∞

A cat in a harness sits on a porch railing, looking up at a hummingbird near a red feeder. The porch has a hanging bell and decorative elements, with a background of a yard, trees, and a neighboring house.

Friends.

∞

A black and white landscape photo of tall trees silhouetted against a cloudy sky. Below the trees is a view of a town with rooftops and more trees stretching into the distance. The sky is mostly cloudy with some brighter patches and dramatic cloud formations.

Mt. Tabor Park. Portland, Oregon. 12th January, 2025.

∞

A new version of Mimi Uploader is out with even more support for Photo Collections 🎉

The previous release had the ability to see your list of collections. This new one adds the following features:

  • Add photos to collections from the list of recent uploads. Tap and hold a single photo, or use the “…” menu on en entry that has a batch of photos to add them all.
  • Delete a photo from a collection. When browsing a collection, tap and hold on a photo to see the option to delete.
  • Create a collection. Just tap “+” on the collections list.

I’m finding this way of managing my collections to be great. Hope you like it too!

You can get Mimi Uploader for free from the App Store.

As discussed in a previous post, the Photo Collections feature is only available to Supporter. You can become a Supporter using the sliding scale in the app.

∞

I enjoy podcasts but I got the feeling I was listening to a lot of tech. In 2024, I reduced the time to about 50%. In 2023 they were close to 65%.

The image shows a 2024 summary of top nine podcasts listened to in Overcast, with a total of 288 hours spent, 156 of which were in tech podcasts.

Maybe I can get it down to 40% this year.

I’m listening to several at 1.5x speed now. I was very averse to that a few years ago.

∞

🛠️ Basement Storage Shelves

Over the last week or so I designed and built freestanding storage shelves in our basement. Inspired by this video, and other similar ones, I decided that I would give it a go.

The basement had become a mess of stuff, about 70% of which was worth keeping. So we started by re-organizing what we wanted to keep and the rest we discarded/donated/gave-away.

On the 23rd I drew up the plan, and we went and bought the first set of materials from a neighborhood building material store, which has amazing people. Then came the holiday, so I didn’t start to build until the 26th.

A photo of a basement wall with outlines for a shelving unit sketched on it. A black storage bin with a yellow lid sits on the concrete floor.

The first set took a while to make as I was new to it and wanted to make sure I got the measurements right as we had already got the plywood cut at the store. On the 27th I put the first shelf together.

Wooden storage shelves in a basement, holding yellow-lidded plastic containers, rolled-up fabric, boxes, and folded items. To the left, there are suitcases and folded tables. The background features a concrete wall and a window.

The design allows for expanding on either side, so right away I built an extension. This time it went really fast, even with a drive to the store to get more materials.

This second set had only two shelves that were half as deep so we didn’t block the window, and also Jenni could place her paddle board bag vertically to easily pick up or drop off. I noticed that the there was a sag on this shelf, so later I added a strip of wood for additional support.

Wooden shelves in a basement with various storage items. Black and yellow plastic bins line the left shelf. A rolled-up fabric item sits on top. A large blue and black backpack, clear plastic bins with tools and supplies, and smaller blue bins are also visible.

On the 28th I built yet another extension. This time I didn’t have enough plywood for three levels, so for the time being it only has two, but hey, those box fans fit nicely in there.

Wooden storage shelves in a basement with various items organized on them. Black and yellow storage bins, a wrapped blanket, a large backpack, stacked boxes, a covered item, clear plastic bins with contents, a power tool box, and two box fans.

Yesterday I completed another extension and that should be good for our current needs. From one end to another these shelves are 15 feet (~ 4.5m)

Wooden shelving units in a garage storing various items, including black storage bins with yellow lids, a rolled-up item, a large backpack, plastic boxes, a box, etc.

I will observe how it performs, and have ideas to add more structural support if needed.

I’m really happy with how these turned out, and with our efforts, the entire space looks and feels so much better already.

P.S. As I was building this I also organized my basement shop that I hadn’t used in a long time, including installing these wall-mounted shelves to hold lumber.

P.P.S The end posts are also 2x4s, but they look like 4x4s in the photo, likely due to distortion from the use of an ultra-wide lens.

∞

Happy New Year! 🥳

∞

Back to Reading

I enjoy reading but realized that this activity had reduced in my life. So this year I made a concerted effort to read more, and it worked. I’ve found that the key to my enjoyment of reading is to read a variety. So I mix books that are short, long, fiction, non-fiction, old, new, most-often read genres and others.

On average I’m reading smaller books than before, but I’m reading a whole lot more of them, as seen in these charts.

Three line graphs depict data trends from 2009 to 2024 for the number of books, pages per book, and pages per month.

Yes, these stats are silly, but perhaps you can think of other silly stats I could be tracking and charting? Let me know!

Oh, and if you’re wondering which books, well, head on over to the books page.

Here’s to more reading in 2025 😊

∞

A new version of Mimi Uploader is out with support for Photo Collections 🎉

As discussed in the previous post, the feature is only available to subscribers to become a Supporter using the sliding scale in the app.

The initial release of this feature provides the ability to see the list of your collections, as well as each individual collection. More features are coming soon. Hope you like it!

You can get Mimi Uploader from the App Store.

Happy New Year!

∞

From the department of things-I-should’ve-done-years-ago: Wall rack to hold lumber in the basement shop 🎉

A basement with wooden planks stored on wall-mounted shelves. There’s also a cabinet mounted on the wall to the right of the shelves.

And here’s how it was before:

A basement wall with plywood squares stacked against it and a number of boards on the floor stretching for 3-4 feet from the wall. There’s a small cabinet mounted on the wall above.

∞

Circular stone engraving featuring an abstract face design. Includes a quote by Chief Seattle: “If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?” and text in a native language.

A black and white photo of a dirt path winding through tall grass, leading to a line of leafless and evergreen trees under a cloudy sky.

A black and white photo of a serene landscape with tall grasses in the foreground and leafless trees in the background. The sky is overcast, creating a moody atmosphere.

A black-and-white photograph of an empty wooden bench in a natural setting, surrounded by grass. In the background, there are bare trees and a cloudy sky, suggesting a winter or late autumn scene.

A black and white photograph of a tree trunk with a rough bark texture. The trunk is surrounded by dense branches and foliage, with scattered plants and grass at its base.

A black and white landscape photograph featuring a grassy field in the foreground and a line of sparse trees and clouds in the background.

A black and white photo of a birch tree with bare branches and hanging catkins in the foreground. The background is blurred, highlighting the tree’s texture and details.

Black and white image of a tangled thicket of branches with small berries. The backdrop is a blurred field, giving a sense of depth and a natural, serene setting.

A black and white landscape featuring an open grassy field with scattered shrubs and young trees in the foreground. Dense forest covers the middle ground, while hills and a town are visible in the hazy background. Cloudy sky above.

Walk at Powell Butte Nature Park. Portland, Oregon. 24th December 2024.

∞

In case you’re looking for a moody over-processed phone wallpaper for the holidays, here you go…

A blurred image of a Christmas tree decorated with warm yellow lights in a dimly lit room.

Merry Christmas!

∞

A new Mimi Uploader beta is out with initial support for Photo Collections!

For more details and to join the beta please follow the instructions in the previous post.

Please try it and let me know what you think 😊

(Link to the video embedded above).

∞

Some updates on Mimi Uploader

I’ve had a sneaking suspicion that Mimi Uploader does not have the value it once did. That some people, myself included, love it, but for most it is a novelty. I alluded to this in a post last year.

A couple months ago I made the app free for a promotional period until the end of the year (previously it has always been $5). I was hoping to get a better idea of the interest in the community once I remove the barrier to entry. Initially there were a lot of downloads, and sessions. Now, some months later, according to analytics that Apple provides, there is almost no change in usage.

Based on this experiment, I’m making the following changes:

  • Mimi Uploader will be permanently free starting 2025.
  • All major new features will be behind the Supporter subscription. You can become a Supporter by using the sliding scale in the app.
  • I’m working on adding initial support for Micro.blog’s new Photo Collections feature (sneak peek). This will be the first major new feature of the free era. At the end of the day Mimi’s features are powered by Micro.blog’s API so I’m grateful to Manton for providing support from the get go.
  • I’m also starting the TestFlight beta testers group with a clean slate. If you would like to join the new group, please provide me your email address via email at sam @ samgrover dot studio. The first beta with initial photo collections support should be coming within the next week.
  • I’m also considering renaming the app as I expand the scope of features. Yes, there’s another feature coming that has nothing to do with uploads.

This way I can keep making an app I enjoy and find very useful, and anyone else really into it can also benefit from the new features. Everyone else can continue to use the app to its full initial promise as a fast batch uploader.

∞

A black and white image of a house with a small pine tree in the foreground. The tree is decorated with spherical ornaments. The house has a visible porch with columns and railings.

Portland, Oregon. 14th December, 2024.

∞

A modern structure with vertical slats is surrounded by tall trees in a garden. The scene is in black and white, highlighting the contrast between the structure and the natural environment. Shadows and light play across the ground and vegetation.

Afternoon walk at Leach Botanical Garden. Portland, Oregon. 1st December, 2024.

∞

A black and white triptych of three photographs. The top image shows a silhouette of a forest with birds flying above. The middle image features ducks swimming in a pond surrounded by tree branches. The bottom image displays a shoreline with rocks, plants, and a tiny bamboo fence.

Afternoon walk at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. Portland, Oregon. 30th November, 2024.

∞

A garden during autumn with vibrant foliage: red Japanese maple, green and orange ivy on a pergola, and golden-leaved trees. A cat sits on a stone path, viewing the yard. A white table with green tomatoes is in the foreground.

Momo and Fall colors in the yard. Portland, Oregon. 8th November, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Lomography Color (ISO 400)

∞

Glad that I’ve found a new use for now-obsolete long Lightning cables: With an adapter they can be used for charging the plethora of micro-USB devices. So much better than the six inch cables included with those.

∞

A serene park scene in autumn with trees displaying green, yellow, and orange leaves. The ground is covered with fallen leaves, and a park bench is partially visible in the background.

A tranquil pond reflects autumn trees in vibrant shades of orange, yellow, and green. A few leaves float on the water’s surface, and a seagull rests on a rock in the center. The scene is framed by lush greenery and moss-covered stones.

A pond surrounded by trees with ducks swimming in the water. Fallen leaves float on the surface. A small child stands on the opposite bank, near the water’s edge.

A dog chases birds through an autumnal park covered with fallen leaves. Tall trees with a mix of green, yellow, and orange foliage surround the scene.

Scenes of Fall at Laurelhurst Park. Portland, Oregon. 9th November, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Lomography Color (ISO 400)

∞

A vibrant autumn scene in a park, showcasing a single tree with bright orange leaves standing out against a backdrop of green pine trees. A few people are relaxing on the grass and walking along a path. Sunlight filters through the trees, casting shadows.

A serene park scene featuring a turquoise water reservoir, surrounded by autumn trees with orange and red leaves. Relaxing on the grass is a person, while another walks nearby. Rolling hills and a cityscape are visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

A scenic landscape featuring a vibrant mix of evergreen and deciduous trees in various autumn colors. The foreground shows a fenced reservoir with green water reflecting the trees.

Scenes of Fall at Mt. Tabor Park. Portland, Oregon. 6th November, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Lomography Color (ISO 400)