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aschmugge.bsky.social
Amber
@aschmugge.bsky.social
760 followers 230 following 5K posts
Occasionally misplaced Minnesotan. (she/her)
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aschmugge.bsky.social
First chronic illness hospitalization. Do I win some sort of prize? Maybe a plaque or a new Lego set?
Pale white woman in a purple mask & hospital gown, attached to various monitors & lying in a hospital bed.
January 11, 2025 at 11:33 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
Everything is awful and we all just had the first Monday of the year, so I shall grace you all with the time I went hiking in a rain forest and channeled Violet Beauregarde by putting my poncho on over top of my full hiking pack. 😂

That rain makes everything green & lush as fuck though, for sure.
A person is standing on a wooden footbridge in a wet green forest. They have on hiking boots, leggings, and a bright coral jacket underneath a violently purple poncho that is sticking out around them like a big bubble. The overall effect is a bit "I've been turned into a blueberry". A brightly green fern. Lush pink (maybe orchids?) dripping with drops of the recent rain, against a background of green leaves. A small rushing waterfall, tumbling over mossy rocks.
January 7, 2025 at 1:01 AM
aschmugge.bsky.social
Everything is unbearably awful, solidarity my friend. I can offer an assortment of super adorable sled dog puppies?
Small Alaskan husky puppy that is mostly black with a white patch on his chest & black and white speckled paws is standing with his front paws on a person's stomach looking sleepy and slightly confused (and super adorable). Alaskan husky puppy who is black and white and tan with a white stripe down his forehead and super white toes is standing with front paws on someone's lap, trying to figure out how to get into said lap when it's already occupied by another dog. Very cute Alaskan husky puppy who is brown and tan and white, with light patches over their eyes that look like concerned eyebrows. Puppy is held by someone in red fleece and is snuggling with a potato as large as it is. An all-brown Alaskan husky puppy with half-perked ears has two paws up on someone's knee and is sneaking their tongue out to give the jeans-clad knee a good taste.
January 7, 2025 at 12:13 AM
aschmugge.bsky.social
First day in weeks I could have done nothing but rest. But no. I decided to strip the bed (still haven't fixed that, oops) and start my laundry (holy fuck stairs are the devil) instead. 🤦

But we're creeping pretty fast towards night and I hope y'all are having a good weekend so far.
Sunset photo with silhouettes of trees along the bottom, the sky tinged in orange and yellows right above, and then steadily fading into blues and purples and getting darker as you move up the image.
January 4, 2025 at 11:19 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
These doodads - usually called a silicone hair scrubber or scalp massager - work surprisingly well. A+ if you have any kind of hand/wrist/arm pain or strength & grip issues. Gives a good scrub and works shampoo & other products through thin/fine or thick or textured hair easily.
Pale blue silicone object with a bunch of small slightly-rounded spikes on one side and a handle on the other.
January 1, 2025 at 8:27 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
Apparently it's international mail day at my house. Chicken mail! Jess mail! The very best kinds. @lushchicken.bsky.social and @jess511.bsky.social you guys are the absolute best. I hope your new years start off amazing! ❤️
Multiple pieces of mail including wrapping paper with dogs peeking out of wrapped packages, a card with a cute kitten wearing a Santa hat with the bobble draped over its nose, and a card featuring a graphic of a chicken flying Santa's sled & trailing packages.
December 31, 2024 at 11:14 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
Apparently it's NYE. Fuck you, 2024, and if 2025 doesn't get better I don't know that I can cope.

But as much as I complain people suck, people were also my one highlight. So to all the glorious, generous, kind folks who helped me get through the year: joy, love, light, and good naps, y'all.
A black and white cat sleeping on his side on a blue blanket sk that his white belly is exposed. He looks comfy & cozy. Three little red graphic hearts have been added to the image near his head.
December 31, 2024 at 5:28 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
Ok, posted awfulness so here's the Como Park Conservatory girl dipping her toe into fish bubbles for a palette cleanser.

(No, seriously. That fish lives in her pond.)
Fountain statue of a naked girl, seen from the back & with her hair up in a high loose bun, cautiously dipping one toe into the water. The pond she's in is surrounded by a riot of colorful flowers, mostly spring-bright pinks and yellows. Close shot of water with a blurry patch of a bright orange fish just under the surface. A perfectly round bubble is just coming up and is surrounded by ripples radiating out.
December 26, 2024 at 5:28 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
When your family doesn't technically know you're queer but you end up with the gay socks anyway...😂🌈
A white hand holding a pair of knit socks in bright rainbow colors.
December 25, 2024 at 9:21 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
Am in a stupendous amount of pain & it's feeling like a "must make myself eat salty noodles for breakfast" kind of day too. Oy.

But sending light & love out to you wonderful people. Please accept the wishes of your choice: Happy...

- Christmas!
- Hanukkah!
- Kwanza!
- Have A Really Great Nap Day!
A black and white cat is laying asleep on a blue paisley blanket. His nose is very pink & his front paws are tucked up near his face and curled a bit around the hand of a white person. He looks soft & cozy.
December 25, 2024 at 4:45 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
And to those who are doing and/or loving the thing this year: Happy Christmas, joyful eve, and love and peace (and tasty treats) to you & yours.
Graphic saying Merry Christmas in white with a golden yellow ornament and gold snowflakes on a dusky green background.
December 24, 2024 at 4:02 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
🎵 Deck the halls with...🎵 Oh I don't know. Whatever you want and/or nothing at all. I'll basically be closed in a room the rest of the week except for when I make myself dehydrated + ill to do the family/presents thing.

Fuck holiday expectations. Do what makes you happy. Be free, my friends!
A turquoise blue and glittery Christmas ornament hangs from a strand of white twinkle lights in front of a window. In the background you can see that more ornaments are strung along other parts of the lights.
December 23, 2024 at 7:05 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
Some wintery vibes (aka more hoar frost) for anyone not super into the US political news dominating the feeds this morning.
Feathery bits of hoar frost on a glass window.
December 23, 2024 at 4:06 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
Barely 5hrs sleep; woke to my head throbbing so, yeah. That's a hard pass on the MRI.

New lofty goals:
- grocery store (I know)
- shower and/or wash hair
- test tiny rice cooker
- return phone call* from GI

(*my kingdom for places to just leave a damn msg)

And...go! Soon. No, really. I swear.
A black & white cat curled up on a pink blanket so that most of what you can see is his white belly & legs. He has his face tucked under a front paw so only his pink nose & mouth are showing.
December 23, 2024 at 3:24 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
It's been 140 days since my health went from an unusually bad flare to the most terrifying medical crisis I've ever experienced.

This is how much time is left until I see the immunologist and I don't think I can handle it if it doesn't go well + basically immediately result in a plan to help me. 🫠
Screenshot of a digital countdown timer showing 11 days 15 hours 38 minutes and 09 seconds.
December 23, 2024 at 5:30 AM
aschmugge.bsky.social
Some lights to usher out the dark slowly receding from our part of the globe. Joyful winter solstice, pals.
A bunch of colorful lights, mostly reds & greens, photographed with a soft bokeh effect. A DIY Christmas "tree", made from some thin dowel rods wrapped with strands of white lights. The tree is on top of a small round rug with two snowmen on it and there are colorful round ornaments hanging from the light strands.
December 21, 2024 at 9:43 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
I may feel totally shit this pre-holiday Friday night, but hopefully you aren't. Either way, here are some playful, happy arctic foxes for you.
Two arctic foxes - mostly in their white winter coats but with bits of yellow and brown fur still showing - are facing each other on the snowy ground. They are playing and having their mouths open so it looks like they're laughing with each other.
December 20, 2024 at 10:42 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
- Testing when not symptomatic to make sure you don't make others sick (like before holiday gatherings next week) is considered totally unnecessary and not a thing people would or should do.
- No medical workers mask, even when obviously ill.
- Vaccines are not encouraged, and sometimes discouraged.
Meme/comic, featuring a brown dog in a hat sitting on a chair in front of a table with a cup of coffee. The room around the dog is on fire and smoke billows across the ceiling. In the second panel the dog is saying "This is fine."
December 19, 2024 at 11:35 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
*shoves the best cat, who never once fucked around with the Xmas tree, onto your feed*
A black and white tuxedo cat is laying just underneath the edge of a decorated Christmas tree. He has his front paws stretched out into a sunbeam and colorful wrapped presents are behind him.
December 19, 2024 at 12:20 AM
aschmugge.bsky.social
Another cat done! Really happy this is a set of six, because that means I have four more I get to do yet.

Pattern by TidyPatterns on Etsy if you're inclined to stitch some of your own (www.etsy.com/shop/TidyPat...)
Two cross stitch black cats hiding among colorful plants, part of a partially completed project.
December 18, 2024 at 2:56 AM
aschmugge.bsky.social
This is Riley. He would recommend hiding under the Xmas tree or playing with a good string to keep things from getting too overwhelming.
A black and white cat lounges along the back of a sofa, looking out the window serenely while bathed in gentle beams of sunlight. A black and white cat crouches underneath a Xmas tree surrounded by lights and tucked back far enough no one can reach him. A black and white cat with green eyes sits on a white desk with a long blue fabric tie/string tangled around his paws and head, including looped over one ear.
December 18, 2024 at 12:40 AM
aschmugge.bsky.social
Still just want to make art today. Still absolutely no time to do that because so much medical stuff that absolutely can't be put off.

Sigh.
A close shot of quilted fabric featuring rainbow patchwork stripes with decorative stitching between each color.
December 17, 2024 at 4:00 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
Thank you, Mary 🫂🧡
Small tan sled dog puppy lying on its back in the grass with a paper speech bubble sign above its head reading "I was just sitting here thinking about how the world is better with you in it" Small tan and black sled dog puppy lying on its back in the grass with a paper speech bubble sign above its head reading "Thank you!!!"
December 17, 2024 at 5:05 AM
aschmugge.bsky.social
Feel as weak and shaky as a newborn today, though I'm pretty sure this four-day-old zebra was probably capable of sprinting across a savannah already at this point. Super cute too.
A knobbly-kneed baby zebra stands on a patch of grassy dirt looking adorable but a little wobbly.
December 15, 2024 at 6:49 PM
aschmugge.bsky.social
If your stance on what's coming in America is "good, let maga get screwed by what they voted for" and ignores the harm coming so you can feel superior? Fuck off before I block you.

The rest of you can stick around for the random occasional pictures of pretty hoar frost.
Ice & frost on a window, looking like it's growing up from the sill before separating into delicate pieces that look like feathers.
December 14, 2024 at 6:57 PM