iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 4h

Three good things for today (really for everyday) 1) herbs and spices because that’s a cook’s and baker’s palette to create 2) Sci-fi #books because the very best stories challenge my thinking and provoke reflection 3) friends that set such a good example of being a kind and decent human being […]

mastodon.social

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 5h

A great blue heron watches me watch him along a canal. Oddly, the colors of autumn in southeastern #virginia include the color purple. There are a lot of purple Aromatic Astor flowers in the garden as seen in the background. #birds #birdsofmastodon #nature #naturephotography

A great blue heron stands along a canal with purple flowers on the opposite side of the water

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/10/2026

@daemonicusprince I haven’t seen one of those in a long time. Perhaps there is also a Dot matrix printer in one of the storage closets….

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/10/2026

With Halloween coming, I’d like share a fascinating series on PBS called “Monstrum”. Monstrum is hosted by Emily Zarka, Ph.D and she tells the stories of monsters and cryptids through many cultures and times. From La Llorona to Medusa to Mananangal and even to ancient Tiamat, I can’t pick a […]

mastodon.social

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/10/2026

The intense blue of this glass vase (Islamic vase from about 1000-1100 CE) is beautiful. The blue swirls remind me of images of our oceans from a satellite. #IslamicArt #glassMaking #ChryslerMuseumofArt #art

A vase with a blue glaze and a slight metallic sheen

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/10/2026

As seen in the Perry Conservatory lineup: the fall fashion trends for 2026. From 80’s animal prints to 90’s pinstripes to bold colors, nature is always in style. #naturephotography #plants #garden #nature #norfolkbotanicalgarden

A plant with black and white stripes on one side and green with white stripes on the other side of the leaves

A plant with leaves that are dark green with think white stripes and a hint of pink

Plants with bright pink leaves with a stripe of dark green down the center

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 18/10/2026

A few evenings I found this toad standing guard at my front door or walkway. Maybe I should hang up a tiny “Beware of Toad” sign on the door to warn off intruders. #toad #animals #nature #naturephotography

Small toad sitting on a cement step by weeds

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 17/10/2026

This was my first attempt at a rye bread. I’ve made loaves of wheat bread before but working with rye is new. The loaf is smaller and denser than I expected but still soft enough to eat. This will take some experimentation. #baking #bread #rye

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

Of all the folktales I remember reading as a child, my favorite was “Stone Soup”. I read a version of the story to my children when they were very young. It’s interesting that the cleverness (or trickery) of the travelers benefited not just themselves, but the entire community. Not all trickery […]

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/10/2026

@feijoa thanks! I’m trying to cook more without relying on a specific recipe. An herb or some combination of spices is my starting point and then I hope it works out.

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/10/2026

Today I was inspired to cook with the herb, thyme. So I used up some root vegetables (carrots, parsnips, potatoes) in a light sauce seasoned with thyme. Some leftover rosemary bread that was pretty tasty as a crisp breadcrumb topping. There are some things I […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

The herb rosemary on a white cutting board

A plate of potatoes, carrots and parsnips

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/10/2026

Mother-daughter bonding this morning: my young adult daughter and I looked over the sample ballot and reviewed any proposed amendments to the state constitution. Then we went to the registrars office together to vote. We’ve done this the past two elections and I love going together. I also love […]

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/10/2026

The photo quality is garbage but what matters is the extraordinary plant growing on the oak tree branch in the area I circled: a Resurrection Fern. Unlike most other plants, this fern can survive despite losing a large percentage of its water content. Along […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A line of ferns grows along the trunk of an oak tree

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 10/10/2026

I thought this was exposed electrical wiring from some unfinished project, but no. It’s a Candelilla. The weird and wonderful world of plants…. #plants #bloomscrolling #garden

A tangle of long green foliage on pebbles

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 07/10/2026

Spiders are fascinating, mostly because of the architecture of the webs they build. This spider (maybe an orb weaver?) sits at the center and has constructed a zigzag ladder directly through the center of the web. It was made this way for a purpose, but I […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A spider sits at the center of a web with red leaves in the background

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 06/10/2026

I don’t know if anyone else does this but I tend to cook and bake “backwards”. I get an idea in my head about a specific herb or spice and then I need to find a recipe that uses it. Today I absolutely had to cook with tarragon, and I came across a carrot soup […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 04/10/2026

Flowers growing where they shouldn’t. A vulnerability exploit (likely kernel level) #bloomscrolling #flowers

Yellow flowers grow through cracks in concrete and asphalt

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/10/2026

Plants, stay to the left. Humans, keep to the right. A stairway up to the second level of The Perry Conservatory #plants #botanicalgardens

Plants grow around the hand rail of a stairway

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/10/2026

This turtle looks like it was attempting cobra pose for morning yoga #turtle #wildlife #nature

A turtle on a rock in the sun by a green pond

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/10/2026

Front and back of the heart shaped leaves of a tropical plant #plants

Purple heart shaped leaf and straight green leaves of two tropical plants

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/10/2026

It’s still very warm in #virginia during #october Here’s a brief video of an Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly feeding mid morning. #butterflies #nature #butterfly

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/10/2026

Potted basil is growing very well and we can hardly keep up! Today I used up leftover flatbread and a bunch of the basil to make pizza. I’ve come across a few variations of gremolata that use basil so that should be a delicious experiment. #basil #food #herbs #cooking

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/09/2026

A little late but here’s a photo for the last day of summer. It’s a young frog holding the stem of a leaf as if it’s a security blanket #frogs #amphibians #naturephotography #nature

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/09/2026

The butterfly’s wings are tattered but it is stil flying from flower to flower.

A brown butterfly with yellow spots on an orange flower

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/09/2026

I purchased a tarnished little watering can in a thrift shop a while ago and finally began to remove all the buildup. The beautiful copper color and shine is beginning to show, but it needs more cleaning and polishing. I never realized how satisfying it is to […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/09/2026

This tree has a backstory. I’m going to anthropomorphize it and describe it as willful and ungovernable. A bench was once built around the trunk and the tree was like “nope”and methodically muscled his way out. The bench was removed. #beungovernable #trees […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/09/2026

I returned home from work yesterday to find a tiny frog climbing up the side of my home #nature #naturephotography #frogs

Small green frog climbing the siding of a house

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 11/09/2026

I made pitas today! Although this time, they turned out more like small loaves of flatbread rather than pitas. The pockets are missing! And their shape is weird. It’s ok though. Part of dinner tonight is done. It’s just fun and satisfying to be able to make something. #baking #bread #dinner

Oddly shaped loaves of pita bread on a white plate

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 05/09/2026

I post photos of butterflies because birds are too wily for me and my smartphone #naturephotography #nature #nature #wildlife #butterfly

Small butterfly on a bright orange flower

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/09/2026

Since bodies of water can be renamed and called anything on a whim, this is a photo of a butterfly on a Clown Flower. It’s not really a clown flower. I don’t actually know what it is. I call it a clown flower because it has garish stripes and the name amuses me. #flowers #bloomscrolling

Small brown butterfly on a yellow and pink striped flower

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 29/08/2026

The flashier butterflies get most of the admiration, but let’s give a little love to those with a more understated beauty. This is a Variegated Fritillary on her host plant, the Passion Vine. #wildlife #nature #butterfly #bloomscrolling

A golden brown and yellow butterfly on a green vine

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 29/08/2026

I have learned so much this summer about the local animals and plants that inhabit #virginia by frequently visiting Norfolk Botanical Garden. I saw this male monarch butterfly this morning. #wildlife #nature #butterfly #insects

Orange and black male monarch butterfly on a flower

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 24/08/2026

Beautiful example of Persian pottery dated from 900-1200 CE with an image of a bird, possibly a phoenix. One of my favorite pieces to see whenever I go to the museum. #pottery #art #ChryslerMuseum #birdsofmastodon #phoenix

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/08/2026

Scampering over little bridges and climbing the stairs to the observation tower at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens is my kind of parkour in middle age #parkour #bridges #stairs #exercise

Two stone slabs over a pond with trees in the background

Cement stairs leading up to a concrete tower with shrubs and plants on both sides

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/08/2026

These trees are two Dawn Redwoods growing in #Virginia . It’s unusual that they are growing so close together due to the competition for resources. Imagine that. Instead of a zero sum game to hoard resources, they have grown to a great height without […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

The base of two Dawn Redwoods with intertwined roots

Two tall dawn redwood trees grow close together

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 20/08/2026

Another interesting plant among the path of bonsai: a Caudiform Succulent Desert Rose. It looks like it has the body of a seated animal with a head of leafy branches. Kind of like a new chimera. #trees #bonsai #chimera #naturephotography

A bonsai with a rounded truck leaning slightly to the left

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Coleen Walter @coleenwalter.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 20/08/2026

This Weeping Fig bonsai has been in training since 1995. I guess that makes her a zillennial. #trees #bonsai #garden #zillenial

A weeping fig bonsai with shiny green leaves with a concrete wall behind the plant

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