Isa is on the Naughty List. Where else would I be?
LightNews LightNews
banner
isamclaren.bsky.social
Isa is on the Naughty List. Where else would I be?
@isamclaren.bsky.social
1.2K followers 620 following 19K posts
Cocktail devotee. Lover of crime. Once you can fake sincerity, you've got it made. She/Her
Posts Replies Media Videos
isamclaren.bsky.social
I wonder why my apartment is so cold?
A chunky black cat is lying on the heating vent, covering all but a small corner. Her ears are laid back because she knows I'm behind her. But not bothered enough to move.
December 5, 2025 at 12:33 AM
isamclaren.bsky.social
It's just not the same without knives.
#NoStabWednesday
A grey striped cat is clutching a pale blond dog's neck from behind, holding a knife at it's throat. The dog has a worried expression. My grandpets are in a similar position as the meme. Teddy, an absolute unit of a brown and white dog, is lying on a blue sofa. Inchworm, a grey striped tabby is resting on Teddy's body. Teddy looks resigned to the situation. Inchworm obviously wishes she had a knife.
December 3, 2025 at 2:19 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
It's a messenger saddle bag!
Screenshot of a cross body bag with horses in a pasture design on it.
December 3, 2025 at 1:47 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
More convos with Penultimate.
Texts between Penultimate Kid and I. Pen: My streak of being terrible with my gift list continues. I've been telling things to Youngest but I would also like a saddle bag or more masculine bag to take to work. Me: What's a saddle bag? Other than for a horse Pen: I meant a messenger bag apparently because of course a saddle bag is for horses. Just an over the shoulder bag that's not my clubbing bag. Unfortunately, I can't butcher carabiner my first aid kit. Me: You need a first aid kit for clubbing? That's hardcore.
December 3, 2025 at 1:24 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
Duh
A set of polygonal dice used for Dungeons and Dragons look like grey marble. The set includes one each of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 20 dice, as well as another 10 sided die with numbers 10 to 90. The 12-sided die is a dodecahedron.
December 2, 2025 at 11:21 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
Reader, I went.
A Styrofoam take-out container holds a burger and onion rings.
December 2, 2025 at 7:11 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
Even better with knives 🔪☕️
A package of coffee knives. The package doesn't really explain it but shows a hand holding a brown knife above a plate of food. Made with coffee grounds.
December 2, 2025 at 2:10 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
A polar bear in a zoo enclosure is carrying a box wrapped in Christmas paper. It's a genuine photo, not artificially generated. Zoos often give animals enrichment with things like this.
December 2, 2025 at 11:39 AM
isamclaren.bsky.social
And so it begins
A count down calendar in the shape of Nakatomi Plaza, with explosions at the top and a helicopter in mid-crash is marking the days until Hans Gruber falls to his death. Hans is pointing to the number 1 as he plummets upside-down.
December 2, 2025 at 1:27 AM
isamclaren.bsky.social
I had 2 months of lower electric bills, less than half of the usual amount. In Oct and Nov, I don't use AC or heat unless I absolutely have to. Those days are over now.
A week's forecast with most days in the mid 40s and nights in the mid 30s. Highest daytime temperature is 53 on Thursday, which I won't get to enjoy because it will be cold by the time I get home. To make it even better, it's supposed to rain on the weekend.
December 1, 2025 at 11:24 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
This cat trap is super effective!
A large cardboard box is on the floor, its flaps open. Inside, a grey and white tabby snoozes peacefully. At the back, under a flap, a small black cat tries very hard to blend in with the shadows. Only one green eye and a silver collar bell hint that she's actually a cat and not a soot sprite.
November 30, 2025 at 3:44 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
Family Thanksgiving!
Middle Kid and Daughter in-law to be are at the center front of this group picture. They are flanked by Youngest and Oldest. The row behind them is Penultimate, Me, new in-laws, DiL's brother and his girlfriend. At the back, taller than everyone, is The Boy.
November 28, 2025 at 3:17 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
Here are other pillowcases I made, also from 2023. I gave The Boy a set of 2 and Oldest also got a set. The other picture is the practice one I made for myself. Once I get my studio organized, I'm going to make more for myself.
Two different pillowcases are laying flat on an ironing board. The one on the left is a greyish green leaf and flower print, reminiscent of William Morris design. The accent strip isn't big enough to show off the whole design but similar green colors with dots of aqua and red. The print is birds on strawberry plants. It adds a spark of color and whimsy to the overall staid color scheme that Oldest Kid likes. The border is solid, deep green. The other pillowcase is described more fully in a different post. It's black and white fabric with cars on highways, and grey and white blueprints, separated by bright yellow caution signs fabric. A closer view of the green pillowcase. The strawberry plant stems in the accent strip are the same color as the main fabric. The border green is the same hue as the background of the main piece but darker. Compared to the other ones, this pillowcase is wild! The main fabric has orange and yellow flowers similar to hibiscus, if you were on acid. Swirls of orange, yellow, red, and white are scattered across like flowers on even more acid. The background is sage green, and loops of teal, sage, and white resemble a paisley design drawn by someone too hungover to add in all the little dots and details. I love this fabric. I bought it years ago without any project in mind. The border fabric has narrow stripes in all the same colors of sage, teal, lime, white, and brown. The stripes look like fringe, if you stood back and took off your glasses. The accent strip is brown, offering a buffer against the riotous fabrics.
November 27, 2025 at 2:54 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
The yellow caution fabric was leftover from the bulldozer quilt I made him when he was 2. I had bought the highway one ages ago. And when I found the blueprints at my local quilt shop, boom. The idea was born.
A pillowcase sewn with black and white fabric of cars and trucks on highways and overpasses. A yellow strip with caution signs showing road workers separates the main highway fabric from the border. That fabric is white with grey floor plans and blueprints. Closer view of the pillowcase. The cars and highways remind me of Gary Larsen's Far Side comic. The caution signs don't line up perfectly along the length of the strip. I only had a small piece and made do. The blueprint fabric has room names and dimensions, although I doubt it would make usable building directions.
November 27, 2025 at 5:13 AM
isamclaren.bsky.social
“You will be visited by three spirits.”

The three spirits:
Three bottles of Scotch, from left to right: Glenfiddich 12 year, Aberlour, and MacAllan 12 year.
November 26, 2025 at 2:58 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
I took some pictures of the model house. This model is inside a haunted house, being held captive (for lack of a better word).
A model of a yellow farmhouse is on a wooden table. Based on the scale, it's about 2 feet square. The base is green, as are the roof and porch roof. The porch wraps around, ending halfway along the sides. It has wooden beams supporting the porch roof. Left side of the house with a closer view of the porch. The beams are square at the top and bottom and the center section is round with a ball shape carved between the sections. The floor of the porch is wooden planking. The bay windows have mullions and sashing. The attention to detail is amazing. The right half shows off the 4 pane bay window. A small window has something behind it, perhaps a curtain. Under the gable is a 3 pane window. The shingles are old and worn.
November 24, 2025 at 12:41 AM
isamclaren.bsky.social
I'm about to watch The Librarians S1:E8 And the Heart of Darkness.
I didn't get to it for Halloween this year, but that episode gave me the idea to recreate the House of Refuge from this cardboard house I bought several years ago.
This yellow cardboard house is about 12 inches tall. It has square holes cut out for the windows, two on the top floor and two on the bottom of each side. A door has been cut out in the middle of the front. It has a dark green roof with gables that lifts off. The base is also green. Screenshot of the miniature model of The House of Refuge from the episode. It has a green roof and a rectangular window on the top floor. A wrap around porch also has a green roof with wooden supports.
November 23, 2025 at 10:00 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
Mood
Close up pic of a grey and white tabby with just a little of his tongue sticking out.
November 23, 2025 at 4:10 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
Whatever you do, don't go south!
Screenshot of the text-based game Zork. >go south Great Cavern This is the center of the great cavern, carved out of limestone. Stalactites and stalagmites of many sizes are everywhere. The room glows with dim light provided by the phosphorescent moss, and weird shadows move all around you. A narrow path winds southwest among the stalagmites, and another leads northwest. >go southwest Shallow Ford You are at the southern edge of a great cavern. To the south across a shallow ford is a dark tunnel which looks like it was once enlarged and smoothed. To the north, a narrow path winds among the stalagmites. Dim light illuminates the cavern. >go south You have moved into a dark place. It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
November 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
St Mungo? He was a Very Good Boy but I don't know if he qualifies for sainthood.
A large shaggy black dog is sitting on the ground and looking up with a doggy grin. He's wearing a red plaid bow tie collar. He was the best dog ever.
November 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
I went into an "antique" shop that had at least 8 cats roaming around. Also dozens of small cat figurines. It was like a Crazy Cat Lady starter kit.
But I also found this.
A plaster cast of a woman with a sort of Moroccan style teal head scarf. The scarf has pink roping with coins attached to it. The woman also has a gold necklace. This hangs on a bedroom wall. This delight cost $4.
November 22, 2025 at 11:50 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
World of Warcraft
Facebook post from November 14, 2009. I was 47 at the time. Coffee. Hand it over, no one gets hurt. Tanking until 5 AM is rough on old people. Facebook post from November 21, 2009. Seven days after other pic. Gonna try NOT to be tanking up to 5 am again tonight. Just until 3 will be fine.
November 22, 2025 at 5:24 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
There's a reason I write about con artists: I write what I know.
Embrace imposter syndrome. Revel in the fact you have fooled everyone. You are a Trickster Goddess. You are the Imposter Child for Deception and Clever Ruses.
November 22, 2025 at 2:40 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
Get out of there, Dort. I need to make room!

#Caturday
A small grey cat with white accents is inside a fridge amongst the cream cheese, eggs, and club soda.
November 22, 2025 at 2:29 PM
isamclaren.bsky.social
This is from 2014. Penultimate Kid sends the most hilarious texts. I particularly love how they call me "Mother" when I'm annoying, including in person. 😆
From my Penultimate Kid. PK: The fire alarm went off. Me: Exciting! Too bad you don't have marshmallows. PK: Mother the school is on fire. At least the kitchen. There is a fire truck. Me: Oh that's unfortunate. I bet there were marshmallows in the kitchen. Text continues. PK: If the school burns down, can we go home? Me: Hooray! PK: They haven't let us back in, so there was a fire. Also it's cold. Me: Could be worse; could be raining. PK: True. PK: Some kid just pulled out a blanket. It was me. Me: See? This is no problem.
November 21, 2025 at 8:27 PM