Kate's Five Things #81
River picnics and other things worth the extra effort
Catching Up
Hi— Before we get into it, let’s talk about the new AI detector on Substack. It’s personal for OG bloggers.
As a writer on this platform, I am both pleased and pissed. Pleased there is an effort to hone in on slop, and pissed about the witch hunts and purity mobs rallying around a far-from-perfect detector.
The irony that content produced before 2020 has been inaccurately flagged by AI detectors has not been lost on me. Wit and Delight was one of millions of voices from which AI’s tone and cadence were trained. I was both horrified and amazed to hear my voice in the words being generated back to me, and instantly understood anyone could craft a prompt for the specific voice I spent a decade crafting. And I knew it would change the way I create (and consume) content forever.
I use AI-assisted tools for various executive functioning and organization tasks. I have worked with the same (human) editor since 2018 on editorial strategy, first-draft ideation, and final-draft review. No post or essay is created in the same way. Sometimes I write from memory, sometimes a verbal transcript taken on a walk, sometimes from notes taken by my editor, sometimes it’s a variety of sticky notes scattered on my desk. This kind of hybrid workflow has been encouraged by my book editor. I am conscientious about the environmental impact of these tools just as I am about watering our lawn and conserving energy in the home.
I gave myself the weekend to think about if I even needed to write about this. I had my sister read it. I slept on it. Then yesterday, the words “faith over fear” appeared three times. On a signpost, a bumper sticker, on the t-shirt of a fellow dog walker. The universe had whacked me on the skull and said, “Wake up, dummy!”
Over the years, I have lost faith and trust in online spaces and judged them for being flat, simplistic, and without nuance. But holding back hasn’t made my world safer. Only smaller. I haven’t found clarity or courage. I haven’t felt curious or excited. I’ve felt cut off from my instincts. It’s made me more judgemental and risk-averse. And that’s not who I am. Nor is it who I want to become.
It’s never easy to take an idea and make it into something that can truly resonate in another. It’s always an act of faith.
Onward to Five Things!
This Week on Kate’s Five Things
One: River Picnics
Lisa Hackwith is the genius behind this twist on your standard summer picnic, which is exactly like it sounds. We hiked to a shallow part of the Kinni in River Falls, set up a little table and chairs, and feasted on a Mediterranean dinner of beet hummus, flatbread, pistachio-topped roasted beets, charred scallion dip, chicken meatballs, and the tastiest chocolate-dipped dates.
Two: This magnesium supplement.
It’s a magnesium L-threonate supplement, which “increases synaptic plasticity and density in both the hippocampus (the brain’s memory center) and prefrontal cortex (responsible for complex thinking) to support cognitive ability during aging.*” I can tell you that I feel more alert and motivated to do deep work since incorporating it into my morning routine. The downer was the jar arrived half full. Reviews indicate this is how the product is packaged.
Three: These dress aprons!
Hill House collaborated with William Sonoma on a tabletop collection, and of course, they turned their iconic nap dress into aprons. Available for both adults and kids alike. One of these would make a great housewarming or hostess gift.
Four: This one-piece swimsuit I’ve asked about twice at the pool.
I love the bold stripe and the fit is really flattering on everyone. It is available in three colors (I like the green and white). Anemos is known for their swimwear and has a variety of styles (and two-piece sets) that have rave reviews. I really like the balconette cut of this set.
Five: This Minnesota home.
It’s an old Cup of Jo house tour, featuring a couple we’ve had the pleasure of meeting over the years. Whenever I feel a little lost about what I’m doing in my home, I think of the Coggins house. Shout out to Sarah Beck for resurfacing this gem.
See you next time
