iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

I just saw that yesterday! Of course I immediately notified @bitteroldpunk.bsky.social.

A cropped screenshot of a text message consisting of a photo of the new Kawartha Dairy ice cream flavour "The Tragically Chip" with the comment, "LOL Canadiana."

040

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

For killing time at the end of the world.

A bottle of NZ Sauvignon Blanc with the (to me, at least) unfortunate name of On the Beach. I know, I know, NZ is not Australia. Still.

070

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

The Calgary Stampede just finished, a.k.a. the time of the Obligatory Donning of Stupid Hats for Canadian politicians. I mean, at least Carney grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, but to me that just means he should know better. He still looks better than this jackass.

Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, looking like the bad guy's henchman--you know, the one with the unnerving titter who probably does unspeakable things with the smaller livestock in his off time--in a white shirt, leather vest, bolo tie, and comically oversized cowboy hat, on the occasion of some past Calgary Stampede.

110

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

FWIW, it looks to me like it's designed for old-school pleated curtains, the ones with the hooks that slide up into the back of the pleats. The ones my mum had looked kind of like this:

Photo of a hook designed for pleated curtains.

110

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

It took moving some furniture, laying out 2 yoga mats, and putting a fan on it overnight so we could use the living room in the morning, but the blanket for my uncle is finished and blocked. I meant to make it long because he's quite tall, but...yeah, I think it's big enough. #knitting

A large, blue, hand knit blanket lying on the floor. The sections of stockinette (on the right) and reverse stockinette (on the left) have different textures, making the reverse stockinette appear darker. A dividing line in the form of a wave separates the sections of texture.

2200

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

OMG what do they want for it? Are we rich now?

140

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

*Finally* got the tomatoes and cucumbers in the community garden plot. Weeded and weeded and weeded, added more compost, put down the drip hose, added lots and lots of straw mulch on top, and topped up the potato sacks, which were long overdue & needed a *lot* of soil. And would you look at that. 🤘

A cropped screenshot showing that I walked 6,666 steps today.

4170

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

George was so happy to have me home again...until he realized what that meant re: the availability of his afternoon nap chair. #Caturday

A short-haired grey cat with green eyes, looking at the camera. He's lying comfortably on an indigo and red cushion on a chair with a sheepskin draped over it. This has been his chair for the last month. He does not see why it shouldn't continue to be.

1200

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

I have tried a Nanaimo bar slice (i.e., in the form of a popular type of dessert here), and it's a faithful rendition of my home's sweet treat, but y'all, this is too damn much Nanaimo bar.

A Nanaimo bar slice sitting on its bakery bag on a hotel room desk, with my hand beside it for scale. (Note: I have quite large hands.) The layers are right: a chocolate crumb & coconut base; a shocking yellow, custard-powder-and-icing-sugar middle, and a layer of chocolate on top. (The shredded coconut on the chocolate is not traditional, but I'll allow it.) Each layer is about twice as thick as a traditional Nanaimo bar's, and the whole thing is about 5 cm/2 in wide and 15 cm/6 in long, and 4 cm/1.5 in thick. That's a *lot* of Nanaimo bar.

170

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

Last night in Aoteroa New Zealand, so I went for a ludicrous dessert (I mean, really, look at this thing) and a probably-too-strong-for-evening coffee. Now to finish postcards, pack my shit, and try to eat the grazing food that remains in the hotel room fridge.

Photo from the Sweet Soul Patisserie website: a vanilla cinnamon mousse apple with a shiny red glaze, a chocolate stem, and a crumble base. Inside the base is a spoonful of apple compote. It was ludicrously expensive and very, very delicious.

2150

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

I am disappointed to learn that this is not, in fact, where they keep the British. I'm sure the fine people of Lyttelton are relieved, though.

The outside of a hotel on a sunny day. Above the doorway is a plain black sign with "Commit no nuisance" in white capital letters. Behind that is a green sign with "To Oxford St." in small letters, and "The British" in large, cream-coloured capital letters with a black drop shadow.

040

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

I had breakfast there! Not through a pneumatic tube, though--I don't think the poached eggs would have survived the trip. It was an excellent meal, nonetheless. I'm at the Chch City Hotel, right on Cathedral Square. I've seen the tram, but haven't ridden it yet; maybe tomorrow or Sunday.

View from a round hotel room of part of Cathedral Square in Christchurch: an open space on the left, a tram coming donw the middle, and lots of glass buildings and trees.

020

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Oh, and hey, look what I found at a K beauty shop downtown! They'd just got a shipment in--apparently it sells out fast. Thanks for mentioning it way back when: it really is excellent. I'll have to look for more in ChCh.

A kind of crappy photo of a tube of Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics sunscreen, SPF 50+.

130

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

I somehow forgot what an essential prop a physical book is to a person (especially a woman, maybe?) travelling alone. Some places it just seems weird to pull out a tablet, but a book? Always appropriate. So thanks, Unity Books, for these. (Sure, now you'll let me post photos. Too little, too late.)

Two books sitting side by side: David Eagleman's 'Sum: Forty tales from the afterlives', and Taku Ashibe's 'Murder in the House of Omari', apparently a winner of the Mystery Writers of Japan award. It's very good so far, and either one fits neatly into my purse.

060

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Not pictured: Unity Books (always love a good bookstore, and this one is exceptional); walking all the fuck over downtown; getting blown almost sideways by the famous Wellington wind. Today: cable car to the top...

Wellington as seen from the top of the cable car route: fern trees & the cable tracks in the foreground, then Wellington Harbour, with the houses across the harbour climbing the hill to the right. The sky clearly can't make up its mind: ominous grey cloud in the foreground; fluffy white clouds with bits of blue further away.

250

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Big trip rest evening mini-photodump. So. Here's what I did yesterday (apart from that fabulous bar).

View 1 of new tattoo of water, using colours from the various waters I've seen so far. I told the guy his linework reminded me of Aeon Flux. He had no idea what I was talking about. Because Aeon Flux happened before he was born. LOL so old.

View 2 of new tattoo: more water, some bubbles/stones?, some orange from the logs at my friend's field camp/the minerals at the Champagne Pool at Wai-O-Tapu.

View 3 of new tattoo: more water/stones/bubbles, with one wave curled in on itself like the Whekī-ponga/Golden tree fern.

Pie! I have had so many pies. This was, uh, smoked brisket? With some kind of cheese? and garlic confit mash with gravy.

4180

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

On my second night in Wellington, I have found my bar. Now I know I've arrived here. (@flisswave.bsky.social Due to a stupid set of circs, I can't currently email or text you, but you, my friend, would have loved this place.)

The main seating space at the bar: tufted leather couches, wooden tables & chairs, bookshelves, dark-olive-painted cinderblock walls, lighting that is not too bright, despite how it looks here.

The bar: brick wall, shelves with glasses and various cocktail additives, many & various bottles of liquor hanging on bungee cords suspended from the ceiling. Apparently this setup saves a lot of breakage in earthquakes.

The outside of the bar: five concreet stairs leading to a utilitarian door set in wall with a multi-paned, old garage-style window. A discreet sign with a bottle hanging from a gibbet tells you that you have found the place. Warm light invites you inside.

The alley you walk down to get to the bar. Trash bags line the side, waiting for pick-up. across the street, someone has graffitied the word 'Aroha' in bright pink on a turquoise (power?) box. An almost-full moon hangs in a dark and cloudy sky.

1100

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Everywhere we visit, @bitteroldpunk.bsky.social & I seek out the cheesiest fridge magnet we can find. I think I have found us a winner.

Fridge magnet that looks like a tiny tray, with a forest reflected in a lake in the background, a cutout kiwi bird on the left, and a neon green cutout of New Zealand on the right. 'NEW ZEALAND' is printed across the top.

The same fridge magnet as before, shown at an angle so you can fully appreciate the 3-D-ness of the thing: Both the kiwi bird and the neon green cutout in the shape of New Zealand are separate pieces of, I dunno, clear acrylic? stuck to the tray-like background.

5210

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

It can be delightful to see the dawn occasionally when travelling. This one, for instance, was really lovely. Seeing it every goddamn morning, though, gets a little tired. Eventually I'll get off of west coast time, right? RIGHT?

Dawn near Waikanae, New Zealand: Fern trees in the foreground, forested hills in the background, and pink & blue cloud cover overhead. The sun is just about to come up behind the hills, and the cicadas are singing to beat the band.

050

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

2. Some sheep. 3. Ye gods, this place is beautiful. 4. My friend's partner's field camp wall stuffed with sheep wool.

Four Arapawa sheep in a paddock. The gate is open, giving them access to the huge hill behind them. One of them is looking at me, wondering if I have food, but also thinking that I don't smell like a known person, so maybe not food.

Sections of log--part of a wall--with sheep wool stuffed in the gaps.

190

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Anyway, here are some photos, as promised! 1. How you know you're staying with Canadians.

A wooden fence with a weather beaten sign on it. The sign is a white diamond shape with the silhouette of a moose on it and the words, "Moose crossing. Canada". Apparently my friend's neighbours find this both hilarious and endearing.

1110

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Why we didn't make it to Rotorua today. On the road for 6 hrs, to end up right back where we started. All highways to the eastern side of the North Island closed. Damn near didn't make it back to my friend's house.

New Zealand government map of road closures due to the big storms that have been blowing through. There are a lot of them. Today was very much a 'you can't get there from here' situation.

131

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

After his scary health stuff & despite my stupid knee stuff, Dad & I have resumed our Sunday walks. Today's reward: a slightly chilly walk through misty woods, and our first trumpeter swans of the year.

A lake viewed from a marshy bank. In the right foreground are dead reeds; the background is coniferous forest under a blue sky. Across the centre of the photo is a still lake, reflecting both the trees and the three trumpeter swans floating in the middle.

2150

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

I'm on the lining of the 2nd mitten from @kateatherley.bsky.social's Toasty Mittens & Hat Set. (Did I finish them in time for Whitehorse? No, I did not.) using some JDMS Mohonk from the stash + Fyberspates Cumulus. So cozy I may have to go back north just to wear them www.ravelry.com/patterns/lib...

A bright red, hand knit mitten on a hand knit cushion cover in grey & green diagonal stripes.

A bright red, hand knit mitten on a hand knit cushion cover in grey and green diagonal stripes. The mitten is inside out to show the soft, fuzzy lining.

350

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

While in the frozen north, I went for a walk with my sister through her neighbourhood. We followed a path through some trees, rounded a corner, and suddenly, this. (Click for full photo.) I'm not generally a fan of real winter, but damn.

Night view from the top of a hill over a valley of trees covered in snow. An almost-full moon lights the valley. A very old mountain can just be seen in the background.

2190

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Watched del Toro's Frankenstein. It is, of course, gorgeous to look at--the colours, the cinematography, the design, all so well thought out and visually striking--appropriately melodramatic, and (I think) a worthy interpretation. However, I can never hear the name Frankenstein without thinking

180

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Follow-up to the other day's post on the cat-tree-to-new-vacuum pipeline: Proof that 1. George has decided that he likes his new castle & can get all the way up to the top, and 2. This thing is so ludicrously extra. I laugh at its ridiculousness every time I look at it.

Late night, poorly lit photo of a grey cat sitting at the very top of a large and elaborate cat tree, as seen from my knitting chair. You can't see the cat's expression, but trust me: He is very, very pleased with himself and his lot in life. For now.

2130

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

So pleased to see Mystic Beach done in a Canadian yarn: Beehive Wool Shop in Victoria did their sample in @lainesjulieasselin.bsky.social Fino, spun & dyed in Canada. Beehive has the pattern + some gorgeous Fino skeins here: beehivewoolshop.com/collections/... beehivewoolshop.com/products/fin...

A woman wearing a hand knit cowl in a twisted stitch pattern of diagonal ridges and waves, in a subtly varying light blue.

3102

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Since it's come up today, here's a knitting chart-reading tip: In some stranded colourwork charts, you have sections of several stitches of the same colour. These can be a flow-breaking PITA to count, so some charting programs will add the number of stitches in the middle of each stretch, like so:

A stranded colourwork knitting chart, showing the head of an octopus. Stitches in the main colour are shown as white squares, with the contrast colour stitches as black squares. Wherever the chart has 6 or more stitches of the same colour in a row, there's a number in the middle of that stretch of stitches. That number indicates how many stitches to do of that colour before switching to the other colour.

140

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

I did the Marcella Hazan route with mine (the food mill method), and then froze the puree. It worked beautifully.

110

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

One of the most rewarding things about the community garden is making friends who really get you. Sometimes they even bring you thoughtful gifts.

A hip flask with a wraparound decal: a drawing of a woman in a 50s style yellow cardigan, black and white striped skirt, and gardening gloves, kneeling in a garden bed and holding a trowel, looking into the distance with a faint smile on her face. Above the drawing is the caption, "Gardening, yoga, bubble baths, medication...and I still want to smack somebody!"

0211

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Another great morning in the #CommunityGarden, including a nice haul for the local food bank. (This is just what I picked; others picked & brought more.)

A large aluminum colander sitting on green grass. In the colander are quite a lot of cucumbers and red, orange, and yellow cherry tomatoes; green beans; basil; rosemary; and thyme.

1101

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

My uncle is a really good amateur photographer, & took me to a bird sanctuary to teach me about how to use my camera. Here is the one shot I got of a beaver who appeared near the end of our walk. I call it "Card Full". ("and now you've learned another lesson about photography.")

A pretty good photo of (I think) a willow in sharp focus in front of a very out-of-focus lake. The darker blur from the right edge to about 1/3 into the frame is the beaver I was actually trying to capture, and its wake. Or maybe it's a samsqanch. We'll never know.

080

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Finally, the balcony is scrubbed, planted, and put back together for spring. It's sangria o'clock, baby. (Glass courtesy of @flisswave.bsky.social ) #gardening #ContainerGardening #BalconyGarden #VancouverIsland

View along a long, narrow balcony. In the foreground is a table with a copy of Emily Carr's book Klee Wyck, a highball glass containing sangria with a skull and the words 'Sloth love punk' painted on it, and a tarragon plant in a pot. In the background is a patio chair, a jasmine growing up a wall, and a shelf with various herbs in pots. A honeysuckle is wrapped around the railing on the right.

1371

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

Well, would you look at that. Delicate wash (warm, because my machine doesn't give me a choice), dried flat, and it did just fine. Yarn: Laines du Nord Matera: DK weight, 100% Merino Gentile (an Italian sheep breed grown in Puglia), 160 m/50 g or 175 yds/1.75 oz. #knitting #wool #WoolLove

Hand knit swatch in a light bluish grey, with twisted stitch patterns of waves on the left, mountains against garter stitch on the bottom, sort of conifer trees in the middle, and something that when I play around with the placement will hopefully evoke grasslands. The swatch is now blocked, so it lies nice and flat and the stitches are more even.

180

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Commemorating this baby blanket swatch in case the lovely, woolly yarn I picked up at my LYS is 'European washing machine safe on wool cycle' and not 'North American top-loader delicate cycle safe.' Wish me luck! #knitting

090

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

The other one I've made before, and will be much easier to ship. (Photo is of the last one I made.) www.ravelry.com/patterns/lib...

Composite photo of a hand knit toy sitting in a flower pot full of seedlings. Clockwise from left: a cream-coloured egg; a smiling turtle in shades of green with a striped shell; the same turtle from a slightly different angle, so the face is more visible. The turtle turns inside out to become the egg; the egg becomes the stuffing for the turtle.

050

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Trying to figure out how to convince my landlord that installing one of these from our balcony to the parking deck would be an excellent, not-at-all-ridiculous idea.

A boxed zipline kit in the window of a toy store.

0120

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Friend & local legend Joe Fortin died a couple of weeks ago. He made the most wonderful bird houses, but I never bought one because we don't have a yard. At his celebration of life, I realized that I didn't need a yard: it's okay to just have one as a piece of art by a friend. I miss you, Joe.

A wooden bird house/art work showing a stylized human figure bowing before a sun that looks like a sunflower. The background is in undulating shades of green below with a bright blue sky. The bird house has an asymettrical shape and a wooden shake roof. It sits on a wooden shelf suspended by ropes from the foot of a metal frog.

4681

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Suggestions, old-furniture-loving people? I found this for a reasonable price. It would be perfect in our bathroom, except that it's ~2 in too low to clear the baseboard heater that we never use. I've looked at casters, but they're often not high enough & I don't want to screw anything into the feet

An old, wooden, 2-drawer chest of drawers in a shop. There are bowls and another table sitting on top.

430

elizarde.bsky.social @elizarde.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Doing a bit of a book purge, I came across this. It was a much-treasured gift from my dad during my heavily-into-ballet phase--signed! to me! by Veronica Tennant! the National Ballet's prima ballerina at the time! I was over the moon. It will now go to my dance-mad niece. May it bring her joy, too.

TItle page and illustration from the book 'On Stage, Please', by Veronica Tennant, with illustrations credit to Rita Briansky, published by McClelland and Stewart. The inscription reads, "To Elizabeth, With my very best wishes, Veronica Tennant."

080