Dani Donders
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curiouscrone.bsky.social
Dani Donders
@curiouscrone.bsky.social
250 followers 240 following 430 posts
Storyteller, maker, wanderer, dilettante. Seeker of micro-adventures. 🇨🇦 Mom to 3.

Tarot reader for events & parties. Craft workshops.

https://curiouscrone.ca/blog/

Formerly DaniGirl, of Postcards from the Mothership. She/her 🏳️‍🌈

Ottawa (Manotick) Canada
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curiouscrone.bsky.social
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
October 24, 2025 at 12:14 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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’
October 10, 2025 at 8:36 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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.
October 4, 2025 at 7:03 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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.
August 15, 2025 at 8:37 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
This week’s art/science mash-up: chlorophyll printing, with nothing but two leaves and sunlight. How cool is this?
August 14, 2025 at 1:32 AM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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.
August 4, 2025 at 4:25 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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
July 26, 2025 at 6:31 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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
July 20, 2025 at 8:41 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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
July 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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.
July 6, 2025 at 1:37 AM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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.
June 30, 2025 at 1:27 AM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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.
June 27, 2025 at 11:11 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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.
June 24, 2025 at 1:10 AM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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.
June 22, 2025 at 12:56 AM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
This is who runs this account.
A selfie of me, a woman with brown tousled hair, slightly sweaty and red-faced from the heat, with blue eyes, freckles, crow’s feet and dimples. She’s grinning happily, sitting in a golf cart.
June 17, 2025 at 11:43 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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
June 15, 2025 at 1:05 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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.
June 7, 2025 at 10:25 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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.
June 6, 2025 at 4:11 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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.
June 1, 2025 at 5:22 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
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.
May 31, 2025 at 1:05 AM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
One week later, dog still smells like skunk. 😂 (this is an old photo - she’s still not allowed back on the furniture, much to her dismay)
A brown and black brindle dog lays on a sofa with her paws covering her face
May 24, 2025 at 10:34 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
Bought some chemicals to make cyanotypes last weekend and it feels like six years since the sun has come out. What a brutally dreary stretch of weather. But I’ll be ready when it comes back! ☀️☀️☀️
May 24, 2025 at 9:44 AM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
I’ve been using Canva (the free version) to create an eBook PDF about rock wrapping. I keep expecting it to say I’ve reached some sort of limit but I’m over 50 pages and several hundred uploaded images and I still haven’t hit any limits. That’s impressive for a free product!
The cover of an eBook called How to Wrap Rocks, subtitled A step-by-step introduction to the art of rock wrapping
May 22, 2025 at 3:13 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
Have you ever been rock collecting at the beryl pit mine near Quadville? I went for the first time this week as part of my #summer2025microadventures challenge. It was very cool and I learned that rocks are very heavy plus other important lessons 😂 curiouscrone.ca/summer-2025-...
Rock collectors at the beryl pit mine. There is a lot of strewn rock debris visible. A narrow twisty road with trees on either side (near Quadville Ont) The rock face of the beryl pit mine. Some colourful chunks of rock and minerals that I collected. I know there is quartz, granite, feldspar and amazonite in this image. The rest are a colourful mystery.
May 14, 2025 at 10:53 PM
curiouscrone.bsky.social
Flea market treasures!! I collected these thinking about embellishing my rocks and other upcycling crafts.
An array of more than a dozen old keys, locks and decorative spoons
May 11, 2025 at 11:48 PM