here to visit or join. 

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Ravelry

 Anyone visiting Ravelry in these days will be seeing a lot of red. Red yarn. Red works in progress. And completed melt-the-ice hats proudly displayed in solidarity with the community of Minnesota. There's even a few dogs sporting MTI-beanies. The Ravelry forum, founded 19 years ago and almost as old as Facebook, is a social networking site where fiber artists such as knitters, crocheters, dyers and spinners can meet to swap ideas, and patterns and its Facebook chapter is a very busy space indeed. So, what are the Ravelry community up to when they aren't engaged in stitch-craft subversion? Well, I saw a dinosaur hoodie, toy elephant, knitted troll dolls and, to save your poor fingers, a collection of bobbin huggers. Save the skull pattern shawl for Halloween, but there's an adorable selection of marine bird cozies for yummy easter eggs. There's a gorgeous selection of gift blankets, a mosaic inspired project and even a post that shares the story behind welcome blankets.

Members: 44k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

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Weird Art for Weird People

It has traditionally been the role of art to speak truth to power, to challenge world views and to give inner demons an airing in the real world. In a way, art is supposed to be inherently weird, but this group leans into work that takes hostages and draws blood. It shows paintings that tell stories and heal life-long wounds. It draws inspiration from uncomfortable muses: horror themes, paganism, cosmic dread, esoteric theory, political responses. There are screams and distortions, but also quirky characters, felted miniatures and micro crocheted creatures, as well as anthropomorphic fetish issues. One sketch hints at creepy emanations from the subliminal. Another speaks of body image. One beautiful painting shares a powerful and poignant message about surviving a history of abuse. And then there's the cake that drips with dark obsessive love. 

Members: 330.5k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: Uncomfortable themes.

Go here to visit or join. 

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