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violetephemera.bsky.social
Susan
@violetephemera.bsky.social
210 followers 140 following 150 posts
Teacher, ex-academic, avid reader, houseplant keeper, and cat person.
PhD in Victorian literature and science
📚 🐈🪴 🍉
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violetephemera.bsky.social
A holiday-themed #caturday from earlier this week when Ivy took a nap on a pile of tissue paper and bubble wrap from the Christmas ornaments. She thought it was the best new bed!
A calico tabby with a tabby mask over a white nose, mouth, and neck sits on a pile of tissue paper and bubble wrap.
December 6, 2025 at 11:41 PM
violetephemera.bsky.social
Book 60 of 2025 📚💙 All the Little Monsters by David Robertson, a memoir of his experiences with anxiety. His description of the uneven nature of "progress" as life events occur was especially helpful. Sometimes, you just need to hear about someone going through a similar experience to feel better.
A library paperback copy of All the Little Monsters: How I Learned to Live With Anxiety by David A. Robertson sits on a woven blanket. The cover features multi-coloured letters for the title and author name, along with the silhouette of a man followed by a stalking wolf.
November 30, 2025 at 9:19 PM
violetephemera.bsky.social
It's been a tough few weeks, so I treated myself to a couple of Regency Cats blind boxes and, fortunately, got the two I wanted! Lady Sheddington and Miss Meowsly now hold an honoured place on my bookshelf.
A plastic figurine of an orange-and-white cat dressed in a seafoam green Regency gown with a matching bonnet and a yellow spencer. In one hand, she holds a parasol, while in the other she has a grey mouse on a leash. Her base is a dark green book with gold detailing that spells out Lady Sheddington on the spine. A cat with seal points stands wearing a pink Regency day dress with a white chemisette, pink trim, and a white shawl wrapped around her arms. She holds a book in both paws. Beside her on the base is a tea cup and a pile of books (the topmost of which is Pride and Prejudice). On the side of her base, in gold, is her name, Miss Meowsly.
November 24, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Reposted by Susan
kf1n3.bsky.social
A bunch of cats I’ve painted 🐈
September 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM
violetephemera.bsky.social
Happy #caturday from Ivy. This photo is from a few days ago, when she took over my bed before I had a chance to make it, and she disapproved of my attempts to move her. Stay cozy, like Ivy!
A calico tabby cat sits on a woven blanket. She has tabby mask over a white face, a tabby spot on her back leg, and an orange and tabby-striped tail. There is also a cute little brown spot on her otherwise pink nose. Behind her are colourful bookshelves.
November 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Reposted by Susan
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
So this happened an hour ago. I don’t think I’ve seen red this deep in a long time. You could see it quite clearly with the naked eye. #aurora
A bright red curtain of light surrounded by green glow rains down from the sky behind the silhouettes of spruce trees A bright red curtain of light surrounded by green glow rains down from the sky behind the silhouettes of spruce trees A bright red curtain of light surrounded by green glow rains down from the sky behind the silhouettes of spruce trees. The light is reflected in the thin layer of ice covering the pond in the foreground.
November 12, 2025 at 2:07 AM
violetephemera.bsky.social
Book 59 of 2025 📚💙 What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher, the third in the Gothic horror series, this time set in a West Virginian mine haunted by a Lovecraftian creature. As always with her work, I enjoy the descriptive writing and unique characters; this one also had a fun plot twist. #booksky
A library hardcover of What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher lies on a woven blanket. The cover image features a bear's semi-skeletal body caught on a dead branch. The back of the bear still has its fur, but from the eyes down, the fur falls away to tendon, which falls away to skeleton.
November 9, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by Susan
japrenticewrites.bsky.social
Sometimes protagonists aren't able to fix the world. Sometimes they're not even able to see the problems with it. Sometimes they're just trying to survive. Sometimes they're even part of the problem.
The writer isn't the society and the writer isn't the protagonist.
November 9, 2025 at 4:37 AM
violetephemera.bsky.social
Book 58 of 2025 📚💙 Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa, which depicts a day in the life of a thoughtful and observant nail salon owner. It's like Joyce's Ulysses retold by one many deem invisible, and it takes on the best and most memorable elements of Thammavongsa's short stories. #booksky
A hardcover library copy of Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa lies on a woven blanket. The cover image features a variety of fake nails painted in many different colours.
November 2, 2025 at 5:45 PM
violetephemera.bsky.social
When I returned from a walk this morning, I found my cat sleeping like this in my bed, enjoying the sunshine. #catsky
A calico tabby lies curled up on a bed, leaning against the pillows. Her back end is toward the camera and she's facing the camera, her eyes half-open. Her front legs are bent, but one of her back legs is stretched out, looking weirdly like a chicken leg.
October 28, 2025 at 11:21 PM
violetephemera.bsky.social
I received the teabag bookmark that I ordered from @cupofmin.bsky.social this week, and it came with this cute assortment of goodies. The bookmark is a lovely work of fibre art, with many exquisite little details that bring the embroidery to life. 😊
A photo of stickers, cards, and envelopes from the order of an embroidered bookmark in the shape of a teabag. The goodies include pictures of animals peeking out of teacups and a teapot in the shape of a mushroom. The bookmark's embroidered image features a red toadstool mushroom with white spots and stem, leaved-stems with red berries, and a hedgehog.
October 26, 2025 at 8:40 PM
violetephemera.bsky.social
Book 57 of 2025 📚💙 Restaurant Kid by Rachel Phan, a memoir of her childhood in small-town Ontario, haunted by her parents' restaurant and her alienation as one of the few Asian people in her community. I especially enjoyed the last chapters when Phan connected with her family and history. #booksky
A paperback copy of Restaurant Kid: A Memoir of Family and Belonging by Rachel Fan, sits on a woven blanket. The cover of the book features a photograph of Phan as a child, wearing pink and holding a large stuffed toy of the pink Power Ranger. A broken fortune cookie and its fortune surrounds her.
October 26, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Reposted by Susan
ourmankoto.bsky.social
RELEASE DAY! Year's Best Canadian F&SF Volume 3 is now available! Grab ebooks at all retailers and print via Amazon, with Ingram to follow shortly for bookstore & library sales. Grab your copy today and pls share WIDELY!
#BookRelease #NewBook #SpecFic #fantasy #sciencefiction #canada #Booksky 💙📚🪐
October 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
violetephemera.bsky.social
Book 56 of 2025 📚💙 Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher, a fantasy medical mystery filled with little creative touches that made the whole story a joy to read, like a belled rattle snake, spirit houses, a literal mirror world. Probably my favourite of her novels so far. #booksky
A hardcover copy of Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher sits on a blanket. The cover image features plants in the shape of a snake wrapped around an apple.
October 19, 2025 at 12:50 AM
violetephemera.bsky.social
A day late for #caturday but couldn't resist posting a picture of Ivy anyway. In the mornings, she sits on my bed to watch the reflections of light that play on the walls. She's always loved light and shadows, often more than real toys.
A cat sits on a bed with window light glowing around her. She is mostly white with a tabby mask over the top of her head and a black spot on her nose.
October 12, 2025 at 1:23 PM
violetephemera.bsky.social
Book 55 of 2025 📚💙 Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle, the story of Vera, who survives a horrific event and, years later, is asked to investigate the casino that may have caused it. The supernatural elements are imaginative and fun; the horror is gruesome; and Vera's journey is worth every minute. #booksky
A library hardcover copy of Chuck Tingle's Lucky Day sits on a purple fabric background. The cover image is based on the illustration of a king on playing cards with mirrored pictures of a crowned man facing in opposite directions. Both kings have stabbed swords through their heads in gruesome ways.
October 10, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reposted by Susan
twinklybugs.bsky.social
The way Ookwemin Minising is bouncing back as soon as the colonizing dirt is scraped off feels like the kind of metaphor that gets so big it becomes reality. I hope it does.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Creatures buried in soil for over a century burst back to life in Toronto waterfront
A project to restore coastal wetland leads to astonishing discoveries of a host of life: seeds and plant scraps, as well as water fleas, worms, larvae and plankton
www.theguardian.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
violetephemera.bsky.social
Book 54 of 2025 📚💙 From the Rez to the Runway by Christian Allaire, a memoir about achieving his dream of becoming a fashion journalist for Vogue. It's a story of fortunate timing, sacrifices and risks, and, above all, Indigenous joy. Refreshing to read a (mostly) happy memoir. #booksky
A hand holds up a paperback library copy of From the Rez to the Runway: Forging my Path in Fashion by Christian Allaire. The cover image features a close-up of an Indigenous beadwork design in shades of blue, gold, and dark red.
October 6, 2025 at 12:36 AM
violetephemera.bsky.social
Book 53 of 2025 📚💙 Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, who navigates the grief of losing her mother through their shared love of food. Her descriptions of food are so vivid that I could smell and taste it all while reading. It lost momentum in the middle for me, but ended on a strong note. #booksky
A library hardcover edition of Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. The cover features a red background with a stylized H made from noodles hanging from two pairs of chopsticks.
October 3, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Reposted by Susan
thegorgonist.bsky.social
The seat-stealer

Your tea is already cold by now, why disturb kitty's slumber? A very cozy reading nook in a very cozy witch's cabin with a VERY cozy cat.

#witchkitty #cozyoccult

thegorgonist.etsy.com/listing/4378...
September 29, 2025 at 5:54 PM
violetephemera.bsky.social
Wish I could say I intentionally planted these asters, but they were part of a wildflower seed mix from last year that I didn't even know contained asters until this August. But here they are, taking the spotlight now that most other flowers are dying back, and the bumblebees love them. #plantsky
New England Asters bloom in bunches on the plant. The flowers have thin, light-purple petals and bright yellow centres.
September 28, 2025 at 11:01 PM
violetephemera.bsky.social
Book 52 of 2025 📚💙 Mandelbrot the Magnificent by Liz Ziemska, a fictionalized autobiography of the mathematician in which he combines math with his Jewish faith to rescue his family during WWII. The magic system is unique and fascinating to watch unfold on the page in complex equations. #booksky
A copy of Mandelbrot the Magnificent lies on a fabric background. The cover features the image of a village in red and black overlayed with a Fibonacci spiral. In the background in black and white are scribbled math equations.
September 28, 2025 at 1:21 PM
violetephemera.bsky.social
Book 51 of 2025 📚💙Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, one I missed in all my years of English classes. A weird story, as unsettling today as it was in its own time (though perhaps for different reasons). Huxley, like Orwell, seemed to understand the state of "Western" society a bit too well. #booksky
A hand holds up the Vintage Canada edition of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, with an introduction by Margaret Atwood. The image features an egg with a zipper running down it.
September 24, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Reposted by Susan
leslekieuart.bsky.social
I'm being so real right now, learn how to engage in media as art and not a reflection of your own real life morals. consume things that make you uncomfortable and understand why it makes you uncomfortable. Don't just base yours and others morals standings on the media you consume.
September 22, 2025 at 2:47 AM
violetephemera.bsky.social
Book 50 of 2025 📚💙 The Space Cat by Nnedi Okorafor, a fun graphic novel about the adventures of Periwinkle, the author's cat who has a secret life racing his spaceship through the cosmos. The artwork is vibrant and detailed, and the story is a charming one for readers young and old. #booksky
The Space Cat
Invaders from outer space have descended on Nigeria. They have no idea whose home they're messing with.Ah, yes, the luxurious life of a well-loved cat. It’...
us.macmillan.com
September 21, 2025 at 9:18 PM