iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Very poignant to see in the BBC article the photo of the 22 year old US corporal who died in England in WW2 fighting fascism. He is one of many very young Americans who died fighting fascism. It’s painful to see the resurgence of what so many Americans and Europeans gave their lives to defeat

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Made some carrot tops pesto. Recipe from Riverford website

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

OK, who’s vandalised my reflecting pools?

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Covid test positivity rate. From bhawkins3 on Substack

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Great start to the day! Broad Bean & Mozzarella Bruschetta. Thanks @riverford.bsky.social for delivering ingredients & recipe before 7am

Photo of Broad Bean & Mozzarella Bruschetta for breakfast. Recipe & ingredients delivered before 7am

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Northern England. Chilling in my kitchen. 42.3°C

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Would you like my lovely clear reflecting pool in Washington? Made of plastic. Looks like a sombrero. I got it for free. Someone was giving it away. I thought I could put pebbles round & use as a pond. Blackbirds bathe in it & I don’t prosecute them

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Magnolia in the wind. Like a beautiful tulip at this stage. Plant of the day

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Cancelled my subscription & boycotting Apple Music until Tim Cook speaks out against all the dreadful things Trump is doing. Yes, I really miss Apple Music but it gives a warm glow to feel I’m playing a tiny, tiny, microscopic part in helping the US in their hour of need

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

For ten years I’ve vaguely felt I was living through the 1930’s like my dad. This podcast series explores the reality behind my feelings. Missed opportunities by British politicians & establishment with huge, sad consequences. Rivetting. Illuminating. Shocking. Yet Sergei & others also inspiring.

Info about podcast series about Russian influence on UK politics by Carole Cadwalladr and Peter Jukes

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Grape hyacinths that drive us mad by spreading at an astonishing scale look surprisingly good in a doorstep display. A free display if recycled pots and a free gift display stand are used. Putting them in containers also stops them spreading everywhere you don’t want them

Containers of grape hyacinths on doorstep

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Homegrown rhubarb stewed with ginger. Utterly delicious! Plant of the day. Yank, wash, chop, stew, eat. Fastest of fast food!

100

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Highly recommended! Second discussion with Charlie Gammell, an Iranian expert, about what’s going on in Iran and in Trump’s war. American politicians, give it a listen!

Recommendation of podcast, Behind the Lines broadcasting second discussion with Iran expert Charlie Gammell

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

A bee feeding on my hellebore on this chilly, dull day! What a welcome sight. A second bee arrived and it all became rather noisy! Plant of the day

110

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Wasn’t expecting this either this morning (third photo of Tradescantia albiflora Nanouk: plant of the day)

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Surprised by a beautiful flower today! I thought the purple-tinged leaves of the Tradescantia albiflora Nanouk were its only charm. Plant of the day - second photo

Small, delicate light purple flower with white centre. Plant of the day : Tradescantia albiflora Nanouk. (Second photo)

001

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Plant of the day : Tradescantia albiflora Nanouk

Plant of the day has purple-tinged leaves: Tradescantia albiflora Nanouk

011

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Glad to buy local honey (beehives within two miles of my house) (even if it’s more expensive) after hearing last Friday’s ’The Food Programme’ on honey fraud. (BBC Radio 4). (Label on the back.)

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Rhubarb grown by candlelight (within 25 miles of my house), honey from beehives (within 2 miles), sourdough (baked within 2 miles). Warm glow from eating local! Lucky to have a community grocer’s and greengrocer’s I can walk to. Hands very cold from walking through the sleet

010

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

This temporary pond is becoming semi-permanent in these weeks of rain

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Starting to understand why people get obsessed with snowdrops

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Chipotle Woodland Mushroom Taco here. Homemade; I didn’t pick the mushrooms myself. Eating to prepare myself for whatever Trump splashes at us today

010

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Finally got this book from library after 6 month wait. Been avidly reading it. So much useful gardening info to put into practice now even though having a greenhouse is still just a dream so just bought it. Trying to boycott Amazon so delighted to find new copy cheaper on World of Books than Amazon

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Turkey Meatball Marinara for a wet, dull, dreary day. Easy to make and the meatballs didn’t fall apart as I made them

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Brilliant ’Great Lives’ podcast about JL Carr. I read his exquisite ‘A Month in the Country’ years ago in one sitting. ‘Elegiac’ was a perfect description of the book and the accounts of things he’d said and done made me laugh out loud as I chopped apple after apple

010

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Found my first rosemary beetle on my rosemary this morning. Apparently colonising us from southern Europe since the 1990’s. Up close the iridescence is rather lovely

010

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

I have declared war on fungus gnats.Carnivorous plants are my chosen weapon

010

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

French Bean & New Potato Bhuna. Lots of chopping up

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Alchemilla mollis in half a neighbour’s broken water butt. Truly you can make a stunning garden from your own junk and neighbours’ junk

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

St John’s Wort in an old bin (a survivor from pre-wheelie bin days). Truly you can make a stunning garden from your own junk and neighbours’ junk

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Hebe in half an old tumbler compost maker. Truly you can make a stunning garden from your own junk and neighbours’ junk

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

A neighbour carried his old jacuzzi to my house and I’ve grown a hydrangea in it. Truly you can make a stunning garden from your own junk and neighbours’ junk

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Latest donation of junk from a neighbour. I can’t wait to cover it in plants

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Solitary bees’ nests? If so, I feel very honoured. Previously covered by froths of poached egg plants

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

Waited a couple of years for my echeveria to flower

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Growing in the garden 30 minutes ago. Quite a workout picking them; blackcurrants particularly are so carefully hidden under leaves

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

Less than 24 hours later there was a noisy bath taking place

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

Yesterday evening I put out a supermarket veg container, filling it with water and stones from my garden

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

I always forget what these flowers are called. Unused roof tiles put to good use

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Sausage, Broad Bean & Crème Fraiche Ragù

000

bleakmidwinter.bsky.social @bleakmidwinter.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Growing in my garden about 45 minutes ago. About to be cooked with ginger & sugar. Will be consumed with lots of Yeo Valley Greek Style yogurt & a little leftover Riverford crème fraiche

000