iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

The wild black cherry tree in my backyard is absolutely dripping with fruit!!! I think the drought has caused the yellowed leaves, but the fruit looks great. I usually leave this for the birds.

Bunches of unripe (and therefore bright red) black cherries. There are green leaves surrounding the fruit, with some yellow leaves.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

One of my favorite memories that pops up today is from 12 years ago, when a handyman working on our neighbor’s house came to my door to ask to borrow a plunger. Truly, how desperate do you have to be to go ask a random person for a plunger? I hope you’re doing alright these days, plunger guy.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Homemade buttermilk biscuits made with lard are so delicious. And always easier to make than I anticipate. I need to remember that, so that I actually make them more often.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

My partner and I saw a fire next to a railroad today and notified emergency services. A few minutes later, we saw a firetruck heading that way. I feel like a hero!

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

A dear friend gifted me a prismatic window cling, which I put in my kitchen window. It lights my kitchen up at this time of the day. She has literally gifted me rainbows! 🌈💕 I need to put these in every window of my house.

A dark wooden floor surrounded by white cabinets and an oven to the right. The sun is shining through an unseen window, casting bright, full spectrum rainbows in lines on the floor and walls.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

The end of the school year is in sight. And everyone in my household is dragging.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

My oldest child just turned 18. And I’m…flabbergasted. What is time? When did that happen? Where is baby? Why are they so…person? How???

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Few things make me as irrationally angry as picking up a food order and not realizing it’s wrong until I get back home. 😤

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

I just introduced my 13 year old to MadLibs. Idk how he made it this far without knowing about them. But I had to teach him how to pick appropriate words. And by appropriate, of course I mean inappropriate. 🤣

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

I’m trying really hard to learn better emotional regulation. But what actually seems to be happening is me gaslighting myself into thinking all my emotions are irrational. And then I have a meltdown over the initial emotion and my guilt over having it. So fun.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

We have Eastern Phoebes that nest on our house every year. And I’m sorry to any phoebe lovers out there, but that is the most GD annoying bird of all time. The call is so repetitive and grating! 😤

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

The garden has been fully planted!

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Learning a language is so embarrassing. I meant to say: Tha e glaiste. (It is locked.) What I actually said: ‘S e glasraiche a th’ ann. (He is a vegetarian.)

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

It’s to the point in my gardening when I have to guess which sprout belongs, and which is a weed. About a million maple seeds have found their way into my yard, so it’s a busy game.

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

My white azalea bush is putting out some spectacular pink blooms!

A single bright pink azalea bloom amid white flowers and green leaves.

Several white azaleas with speckles and streaks of bright pink inside.

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

My goblin child had his wisdom teeth removed yesterday. We asked to keep his teeth, they said yes, then the message didn’t make it to the right people. So we didn’t actually get to keep the teeth. And even after sleeping on my feelings, I’m still so disappointed about it.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Meant to buy frozen chicken patties, accidentally ended up with frozen country fried steak. And to make matters worse, they smelled like rancid oil. 😤

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

I was out in the sun today, and remembered to use sunscreen. But I missed a tiny triangle on the back of my shoulder. Time to break out the aloe for the season.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Test drove a Mini Cooper today, and it ran clean out of gas less than a mile from the dealership. Like, automatically into neutral. The salesman said that had never happened to him before. 🙃

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

Just did a taste test to compare Reese’s Pieces vs Peanut Butter M&M’s. Just for fun. The M&M’s win, hands down! RP’s are too sweet, and the ratio of candy coating to filling isn’t as enjoyable. PBMM’s are creamier and saltier, with more filling.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

I’m a little behind schedule. But topped off the soil and emptied out the composter to prep the beds for this year. I’ve also added a twine grid, but didn’t get a pic of that. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll get my early seeds in!

Two garden beds, 4’x8’ with fresh black soil.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

The worst part of The Pollening is the gloopy eyes. My allergy meds can’t do squat about the haze in the air.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

The shaved pipe cleaners made for a successful craft project for my kid’s prom.

Two teens (faces obscured for privacy) dressed in navy and black formalwear. They are wearing matching corsage and boutonniere made from felt flowers in blues and purples.

A corsage and boutonniere made from felt flowers in blues and purples with greenery.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done for a craft project? Bc I’m using electric clippers to shave pipe cleaners. This is a last minute rush project for my teen, and I cannot find my thin wire. But I can find pipe cleaners, so here we are.

A paper towel covered in green fuzz. A pile of green pipe cleaners is to the left. And electric beard trimmer to the right. Purple and blue felt flower cutouts can be seen in the background.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Beguine statue in the Begijnhof, Amsterdam.

A statue of a woman dressed much like a nun, in a dress with a head covering. There is green grass around and brick buildings in the background.

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

LEGO houseboat inside the house boat museum, Amsterdam.

A LEGO houseboat encased in a clear case. The wall behind it is a 70s inspired wallpaper of orange and brown flowers.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

One of my fav things I learned at the tulip festival. Tulip and turban have the same etymological root. And Turkish men used to wear tulips tucked into their turbans. 💕🌷

A white turban in a display case, backed by a decorative floral tile.

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

Lying in bed feeling really down about everything today. Capitalism, war, insurance, needing to know what a SSN is, the emphasis put on being a successful person, what success actually means to these damn capitalists….

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

I was amused by these carvings outside De Nieuw Kerk, Amsterdam. Does anyone else see Paddington or a TMNT?

A stone archway on a gray brick wall. The archway has smaller, intricate, gothic style arches under it, with columns ending in 6 carved figures. From the left, the figures appear to be a curled up dog, a bearded man, Paddington bear from behind, a squatting nun, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, and a curled up cat. Of course, neither Paddington nor the Turtle is actually what it seems, but just carved figures.

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

Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, is being restored. Absolutely fascinating to get to see it happening in front of the crowds!

The painting is a large as the wall. It is set behind another wall of glass and black scaffolding. A museum worker is in the bottom left corner of the painting working on removing the old varnish. They appear to be shining a black light. You can see strips of dull areas where the varnish has already been removed. It has only been removed from a small percentage.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

These Delft flower towers were everywhere in Amsterdam. I absolutely love them, and I kinda regret not getting one as a souvenir.

A blue and white ceramic tower on display in the Rijksmuseum. It is made with square levels receding in size, each with a a small vase hole on the corners. It is topped with a bust of a woman.

A small Delft flower tower found in the Tulip Museum. It has 8 levels of flowers, and is filled with tulips in pinks and oranges.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

I’ve been sick for TEN days now. Feeling a lot better than I was 5 days ago. But seriously over this. The worst part now is ear pressure/pain, and a lingering cough. I’m rating this solidly in the top 3 worst colds I’ve ever had. But on the plus side: delicious leek oatmeal chicken soup.

A Dutch oven pot full of thick creamy white soup, flecked with shades of green from leeks and chives.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

The Dancing Houses, Amsterdam. As seen from the canal.

A dreary photo of a row of canal houses. The brick fronts are reds, grays, browns, and blues, with white trimmed windows. The houses appear to be leaning in different directions (despite all being connected). Canal boats and water in the foreground.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

It’s Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week)! I started learning the tiniest bit of Scottish Gaelic 8 years ago, and then last year I started studying a little every day. Chan eil ach beagan Gàidhlig agam. Ach tha e spòrsail! Tha gaol mòr agam air Alba!

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Probably one of the worst photos of the 7 Bridges view point ever taken. But hey, it’s mine, and I was there. Amsterdam.

A brick bridge archway, viewed from a canal. In the distance you can see more identical archways. The photo is gray and dreary, and it is difficult to see the full length to all 7 bridges that should be visible.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

David-19, Francesco Filiberto Tonarelli. On display at the Moco Museum Amsterdam.

An unfinished recreation in marble of Michelangelo’s David. It is just the bust, and David is wearing a mask over his nose and mouth.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

One of the highlights of my Amsterdam trip was the Van Gogh museum.

Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. A painting of 15 sunflowers in shades of yellow, with a yellow background, in a golden frame.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

This cold has knocked me on my ass. Idk if it’s actually a worse bug, or bc I’m getting older, or bc it’s a European germ that has confused my American immune system. 😅😷

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Street art, from a mystery artist, right outside Oude Kerk, Amsterdam. I wouldn’t have even noticed it, except a guy walking past stumbled on it and loudly declared “I tripped on a tit!”

A bronze plaque shaped like a woman’s chest, with a hand caressing one breast, it is inlayed with the cobblestones of the sidewalk.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

The red stained glass in the Holy Sepulcher, Oude Kerk, Amsterdam

A tall round arched gothic window, with hanging arches on the wall to the right. The entire room is cast in red light from the stained glass of the window.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Welp, it was bound to happen post travel, I’m sick. 😷 It’s gonna be me and my neti pot for a few days, I guess.

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

Zaanse Schans windmill, up close and personal.

A Dutch windmill from the 1600s. It has a thatched bell shaped roof and four arm fans. A clear blue sky in the background.

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

While heading to Zaanse Schans, my partner and I made a brief (and accidental) stop in Zaandam. This building is a hotel very near the train station. It looks so cool!

A large building in various shades of green, with white trim and lots of windows. It appears to be made of several houses stacked and melded together, with corners jutting out on the different levels.

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

I went to 14 different museums while in Amsterdam. Tell me you like art and history without telling me you like art and history, amiright?!?!

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Just had a 20hr day yesterday traveling home from Amsterdam (hence the bike posts), and my van broke down 20mins away from home. So instead of decompressing from my travel today, I’m waiting hours for a tow truck. 🫠

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mallytea.bsky.social @mallytea.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

And back to the bike thing…I feel like riding a bike would be like doing a cartwheel. I can imagine it in my head, but I fear if I try it, I will definitely hurt myself.

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

Just so you know, Dutch apple pie is NOT the same thing as a Dutch appeltaart. And yes, one is better than the other. I’ll let you guess which it is.

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

Is riding a bike actually like riding a bike? In that even if it’s been 20 yrs, you can just jump on and do it?

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