Liene Vērzemnieks
@springsandwire.bsky.social
Amsterdam, US emigrant & Latvian. Forest therapy guide. Programmer. Someone's mom, somecat's person, someperson's person. I love getting around outside of a car. Nearly always klaar om different langues à parler: EN, NL, FR. She/her
oh is THAT what happened. 😅 I was like, I swear, I promise, I know how to read an article from a gift link...and yet...
December 18, 2025 at 10:33 PM
oh is THAT what happened. 😅 I was like, I swear, I promise, I know how to read an article from a gift link...and yet...
cool fact that my (wonderful) FNP told me several months after my c-sec (trying to process the trauma/what exactly happened): they DO take everything out. Well, they take your whole-ass uterus out (after the baby), they take the placenta (out & away), they clean that ute, & THEN it goes back in.
December 17, 2025 at 12:22 PM
cool fact that my (wonderful) FNP told me several months after my c-sec (trying to process the trauma/what exactly happened): they DO take everything out. Well, they take your whole-ass uterus out (after the baby), they take the placenta (out & away), they clean that ute, & THEN it goes back in.
To be fair, this is also what the human body does before it is born (one of the most horrifying/magic things I learned when I had a fetus was they go through THREE sets of kidneys before they’re born. The 1st ones suck, the 2nd ones are a little better, the 3rd are the keepers). Kidneys!
December 16, 2025 at 3:20 PM
To be fair, this is also what the human body does before it is born (one of the most horrifying/magic things I learned when I had a fetus was they go through THREE sets of kidneys before they’re born. The 1st ones suck, the 2nd ones are a little better, the 3rd are the keepers). Kidneys!
It really was! Also very fun to bring my love of English-language Christmas carols to folks who often don’t know them (we did also sing plenty of Dutch ones, which *I* often did not know). Just unironically enjoying stuff. ✨
December 16, 2025 at 3:16 PM
It really was! Also very fun to bring my love of English-language Christmas carols to folks who often don’t know them (we did also sing plenty of Dutch ones, which *I* often did not know). Just unironically enjoying stuff. ✨
Got to sing with part of my usual choir, & part of my director’s other choir, in TWO Christmas concerts this weekend — a smaller one in a former church in a fancy Dutch town, and another in a BIG fancy church (literally: Grote Kerk) in the center of a former “impregnable fortress” on the former sea
December 16, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Got to sing with part of my usual choir, & part of my director’s other choir, in TWO Christmas concerts this weekend — a smaller one in a former church in a fancy Dutch town, and another in a BIG fancy church (literally: Grote Kerk) in the center of a former “impregnable fortress” on the former sea
Yes! I was writing postcards to Georgia voters from Oregon, even!
December 16, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Yes! I was writing postcards to Georgia voters from Oregon, even!
Ostensibly because of temperance nonsense! (I haven't checked sourcing on this because of other duties, but what fun) bsky.app/profile/athu...
TIL the original lyrics to Deck the Halls are awesome and “don we now our gay apparel” is temperance movement bullshit
December 15, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Ostensibly because of temperance nonsense! (I haven't checked sourcing on this because of other duties, but what fun) bsky.app/profile/athu...
Hair splinters are the absolute worst. I’ve gotten them in my foot before and they are an obscene pain. Always was worried about the baby (now 7) getting them (or hair tourniquets) before she learned to talk. Ughhhh.
December 13, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Hair splinters are the absolute worst. I’ve gotten them in my foot before and they are an obscene pain. Always was worried about the baby (now 7) getting them (or hair tourniquets) before she learned to talk. Ughhhh.
because someone finally got up on a ladder and discovered they'd perfectly electrical-taped over the red digital display. Nothing electronic at all. Anyway, Stadium was also my introduction to acting in Shakespeare that year, and we had a lot of fun with it!
December 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
because someone finally got up on a ladder and discovered they'd perfectly electrical-taped over the red digital display. Nothing electronic at all. Anyway, Stadium was also my introduction to acting in Shakespeare that year, and we had a lot of fun with it!
Was a bit bummed that 10 Things was filmed at my high school the summer before I went there, but the upshot was that I knew a BOATLOAD of the extras floating around in the background. AND Disney did such a great job disabling the clock in my geometry room, it took the school MONTHS to solve it —
December 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Was a bit bummed that 10 Things was filmed at my high school the summer before I went there, but the upshot was that I knew a BOATLOAD of the extras floating around in the background. AND Disney did such a great job disabling the clock in my geometry room, it took the school MONTHS to solve it —
I went to a lovely UCC church for some years: there was a little card in the back of the pews mentioning that there was a nursery AND that kids were welcome in the sanctuary, & specifically mentioning that their “joyful noise” was welcome & affirmed. What a relief when I eventually brought my baby.
November 14, 2025 at 10:42 AM
I went to a lovely UCC church for some years: there was a little card in the back of the pews mentioning that there was a nursery AND that kids were welcome in the sanctuary, & specifically mentioning that their “joyful noise” was welcome & affirmed. What a relief when I eventually brought my baby.
In a decent society of decent people, folks could get experience and use it for a normal career amount of time if constituents like them, then pass the baton — theoretically being in Congress is complex work, right? Unfortunately, as you probably already know, America/two-party system
November 11, 2025 at 1:48 PM
In a decent society of decent people, folks could get experience and use it for a normal career amount of time if constituents like them, then pass the baton — theoretically being in Congress is complex work, right? Unfortunately, as you probably already know, America/two-party system
I had forgotten about the gold-clad scratch-off-the-clothes art advent calendar we got a few years ago, on the recommendation of a friend. Not extravagant, but not cheap, but so satisfying and sweet? The video about the first one is also lovely shop.mr.bingo/products/202...
2025 Advent Calendar
After a two year hiatus, the much loved Advent Calendar is BACK! Treat yourself in December by removing a different humans clothes each day.Each person is numbered (1-25) and their clothes are printed with a rub removable opaque gold ink (or in layman's terms - that stuff you get on scratch cards). If you're new to thi
shop.mr.bingo
November 11, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I had forgotten about the gold-clad scratch-off-the-clothes art advent calendar we got a few years ago, on the recommendation of a friend. Not extravagant, but not cheap, but so satisfying and sweet? The video about the first one is also lovely shop.mr.bingo/products/202...
Yes!! My mom and aunts and I (and now my kid?!) send little pictures back and forth and agonize over whatever tricky game has been sprung on us. We’re spread all over — it’s nice to have this connection in the dark days!
November 11, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Yes!! My mom and aunts and I (and now my kid?!) send little pictures back and forth and agonize over whatever tricky game has been sprung on us. We’re spread all over — it’s nice to have this connection in the dark days!
Had some NT2 classmates who used it to make flashcards or other study material (okay!), or to explain grammar mistakes (I do not like this one as much). The normalization of chatty g as a way to avoid thinking troubles me, though. Why would I make that harder for myself
November 11, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Had some NT2 classmates who used it to make flashcards or other study material (okay!), or to explain grammar mistakes (I do not like this one as much). The normalization of chatty g as a way to avoid thinking troubles me, though. Why would I make that harder for myself
My aunt has been getting me the Jacquie Lawson e-cards for years — but now she does the advent calendar app, and whoa Nelly am I addicted every year. It’s so charming!
November 11, 2025 at 10:19 AM
My aunt has been getting me the Jacquie Lawson e-cards for years — but now she does the advent calendar app, and whoa Nelly am I addicted every year. It’s so charming!
We’ve had a couple of these!! An Eric Carle (Dream Snow Pop-Up) one — charming! — and the Petit Collage one below (much sturdier; we had a 2.5 year old back then). “Pop up” seems to be a magic search key for a lot of them.
November 11, 2025 at 10:15 AM
We’ve had a couple of these!! An Eric Carle (Dream Snow Pop-Up) one — charming! — and the Petit Collage one below (much sturdier; we had a 2.5 year old back then). “Pop up” seems to be a magic search key for a lot of them.
Ohhh and now I’ve discovered a Studio Ghibli one at the bottom — if the check is blank, might as well get the fancier version with nicer jewelry: www.kindakawaii.com/products/stu...
Studio Ghibli Advent Calendar 2025
Step into the magic of Ghibli with this house-shaped advent calendar, inspired by the ivy-covered Okino Residence from Kiki’s Delivery Service. Behind each of the 24 windows, you’ll discover a curated...
www.kindakawaii.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Ohhh and now I’ve discovered a Studio Ghibli one at the bottom — if the check is blank, might as well get the fancier version with nicer jewelry: www.kindakawaii.com/products/stu...
Yeah ik dacht om meer to add, to clarify wat ik precies wilde zeggen, but it feels like if Engelse leenwoorden can be in alles gestopt, then I can do the inverse ook. But also describing mensen as “pittig” delights me so much.
November 11, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Yeah ik dacht om meer to add, to clarify wat ik precies wilde zeggen, but it feels like if Engelse leenwoorden can be in alles gestopt, then I can do the inverse ook. But also describing mensen as “pittig” delights me so much.
I hope to have a version of our 93-year-old Holocaust survivor neighbor’s attitude — asks for help, pittig about anything/anyone she doesn’t like, doesn’t seem to take anything too seriously, doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to. Dreams of an automatic transmission car & a better front door.
November 11, 2025 at 8:49 AM
I hope to have a version of our 93-year-old Holocaust survivor neighbor’s attitude — asks for help, pittig about anything/anyone she doesn’t like, doesn’t seem to take anything too seriously, doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to. Dreams of an automatic transmission car & a better front door.
Yeah, there are so many factors — my dad (and grandparents) were born in Eastern Europe but would never glamorize the occupation days. My dad & his sibs grew up without extended family because of it. It’s unfathomable how many people got so deeply hurt in so many ways (those that stayed AND left).
November 6, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Yeah, there are so many factors — my dad (and grandparents) were born in Eastern Europe but would never glamorize the occupation days. My dad & his sibs grew up without extended family because of it. It’s unfathomable how many people got so deeply hurt in so many ways (those that stayed AND left).
We’ve started seeing jackdaws (mostly) here in Amsterdam doing the same thing, complete with an unattended grub last week (hadn’t seen one previously).
November 4, 2025 at 9:13 AM
We’ve started seeing jackdaws (mostly) here in Amsterdam doing the same thing, complete with an unattended grub last week (hadn’t seen one previously).
I’ve been learning about this from a distance! My parents (also Puget Sound) noticed that the crows are most destructive of fussy people’s lawns (precise, tidy), but now they’ve got their own patch. A small spot went brown, crows came to dig, raccoons came in & rolled up grass overnight (not sod).
November 4, 2025 at 9:12 AM
I’ve been learning about this from a distance! My parents (also Puget Sound) noticed that the crows are most destructive of fussy people’s lawns (precise, tidy), but now they’ve got their own patch. A small spot went brown, crows came to dig, raccoons came in & rolled up grass overnight (not sod).
This posture never doesn’t remind me of the typing eagle from Hyperbole and a Half. Love it. hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot...
The Alot is Better Than You at Everything
As a grammatically conscientious person who frequents internet forums and YouTube, I have found it necessary to develop a few coping mechani...
hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:08 AM
This posture never doesn’t remind me of the typing eagle from Hyperbole and a Half. Love it. hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot...