iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Long time ago before I had kids I helped run a room party at Convergence, the House of Toast. After half of a decade, we decided to do a guest appearance at another room party. It was a blast and the kids I brought to #cvg2026, a mix of mine and my brother’s, did a ton of work.

A hand drawn sign saying “Toasty Dream Casino”

Me with three kids, my brother’s kids with my daughter l. I was running the toaster and they were adding toppings to toast.

My son holding a sign saying “End of the line”

070

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Here it is. It isn’t as vivid but it matures a little faster, so it is nice that way.

An orange cauliflower almost ready to pick.

061

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

The May Day parade this year made me tear up.

A parade float of a snowplow pushing many items representing ICE

A brigade of whistles in bright colors with a puppet of Prince (the artist) off to the side.

A giant orange whistle with a sign saying ICE OUT MSP attached to a bike

A puppet of a loon on a platform being pulled

020

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

I somehow planted at least 20 eggplants, which is a lot for a family that does t really eat them. However, the one variety that I grow just for looks, Pumpkin on a Stick, has amazing thorns.

A leaf of an eggplant with some very serious thorns on it.

000

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Every year Girl Scout cookie season ends right when gardening season starts. I always find a use for the boxes. This year I lined the bottom of my new garden bed with them.

An empty raised with a layer of Girl Scout cookie boxes on the bottom.

062

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

My mom lives in South Minneapolis and posted this tiny ICE Out sign because my sister objected to her posting a large one. My sister is worried about my mom being targeted and her health isn’t good enough to deal with agents. However, I think every little bit of protest is good.

010

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

I spent a lot of time in my childhood helping out with Lutheran potlucks.

000

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

It is right next to Minneapolis. The dashed red line is the border of Minneapolis. I underlined the Whipple building

A map of the Minneapolis/St Paul airport showing the border of Minneapolis and the Whipple Federal Building.

000

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

There are nights when I wonder why I have a dog. He saw a rabbit in the yard hours ago but is convinced it is still out there. It is too cold for me to let him out and go to bed. Photo of the adorable jerk.

A photo of a day laying down with his head on his legs look up at the camera.

110

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

My son’s hair got to be too much so he decided to get an undercut. Turns out his hair is long enough to send a hunk of hair to locks of love!

A boy holding up his long hair to show an undercut

11 inches of curly dark blonde hair ready to mailed

030

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

This is a kid that asked for tennis lessons, and then complained about having to go to the lesson. Notice the huge smile on her face.

A girl on a tennis court holding a racket with a huge smile on her face

000

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Last spring I drilled a bunch of holes in some logs so I could add mushroom plugs. I forgot that one of the varieties I did was snow oyster mushrooms, which prefers colder weather. So imagine how delighted I was when I saw them growing. I didn’t expect anything until next spring.

A couple snow oyster mushroom clusters growing on logs.

120

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

The aurora was amazing tonight, very visible with the naked eye and even better in photographs. Plus it was early enough that my kids could see it before bedtime. It was amazing teaching them how to pick out the colors without the use of the camera.

A picture of the aurora from my back deck.

My son in front of our house with the northern lights behind them.

040

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Black strawberry. This is what it looks like when it is ripe.

020

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

I grew glass gem corn last year and it is beautiful but it isn’t very useful.

A variety of glass gem corn in multiple colors.

271

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 17/07/2024

Turns out you can trim them. It looks much neater now.

020

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 03/10/2023

Behold my homemade celery powder. Why did I make this? Well, I accidentally grew 40 pink celery plants which didn’t fit with the type of cooking my husband does. Let’s see if he likes it.

010

Bertine @bertine.bsky.social · 02/10/2023

Who knew that leeks produce scapes?

010