iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 19h

[Food] recently got some local Chicken of the Woods mushrooms from the farmers market because I have been super curious about them, but also LBR I do not have the energy to forage my own a) they really do taste like chicken omg b) whoops "tough chicken texture" can occur c) braising fixes this!

Bowl of Chicken of the Woods and mixed veggies (vegan "chicken salad")

CoTW mushrooms are pink with a reddish orange edge. Also features sliced bell peppers, sliced onions, blue potatoes, and diced carrot tops

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 22h

[food] sometimes I'll also have a little note at the top with perishable ingredients I currently have That means when I'm doing my meal planning, I can try to pick recipes that use things I already have (So I don't have to go to the store...and so they don't rot in the fridge)

Text from the top of a different sheet of notebook paper, above the hand drawn calendar

List reads "current perishables"

- milk
- mushrooms
- bell peppers
- potatoes!
- sweet potatoes
- TOFU

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 22h

[food] anyway here is a random example from my meal planning notebook I'm mostly going to describe it in the following posts, with a little bit in alt text

Sheet of notebook paper

Top third is a hand drawn two week calendar. Some areas have lines drawn across (that's when I know I'll be busy)

Below are two columns: "Cooks" and "Prep"

The cook column has meal ideas; the prep line shows things I need to do ahead

On the sheet below it says:

Brown rice : soak

Cabbage stir fry : prep experiment?; prep carrots ahead

Chia jam : supplies needed; chia seeds (ordered); frozen fruit; fresh? dried?

Muffins : supplies needed; flours: ordered

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 21/10/2026

[Food] The other way I like tofu is as kind of a faux "chicken salad" Drain, press, etc. Make a marinade (eg lemon tahini, green goddess, pesto) Thinly slice the tofu Coat in marinade and refrigerate Eat like you would eat chicken salad - excellent in wraps

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 15/10/2026

getting surprisingly good at reading old cursive It's actually a lot like fingerspelling in ASL - sometimes you miss a couple letters but you can figure out the word from context

screenshot of an old document written in cursive that reads "imprudence of temper + carelessness"

I think carelessness is missing the 'n'. Also lowercase cursive S's look like lowercase F's, unless it's a "double s". In that case, it looks like " fs" but it's actually "ss"

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 03/10/2026

are you seething with rage at *gestures at everything*? looking to move all that tension out of your frickin shoulders and jaw muscles? have the ability to do basic gardening tasks? you might enjoy some Autumn "Save a Tree" workdays! your local climate action group probably has a whole list

Photo of several trees, including two with English Ivy vines growing up the trunk and towards the tree canopy

Photo of different trees in the same area. A 1-2' section of ivy has been removed from around the bottom of the trunk. The ivy further up will die off without the moisture from the roots

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 20/09/2026

Anyway I guess I should not be surprised at this given what Wikipedia has to say about who owns Chewy now

Screenshot from Wikipedia

"Chewy is chaired by Raymond Svider of BC Partners. The private equity firm continues to own around 80 percent of Chewy following the latter's IPO, representing 98 percent of the voting power."

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 17/09/2026

Recently learned about this deeply relatable plant Well, deeply relatable if you have #POTS or other types of tachycardia It's called "hearts-a-burstin' " #NEISvoid plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/euony...

Photo of hearts a bursting capsules

The unopened one is a round, slightly spiky pinkish-red ball

The opened capsule (foreground) splits open to reveal four bright red seeds, like four chambers of a heart

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 06/09/2026

Saw this sign in a medical office building recently and -- Look I recognize they probably made it in 2020 before the 'COVID is airborne' science came through But I now feel a need to remind the Skyline: If you want to avoid COVID, *cleaning the air* is more effective than cleaning your hands

Framed poster on a bathroom wall that reads:

COVID-19

Stop the spread

The most effective way to prevent the spread
Take 20!

[Line art drawing of hand washing]
Wash your hands thoroughly

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 03/09/2026

[Food intolerances] I have a new thing I'm angry about, which is twofold: 1. unnecessary paragraph breaks in the middle of an ingredients label 2. the intentional defunding/dismantling of food safety regulators in the US 3. Tiny fonts + eyesight problems #MCAS #NEISvoid

Ingredients label on a tub of hummus:

Bolded "Ingredients" : Fresh steamed chickpeas, water, sesame seed paste (tahini)

Double space paragraph break

Bolded: "Contains 2% or less of":
Salt, spices, citric acid, vinegar, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate to maintain freshness

Double space paragraph break

Bolded: " Allergen information ":
Processed in a facility tthat also uses Wheat, Milk, Eggs, Fish and Tree Nuts

Double space paragraph break

Bolded: " Contains":
Sesame.

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 24/08/2026

Ok so now for the part that's new to me: neck muscles sandwiching the internal jugular vein Specific muscles mentioned: - sternocleidomastoid - omohyoid - anterior scalene muscles Symptoms typically worsen when the head is bent forward, and turned to the side (ie same side as the squashed vein)

Compression of the IJV at the atlas (C1) has been previously studied, but more recently recognized is entrapment of the IJV in the mid-neck from a combination of the overlying SCM/OMH and the underlying ASM [6, 7, 19, 20]. These muscles can “sandwich” the IJV and lead to compression at baseline that worsens when the muscles are activated, typically with head flexion and ipsilateral rotation. This mechanism is important because many traumatic and inflammatory insults can injure muscles in the neck.

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 18/08/2026

Today I was rewarded by a monarch that was absolutely chowing down on marigold nectar Which meant I did not have to bend forward to get a closer look! (And also hopefully I avoided angering my torn hip thingy)

Orange and black monarch butterfly with its wings partly extended, perched on a marigold flower. Mint plant, milkweed, and assorted other plants in background.

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 17/08/2026

sidebar, does anyone know who this cool insect is hanging out on some milkweed

Insect on milkweed leaves, looks designed to camouflage with tree bark. Four? Legs. Grey-ish head and wings with a bark type pattern. Interspersed with occasional bits of orange on its abdomen, head, and above its "shoulders." Look I'm tired idk insect anatomy words rn.

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 11/08/2026

Excited! After only 9 months: I acquired a spritzer bottle for misting my houseplants in the winter removed it from box *and* I put a plant sticker on it so (hopefully) I don't confuse this spray bottle with the ones I use for cleaning products *and* it is in the same room as the houseplants

Glass bottle with plastic spray nozzle featuring a partly visible sticker that says "native plant"

(The other part of the sticker says "nerd")

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 07/08/2026

although the monarch butterflies have competition for my enthusiasm because I saw an actual in person Luna Moth during our one cool-ish day recently I'm still over the moon with excitement

Large moth clinging to a twig sticking out of some leaf litter. It has dark purple-brown legs holding onto the twig. Bright yellow antennae that are sort of frond shaped?

Its glorious wings are a pale lime green, and I think they're like 4-5" across both wings

(I am bad at estimating size)

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 07/08/2026

photographing monarch larvae on a milkweed plant like some kind of insect paparazzi sending tabloid style texts to my friends: MONARCHS ARE BACK IN TOWN. chanting happily to myself, "next comes the chrysalis"

A very long yellow and black (and white?) striped caterpillar crawling along the stem of a milkweed plant

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 06/08/2026

Visible mending of the day. Now I gotta stop sewing and do my tendon exercises womp womp (favorite shirt is now wearable again!)

Armpit area of a red shirt that had a hole. Now there's a striped piece of fabric behind the hole and parallel lines of stitching around the hole

Vaguely resembles a T Rex eye socket

Similar hole in the armpit of a shirt. Idk what exactly I was doing with the mending here - we'll go with a freehand monster with its mouth open

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 04/08/2026

[Food] Today she bubbly (But also whoops I totally got pickle brine in the airlock, gotta fix that)

Same jar, two days later. Lots of big carbon dioxide bubbles amidst the veggies, which is a sign fermentation is happening.

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 04/08/2026

[Food] TFW you impulsively decide to make watermelon rind pickles, realize you're low on clean fermentation jar lids... convince yourself you TOTALLY have enough to fill the gallon sized fermentation jar... and then have to chop a bunch of random bonus produce to fill up the other half of the jar

Gallon sized fermentation jar with water airlock. The bottom Half of the jar is filled with sliced watermelon rind. The top is carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, and idek what else.

Yes there is paper in there - it's parchment paper weighed down with glass weights to help keep everything submerged.

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 01/08/2026

I sometimes get spices from the crunchy bulk supplier and they've had this notice up about cardamom for awhile now Hoping what you're seeing is just a weird glitch in the pricing system tho ://

Screenshot from Mountain Rose Herbs

"Product Details:

Due to adverse global weather conditions caused by climate change, we are seeing a shortage in cardamom harvests. The limited availability continues to drive up the price of this beloved spice, however, we pledge to continue to watch the market closely and adjust our prices accordingly.

Elettaria cardamomum is an intense and aromatic "

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 31/07/2026

[Food, food intolerances] This has no tomatoes! I'm working on a massive infodump of a blog post about making nightshade free faux tomato sauce I decided to play around with a new variation I've been considering for a bit and holy heck it's incredible Am like...80% done writing #MCAS #NEISvoid

Photo of a cast iron pan cooking in progress. Image shows a very red sauce starting to form, alongside grated carrots and a couple bay leaves.

Red ingredient currently unnamed (will describe in more detail in this blog post I'm trying to finish)

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 16/07/2026

In apology for lack of toad photos Here's a purple flowering tobacco that finallllly bloomed

Short plant with a star shaped plum purple blossom, and another flower in bud

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 12/07/2026

This is some frozen watermelon I just defrosted. The middle is still sorta frozen, but it's easy to bite into I defrost in the microwave: 30 seconds on max power, then 1.5-2 minutes on the lowest setting (The 30 seconds on high prevents a weird grassy flavor, idk how else to describe it)

Cubes of partly defrosted watermelon sprinkled with black salt. There's some liquid at the bottom, but the watermelon cubes are still solid (not mushy)

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 12/07/2026

So many small actions can add up to massive amounts of human suffering and death. If someone has harmed your community for years, and they're not able to do that anymore? Yeah I think celebration or at least a sigh of relief is just fine.

"You can't just go around killing people!"

"Why Not? You Do." The golem lowered his arm.

"What?" snapped Moist. "I do not! Who told you that?"

"I Worked It Out. You Have Killed Two Point Three Three Eight People," said the golem calmly.

"I have never laid a finger on anyone in my life, Mr Pump. I may be–– all the things you know I am, but I am not a killer! I have never so much as drawn a sword!"

"No, You Have Not. But You Have Stolen, Embezzled, Defrauded And Swindled Without Discrimination, Mr Lipvig. You Have Ruined Businesses And Destroyed Jobs. When Banks Fail, It Is Seldom Bankers Who Starve. Your Actions Have Taken Money From Those Who Had Little Enough To Begin With. In A Myriad Small Ways You Have Hastened The Deaths Of Many. You Do Not Know Them. You Did Not See Them Bleed. But You Snatched Bread From Their Mouths And Tore Clothes From Their Backs. For Sport, Mr Lipvig. For Sport. For The Joy Of The Game.

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 29/06/2026

seriously PubMed what search terms do you want from me

screenshot from PubMed searching for "hypochlorhydria bile reflux " (the first word means low stomach acid)

There are 25 results

The "best match" us on mucolipidosis IV and was published in 2005; updated in 2021

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 28/06/2026

how my senior cat wishes to be fed her afternoon snack

Orange tabby in a cat bed, propped up partway and shoving her face in an elevated bowl of wet food in front of her. Two bedraggled cat grass plants are within easy reach

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 27/06/2026

love to have pressure urticaria anyway, cat tax

soft orange tabby senior car asleep on my lap with her head resting against my knee

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 24/06/2026

Looks delicious! I also made We Need To Use Up The Produce in the Fridge

Pasta salad with grilled zucchini + tomatoes, sweet corn, plus some herbs and spring onions

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 24/06/2026

where are my fern nerds and can anyone tell me who these lovely ferns are US, DC area, I feel like they're maybe some kind of lady fern? 🌱

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 16/06/2026

was feeling really bummed today due to some health stuff + Autistic overload went to visit my plants and pull a couple weeds. Found what felt like a pebble... twas a POTATO (this is my third year trying to grow potatoes, and first actual potato) Now I'm elated. I grew potato! #GardenSky

Photo of two small new potatoes (purple heirloom ones) in some soil, next to a trowel and some gardening gloves

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 09/06/2026

[Nutrition] A current list of possibilities being discussed by researchers is in the screenshot below

"The adverse health effects of UPFs
may operate through multiple mecha-
nisms. Evidence from observational, an-
imal, in vitro, and human studies have
raised concerns about the adverse fea-
tures of UPFs, including harmful nutri-
ents like starch, sugar, and salt; loss of
ﬁber, polyphenols, and other bioac-
tives; loss of natural food structure,
speeding digestion in the stomach and
small intestine and reducing nourish-
ment to the gut microbiome; the harms
of certain additives like speciﬁc sweet-
eners, ﬂavorings, colorants, emulsiﬁers,
or preservatives; introduction of toxins
like furans, heterocyclic amines, polycy-
clic aromatic hydrocarbons, or acrylam-
ide; and packaging contaminants such
as phthalates, bisphenols, mineral oils,
or microplastics.2,7 Combinations of rel-
evant pathways can vary across UPF
products, but the Nova classiﬁcation
suggests that processing confers risk beyond nutrients. "

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 17/05/2026

me: I am taking a fancy medication for my weird terrible hives and now they're doing so much better my immune system: looks like it's time for weird terrible weeping eczema (again) (this is not a poison ivy rash, I promise I'm sure, really, I'm very aware poison ivy exists) #MCAS #NEISvoid

Photo of the weeping eczema on my knee, which is these red blister like things that then start to "weep" fluid

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 01/05/2026

Peas, pretty please make peas before it gets WAY too hot for you!

"Patio pride" pea plants blooming in a raised bed with white blossoms starting to form

There's a DIY olla pot in the background for slow irrigation

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 11/04/2026

[Food] Making the last batch of fall-planted greens before the rest of them bolt (A couple are already bolting which is great for the bees, and also I would very much like to save some seeds. So I'm just enjoying the flowers.)

Stainless steel wok filled with an extremely basic saag-ish meal (includes stems because they are also delicious)

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 04/04/2026

Here's the info on what my friend uses, her primary allergy is soy with cross reactivity to some tree nuts She doesn't have issues with coconut or avocado, so obviously double check ingredients etc etc

"Sure! My routine is pretty basic (usually just wash and moisturize), but I’m happy to share.

For wash, I’ve been liking Cetaphil hydrating foaming cream cleanser for the last few years. It’s creamy and moisturizing and I believe unscented.

I change my lotion up a bit, but usually use: Olay complete with spf 15, Clinique moisture surge (pricier), or Neutrogena hydro boost gel cream extra dry (very similar to the Clinique and fragrance free).

I sometimes use micellar water to remove makeup and do a quick cleanse. I like Bioderma sensibio h2o.

My sister really likes vanicream products, which are gluten free and unscented. Not sure about other ingredients.

I used to really like Fresh products, especially their masks and moisturizers, but they have a whole line with soy so they’re not ideal."

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 21/03/2026

[Food intolerances] Just a PSA for folks with egg allergy / #MCAS : There's a new kind of vegan egg whites which are chemically identical to egg whites from chickens If you have an egg allergy, you can still react to them Products made using them can be labelled vegan, but have egg allergens

Photo from r/vegan showing a bag of "Healthier comforts Animal Free Egg White Protein"

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 20/03/2026

See also: Goth Lenten Roses, aka hellebores

A plant about a foot tall with deep purple, cup-shaped blossoms. They're clustered on the end of the long green stalks and bending towards the ground, which is covered in dead brown leaves.

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 20/03/2026

Please enjoy some paperbush blossoms in these trying times

Clusters of yellow-white trumpet shaped blossoms form a round mass of flower that brightens the mostly leafless early spring landscape

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 20/03/2026

My mom went to look at cats at a shelter, so I present to you this screaming kitten

Glass door with metal bars in front. A tiny tortie kitten has paws on the bottom of the door, mouth open mid yell revealing tiny teeth and a pink tongue. Kitten is slightly blurry as they have been in constant motion.

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 18/03/2026

sewing WIP: thrifted some pants with discoloration where the previous owner had removed cargo pockets am currently sewing fun decorative patches over the discolored areas.

Brown linen pants with some white patches where pockets used to be

Same pants with added patches. Some are scraps of linen with decorative embroidery. Am currently adding a scrap of an old "tropical" shirt.

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 08/03/2026

in other news, I recently learned (again) that I have no fucking clue how humans are supposed to walk #NEISvoid #EDS

Screenshot of a comment thread from r/EhlersDanlos

Reply: "Wait, are the hips not supposed to swing the legs forward??"

OP: "No, your feet are supposed to be lifting off the ground and swinging forward. When that doesn't happen, the hips step in to compensate.
Edit: If this information is surprising to you, it may be time to make an orthotics appointment!"

Follow up replies from different accounts:
"Oh my god"

"well that explains some things"

"Lmao I never knew this was how humans are supposed to walk 🤣"

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 28/02/2026

My pain from intersection syndrome typically has this pattern: 1. Do an activity that involves flipping my arm back and forth (supination/pronation) 2. Feel fine...at first 3. ~12-24 hours later, tenderness and pain in the back of my forearm about 2" below my wrist

Sketch of a forearm with palm facing up

An arrow indicates the arm rotates

Sketch of forearm with palm facing down

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 28/02/2026

Things in the "should mention to my doctor" queue: Issues with the ring finger on my dominant hand I can straighten it fine, but NOT if I touch my thumb and pinkie together (aka making a W/6 hand shape in ASL) Other disabled folks: anyone else experience this? What helps? #NEISvoid

Photo of my hand with all the fingers held straight.

(Tabby cat partly visible in background.)

Photo of me touching my thumb and pinkie together. My middle and pointer fingers are straight up. However, my ring finger is bent forward in more of a curved shape.

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 15/02/2026

Anyway, hopefully all this will help with the fucking swelling on my middle finger Fuck you, MCAS, but also sometimes you're onto something about random environmental triggers #NEISvoid

Photo of the swelling/redness on my middle finger, with my hand flipping the bird at MCAS

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 15/02/2026

In this case, the mold (and bacteria) was living in the back of the soap drawer for the washing machine I donned a bunch of PPE, set up the air purifier, and cleaned it to the best of my ability Then I ran the self clean cycle on the machine [NO MOLD ADVICE, please]

Where the soap dispenser drawer goes in the washer, but with the drawer removed

The top and back of the cavity have a colorfully gross collection of mold and bacteria

Same washing machine cavity, but with the colorful biofilms removed

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 15/02/2026

welp, I hope I have solved the issue of why my skin has been so very, very angry other people in my household - and the cat - have also been having issues, so I figured something environmental has been going on #MCAS here's a sample of my current angry skin flare

Photo of a red welt/hive type thing starting to form on the side of my middle finged

Photo of the same finger almost two weeks later, the redness and swelling is now also extending over the joint

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Sparrow / Liz @untonuggan.myatproto.social · 22/01/2026

The heater stopped working last night so it was COLD until the HVAC tech finally came this afternoon I made copious use of my assorted wool sweaters, and also baked bread because it gave me a great excuse to make the kitchen toasty warm (Or at least, warm enough to remove one sweater)

Cooling rack with fresh 50% rye sourdough rolls

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