Debsmooth

Things are happenin’ out at the heronry. The nests are built, the herons are pairing off, and they will lay soon. They are looking spiffy in their breeding plumage. I have counted as many as 11 of them, but 4 are last year’s juveniles.

The view from my bedroom-office where I’ve been flat on my sore back all day.

Got rear-ended at a red light this evening and now have whiplash and sore ribs. Luckily nothing too major but still bummed out. Sigh…

I began this tumblr back in 2008, when farceboak was new, instagram didn’t exist, the algorithms weren’t bent on making everyone foam at the mouth, and before every other thing was an ad for collagen (probably just algos targeted at my old arse). It was a far more bearable time. I had a newborn. I was a newish image editor. Anything seemed possible, including spectacularly bad stuff. How were we to know just how badly oligarchy would utterly ruin all the fun parts of the internet? We kinda knew. We suspected. And here I am again. Having seen what oligarchy did to social media, I’m down to tumblr, bluesky, and any discord servers not run by sociopaths. I will share most of my content here from now on. That way if you want to hear what is on my rubberband-powered, leaky-adhd-mind, you’ll have to actively seek me out. Welcome!

And my fave #shop in #amsterdam is @kramerkunstantiek on #Prinsengracht They are jammed with gorgeous #antique #porcelain #delftware and thousands of other amazing things like the #klmhouses you see here. It’s a stunning wee shop you have to see to believe. (at Amsterdam, Netherlands) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm48NngIDlF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Category: Places I Never Get Tired Of. #amsterdam A city of fine details, movement, light, dark, quiet, chaos, old, new and wonderfully kind people. I always feel at home there. I can walk for miles staring into windows, gawping at buildings, watching people, haunting museums or looking at the water. One of my top three cities and the #coffee is intensely good. #mustseecities (at Amsterdam, Netherlands) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm47O4-Ic6O/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#happynewyearwhenitcomes #awrabestfurthabells #newyearseve #scotland #newyearseve https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm2b7qMo-tP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#happynewyearwhenitcomes #awrabestfurthabells #auldlangsyne #scotland #newyearseve (at Lochend, City of Edinburgh) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm2bsj6o-rX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Maurits Cornelis Escher #mcescher spent a lot f time in #Italy where the landscapes intrigued him. These are from the twentieth century level of the #rijksmuseum in #amsterdam and I love them. #printmaking #mcescher (at Rijksmuseum) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm1D3ukIzq_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

1.5 hour delay on a 1 hour flight but we’re headed #hame (at Amsterdam, Netherlands) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmzwDsXI05x/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#vangogh #babies are an entire #mood (at Van Gogh Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmw0fXvoQ3m/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

First time we ever tried a private canal cruise of #Amsterdam aboard #ivresse with a wonderful guide and lovely food and drinks. Absolutely lovely. (at Amsterdam, Netherlands) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmuFuwkI58X/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Had a good dose of #modernart today. (at Stedelijk Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmtpRaJIrH1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

With mom and dad @stedelijkmuseum today. (at Stedelijk Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmtohEHoaLT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Ladies and Germs, I am 55, almost 56 and have never cooked up a #turkey in my puff. Not once! But with advice and a thermometer from @jack_neil98 I managed it. And it was glorious. Done perfectly and the right moisture levels and flavour. This was a bronze higher welfare Turkey from @sainsburys I also made a meat free #melanzoneparmigiana and stuffed mushroom caps for everyone else. At least I know I can do it if I have to. #christmaslunch #higherwelfareturkey #smallertriumphs (at Lochend, City of Edinburgh) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmmptVmovLC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#buonnatale🎄 is happenin with cannolis and Italian pastries from @marias_kitchen21 I almost cried when I saw the #struffolinapoletani 🥹 Huge #christmasmemories for me. Thank you @marias_kitchen21 (at Maria's kitchen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmjW8IXocsg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

On a short list of things that turned out to be much cooler than anticipated: #christmasatthebotanics was outstanding. Like doing drugs without the drugs. Gorgeous lighting effects, animations and seasonal vibes. It’s a 1 mile loop through the #botanics showcasing the best in lighting design. Even the music was decent (no Mariah Carey!) If you can see this before it ends, do so. Disregard Genie’s haunted Victorian child look. I think she was simply amazed. #lightingdesign #edinburgh #christmas (at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmjB5rEoPb0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=