iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Lovely! I'm also trying to notice the beauty in small, simple things, like the sunlight turning this cherry tomato into a glowing red lamp

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Day 633 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): My husband and I decided that we can do the charcuterie board much better for less money, and with a better view! Our date night was a hike up the hill behind our house to enjoy a home-made picnic

View of picnic items on a yellow cloth - cheese, preserves, rue crisp bread, fruit, pickles and the like

A view of the sunset over hills, with tree and cloud silhouettes

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Day 615 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): I also used the blue to dye a mulberry silk scarf that my SIL gave me. It’s a lovely pattern & sheen, but also was white, so didn’t match anything dressy I have. Now it should go with many items. Forgot pre-pic; the left scarf is about the orig. shade

Two silk scarves hang on a coat hanger in front of a wooden dresser. The left one is cream-colored and the right a deep blue

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Day 612 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): I just made a recipe that I only make (properly) once a year: my son’s basil aioli recipe (with fresh garden basil just picked), so we can make proper BLTs with our own farm bacon and ripe garden tomatoes.

A close-up of a small Ball canning jar filled with the slightly green, and green-flecked, basil aioli

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Aug 22nd: Day 597 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): My husband also took the opportunity of his faucet replacement to add a feature we’ve wanted - flip out storage spaces in front of the sink, where he added stainless-steel mesh baskets to hold things like scrubbers and sponges when not in use

A view of a twin steel sink, with the two panels in front modifier to tilt forward on hinges to reveal storage baskets holding brushes, scrubbers and sponges

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Day 596 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): we can’t really have a kitchen sink where the water just trickles out, so my husband had to buy a new faucet system today. He chose the best value of the options - good enough for us. (luckily he also knew how to install it himself)

A steel twin sink, with a tall, curving faucet with a spray nozzle

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Day 588 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): The big secret of the kid snack tray: it is eternally refillable, but ONLY when all of the previous tray has been eaten, so by putting some veggies/fruit, protein and a starch on every tray, we’ve gotten the kids to have a balanced diet each snack time.

A cookie sheet covered in bite-sized servings of assorted snacks, including baby carrots, blueberries, thin buttered bread slices, cheese, sliced beets, melon, cherry tomatoes

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Day 587 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): We are babysitting grandkids, & my friend (also a grandma) taught me a fun trick: the snack tray (charcuterie for kids): all sorts of nutritious things made fun by being cut in small pieces and set on a cookie sheet coated in parchment paper.

A cookie sheet covered in different healthy snacks like tortilla chips, beans and sour cream, raisins, chunks of a pink cheddar cheese, and thin slices of a fruit and nut bread

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Day 582 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): I’ve been sewing a little gift for my camping friends, to celebrate the trip - they are neck coolers, with water-absorbing beads folded inside a calico tube that you soak & then wear while hiking or working.

Thin, long blue calico neck wraps with button closures

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Aug 2nd: Day 577 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): Always check unit pricing before buying a bigger package just to save money: it isn’t always cheaper! E.g.: 50 jar lids “on sale” for $15. But the 12-pack is $3 on sale = 5 cents/item cheaper (& its $3.49 reg. price =same as sale for large!)

A shop shelf of canning supplies, with for-sale signs on the canning jars lids. The smaller packs are cheaper per unit than the bigger packs

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

July 15th: Day 559 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): I repaired a pair of work pants today. A hole was developing at the corner of the pocked - probably because that’s where I stow my cell phone. I just did an iron-on patch and zigzag stitching because it is only for farm work - it can show.

Close-up of khaki shorts size, with a pocket roughly mended with a zig-zag stitch

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Day 556 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): My flannel PJ pants that my sister gave me got a rather large rip in them. Luckily it's close to the leg seam, so I just used some zigzag stitching to sew it closed again along the seam. It’s a weaker spot now, but hopefully will hold for a while longer

A view of the side leg of a pair of baby-blue flannel pajama pants with a 3-4 inch rip by the hem

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Day 545 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): I’ve finished 5 knitted hats since I turned in my grades (1 from scratch, and 4 were finishing the last ½ or less). It’s soothing work and I enjoy giving gifts like hats. Here’s the one from scratch.

A green wool hat with twisted cable patterns across it, being held up in a car.

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

I am cleaning out a hideous box (desk-drawer detritus, long neglected because 3/4ths of it is trash). It says a lot about what's loose at the festivals and fireworks that I'd rather do THIS tonight. And then I find an unused 20-pack of "US Flag Forever" Stamps: a good omen to stay strong, folks!

Lots of grubby stuff from a desk drawer in the bottomof a cardboard box: pens, stapler, bandaid, toothpaste. And a paper packet of flag stamps- unused

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Day 542 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): Day 540 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): I was really proud of one “Iron Chef” moment, where I used up a whole bunch of foods in the fridge and pantry at my daughter’s to create an Indian-inspired dinner that everyone liked!

A blue plate with small portions of several dishes - lentils, raita, potatoes with spinach, veggies in tomato sauce with sauteed onions, and spicy banana chutney, plus a lime wedge

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Day 532 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): equally pitiful is the World Cup merchandise, already going on markdown. Why would World Cup 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner make me - or anyone - feel more sporting?

Bottles of Dove shampoo and conditioner that are "FIFA World Cup" branded, with names like "All-Star Comfort" and "Fresh Victory"

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Day 531 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): the displays of 4th of July and 250th celebration stuff just look pitiful to my consumerism-attuned eyes: junky, faux patriotism designed to trick money out of people. I'm not remotely tempted to buy any of it.

A store display of red, white and blue grills, deck chairs and side tables

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Day 513 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): My 25 year-old swift (for holding yarn skeins while one winds a ball up) also broke a stem recently, and my husband fixed it with rivets and a popsicle stick!

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Day 512 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): My circular knitting needle broke in the middle of a project (one tip just slipped out of its base). I fixed it with Gorilla Glue, keeping the project on double-point needles while I did the repair and let it dry. It seems to be working fine now

A circular bamboo knitting needle sitting on a brown surface

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Day 505 of Buy Nothing (from the broligharchs): I get the last bits out of a squeeze bottle by cutting the end open to reach inside, cutting it down lower as I go, and clipping it shut between uses

A plastic squeeze bottle of hair cream with the end cut off, folded over, and held in place with bulldog clips

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Day 470 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): I think have found the item I'm LEAST interested in buying this season. It's a cheap, ugly "250" flag w/ R/W/B letters, in a display of FIFA merchandise. Nope! - I am not supporting FIFA or DJT's mad July 4th schemes. He's even ruined patriotism!

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Hope everyone can get some rest this weeked

Two orange tabby cats curled up to sleep in a box on a porch, surrounded by clogs and garden gear.

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Day 431 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): Frugal types show their grit by how long they keep using an anti-persp. stick. I'm in the middle: willing to persist until the plastic ribs start to grate on my pits, but not keen on scraping out the contents to apply by hand 😅

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Day 421 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs) I finally finished my cables & twists hat. It took 2 months b/c I was learning to read a knit chart, so I could only work on it at home in total quiet! I made 2 other easy hats in the same time window in my usual knit-in-meetings-and-waiting-rooms mode

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Day 420 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): My first "Melt the ICE" red hat is done and being blocked (washed and then air dried in the desired shape). It's cute! I meant it to be for me, but my daughter was admiring it, and I have spare yarn now, so I plan to give it to her & make myself another

Selfie of a person wearing a ribbed red knitted hat, standing in front of a mirror, so the hassle on the back of the hat is visible in the mirror

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Day 403 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): After all that yarn defense, what should I find at the thrift shop? BAGS of fancy yarn. $47 for all this! Over 1/2 isn't for my tastes (I will give away). But there's still a bargain in beautiful stuff I am glad to have! (But only 1 sm. ball of red ;p)

A sofa nearly covered in multicolored balls of yarn

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

I woke up with this stanza in my head & for the first time realized how bizarre it is. The child is COLD. Bring him a BLANKET, not silver & gold-maybe made w/ some of that wool from 1 of your sheep, little shepherd? Or at least hay as a cover? And the irony of noticing that the palace is warm too..

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Happy 250th Birthday, Jane Austen!! Many thanks for your wonderful writing - and all the quirky adventures it has sent me on over the past 30 years

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

I'm v. proud of my knitted cowl! I don't usually do lacy patterns because I lose count, but figured out the patterning & stuck to it, with only a few mistakes. I managed the longest grafting I've ever done! I know a skilled knitter could see where, but I dare the rest of you to find the join line

A dark colored knitted cowl against a salmon background. The cowl has chevron patterns created with raised areas and lines of holes

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Day 295 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): I am quite happy with how my scrap hat turned out. They probably don't save any yarn, but because there are more yard ends & yarn carried behind, they are really warm. I don't enjoy weaving in so many ends, so I will just line it with fleece-even warmer

A woman looking over her glasses, head tilted down to show the majority of a hat with many scraps of multi-colored yarn leftover knitted into a blue and grey base.

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

I saw these hydrangeas in the Netherlands this summer at Zaantze Schaans

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

I knitted a frog hat, and figured out how to crochet the eyeballs. I'm proud of the work, and it was fun to wear to the rally, which was also awesome!

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

Don't know who to credit, but this is thoughtful:

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Day 291 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): I'm super proud of the frog hat I made for the rally, because I powered & got it done in 4 days (& remembered how to do crochet stitches for the eyeballs w/o help). And it's warm & cute & funny. Go, me! #Nokings

A woman at a rally wearing a gold cardigan, a knitted green frog hat, and holding a sign that says, "Frogs Rule; Kings drool"

A close-up of the top of the knitted frog hat, done in heathered ivy green superwash wool

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Quite a few frogs in Hillsboro Oregon too, most homemade - like mine!

Woman in a knitted frog hat at a rally, with a sign that says, "Frogs Rule; Kings Drool"

Close-up of the knotted frog hat, with crochet and stuffed eyeballs

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Day 280 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): Now fall weather is setting in, I'm polishing my leather shoes. It's fiddly & takes time, but not hard - & super satisfying! Polishing leather shoes & boots makes them look almost new again! These boots are 18+ y/o for me, & I bought them second hand

Black leather short boots, showing scuffs on toes and side.

The same black boots, now polished and shiny

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Day 277 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): I am knitting more elaborate patterns to slow down using up my nice yarn, because I can't buy more of that. This will be a neck cowl, and the yarn is Merino, silk and yak! Very soft and warm (ignore the gold -waste yarn for the join; will be all teal)

Part of a knitting project still on the needles - a teal wool with an angled lace pattern

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Julie Anne Cat @goofyquestion.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Day 272 of Buy Nothing (from the broligarchs): I had a package of baby wipes that wasn't easy to access (probably a refill pack but we don't have the box anymore). So I transferred into an empty pkg with the easy -open top. Ugly, but functional.

A flip-top package of baby wipes with one end taped back up with black duct tape after being cut open to add more baby wipes

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