iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Out and about near Hintonburg this gorgeous Saturday? Come see me for a tarot card reading out front of Studio Me Hair Design, as a part of A Taste of Wellington West!

Dani in her witchy regalia doing tarot card readings at a recent event.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Wrapping up Sterling Point and found this, that I could have written. Esp #13 ‘What is wrong with all the Gen X adults in this show and when did we become the lame parents on TV? Cool tats tho.’ (Spoilers) chatelaine.com/living/cultu...

chatelaine.com

28 Random Thoughts I Had While Watching Sterling Point - Chatelaine

If you, too, are a middle-aged woman who got sucked into Sterling Point, there is help available. Just clearly not from me.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Helping out at a farmer’s market recently, an elderly lady smiled in delight when I counted back her change from a $10 on a $4.65 purchase: “Ten cents makes 75 and a quarter brings it to $5 and another $5 makes $10.” “I haven’t had change counted like that in 20 years!” Redundant genX skills FTW!😂

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

We’re wildly overdue to have these sorts of restrictions on advertising unhealthy foods in Canada.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

O Wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? Fucking finally 😮‍💨

Purple crocuses in a cluster in the sunlight

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Ooops, I guess I’ve been away for a while. Here’s what I’ve been up to: carving linocut stamps and making quippy cards with my letter stamps. Getting ready for the Dickinson Days craft market!

A hand printed card with a floral border that says ‘I must remain whimsical to survive the horrors’

A set of hand printed cards with images of retro TVs, record spindles, turntables and manual typewriters with words that spell out ‘Be patient with me, I’m from the 1900s’

A set of hand printed cards with an image of a witch hat that spell out ‘a woman of a certain rage’

A hand printed card with an image of a crow that says, ‘could I get an ETA on when ‘this too shall pass’?’

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

One of my favourite things about listening to the Artemis lunar flyby broadcast was the concern and havoc over the SD cards. My dudes, even NASA and astronauts suffer version control issues. There is hope for me yet.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Why does the Environment Canada weather app show the rain icon when there is a 70% chance that it will not rain?

Screen shot of the weather app showing 3 hours of forecasts with a rain icon while the text says only a 30% chance of rain

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

I had to get one of the kids to help me find a way to watch the baseball game on the streaming machine in the living room. When the fuck did I lose touch with the TV?

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

I was just thinking that this is delightfully (and also maybe troublingly) late in the season for 25C. I don’t want it to end.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

As seen on a drive out to Eagle’s Nest Lookout on Calabogie Road. I have SO MANY questions!! 😂

A teen pulls a comic quizzical face while looking at a real estate sign with a red sign topper (where ‘open house’ or ‘sold’ usually appears) that says ‘not haunted’

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

I rescued these three gorgeous slabs of thick granite from my neighbour’s trash. I have no idea what I’m going to do with 15 lbs of granite but I’m thrilled with them nonetheless. 😂

Three thick slabs of black marbled granite about 10x10 inches each, polished to a mirror finish on one face.

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Reposted by Dani Donders

Julie (unprofessional) @juliebalt.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

My delightful friend (and professional photographer) Dani aka @curiouscrone.bsky.social took some pictures of me last week. This one is my favourite.

Julie, a white person with short brown and grey hair wearing blue glasses and a black shirt, stands with her hands behind her back. The photo is taken from above.

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Lara Wellman @larawellman.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Once upon a time a time I thought 70 was so old I wouldn’t want to live past that age. Thankfully my idea of what aging means and how it can feel has changed! Thank you Dani for joining Rowan and I on the podcast this week! @mavenofmayhem.bsky.social @curiouscrone.bsky.social

open.substack.com

19: Aging and Your Career with Dani Donders

Much of society thinks of retirement as the end of something important.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

I really wish I had an internal control panel with a series of lights beside helpful tips like ‘you feel like shit because you’re hangry. Eat a banana ffs.‘

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

The first hour or two of moving to my newly upgraded iMac (from my 10 year old one) were heady and exciting. The 8 hour long tail of figuring out which goddamn folder had my Lightroom export presets and where to put them now is making me weep. This is why I only upgrade my tech once a decade.

A new iMac computer with the ‘hello’ greeting on the screen.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

This week’s art/science mash-up: chlorophyll printing, with nothing but two leaves and sunlight. How cool is this?

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Pretty reflections despite the fire smoke haze this morning as I kayaked around (and through) Upper Duck Island in the Ottawa River this morning. I’m always fascinated by this odd little spot - it feels like a secret.

The end of Upper Duck Island, with green trees, is reflected in still water with hints of clouds in the sky and reflection.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Oof, this was painful 😣 Connections Puzzle #782 🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟩🟦🟨🟩 🟩🟦🟨🟦 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟦🟦🟨🟨 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟨🟨🟨🟨

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

This hot sunny weather is perfect for cyanotypes - making photo prints from sunlight. Some of these worked better than others, but it’s fun to learn and experiment. And I have no shortage of photos in my library!

A blue and white cyanotype print of a little boy mid-leap jumping into a puddle.

Two blue and white cyanotype prints, one of a dandelion in seed and the other of Watson’s Mill in Manotick.

Two blue and white cyanotype prints, one of a sunflower and the other of two kids paddling a canoe in still water

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Seven months after they rolled out the change, Instagram finally got around to making my grid rectangular today. Thanks for not forgetting me and my 300 followers entirely 😂

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Surprised Eel Historian, PhD @greenleejw.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

The other day I drew a subway-style map for The Hobbit, and it was very well received. Some of you asked if I could do one for LoTR, so I have! Forgive the eel watermark; I'm working on making these something you can buy, if you like.

Subway style map to go with The Lord of the Rings, showing the different pathways of various parties throughout the book. The title reads: "Lord of the Rings Transit Map: One Does Not Simply Walk Ino Mordor When One Can Ride." The map takes up the middle part of the page, and there are two keys. The one on the left is titles "Standard Service Lines, and has color keys matched to the subway lines on the map. Lines are named:
"Shire-Bree Commuter Line
Old Forrest Crescent
Wildland Scenic Line
Fellowship Line
Gollum / Sméagol Line
Uruk Hai Express
Three Hunters Line
Fangorn Slow Service
Rohan to Gondor Business Line
Black Ships Ferry Service
Oliphant Direct Line
Army of the West Line
Gandalf Express

A smaller key on the right side of the map is labeled: "Limited Service Lines" and has color keys matched to the following names lines:
"Eagle Express
Paths of the Dead Line
Nazgûl Search & Resuce
Valinor Ltd."

A note at the bottom reads:
"* Mount Doom station only accepts Rings of Power in payment. Plan accordingly."

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

Needed an anklet. Made an anklet! (Possibly related: it’s hard to take a flattering photo of your own ankle)

Dani’s ankle sporting an anklet made with rainbow bugle beads and glass stars

An anklet made with rainbow bugle beads and glass stars on a painted surface

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

Such an amazing show - my first-ever Bluesfest. Future acts have a lot to live up to.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

I am excited to announce that local corn is in season and if my family isn’t sick of it by harvest season, I haven’t done my job.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

Oh shit, now I need a new starting word!! 😂 Wordle 1,491 1/6* 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle stat page showing 1167 games played, 98% success and only 2 puzzles solved in the first guess

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

Got a new toy - literally, a toy camera. It’s a faux TLR digital camera and the lack of control over everything except composition is a fun new challenge.

My new Chuzhao digital faux twin lens reflex camera beside my coffee cup - it’s considerably smaller.

An extreme close up of Percy, our orange tabby cat. There is a slight green tinge to the photo, from the cross-processing filter added by the camera.

A black and white photo of Lucas, a 17 year old with long hair who might appear to be scowling but is holding an ice cream cup so can’t actually be all that grumpy.

A mirror selfie of me, Dani, from a wide angle showing almost full body, wearing shorts and a jean jacket in front of an open door and looking down at the Chuzhao camera at belly button height.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Gift of a summer evening watching a free concert from the #OttawaSymphonyOrchestra at AY Jackson Park in Manotick. Great to encounter friends and neighbours , plus #MerryDerry!

A family selfie with Dani, a smiling woman with freckles and dimples, her husband who has a salt and pepper beard and wears glasses and Lucas, an older teen with long hair.

Members of the brass section of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra perform in casual clothes in a green park while people sit on the grass to listen and kids play on the lawn.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

Quick getaway to Toronto with my middlest kid to see Briston Maroney in concert with Peach Pit. Decided to risk driving instead of the GO train & were rewarded with a perfect parking spot and amazing dinner at LibertySoho. Then collected rocks on the beach on the way home. #summer2025microadventures

Dani, a smiling middle-aged mom with brown hair and dimples, and Simon, her 21 year old son with dark hair and eyes, at a table in the LibertySoho restaurant in the Liberty Village neighborhood of Toronto

Dani, a smiling middle-aged mom with brown hair and dimples, and Simon, her 21 year old son with dark hair and eyes, in front of the Toronto waterfront skyline at Ontario Place, with the CN Tower and Lake Ontario in the background

Briston Maroney on a colourful stage set at the Budweiser Stage in Toronto, taken from a distance

Lots of rocks in the foreground and Lake Ontario in the background at Paradise Beach in Ajax, Ontario.

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Vicky Smallman @offhandremarks.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Amazing news!

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

Oh there’s the rain. This is probably the wrong moment to remember I have laundry on the line out back. Getting a nice rinse! 😂

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

That was very cool (pardon the pun). The thunder got more and more intense, everything got very still, then a burst of wind set all the tree branches in motion for maybe 10 seconds. No rain, but the temperature dropped significantly and the wind settled. Oh hello cold front!

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

I’m sitting on the porch listening to the sudden and ubiquitous thunder that is rolling and roaring without pause back and forth across the sky, creeping closer and closer. I think it’s about to get a lot cooler!!

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

40 plus appreciation post! Reskeet with a pic if you’re over 40. Do I get bonus points for turning 56 in a few weeks?

Dani, a middle aged woman, is sitting in a yellow kayak on the river and smiling back toward the camera. She’s wearing a red PFD and a white T-shirt.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

Took advantage of the #CanadaStrongPass today for free lockage through the Long Island Locks on the #RideauCanal. It’s nice having a UNESCO world heritage site as your backyard playground. :) Such a perfectly photogenic day to be out!

A woman paddles a blue kayak into the opening heavy wood doors of the first lock at the Long Island Lock near Manotick on the Rideau Canal.

The nose of my yellow kayak points towards Julie in her blue kayak as she navigates through the partially open heavy wooden doors toward the second of three locks at Long Island. A beautiful blue sky arches overhead.

Dani (me, a middle aged woman with freckles and dimples, wearing a blue hat) smiles at the camera in a selfie that shows the end of my yellow kayak and Julie behind me in a blue kayak, holding on to the guy line on the side of the lock. The water has been lowered about half way in the lock.

The yellow nose of my kayak points towards the opening doors of the lock, showing the lower level of the Rideau River at the base of the locks. The sky is a brilliant blue overhead and the water ripples with movement and reflections.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

Have you read Braiding Sweetgrass? It truly changed my world view and I’m so grateful for that. I genuinely think every person should read it.

A meme that reads “Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of joy and wonder. I choose joy over despair, not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.” Attributed to Robin Wall Kimmerer

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Ian Capstick @iancapstick.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Seeing what's happening in the USA and globally, created this small tool based on a bunch of years making banners and signs 🏳️‍🌈✊ Banner Planner v1.0: Sizes, materials, making methods based on the budget, situation and people you have contributing to make signs. iancapstick.github.io/bannerapp/ba...

iancapstick.github.io

Banner Planner v1.0 - Make Your Message Heard

Free tool to help activists create perfect banners based on budget, skills, and timeline. Get custom recommendations for materials and techniques.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

Name 3 films you’ve seen more than 10 times: Star Wars (actually more than 100x) Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Love Actually

media.tenor.com

a young man is laying in bed with his mouth open and a blanket on his head .

Alt: Ferris Bueller winking

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

I am surprisingly bad at Connections, given how my brain usually leaps frantically from thing to thing, but today’s puzzle with the gerunds was positively painful. Connections Puzzle #732 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟦🟪🟦 🟦🟦🟪🟪 🟦🟦🟪🟦 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟪🟪🟪🟪

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Fun adventure selling rocks and pouches for magic secrets and other upcycled folk art - as well as 1 card tarot readings - at Manotick’s Dickinson Days festival today! So many folks wanted to talk about my rocks. 😂 And now I need 2 days of solitude and silence to recharge my people battery, please.

Smiling Dani sitting at a table in a craft sale with an assortment of rocks, cyanotypes, hand-stitched pouches and other folk art treasures.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

The ‘if laugh then share’ rule applies to BlueSky too!

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

It would have been a perfect morning out if it weren’t for the wildfire smoke. (Me with my middlest kid Simon.)

Two people (me and my son) kayaking on the Rideau River.

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Reposted by Dani Donders

Cori @pnwcori.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

I hadn’t really considered that the rich might just eat each other.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

I would have been satisfied with 5 - 10 total cumulative sales of my eBook on rock wrapping, even knowing it had potential. Five sales in the first 24 hours has me downright giddy. External validation FTW!

media.tenor.com

a woman is smiling and holding a trophy and says `` you like me you really like me '' .

ALT: a woman is smiling and holding a trophy and says `` you like me you really like me '' .

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Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 03/06/2025

1. Florida banned cities from lighting up bridges rainbow colors for Pride. So the people of Jacksonville did it themselves using flashlights and gels. They opened the drawbridge to block them. So they marched to a different bridge. The latest from S. Baum. Subscribe to support our journalism.

erininthemorning.com

Defying DeSantis, Florida Pride Marchers Light Up Jacksonville Bridge with Rainbow

Organizers demonstrated that they didn’t need state permission for queer visibility.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Well this is an amazing bucket-list achievement: I wrote a book! It’s a 54 page eBook with detailed instructions on basic rock wrapping techniques, supplies and materials, including 3 unique projects. And it comes with over 60 mins of YouTube tutorials too! curiouscrone.etsy.com/listing/4313...

The cover of an eBook called How to Wrap Rocks, a step-by-step introduction to the art of rock wrapping

A white rock wrapped in purple and red leather cord

A dark rock wrapped in a weave of half hitches with a star ornament

Four wrapped rocks with colourful cord and embellished with keys and other charms.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Whoa, just watched the season finale of Doctor Who. Delighted that I managed to miss any spoilers, but wowza, what a finish!! 🤯

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

Cool storm clouds out over Richmond village tonight!

Storm clouds with small dark detached bits over a curving road through farmland.

The edge of a bank of dark clouds dwarfs a farm and field.

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