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Original Versodile sewing patterns by Corky Lorenz, designed for fully customizable cloth pads. Mix and match fronts, backs, and wings for the perfect fit and coverage, from light to heavy absorbency. Versodile Sewing Patterns for Cloth Pads Sewing patterns designed for getting a custom fit to suit your needs. Mix and match the ends to get the cloth pad length and shape you need. Corky is the original designer of the Versodile Cloth Pad Sewing Patterns (Etsy link) . The name was meant to playfully communicate the function of the patterns: customization. Each pattern has two ends, a front and a back, that can be mixed and matched for a custom fit. In the past, most pads and patterns were made symmetrical, so the front and back were the same size. If someone needed extra coverage in the back but not the front, they had to buy a pad that was too long overall and still didn’t fit correctly. I designed these patterns so the two halves align perfectly in the middle, allowing you to choose the exact shape that fits your body. Every body is different, and needs for absorbency and shape can vary. These patterns give you the ability to swap wings and flares for both style and function. The most recent pattern, The Contour , is designed for people who need heavy absorbency or full coverage at night. It’s the longest and widest pattern in the series and can be sewn with a regular sewing machine or finished with a serger for a clean edge on both the pad and the core. Corky Lorenz October 22, 2025

A sprinter van made by Thor on display at the RV Hall of Fame. Interior highlights include the skylight, lighting, smooth surfaces, and the living-area access to the driver seat. Thor sprinter van A new sprinter van by Thor, on display in the GO RVing exhibit hall, at the RV Hall of Fame This is a sprinter van, made by Thor, on display for guests to tour. I visited the RV Hall of Fame Museum Nov 2025, mainly to see the vintage RV interiors, but I was surprised to see this modern van example. The lighting and smooth surfaces made this feel like a spaceship. I particularly enjoyed the roof skylight, which ran most of the length of the van. If I had to live in a small space, the extra light would be very nice. The continuous lighting strip and ceiling skylight make the narrow space feel open. The driver seat is accessible from the living area, which is a priority for many solo travelers. More examples of exhibits will be available on the RV Hall of Fame page, soon. Corky Lorenz November 17, 2025

Fernwood Botanical Gardens features two charming model train displays, one indoors near the fern conservatory and one outside among the trees. A fun stop for families, kids, and train enthusiasts. Model trains at Fernwood Botanical Gardens There are two different train displays at Fernwood. One is inside, in the building where you buy your tickets. The other is a short walk from the entrance, on the trail. When planning my visit to Fernwood Botanical Gardens, I somehow missed the fact that they would have trains on display, not just in one place but in two! Inside the Fern Conservatory room, there are train tracks weaving in and out of the different fern displays in the visitor center that you walk through when you first arrive. Then, outside, there are even more trains, which was such a fun surprise to discover. I would have gone to Fernwood just to see the trains if I had known about them, so it was really exciting to stumble upon them. I loved the way the trains were weaving through the trees, like they were meant to be there. It didn’t feel like an artificial or commercialized setup. The whole thing looked carefully crafted with materials you would actually find in the forest. The tracks worked perfectly for the trains, but nothing felt copied or mass produced. It is the kind of display that a true train lover would appreciate, and any young kids who are train obsessed would absolutely love. I am not sure how long they run into the wintertime since snow could make things tricky, but when I visited on November 1st, the trains were still running. Leaves were falling, the air was chilly, and it was such a cozy scene. You will find the outdoor train display not too far from the main building where you check in. There is also a children’s exploration area nearby with a slide, open space to run, and plenty of trees and foliage to enjoy. Corky Lorenz November 2, 2025

Handmade fantasy sculptures by Rhonda Whitledge at Rebel Art Fest 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. Expressive clay characters that captivated festival visitors at Potawatomi Park. Sculptures by Rhonda Whitledge at Rebel Art Fest Rhonda Whitledge creates hand-sculpted fantasy figures that feel alive, each with expressive faces and detailed clothing. Her booth at Rebel Art Fest drew steady attention from visitors. At the 2025 Rebel Art Fest in South Bend’s Potawatomi Park, I came across one of the most striking displays of the afternoon. Sculptor Rhonda Whitledge filled her booth with detailed, handmade fantasy creatures, each one with its own distinct expression, posture, and personality. The figures had a cinematic quality, like a glimpse into a fairytale world that existed just beyond sight. Some resembled the figure of a nose, which I found to be delightful. People stopped often, taking time to study the details and talk with her about the characters. Rhonda was warm, and happy to share about her process, and it was clear that each piece was carefully crafted. You can find more of her work on Instagram and Facebook under Sculpture by Rhonda Whitledge. Corky Lorenz October 20, 2025

A young hognose snake mistakes a paper towel for food. Here’s how vinegar helped it release the bite safely. What happens if a baby hognose snake bites a paper towel? It might try to eat it. A little vinegar on a q-tip can help the snake let go without harm. When I was visiting my friend and asking about his hognose snakes, which are about five months old now, he got one of them out to show me how voracious these baby snakes are. Now that they're fully in the routine of eating well, he was opening the container and showing me how they're basically ready to eat every time he gets them out. They're posturing as though they're going to strike, and anything in their way they're interpreting as a meal. He was holding a paper towel above the container, and this baby snake struck the paper towel and tried to eat it as though it were a mouse. He wanted to get the paper towel out of the snake's mouth without just pulling on it, because he didn't want the snake to rip off pieces and end up swallowing it. To do that, he used a q-tip soaked in vinegar and pushed it near the corners of the snake's mouth. His goal was that a really smelly or repulsive scent or taste would make the snake want to give up on the item and not try to eat it. That's how he got his snake to let go in the past when it bit his hand. He just slowly kept dipping the q-tip into the vinegar and then back onto the paper towel, and eventually the snake let go and didn’t consume it. It took several minutes, but he was patient, not trying to pull it out of the snake’s mouth, just using the disgusting taste of vinegar to get the snake to abandon the perceived meal. It was interesting to watch the way the snake was trying to envenomate the paper towel. I could see it moving its jaw side to side as if it was trying to make its jaw bigger to accommodate the whole paper towel. It was trying to eat that entire thing, ratcheting it in farther, and it just makes it seem like snakes will take on something way bigger than they can handle. It’s amazing what they can actually swallow because their anatomy will expand to accommodate a meal that’s bigger than their head. So if your snake tries to eat something that it shouldn’t, don’t panic. See if you can find something that’s safe but repulsive to help them let go of the item. Corky Lorenz October 31, 2025

When sewing cloth pads, the sewing line is the exact line you stitch on, and the seam allowance is the extra fabric outside that line. Drawing and sewing on a marked line gives cleaner, more consistent pad shapes, especially when working with stretchy fabrics. Draw the sewing line on the back of the topper | sewing line vs seam allowance When sewing cloth menstrual pads, the sewing line is the exact line you stitch on, while the seam allowance is the extra fabric outside that line. Drawing and sewing directly on a marked line gives more consistent, accurate shapes than relying on fabric edges as your guide. Why I switched from using seam allowance to sewing lines When I first started sewing cloth pads, I used the standard sewing method where you cut the fabric with seam allowance included and align the fabric edge with the presser foot. That works fine for clothing, but I noticed my pad shapes would vary, especially around the wings, because the fabric edges stretch or warp during sewing. Once I started drawing the exact shape of the pad onto the back of the topper fabric, I got more consistent results. I position the line directly under the sewing needle, sew along it, and leave a small hole for turning. The pad shapes end up perfectly even, and the line doesn’t shift like the fabric edge can. Stability and accuracy If you’re using knits or fleece as topper fabrics, you can add a hidden woven layer like cotton flannel or muslin under the topper. This stabilizes the fabric and gives you a good surface to draw on. That stabilizing layer with the drawn line becomes your guide for the sewing. Time saving workflow When I sew multiple pads at once, I trace the pad outline, sew directly on the line, and rough-cut around it. After sewing, I use pinking shears to trim the seam allowance before turning. Since I trim anyway, this makes the process faster and keeps shapes precise. Older versions of my Versodile cloth pad patterns included seam allowance options, but newer ones are drafted with the exact intended shape of the pad as the sewing line. The core templates, or absorbent layers, should still be cut to the exact shape shown. Corky Lorenz November 13, 2025

Tarantulas do make webs, and they fill their enclosures with silk to walk on and sense movement. @amber_arachnid showed how baby tarantulas use their webs for feeding and hunting. Do tarantulas make webs? Yes, tarantulas make webs, but they don’t spin the big wheel-shaped kind. Amber, from Amber Arachnid says they fill their space with silk that they use for walking, sensing, and catching food. At the Goshen Reptile Expo, I met a vendor named Amber who had a really nice setup for her tarantulas. Her handle is @amber_arachnid on Instagram. When I asked if I could take a photo, she opened one of the containers and showed me a baby tarantula, called a sling. Inside, you could already see thin layers of webbing across the soil and moss. She said the whole container eventually fills up with silk. When it’s feeding time, she just drops the feeder insect right onto the web, and the tarantula feels it move and goes to get it. So yes, tarantulas make webs. They don’t build big spiral ones like garden spiders, but they weave plenty inside their enclosures. The web helps them sense movement, find food, and stay connected to their little world. Corky Lorenz November 8, 2025

Learn how to care for a Thai Constellation Monstera indoors, including light needs, watering habits, and potting tips. I share how I keep mine healthy in northern Indiana without overwatering or burning the variegated leaves. Monstera Thai Constellation Care The Monstera Thai Constellation grows best in bright, indirect light with moderate watering and chunky soil. Avoid harsh southern windows or over-potting since variegated leaves can burn easily and excess moisture causes root rot. Let it get a little root-bound before repotting and it’ll do fine in normal house conditions. Finding a Thai Constellation I went to the Tinley Park Reptile Expo and got this Thai Constellation Monstera for $25, which is wild considering how it used to go for around $600 online. I remember seeing that on Steve’s Leaves. They’re a plant seller in Texas and an awesome place if you want to check them out. Why Prices Dropped Now Thai Constellation Monsteras are everywhere. You can find them in Lowe’s, Walmart, other big box stores. They’ve just gotten easier to reproduce because of new propagation methods, so the price dropped a lot. Light and Burn Risk I’ve had two of them. The one I have now has a leaf big enough to start fenestrating. The other one is smaller with no fenestrations yet. I don’t have a long history with variegated Monsteras, but I’ve had regular green ones and those were super easy to care for. I assume this will be similar. From what I know about variegation, you just have to be careful about light. Too much light on the white parts burns them. If you put this plant in a southern window for hours of direct sun, you’ll probably get brown patches on the pale areas, especially on a new leaf that’s still hardening off. When to Repot I’m planning to keep this one in its 4 inch pot until it’s really ready to move up. I like to see it a little root bound first. I personally kill things when I pot them up too early. In my environment in northern Indiana, with big north windows and normal house conditions, I wait longer than most people to repot. The cooler temps and lower light here make tropical plants more sensitive to overwatering. If the pot is too big, there’s too much soil staying wet too long. That’s when roots suffocate or rot. Soil, LECA, and Root Health I’ve grown Monsteras in chunky mixes with bark, perlite, and peat moss, and I’ve also done it in straight LECA, those expanded clay balls that wick up moisture from the bottom. I liked LECA. You don’t have to worry about the soil compacting and the roots get good airflow. Don’t Overthink It Overall, Monsteras tolerate a lot. Honestly, don’t fuss. Most people kill plants because they love them too much. Same with Hoyas. They mess with them constantly, and in my experience as someone who kind of neglects plants, you’ll kill them faster by hovering. Corky Lorenz November 11, 2025

Event date, time, location, and photos. Held a Potawatomi Conservatories, in South Bend, IN. Urban Artisan Market The Urban Artisan Market is happening Saturday, December 13, 2025 from 11am to 4pm, at Potawatomi Conservatories. Hosted by MAKE SOUTH BEND. This is an art market event hosted by MAKE SOUTH BEND , at Potawatomi Conservatories . Vendors As photos are processed, artist features will be listed here: Wildwood Workshop Outside In Leonor Pottery Rhonda Whitedge If you were a vendor at the event, and you see photos of yourself or your work, you are welcome to download and use them! Date & Time The last event took place on Saturday, December 13th, 2025, from 11am to 4pm. Location Potawatomi Conservatories 2104 Mishawaka Ave, South Bend, IN 46615 Corky Lorenz December 12, 2025

Noticing your RV battery stops around 80%? Learn how to set the RecPro converter’s dial for lead-acid or lithium batteries, what the LED flicker means, and why smart charging mode protects battery life. Why is my RV battery not fully charging? If your RV battery stops charging around 80% when using a RecPro converter, it’s usually working as intended. Most RecPro converters ship in four-stage smart charging mode, which limits charge to protect lead-acid batteries and extend their lifespan. Understanding the Converter Dial On RecPro converters, there’s a small adjustable dial called a potentiometer. It controls both the charging mode and the voltage level. The sticker beside it can be confusing, but here’s how to read it: The left side of the dial controls four-stage smart charging, designed for lead-acid batteries. The right side of the dial is intended for lithium-ion batteries or for powering appliances directly in your RV. Once you’ve chosen the correct side for your setup, you can fine-tune the voltage: Lower voltage: turn the dial toward the top. Higher voltage: turn the dial toward the side you’re using. Factory Default Settings Converters are typically shipped in four-stage smart charging mode (the left side of the dial). If you’re not sure which mode yours is in, you can tell by watching the LED light indicator while turning the dial with a screwdriver. When the LED flickers, that means you’ve crossed over to the other side of the dial, switching between smart charging and lithium/direct power modes. Fine-Tuning and Voltage Adjustment For a more precise setup, you can use a multimeter to check the output voltage while adjusting the potentiometer. This helps confirm you’re within the proper range for your specific battery. Keep in mind that different battery types require different voltage targets for optimal charging. You should always check the manual or specifications for your battery brand to confirm the best settings, especially for lithium batteries, which can vary in chemistry and built-in protection systems. If you’re just trying to get oriented with the dial and make sure your converter is working correctly, these general guidelines will help you get in the right direction. Why It Stops Around 80% If your converter seems to charge your lead-acid battery only up to about 80%, that’s usually by design. In four-stage smart charging mode, the converter is programmed to stop before hitting full voltage to prolong the battery’s lifespan. Fully charging a lead-acid battery every time can cause unnecessary stress and shorten its life.Lithium batteries may charge differently and reach higher levels depending on how the converter and BMS are configured. In Short Left side of the dial: smart charging (lead-acid) Right side: lithium or direct power mode LED flicker: indicates switching between modes Multimeter: use to fine-tune voltage 80% charge: normal for smart charging mode Always check your battery manual: ideal voltages vary by type If your converter is working correctly but your battery isn’t quite reaching 100% it doesn’t mean something’s broken, it’s probably doing exactly what it should. Corky Lorenz November 7, 2025