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amejx.bsky.social
a Me
@amejx.bsky.social
110 followers 160 following 380 posts
Nerdy, Quaker, atheist, queer, neurodivergent human. She/they. Lover of the natural world. Full of hope & grief about the state of our union.

I care a lot about prison communication justice. Join me?
https://benevolencefarm.org/connecting-families-nc/
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amejx.bsky.social
Again a few apps insisted on Japanese cherry while others were unclear. Interestingly, there's another cherry tree, which also could be a Japanese cherry, beside it, but it never blooms early. They look almost but not quite identical. You're welcome to come over and go for a plant ID walk!
ADD AN ID Dicots Class Magnoliopsida 96.5% OTHER SUGGESTIONS Japanese Cherry Prunus serrulata 13.1% River Birch Betula nigra 8.8% Black Cherry Prunus serotina
November 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
amejx.bsky.social
This precious tree in my neighbor's yard always blooms in late fall or early winter, as if it's just too excited about spring to wait.
Close up of pale pink flower of a tree Flowers and branches against a cloudy sky
November 25, 2025 at 7:16 PM
amejx.bsky.social
I think he thinks his constituents are stupid. Here's one from last week...
Many families across our district continue to feel the strain of higher prices. I want to share a brief update on what the House is doing to make life more affordable. Here’s what we’ve advanced in Congress: • Increasing American energy production to help lower gas and electricity costs. • Cutting outdated regulations that drive up the price of fuel, groceries, eggs, and everyday goods. • Strengthening America’s energy infrastructure to improve reliability and reduce long-term costs. • Passing the Working Families Tax Cuts to ensure families keep more of their paycheck. • Eliminated waste, fraud, and abuse so government programs have more resources to help those who need and deserve a safety net. • Reversed much of the “Inflation Reduction Act,” which caused prices to rise dramatically and hurt working families. • Improving supply chain operations to bring down the cost of essentials. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this matter. Your feedback helps guide my work. AFFORDABILITY POLICY Do you support these efforts to bring down the cost of living? Yes No Taking this survey will sign you up for future news and updates from our office.
November 25, 2025 at 2:15 PM
amejx.bsky.social
Well, this news explains the bizarre & misleading email I got from Rep. Richard Hudson yesterday afternoon. #ncpol
Dear fellow North Carolinian, This Thanksgiving, turkey prices are at their lowest point since 2000, thanks to Republican policies. I know grocery prices are a concern for so many you, which is why I’m working to keep prices moving in the right direction after the inflationary spike over the last four years. President Trump and Republicans in Congress have given North Carolinians and Americans across the country much to be grateful for this year in our Working Families Tax Cuts: the largest tax cut in American history, an enhanced Child Tax Credit, expanded resources for working parents, financial opportunities for the next generation, more affordable health care options, relief for small businesses, and so much more. These are MAJOR wins for hardworking North Carolinians concerned about rising costs. SURVEY I’d love to know: Have you noticed your Thanksgiving turkey costs less this year? Yes No Taking this survey will sign you up for future news and updates from our office. Sincerely, Rep. Hudson Member of Congress
November 25, 2025 at 12:08 PM
amejx.bsky.social
A neighbor has these planted at the end of their driveway, and I am always struck by how bright and cheery they are.
Closeup of a bright pink flower of a Delosperma cooperi, the trailing iceplant, hardy iceplant or pink carpet, a dwarf perennial plant native to South Africa. Cluster of 4 bright pink flowers of a Delosperma cooperi, the trailing iceplant, hardy iceplant or pink carpet, a dwarf perennial plant native to South Africa.
November 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM
amejx.bsky.social
Congratulations! I wasn't able to get good photos, but seeing this Bufflehead pair randomly show up at a local lake was a total thrill. They are so cool looking. And it's SO much fun to say their name: Bufflehead, bufflehead, bufflehead.
A pair of Bufflehead ducks swimming on a lake
November 22, 2025 at 11:10 AM
amejx.bsky.social
Excellent newsletter today from Benevolence Farm, which - among other things - provides transitional housing and employment for women and gender expansive people returning home from prison and jail.
benevolencefarm.org/ice-out-of-o...
Excerpt from newsletter: We know what it feels like to be separated from our loved ones, whether through our own incarceration or that of someone we care about. Because we know how the criminal legal system and policing targets and disposes of people, we recognize when similar dehumanizing language is used to justify harm toward entire communities. We are people with “violent convictions”. We love people with “violent convictions.” And we wanted to use our platform to gently remind everyone that no one is disposable, y’all. It is so tempting to use narratives like “ICE should only go after violent criminals” or “They did that to an innocent person or a citizen.” This messaging creates a hierarchy of who deserves protection — justifying the use of force, abuse, and kidnapping against anyone labeled ‘criminal’ or ‘non-citizen’. We are all capable of causing harm; that’s part of being human. We do need accountability, but we need systems that address harm without stripping away people’s humanity.
November 21, 2025 at 4:38 PM
amejx.bsky.social
Can you help my friends, Sisters Confianza and Alegria of the Amigas del Señor Monastery in Honduras, keep their home and permaculture farm safe so they can help feed local kids? www.gofundme.com/f/amigas-fen...
Side by side photos of Sister Alegria in bed and Sister Confianza of the Amigas del Señor Monastery in Honduras
November 8, 2025 at 11:26 AM
amejx.bsky.social
Do you ever just feel like this?
Great blue heron standing on a rooftop with its head pointed to the ground and butt in the air. Bird pop is on the roof, just underneath the heron's bum.
November 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
amejx.bsky.social
Almost missed this handsome friend lookin' handsome on my walk this morning
Red shouldered hawk on a street light, with red and green fall leaves in the background
November 3, 2025 at 1:27 PM
amejx.bsky.social
Bad A** Bird for Halloween. That's a Grackle, who's killed a snake, presumably for its offspring to eat. That bird has some parental bragging rights, there. 🎃
Immature common grackle watching as its parent kills a snake for dinner
October 31, 2025 at 6:24 PM
amejx.bsky.social
I have a long & enduring literary love affair with Jane Austen's dry wit. Susanna Clarke's Austen-esque humor in Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell has been my literary mistress. And now I have discovered Muriel Spark. I'm in some SERIOUS literary limerence. Swoon. 📚😘
“Godfrey's wife Charmian sat with her eyes closed, attempting to put her thoughts into alphabetical order which Godfrey had told her was better than no order at all, since she now had grasp of neither logic nor chronology.” ― Muriel Spark, Memento Mori
October 26, 2025 at 7:45 PM
amejx.bsky.social
It never ceases to surprise me that a Great Blue Heron can stand on the top of a tree without tumbling out. Those branches just look too flimsy to hold such a big bird. I can understand it intellectually...yet still be surprised somehow.
Great blue heron at the top of a tree, with light blue sky behind
October 25, 2025 at 1:23 PM
amejx.bsky.social
"I voted early!" sticker with American flag
October 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
amejx.bsky.social
I needed this little delight today. A tiny volunteer aster (AI says Symphyotrichum pilosum) growing out from the middle of an Eastern Aromatic Aster plant. 🌞 I hope they will be good pals. #NativePlants
Tiny white aster with yellow center in the sun
October 22, 2025 at 5:49 PM
amejx.bsky.social
3/ Here is the full chart of new phone & video call rate caps for both prisons & jails of various sizes.
Table 1: Revised Interim Audio and Video per-minute IPCS Rate Caps (Tier (ADP): Rate Cap + Rate Additive = Effective Rate Cap) Prisons (any ADP) audio calls: $0.09 + $0.02 = $0.11 per minute Prisons (any ADP) video calls $0.21 + $0.02 = $0.23 Large Jails (1,000 +) audio calls: $0.08 + $0.02 =$0.10 Large Jails video calls: $0.16 + $0.02 =$0.18 Med. Jails (350-999) audio: $0.09 + $0.02 =$0.11 Med. Jails video: $0.16 + $0.02 =$0.18 Small Jails (100-349) audio: $0.10 + $0.02 =$0.12 Small Jails video: $0.17 + $0.02 = $0.19 Very Small Jails (50-99) audio: $0.12 + $0.02 = $0.14 Very Small Jails video: $0.22 + $0.02 =$0.24 Extremely Small Jails (0-49) audio: $0.16 + $0.02 =$0.18 Extremely Small Jails video: $0.39 + $0.02 = $0.41
October 20, 2025 at 2:07 PM
amejx.bsky.social
I join with the millions of other frogs, chickens, dinosaurs, unicorns, bananas, corgis, sharks, humans, and other living beings in joyfully declaring #NoKings! Hurrah! 🎉
Green frog with white and stripe chilling out on pokeberry in the sun
October 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM
amejx.bsky.social
Can anyone help me ID this furry little caterpillar hanging out on Butterfly Milkweed?
Fuzzy yellowish and black caterpillar hiding under a butterfly milkweed leaf, over pinestraw Fuzzy yellowish and black caterpillar hiding under a butterfly milkweed leaf, over pinestraw Fuzzy yellowish and black caterpillar hiding under a butterfly milkweed leaf, over pinestraw Fuzzy yellowish and black caterpillar hiding under a butterfly milkweed leaf, over pinestraw
October 8, 2025 at 5:29 PM
amejx.bsky.social
Eastern Aromatic Aster attracts all kinds of happy insects! (Check out those massive pollen pockets!) #NativePlants
Small bee, heavy with pollen, on lavender aster flowers Small butterfly and smaller bee on lavender aster flowers
October 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM
amejx.bsky.social
Eastern Aromatic Aster covered in dew #NativePlants
Lavender flowers of Eastern Aromatic Aster covered in droplets of water
October 4, 2025 at 4:27 PM
amejx.bsky.social
Met a green tree frog and pearl crescent butterfly today on my walk.
Green Treefrog (green frog with white stripe down its side) snoozing on American Pokeberry Pearl Crescent butterfly in multiple shades of brown, on small white aster flowers
October 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
amejx.bsky.social
"Weeds" from my morning walk. Goldenrod soldier beetles doing their thing on some goldenrod. And a lovely aster.v #NativePlants
2 gold and black goldenrod soldier beetles mating on Tall Goldenrod flowers close up of small white aster with yellow center (Hairy White Oldfield Aster)
October 2, 2025 at 3:57 PM
amejx.bsky.social
@ncgovernor.bsky.social NC DAC is allowing ViaPath to charge NC families more than 50% fees to put money on a loved one's Tablet acct. For a $10 deposit, fees jumped from $3.33 to $5.28. Are the prices we pay & the kickbacks you get not enough?! @jeffjacksonnc.bsky.social @worthrises.bsky.social
GettingOut app screen shot showing a deposit of $10 plus fees of $5.28 for a total of $15.28
October 1, 2025 at 7:12 PM
amejx.bsky.social
A mason wasp on goldenrod
Tiny black wasp with yellow stripes on the yellow flowers of goldenrod. Blurred background of tall grasses.
September 22, 2025 at 5:53 PM
amejx.bsky.social
I found a couple of the monarch larvae in the Pink Muhly grass this morning. I reckon it's about time for them to form chrysalises...I'll be keeping my eyes open!
Yellow, white and black striped monarch caterpillar hanging onto a stalk of tall green grass a cloud of pink seeds of Pink Muhly grass. Behind it is a green mountain mint plant.
September 21, 2025 at 11:45 AM