Amy N-K
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aankphd.bsky.social
Amy N-K
@aankphd.bsky.social
590 followers 350 following 750 posts
She/they. Nonprofit grant writer. PhD, research and evaluation nerd. Mom of 4 wonderful young adults. Queer, polyfi, disabled, Quaker, Oregonian. Grateful for love, art, music, birds, gardening, and my service dog.

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🤎🖤♿️
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aankphd.bsky.social
We were working at the Wild Arts Festival this weekend and were so pleased by how accessible, beautiful, and welcoming the event was. From a quiet room for decompression to wide aisles and ample seating, it was probably the most pleasant event of its kind Sprocket and I have ever attended. Grateful.
Black and white vested poodle mix service dog sitting in front of lighted holiday decor in the event center lobby (a Christmas tree, wrapped gifts, a partial view of some penguins, and a lamppost).
December 8, 2025 at 5:46 AM
aankphd.bsky.social
This place halfway between Edinburgh and Glasgow was recently for sale and I was seriously tempted. If I suddenly disappear, it’s possible I moved into an home in Scotland with a library and a conservatory that is a Mood. This one sold… surely others exist? 😍
A gray, stately stone home with a garden shed or playhouse in the foreground. Red door, lighted windows, moody overcast skies. The surrounding foliage is green and lush. Hallway with beautiful wood doors and elaborate moldings, a stained glass window transom above one of the doors, and patterned tile floors. A huge bay window with wood paneling surround. Built in bookshelves along two walls and a built in desk next to wide glass doors leading out to a conservatory.
December 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
aankphd.bsky.social
Reposted with alt text. ❤️
An old-fashioned art print of the American Anhinga Snake Bird (designated 1. Male and 2. Female). Both birds have long, curved, snake-like necks, long pointed yellow beaks, and yellow feet (the male’s feet cannot be seen easily in the print). The male is a dark black-green color overall with white patterns on the back and wings. The female is similar but with a buff neck and chest. The male is pictured in a cormorant-like stance with wings slightly opened. The female’s wings are closed. Both are perched on an upright log over a greenish body of water. A poem is overlaid on the bird print. It reads: never forget you are a breathing accident of chance ample with reverberations of the impossible a bright buoyant moment in the dark indifferent stream of time made to bask in the rays of love and blaze with readiness for life A website is listed at the bottom: almanacofbirds.org
December 2, 2025 at 4:56 PM
aankphd.bsky.social
And here it is completely finished with little drawer pulls. 😊
Same advent calendar as previous, this time with drawer and door pulls.
November 19, 2025 at 4:10 PM
aankphd.bsky.social
Feeling crafty; I wasn’t feeling well over the weekend and wanted to just sit and make something with my hands. I almost have this advent calendar completed; I just need to add tiny pulls to each drawer/door.
I’m pleased with how it is turning out! I bought the art on Etsy and the form secondhand.❄️
An advent calendar shaped like a house, painted dark blue with gold trim and “snow” on top. There are 24 little drawers with gold numbers and various animals, trees, and foliage, and one large door in the middle with three candles.
November 18, 2025 at 9:41 PM
aankphd.bsky.social
Pretty orange things in Portland today: a very vivid sunset and a November-blooming rose in my garden. 🧡
(Somehow, I also have bearded iris budding right now, too? I’ll post a picture if it blooms. 😂)
View over the Willamette River in Portland towards Ross Island; the sunset is a very vivid orange. There are tall buildings with lights on the opposite shore, and several cedar tree branches in the foreground. Orange roses blooming. (Variety is named “At Last.”)
November 14, 2025 at 5:35 AM
aankphd.bsky.social
Very glad the tree was saved… AND, after living somewhere that didn’t have off-street parking and having this happen to our parked, brand new electric vehicle (it was in the shop for over a year after this hit and run right next to our Portland home)… I do like off-street parking options, too. ❤️🌲🚗
Parked red Chevy Bolt with front left side torn away. A person is walking on the sidewalk next to the car.
November 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
aankphd.bsky.social
Been feeling absolutely drained; sleep has been elusive and the ever-present dysautonomia is extra present today.
I took the day off with Sprocket for a nap and a slow/gentle walk near Oaks Bottom in Portland, to breathe in the petrichor and touch some grass. He was especially happy about this. 🐕‍🦺🍁
Black and white unvested poodle mix service dog sitting on a picnic table bench. There are large trees in the background. Black and white poodle mix service dog smiling at the camera Looking over Oaks Bottom wildlife refuge in Portland. There is a large lake and trees with autumnal colors.
November 8, 2025 at 1:17 AM
aankphd.bsky.social
Sprocket the #ServiceDog is apparently a Dancing With the Stars fan! 💃🕺💕🐕‍🦺
I wonder who he is rooting for… 😊
Black and white poodle mix dog watching Dancing With The Stars on TV.
November 5, 2025 at 8:53 PM
aankphd.bsky.social
Sprocket the service dog just went to the Halloween candy bowl for trick-or-treaters and came back to offer me a peanut butter cup. 🎃🍫
Best service ever. 😂
Black and white poodle mix service dog holding a Reese’s peanut butter cup
November 1, 2025 at 2:32 AM
aankphd.bsky.social
If you know Portland at all, here is a good example of why AI-generated street maps are not recommended. 🫠
Among many other issues, it seems that Ladd’s Addition has been subtracted. 😂 (What’s your favorite: Bicckman, Richmoend, or Barbk?)
Gotta love that AI slapped a Google logo on there, too…
An AI-generated map of Portland that is inaccurate, mislabeled, and strange.
October 31, 2025 at 8:29 PM
aankphd.bsky.social
With torrential Portland rain this weekend, the guys, the service dog, and I were looking for ways to wander indoors.
Fortunately, I am an oddity and Sprocket is a curiosity, so we fit right in at the Expo. 😂
He alerted me for medical stuff and I found a seat when I needed it; he was very good. 💓
Silver-haired woman wearing black with her black and white poodle mix service dog sitting in front of her. Both are in front of a large banner decorated with skulls, scorpions, beetles, and lanterns, with the words, “Oddities and Curiosities Expo 2025.”
October 27, 2025 at 12:55 AM
aankphd.bsky.social
When your service dog knows how to open the bathroom door… “You okay in here?” 😂
Black and white poodle mix service dog standing in the doorway of a bathroom, having opened it far enough to allow himself in. There is a grab bar, toilet tissue, and a light switch on the wall on the left.
October 26, 2025 at 4:13 AM
aankphd.bsky.social
Took an evening walk through our Portland neighborhood with my son and my dog. We can’t figure out how these festive neighbors made the giant cat on their porch roof move as if it is pouncing.
Obviously we need the national guard to help us with these scary inflatables everywhere. 😅🐈‍⬛🎃
October 24, 2025 at 3:52 AM
aankphd.bsky.social
Reposting with alt text. 😊🦖💕
Embroidered Tyrannosaurus Rex holding long grabber tools with the word “Unstoppable” embroidered at the bottom.
October 23, 2025 at 7:21 PM
aankphd.bsky.social
My late season garden is rather glorious right now! The dahlias just keep going… every bloom in that bouquet is abundant in my yard, and it is making me very happy. Tonight we will celebrate 4 family October birthdays; my sister is in town from the Netherlands and I got her fave pumpkin pie. 💕🌸🌼💐
Bouquet of dahlias in pinks, oranges, yellows, and some purples and whites. The bouquet is in a clear vase on a white quartz table; the room is painted orange and some bookshelves and a folded wood screen are in the background. White dahlia bloom with purple petal edges Pink and white dahlia bloom with a yellow center Bright purplish pink dahlia bloom.
October 19, 2025 at 7:28 PM
aankphd.bsky.social
I discovered that fairywrens exist today and am now disappointed that they don’t live in the USA. They are very cute!! I would say this gives me an excuse to go to Australia, except there is a lot of wildlife I don’t actually want to meet in Australia. 😂

fairywrenproject.org/meet-the-fai...
A superb fairywren (that’s the actual name). The superb fairywren has dark and light blue markings on its head and tail, brown wings, and a white underbelly.
October 14, 2025 at 6:13 AM
aankphd.bsky.social
A beautiful morning to be watching the training of Portland’s Dragon Boat Antifa Navy forces along the south waterfront. 😉🛶
(We have clear blue skies, beautiful trees, and a deep blue Willamette River. Nothing is on fire.) 💕🌲🌳
Looking west towards the south waterfront neighborhood of Portland, OR. Ross Island is on the left, a boat of rowers is in the Willamette River, and OHSU medical facilities are in the background (as well as the OHSU tram). Nothing is on fire. The sky is clear and blue. Masses of evergreen trees are on the hills, along with a little bit of fall color. Three boats are on the Willamette River rowing under the Ross Island Bridge. OHSU hospital is at the top of the hill on the left. Office and residential buildings are on the hills above the bridge. Clear blue water and sky.
October 13, 2025 at 7:27 PM
aankphd.bsky.social
Sprocket will come and nudge me when my heart rate or breathing elevate.
Our cat has asthma; I caught this after an attack. Sprocket checks on her, nudges, and then licks her. “You okay? I boop you so you are careful. Also licks.” 😊
Didn’t realize I had trained a service dog to help the cat… 🤣💕🐕‍🦺
October 8, 2025 at 12:24 AM
aankphd.bsky.social
It’s been a lot lately. Sleep is elusive. So I’m ending the night by posting a picture of Sprocket when he was just a baby service-dog-to-be, soon to be donated to his training program. Gonna wash my face and put on an audiobook and think of gardens, puppies, and the promise of better days to come.🐕‍🦺
A very cute black and white puppy sitting outside
October 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
aankphd.bsky.social
Wish I could join the frenemy napping party this afternoon… 😴
Black and white dog and tabby cat with white markings napping on a blanket on the couch together.
October 6, 2025 at 9:09 PM
aankphd.bsky.social
In “war-ravaged” Portland: yesterday, ICE had snipers on the roof of their building shooting pepper balls at people who were (checks notes)… standing still with signs and chanting. The hostility is coming from ICE, not the other way around.
October 6, 2025 at 8:11 PM
aankphd.bsky.social
Professional helper boy Sprocket has been very helpful this weekend. 💕🐕‍🦺
Went to get my flu and COVID jabs and a nurse expressed surprise when he picked my bag up on cue, “I thought he was just a therapy dog!”, and he has been checking on me frequently with some dysautonomia episodes recently. 🫀🫁😓
Black and white unvested poodle mix service dog with a friendly look on his face Vested black and white poodle mix service dog standing on a porch doormat with a green door and a topiary behind him.
October 6, 2025 at 12:49 AM
aankphd.bsky.social
This is the ICE helicopter circling above South Waterfront in Portland right now. Markings are consistent with US Customs and Border Protection. Incredibly noisy, disruptive to residents and wildlife, and a huge waste of money. At least it’s a lot harder to kidnap people into helicopters than vans.
Helicopter with US Customs and Border Protection markings.
October 5, 2025 at 12:26 AM
aankphd.bsky.social
Friday evening, someone was clinging to Ross Island Bridge, threatening to jump. #Portland Street Response and Fire and Rescue came, gently talking them down while closing the busy bridge for over an hour. I was touched by their patience and care, and by the boat at the ready. The person is safe. ❤️
The Ross Island Bridge in Portland, Oregon, looking west. A group of emergency vehicles on the bridge and a fire and rescue boat below are focused on the center of the bridge. It is difficult to see, but there is someone clinging to the center post on the north side of the bridge, threatening to jump. Ultimately they came down and are safe.
September 28, 2025 at 8:18 AM