iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Wasn’t expecting any books…turns out today is a double pre-order Native book day!

Joey Clift’s book “We’ve Been Here the Whole Time” stacked on the book “Designed to Be Red; Native American & Indigenous Graphic Works”

“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Just listened to all six episodes of the NPR+CBC podcast Tested (www.tested-podcast.com) about the long history of sex testing in women’s sports, ever since woman were first allowed to compete in the Olympics.

tested-podcast.com

TESTED – A surprising history of women’s sports

I’ve spent over ten years researching and working on this story. There was SO much we couldn’t include.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

To give my body a partial-respite during chemo pills, I have been alcohol-free for 6 months. Despite that, @offcolorbrewing.bsky.social has chosen to continue issuing beers I’d like to try or revisit. Hopefully after today’s final chemo-monitoring appointment I’ll be able to partake in Non-NA beer.

A stack of 16 different kinds of Off Color beer 4 packs + a full flat of Scurry + 6 375ml bottles

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Although Orange Shirt Day is a Canadian day of observance and remembrance, the USA also ran a genocidal Indian Residential School system, an attempt to strip Native children of their culture and connection to their homelands.

Me wearing an orange T-shirt with a black and white design by Tsawout First Nations artist Bear Horne and orange and pink beaded and quillwork star medallion by Lakota artist Jennifer Quickbear.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Last week, on September 16, Graeme turned 21. Now that he has moved away (Did you know that Graeme now lives in Richmond, Virginia?) it would be very difficult to deliver a pie-of-the-month.* So I pivoted.

Vintage red and brown plaid, printed metal recipe box with “Pie Recipe of the Month” in hand-painted on the front in red script.

Open recipe box holding hand-written recipe cards for a pate brisse pie crust.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Cleared the refrigerator drawer of old apples to make room for the incoming farmers’ market crop for Quaker potluck.

Double crust pie on the kitchen counter with “HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM…” inscribed in the top crust.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Honey pie (with cinnamon whipped cream,) for a friend’s Beatles party. [Shown with the Eggmen Dreiske made.]

Wildflower honey-colored custard pie in a metal pie tin, cut into 12 slices with a small dollop of cinnamon whipped cream on each slice

Aforementioned pie with a hand lettered “Honey pie” name card and a tray of whole deviled egg Eggmen with green olive with pimento eyes and red pepper noses

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

It’s cool that social handles work as names for folks you only observe online, but I do find myself asking, “Have I ever met ‘@crush’” @lizzyisi.bsky.social or, “Have I ever been in a room with ‘@bunny knuckles?’” @bibliogrrl.bsky.social

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Leek and herb with La Maréchal Swiss cheese quiches for Graeme’s I’m-moving-to-Richmond-VA farewell party

Three nicely browned, herb-speckled quiches in ceramics pie plates sitting on a green enamel table

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Quaker Game Night! Had some leftover family reunion frozen rhubarb that my sister-in-law grew in Iowa, but not enough for a pie, so I threw in some Buy One Get One strawberries.

Double crust pie in a brown ceramic pie dish with “BOGO” inscribed in the top crust.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Cunningham Family Reunion pies made with Iowa rhubarb and dietary accommodations.

Two double crust pies on a patio table with “BUTTER TART” and “UNBUTTERED TART” inscribed in the top crusts.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

No clever wordplay for this one, just some standard reportage. My friends with cherry trees had no cherries this year. Neither did our Deerfield farmers’ market. If I hadn’t gone to a midweek market we don’t usually frequent, I might have missed cherry season all together!

Double crust cherry pie in a black ceramic pie plate cooling on the porch with “SHORT SEASON” inscribed in the top crust.

Slice of warm cherry pie sitting on a plain white porcelain dessert plate.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

I don’t actually have the 5x8 tabletop letterpress up and running yet, but (attn: @dansinker.com ) I could not resist this type purchase.

Boxes of metal type for letterpress printing in Cooper Black 30pt and 48pt.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Quaker potluck day (featuring the allegedly apple-inspired Newton’s formula for gravity)

Double crust apple pie cooling on the kitchen counter with Newton’s formula for gravity inscribed in the top crust

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Graeme got me a composing stick for my birthday. Haven’t composed anything yet, but I just unscrambled a typeface I accidentally spilled.

Stainless steel holder with locking bar and measurement marks (a composing stick) holding a full alphabet and character set of Art Deco 12pt metal type.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Starting a reread in anticipation of the American Society for Aesthetics Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City in autumn.

Cover of “Spiral Jetta” by Erin Hogan on an iPad with a bright orange case

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

For tonight’s Troop 50 Cake Walk at our Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser. If you are in Deerfield, you can buy dinner tickets at the door at Wilmot School.

Double crust cranberry pie sitting on the kitchen counter with “CAKE” inscribed in the top crust

Double crust apple pie sitting on the kitchen counter with “CAKE” inscribed in the top crust

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

This weekend is Christmas at my parents’ house (the first available weekend for both my family and my youngest brother’s family.) Finnish Vegetable Pie with whole wheat crust

Toasty dark brown double crust pie sitting on a stainless steel kitchen island with “MERRY CHRISTMAS” inscribed in the top crust.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Been saving this @offcolorbrewing.bsky.social Double Barrel Aged DINO SMORES for a while. There’s no date on the label, so I’m not sure how long the wait has actually been, but it is definitely worth the wait! Lovely character from the wood and a big, syrupy mouthfeel.

Belgian-style footed beer glass of super dark beer with a minimal ring of bubbles at the top beside a dark brown 375ml beer bottle with an illustrated label of a nose in a dinosaur costume toasting s’mores in front of bourbon barrels that says “off color brewing” “Double Barrel Aged” “DINO SMORES”

Side of beer label, which says,
“DOUBLE BARREL AGED IMPERIAL MARSHMALLOW STOUT
11.5% ALC/VOL
GRAVITY: 23 P
IBUs 40
MALTS: Pale, Vienna, Wheat, Cara Il, Extra Special, Flaked Oats, Dark Chocolate, Black, Roasted Barley
HOPS: Nugget

SECRET TECHNIQUES:
Aged for 12 months in 6 year old
Wild Turkey Bourbon barrels then racked to 1 year old Willett Bourbon barrels and aged an additional 10 months

BREWED AND BOTTLED BY OFF COLOR BREWING CHICAGO, IL”

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

SQUIRREL ATTACK! (presumably.) The Troop 50 adult leader and parents potluck only got one pie.

Pie cooling on a glass top patio table with a large section of the crust edge gnawed off and crumbs scattered about.

Looking out of the screened porch into the driveway, showing a large ripped hole.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Double booked for potlucks tonight, so…2 apple, 2 cherry

Two double crust apple pies cooling on the counter. One with “SCOUTS” and the other with “FRIENDS” inscribed in the top crusts.

Two double crust cherry pies cooling on the counter. One with “TROOP 50” and the other with “TART” inscribed in the top crusts.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Good news! Met with the surgeon and the cancer is all cleaned up, no phase 2 treatment needed. Just need to meet with oncology to discuss monitoring and lab work schedule, but nothing acute so this should be the last public cancer post I need to make. (1of2)

Vintage pinback with image of a mideval page boy holding a lance and shield and handling an armored horse he stands beside. A blue border over the figures says, “MODERN HEALTH CRUSADERS” in cream letters and underneath the figures, black letters say, “SQUIRE”.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Russian Cabbage Pie for dinner (cabbage, onion, cream cheese, hard boiled eggs, mushrooms, dill weed and other herbs) Strawberry Pie for dessert (Strawberries from Plant City, Florida have begun arriving at at Illinois grocery.)

Two pies on the kitchen counter: darker crust containing whole wheat has “HAPPY PIE DAY” inscribed in the top crust and golden crust with red strawberry juices bubbling through has “LIVE AND LET PIE” inscribed

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Spent part of today adding a subtle faceting to this pinch pot yunomi.

Semi dry raw clay pinch pot with a satin sheen to the exterior burnished, narrow facets sitting on an old basement tile floor

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Tariff delayed. Not tariff denied.

“India Street Lettering” hardbook by Pooja Saxena in yellow dust jacket with many pictures of Indian street signs.

Interior page of “India Street Lettering” showing three images of street signs.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

SURGERY UPDATE: Current view from my chair because I am already home! Thank you all for the positive vibes and healing energy you sent.

Brick fireplace with field stone border with the edge of a yellow loveseat and a blue and white rug on a hardwood floor.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

SURGERY UPDATE: Woke up from surgery around 4pm today (Thursday.) I am feeling OK, but have been asleep most of the day. I recently got out of bed with a nurse’s assistance and walked a dozen steps and now I am settled into my hospital bed for a night of recovery.

POV pic over white hospital blankets of toes in grey grippy socks at the end of a hospital bed.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

For someone that has never had health issues, it is shock to get a colon cancer diagnosis, even if I’ve previously claimed to know that anyone who lives long enough will face illness and disability and have longed for a country that supported people accordingly. (1of2)

Color printout of an illustration of a colon with colored numbered boxes labeling various sections. A small jagged burst of red has been painted within a cluster of pointer lines and hand-painted black letters over the full image say, “SICKNESS COMES FOR US ALL”

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Social media is often limited to sleekest, shiniest and most perfect. Beginner foibles appear less often. But (Surprise!) my very first hand-painted sign is not up to the same standards as decades of practiced hand-lettering carved on clay. But it can still be celebrated as a first step. (1of2)

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Dug out the Heavy Pages Press pencil to sketch my first draft of my first hand-painted sign (for Scouts.)

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Round two of production potterying.

15 newly pinched grey stoneware pots on a canvas covered studio table.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

It has been a very long time since I last sat down with a newly purchased bag of stoneware clay and just pinched pots for a full evening.

18 small to very small pinch pots of still wet dark grey stoneware clay sitting on a canvas-covered studio table.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

The 3rd Sunday of each month is potluck at Lake Forest Friends Meeting (Quaker.)

Double crust apple pie cooling on the kitchen counter with “ONE A DAY” inscribed in the top crust.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

By the third batch I had almost learned how to turn an aebleskiver. (Made with Danish Windmill mix from Elk Horn, Iowa and Grandma Samson’s pan.)

Five golden brown pancake spheres on a white dinner plate.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Happy New Year! The third of the big Belgians this season, a gift from the head of my department, Val-Dieu Winter Ale. Absolutely charming, but difficult to describe: light with a Riesling sweetness a very subtle undertone of beer bitterness.

Honey-toned beer with white foam head in a vintage graphic New Year glass beside a big brown beer bottle with a gold highlighted label with images of holly leaves and an abbey.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Second and final beer of the requisite Christmas beer triumvirate, Southern Tier 2XMAS Spiced Double Ale - the entire holiday spice box overturned into a lively effervescent dark copper ale.

Dark copper ale with foamy head in a vintage graphic Christmas glass beside a Southern Tier beer can

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

Christmas dinner’s beer was St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, one of the requisite triumvirate of Christmas beers (although only two are currently acquirable, RIP Anchor Steam) with a high alcohol warmth, perfectly balance dark, sweet, fruit-flavor-tinged ale is rounded out with a lovely full maltiness.

Big St. Bernardus bottle beside a vintage graphic Christmas glass sitting on the Christmas dinner table with. Marimekko tablecloth, plaid napkins, teak MCM flatware, Christmas patterned plates and two gingerbread houses

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

Ye Olde Pie Shoppe, Graeme’s pie of the month (20th birthday present): Six Minst Pyes of an Indifferent Bigness (1624) example of an authentic late Tudor, early Stuart pie. Made with lamb and veal this old mincemeat recipe is from back when mincemeat, despite its sweetness,was an entree.(1of 3)

Whole 6" mincemeat entree pie sitting on a Christmas plate with Swiss chard and roaster root vegetables on a red and Green Marimekko tablecloth with a Christmas plaid napkin and MCM teak-handled flatware

Six dough balls waiting to be formed into crusts

Rich brown dough pinched into a bowl-shaped crust

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Forgot to post Graeme’s Ye Olde Pie Shoppe pie of the month (a 20th birthday present) made last weekend: Boiled Cider Pie. When published in the King Arthur Flour 200th Anniversary Cookbook in 1990 they figured the recipe could be 150 years old.

Bird’s eye view of a pie in a grey and white speckled enamel pie tin with bits of a lattice crust visible where it didn’t sink into the dark cider-colored custard filling.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Fortunate to have multiple big bottles of Belgians in the queue for this Christmas. For Christmas Eve we had this Scaldis Noël with, per Grandma Samson’s tradition, beef barley vegetable soup. (1of2)

Big Scaldis Noël brown beer bottle with a shiny blue, winter-scene label beside a vintage graphic Christmas glass filled with dark beer with a cream-colored foamy head.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Annual advertising display for Marshall Field (The Store of the Christmas Spirit) was put up last night. (Sponsored post?)

Artfully arranged stack of vintage Marshall Field Christmas boxes atop a cabinet with vintage paper houses, wood reindeer and a hand-carved Santa scattered throughout.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Off Color’s Barrel Aged Beer for Dealing with Your Job: winter ale aged in pinot noir French oak barrels with spices added (The ribald office party on the can art confirms that this is a Christmas beer.) (1of2)

Beer the color of wildflower honey in a vintage graphic Christmas glass beside an Off Color can depicting mice at a chaotic office party, including one in a Santa suit.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Stormalong Holiday Spiced Cider - The best canned cider I have ever tasted. The first ingredient is Fresh Pressed Apples (not apple concentrate) and you can taste the freshness. The spices are a perfectly balanced Christmas mix, but the cider itself is the true standout. Highly recommend!

Golden-hued hazy cider in a vintage graphic Christmas glass, next to a silvery cider can with a cool tone winter skating scene and lovely “Happy Holidays” lettering.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Found some new Christmas beers this season. I am surprised I hadn’t had Schafly’s before since they were around when I still lived in St. Louis, but I don’t remember ever seeing it before. (1of2)

Very dark beer in a vintage Christmas tumbler sitting next to a Schafly Christmas Ale bottle with a vintage inspired label featuring an illustration of a Christmas tree lit with candles.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Annual watching of ‟Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” & after a 2025 of state terror & kidnappings off the street, Ma Otter’s talent show performance of ‟Our World,” with the lyrics, ‟Some say our world is getting too small; I say, with kindness, There's room for us all” hits different. (1of2)

Still from ‟Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” with Ma Otter up on stage at the talent show and the piano player in the foreground.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

In Lincolnshire or Northbrook TODAY, Wednesday, December 10? Show this flyer/mention Troop 50 and a percentage of your Culver's purchase supports our troop.

Donate while you dine! Support Deerfield BSA- Troop 50 when you dine in, drive- through or carry out from Culver's of Lincolnshire and Northbrook on Wednesday, December 10th. Culver's will donate 25% of group sales. Please mention this all day fundraiser when placing your order. Culver's Lincolnshire· 405 Milwaukee Ave Northbrook 4105 Dundee Rd

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

My only pie duty for the day, a solitary pumpkin-ginger.

Puffy, fresh from the oven, pumpkin pie in a brown ceramic pie plate cooling on a granite counter.

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“Michael” @quote-m-unquote.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

The view under my desk in anticipation of an office birthday.

Open basket sitting on a grey commercial-space carpet with a bin of jumbled papers behind, beside a white file cabinet with a Bike•a•Bee poster, holding a double crust pie with “HAPPY HAPPY” inscribed in the top crust, cranberry filling visible though the letters.

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