Valerean

When I decided to do a crocheted throw by asking AI to suggest a pattern I pulled about twenty different skeins of thrifted yarn in colors I like from my stash, and ended up using fourteen or fifteen of them (some came to me in balls, so I have to estimate here.) Again I was able to save these prefectly good skeins from ending up in a landfill, which always delights me. It's excellent physical therapy for my hands and fingers. Making the granny squares also allowed me to revisit the first crochet pattern I ever tried on my own (my grandmother taught me to use single stitch to make hats when I was very little.) It was a bit like going back to high school; I crocheted a lot in those days. I also didn't know I'd be diagnosed with arthritis in my twenties, so I had no fear or worry. I thought I could do anything if I just kept trying (which turned out to be basically true of everything I wanted to do as a youngster -- except be a ballerina, ha.) I know AI is ge...

I'm having odd (and sometimes very entertaining) dreams again. There was one just after my last doctor's visit where I finally began to lose the weight I need to, but with unforeseen consequences. The flatter my tummy became, the larger my navel grew, until it exposed my insides. I discovered I was made out of delicious chocolate cake. My guy didn't want anyone to attack and eat me, so he tried to cover up my too-big navel with a bandaid. Even in the dream I laughed, it was so ridiculous. In another dream I ended up back in downtown Miami, which had changed quite a bit since I worked there. I was lost, of course. I walked through crowded restaurants and shops as I tried to use my phone to find a map that showed me how to get home. Only I couldn't get the phone to do what I wanted -- it showed me everything but what I needed. Just like real life! Ha. The people I met in the dream were friendly, although not particularly helpful. One older Cuban gentlem...

One year when I was an elementary school age kid we went to the county fair. I don't remember why; it was my first time at a fair and the whole experience was a muddled rush as my mom tried to keep all of us together. On our way out of the fairgrounds I passed by an artist's booth. There was one painting of a forest waterfall spilling from earth into outer space that enchanted me (not that I had any money to buy anything.) I saw it only for about thirty seconds, but for over 50 years that one painting has remained branded on my brain. I've looked for it everywhere, but never again found it. It inspired me to no end as a writer just thinking about it. People have very little good to say about AI art, but one thing I've discovered is that it can put bring my memories to life. This is the first time I've seen anything close to what I remember, and I actually generated it with an internet search. This is about as close as I can get to the original imag...

I've heard so much about crochet patterns that are AI generated (and basically useless) that my curiosity got the better of me, so I went and asked ChatGPT this: Can you show me a simple crochet pattern to make a throw blanket? In return I got this detailed pattern to make a granny square design. I know how to make granny squares, and it looked right to me, but of course to be sure I needed to test out the instructions. Granny squares are about the simplest crochet design out there, and they're very beginner friendly, too. I made lots of big granny square throws when I was a teenager, before I taught myself to read patterns. I followed the pattern, went with seven rounds and ended up with this. It needs blocking, but otherwise, yep, it's a granny square. I can make as many as I like and stitch them together to make a throw. Thanks, ChatGPT.