I Guess I'm a Pinterest Criminal

One day last week I went into the Pinterest App on my phone and was searching for a recipe that I have used numerous times. All of a sudden, I got an error message and the App closed. So, I opened it back up and the same thing occurred. Now, I've had a Pinterest account since way back in the days when one had to be invited or recommended or whatever in order to join and create an account. I've been saving recipe ideas, decoration inspiration, and such as that for all of these years. So, I had LOADS of Pins and quite the collection of Boards. 

Note that I am not one who creates many pins. I generally just click on the Pin icon that is included into different websites and click the Save button. So, I'm not uploading anything questionable. On the rare occasion that I did create a Pin, I was meticulous about siting the resource. (The English teacher in me comes out.) So, I was pretty confused about what might have been going on.

I noticed that I had an email from The Pinterest Team. So, I read what they had sent me.

That made me wonder if I my account had somehow been hacked and somebody was posting things without my knowledge. How would I know? How does one research such a thing? Again, being the English teacher, I read the Community Guidelines and Could not figure out any way in which I had not been following those. So, I believed that was an error and clicked on the link and filled out the form provided. I immediately got a response.

In about four hours, I got another email:

So, I don't know what sort of criminal activity I committed or what was going on. However, I could not access the account nor salvage any of the ideas and recipes I had saved there throughout all those years. I was pretty bummed. I was pretty mad about being banned when I could think of no reason why I might have been done that way. I accessed the Help Center but that wasn't all that helpful. Basically, the suggestion there was to create a new account. So, I went a few days thinking about the situation. Did I really want to participate in a platform where I had been treated as if I am a criminal when I clearly was not? Would I want to give this company business after I had the door slammed in my face, basically? 

Finally, I decided that I liked the premise of the platform as a way to store digital ideas much like I used to do as a young girl/woman when I cut out magazine photos and taped them to a piece of notebook paper and put them in a binder. It was handy for me. I couldn't think of another platform that did just that in an easy and straightforward way with just a click or two. So, I created a new account with a new email and I started searching and saving some of the same recipes and ideas that I knew I had collected before. 

This new account works and looks a bit differently than the old one. Plus, there is no established data for their logarithms to post for me. So, I'm basically seeing some stuff that I never saw before and some stuff that I care nothing about. It is interesting to me and I am still exploring - almost like I did back when I created my first account. Some things are not as easy - Following has been a bit of a problem for me because that seems more buried within the App. But, I'm working through it and finding some new ideas and saving some of the ones I had collected before.  

Early last week I opened Pinterest while using my laptop and using my Chrome browser. Since I was logged into the browser, it immediately tried to open my old account. There were lots of flashes and different screens showing for a moment or two and then my old account popped up! I have been working a few days to try to salvage and copy some of the recipes that I had collected into my new account. So, I haven't logged out or shut down my laptop for a few days. I can only stand so much surfing at one sitting. So, it is a bit slow going. I have salvaged a bit, though and that is nice. 

I'm still just wondering what was going on with my old account that it was not considered as a 'legal' usage and why I was marked as a Pinterest Criminal? Has anybody ever had that happen to them?

Happy Birthday, Big Al!

 

Hope it is as wonderful as you are!

Just Three Things | #9

I have really become a homebody. I saw this meme the other day and it really sort of sums up how I've been feeling lately.

- What I've Been Watching - 

Mike and I are sports fans. I mostly enjoy watching the grandchildren in whatever sport they are participating in during the various seasons. It is fun for me to see their interactions and their skills with each sport and game. I have been a fan of college sports for several years - football, basketball, baseball, and softball. I particularly like following South Eastern Conference teams and, of course, my alma mater is the fav. Go Big Orange!

Mike, on the other hand, likes to watch all sports and doesn't really care who is playing. He can be channel surfing on the television and land on a random game and just watch for a while. However, he is a rabid fan of The University of Tennessee teams in football, basketball, baseball, and softball. He is one of those who talks to the television and yells at the coaches and referees and gets up and stomps around when things are not going well or shouts, "Yeah!" really loud when something goes really well. So, we have been watching UT football and basketball a lot lately.

- What I've Been Working On - 

I have been doing a bit of winterizing this week. Cleaning out the flower pots outside, covering up the porch cushions, blowing the leaves off the porches. There's also the never-ending chore of sweeping down the spider webs from every nook and corner of the porches. 

Earlier this week I went to the local greenhouse and bought a couple of flats of pansies and some rosemary and poked those into our flower pots. I had almost waited too long and there was slim pickings. I was going to go for cheerful and get some pansies in reds and yellows but they all looked a bit bedraggled. So, I wound up with good old blue and white and I smile each time I look out the window at them.

- What I'm Loving - 

Something happened with my years-old Pinterest account. I'll share more about that another day. So, I have created a new one. It is almost like I'm having to learn a new platform. Evidently I had ignored some updates or had just fallen into a rut because this seems very different from what I had grown accustomed to doing. 

I thought about just not having an account but I really like having a space to store inspiration and ideas for later reference with decor, recipes for cooking, and wise words. So, even though I lost all those treasures that I'd been storing up, I'm loving creating new boards and trying to figure out how to find some of my old favorites.

Update! I had been using the app on my phone and I tried to open my Pinterest account using my laptop. There was lots of flickering and glitchiness, but it finally opened. I have been manically looking at the boards and trying to salvage some recipes that I had saved there at least. I haven't shut down my laptop in a few days because I don't want to lose access completely and I'm trying to salvage what I can!

Just everyday life around here lately and I'm here for that. Ordinary days are really pretty much the best, if you ask me! Hope you have more ordinary days than out-of-the ordinary and things are on an even kilter.

Today I noticed...Little messages make my day.

Today I noticed that I always smile when I see a message from one of my grandchildren. Those little messages sort of make my day. Lots of times the older grands and I just exchange memes. But, even those bring a smile to my face.

Even when they are totally inappropriate!

Just Three Things | #8

The week started out with a bang bringing us snow flurries and cold, cold temperatures. Then, it closed out pleasantly with sunshine and the temperature in the low seventies. As they say, if you don't like the weather in Tennessee, just hang around and it will be totally different tomorrow! 

- What I'm Reading -

I've poked through a few more cookbooks this week. One of the nephew's son is getting married and a bridal shower is planned for later this month. The invitation included a recipe card for me to share one of our family's favorites. We really love food. Eating is one of our favorite pastimes. So, narrowing it down to just one recipe is going to be really difficult! This week I finished up reading the Ina Garten and Mary Kay Andrews cookbooks and started in on some older ones that I used when I was a young woman just starting out on my own. 

Starr Recipes from Greystone is one I got when I was in college at The University of Tennessee. A friend baked me a cake and gave me the recipe book so that I would have the recipe to bake one later. Over the years I have made lots of those recipes and it has been a good resource.

Good Cooking is another oldie that I've flipped through this week. I got this one as a young girl and it is also a good resource. I think I was in about tenth grade when I got this one as a prize through some 4-H contest. There is nothing really fancy in this one but loads of good food came about as a result of folks having it. I know for sure I used it lots.

- What I'm Loving -

I don't know if it is the birthday week or the flipping through old cookbooks or the fact that Mike and I have had family members exhibiting livestock at the North American International Livestock Expo last week and this week. At any rate, there has been lots of nostalgia shared around here this week. We've both shared old tales and experiences from our youth, including that of showing our own livestock. 

NAILE

We were excited when one of the nephews and his family won big time at the NAILE. He nor I never won on the big stage like that and Mike asked, "What do you do with your animal after it wins a Supreme Champion award like that?" So, we came up with lots of ideas about how the cow who won might be treated differently and wondered if she will just be turned back into the back lot when they get home with her.

- What I'm Working On -

I think I have shared before that Mike is the manager of the Cemetery in the heart of our town. His grandfather was one of the founders and Mike's Pop managed it when he was alive. So, Mike has now inherited the duties of selling burial lots, keeping things tidied up, and such. He enjoys meeting and supporting the people who come to him to purchase lots and is grateful to have the opportunity to comfort some of them in their time of grief. I am his secretary. We inherited lots of information and some of it was organized well. Some of it, though, is a bit of a jumble. So, Mike and I have been trying to sort it out.

I have been trying to create spreadsheets of lot owners and update names of people who have been buried and the location of their graves. At times it is overwhelming. So, I guess w are in it for the long haul. I have several spreadsheets at this point. So, when Mike gets a call, I can search through in a couple or three different places and we can locate most of the the answers to people's questions. It is an ongoing process, though, and I'm not sure it is one that will ever be perfectly accurate and easy to navigate!

I hope your week has been one where your sorting and poking and reminiscing has been heartwarming and that you have a rejuvenating and restful time in the weekend ahead. 

Today I Noticed...Birthdays don't have to be a big splash to be memorable.

I celebrated a birthday today. 

It was one of those double digit kind.

It was a rather low-key celebration marked by sleeping late and lunch out with my sweetie.

Lots of folks called, texted, or messaged me via social media, which was nice.

Some of the grands called and sang to me and their parents joined in.

Mike tried to treat me like I'm special for most of the day.

This was my first 'retired' birthday and it was really nice.

No hustle and bustle to get things done or to get here or there.

I think that might be one of the very best kinds!

A Family Reunion

We had a family reunion of my Daddy's immediate family. It was so much fun to see folks and share some time together. 

Last Saturday my cousins had reserved a space, communicated with the rest of the cousins, and organized food contributions for us to have a family reunion. The location was ideal for the cousins and the aunts and uncles. We all assembled in the early afternoon and it was so wonderful to see all those faces that we hadn't seen in a while - and in the case of some of our grandchildren, we may not have seen them at all.

We chatted and laughed and took time to catch up on things that had been going on in our lives. We shared a delicious meal of put togethers - pot-luck style. The littles played in the floor. The adults stood and sat around sharing tales. One of the uncles had crafted some wood items and those were given away as door prizes, which created a few minutes of teasing and protesting and general comradery. 

I don't know who had more smiles and hoots of laughter. Was it the aunts and cousins? Was it the 'outlaws' who had married into our family?

It was the first time we had gathered in several years. So, we were missing some who had been at the last reunion. There were a few who could not make it and we missed them as well. Our fast paced lives prevent us from getting together in fellowship but I do hate that we don't gather more often than we do. It is always so nice to see those who show up and catch up on what is happening with them.

None of us thought about organizing a photo session. So, that is something I want to keep in mind before the next time we get together. I also want to sift through some old pictures and take them along to share so that we can reminisce and share tales with one another's children and spouses. It would probably be a good thing to take along pictures of those who cannot attend to let the others see how children have grown or those who have been added to the family. Maybe we can eventually set up a gathering where we could include games like family Olympics where the kids and young adults could show their stuff like the old time family gatherings we had when all of us cousins were youngsters rather than the grandparents we are now.

Right at the end, those cousins who were still present did line up for a group shot and that caused a lot of laughter and silliness. It also added memories and I think we look like a pretty good bunch.

Just Three Things | #7

I had the opportunity to take in a small town dinner theatre experience last weekend. One of our granddaughters, Lydia, was a part of her high school's drama production of "How to Host a Murder Mystery Dinner Party." Lydia played an attorney in the play and her light really did seem to sparkle and shine. (I'm sure it is not in the least because I could be a bit biased.)  

Who would have ever thought that this young lady who once had a crying jag when preparing for a fourth-grade 4-H speech or who had a huge melt-down after a middle school interview competition might take the stage and actually seem calm and ad-lib to the script to keep the performance flowing? Not this grandmother!

Lydia looking lawyerly 

This performance was followed up on Monday with a fall band concert where she dressed as a butterfly and played a couple of instruments during the middle school and high school performance. Luckily it was live-streamed and I got to tap along to every note. The meal was tasty, the service was wonderful, the performance was suspenseful and enjoyable and a good time was had by all. As always, it was truly enjoyable to be able to tag along and see the activities that the grandchildren seem to take in stride.

- What I'm Reading  -

I'm continuing to work my way through the Callahan Garrity Series by Mary Kay Andrews. I am starting on Book #6 in the series, Strange Brew. I sort of feel like I have a set of old friends that I visit with each day and they have interesting adventures! I'm also still enjoying that wonderful southern voice. 

via

I must admit, I've also been reading a lot of the news stories this week. Some of the stories were reassuring and some of them were concerning - like all news, I guess. At this point in the week, though, I feel hopeful.

- What I'm Loving -

When we moved my office to one of the rooms downstairs, I divided the African Violet that was sitting on my desk and brought the parent plant downstairs to sit on my desk as it had upstairs. Now the window in this room faces south and the one upstairs faced east; so, that may have had an impact on this plant as well as the division. At any rate, it has not bloomed since the move. Today, however, it burst forth with some tiny little blooms. So, I think it is on a comeback!

The violet was one in a dish garden that was sent at my Granny's funeral. I loved it because it bloomed her favorite shade of pink. I can remember when I was a young woman, Granny grew loads of African Violets using grow lights, in windows, and all sorts of ways. She gave me some for my college home away from home. She taught me to create a self-feeding system with a sock strip and Miracle Grow if I wasn't going to give it the attention it deserved. So, it really made me smile to see those tiny pink blooms and think of Granny.

- What I'm Working On -

I finally wrapped the chair project up this week. I had put off working on the last three chair seats but finally tackled them and got them done. Then, during a sunshiney day, I set them out on the porch and gave them a good spray down with Scotch Guard to help them repel liquids and dirt (hopefully). 

My hands and forearms were aching again from wrestling with them to get the fabric stretched taught and smooth. Some of them look far better than others, I'm afraid. But I am satisfied and pleased with them all. Below is a sampling of a few of them being lined up for the protective spray.

It makes me smile as I walk around the house during the day and see my handiwork and my beloved chairs. Plus, it feels so good to mark a project off the list

I hope your week has been productive and pleasing and given you something to smile about!

Today I Noticed...Motivation can come from surprising places.

I've said before that I am a procrastinator. I've also mentioned that often my procrastination is unfounded and whatever it is that I have been dragging my feet about really isn't so bad at all. So, when the motivation train comes along, I've learned that I need to jump on and take it for a ride.

I may have been looking for a short project that would fill an afternoon. It may or may not have been because I was enjoying a book I was reading and wanted to read until lunchtime. I may have promised myself and the project gods that if I could just enjoy reading until I finished my lunch, I would complete that short project and be done with it.

I may have also been motivated by the fact that the weather forecast for the end of the week includes rain and I am going to need to perform one step of a big project outside on the back porch without any rain.

I may have also been inspired to complete a project because I was browsing through a book and noticed how beautiful a room was in one of the photographs and I knew one of my rooms could look just as beautiful if I tackled a project.

I may or may not have been motivated to tackle the wrap of a segment of a project because I knew that the mister would not be underfoot.

I may or may not have been motivated by knowing that it was Tuesday and we've been enjoying Taco Tuesday by getting take-out for the last few weeks. So, I wouldn't have to cook.

Wherever the motivation comes from doesn't really matter. What really matters is that something nudges us forward and we find a purpose for the day. Right?

By the way, the Scotch Guard I ordered to spray the newly-covered chair seats has arrived. So, yesterday I covered the final three seats of the cane backed dining chairs. Tomorrow is the day I plan to drag them onto the back porch and give them a good protective spray.

Happy Birthday, Bryan!

Hope you have a great day and wonderful year ahead!