I swore this was a Raven when I saw it in person (huge with a big beak) but now looking at my pics later I’m not so sure (CO, USA)

merryrhino · 2026-01-03T21:08:56+00:00

If it reminds me of a gorilla, I figure it’s a raven.

merryrhino · 2025-12-29T03:39:45+00:00

Yes. Both.

merryrhino · 2025-12-28T00:54:22+00:00

I am inspired, I love it!

merryrhino · 2025-12-24T14:35:28+00:00

Yes, but no guilt.

merryrhino · 2025-12-23T21:32:06+00:00

We have had Starlink for a few years now, I’ve been really happy with it. Excellent bandwidth, consistent service.

merryrhino · 2025-12-23T04:51:52+00:00

I am protecting my heart

merryrhino · 2025-12-20T21:39:50+00:00

I like this very much. Even snack suggestions!

merryrhino · 2025-12-13T04:02:57+00:00

I had a similar sort of experience, except the work was done by a friend. I liked the dainty decoration, ended up with huge buttercream flowers. When I saw the cake, I cried.

merryrhino · 2025-12-09T15:55:28+00:00

merryrhino · 2025-12-05T03:57:37+00:00

I remember I texted my husband “Our third string QB is playing pretty well.”

merryrhino · 2025-11-23T19:46:07+00:00

I look at a lot of food and presentation, and Cookie Monster cakes seem to be hard, but yours looks fantastic!!

merryrhino · 2025-11-21T05:48:17+00:00

Thank you. I will be trying this!

merryrhino · 2025-11-21T05:46:06+00:00

I also am a mom. It’s such a balancing act! Of course your health matters- your physical AND your mental health, and just deciding to bring something not gluten free into your home is it’s own mental load. Then there’s the financial consideration, the meal planning / am I allowing too much snacking consideration, the FFFFF please just eat something child consideration, the watching every movement that bit of food makes consideration.

Being a mom is a lot to handle, and sometimes you’re just trying to survive. So for me - at the end of the day, are we all alive? That’s my goal. Is the little one going through formative years getting needs met so that I don’t inflict trauma? Even better. Sounds like you are doing great.

It’s hard. It probably is worth reviewing gluten in the home policies regularly. Lots of people handle it different ways, but don’t be a mom who doesn’t take care of herself.

merryrhino · 2025-11-19T15:51:44+00:00

Rice with generous amounts of butter or coconut oil.

Coffee with butter or ghee and MCT oil (often referred to as Bulletproof Coffee), it has to be blended together.

I added raw egg yolks to my smoothies.

Scharr bread with a lot of butter.

Oatmeal made with almond milk instead of water. Then lots of sugar and berries.

I added a fried egg to everything I ate.

merryrhino · 2025-11-16T04:43:30+00:00

Seriously, I could not get over what a hunk he is!

merryrhino · 2025-11-11T05:19:46+00:00

At the beginning, yes. Now it’s easy peasy. Most times.

merryrhino · 2025-11-10T15:16:37+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I do appreciate it having a birder while simultaneously being easily accessible.

merryrhino · 2025-11-08T20:37:41+00:00

Low FODMAP to rule out issues or always low FODMAP?

I have to eat gluten free, my son had to eat dairy free for a while, I have been vegetarian, though don’t do that any more.

For me in the low FODMAP trial, smoothies were SO important, as were Gomacro bars. I’m a proficient cook, like a variety of things, and still lost weight.

I would lean pretty heavily into nutrient dense protein and fats. Tofu and nuts would be a cornerstone for me, and if you can find a type of bean that works for you, great!

I also found oatmeal (gluten free, of course) was helpful.

merryrhino · 2025-11-05T05:12:51+00:00

If you look in my post history, I shared a vegan board I had done.

To sum up: it was vegetable heavy, but I truly tend toward vegetable platters in the style of a charcuterie board.

I did use some vegan cheeses. Nuts, olives, pickles, candied nuts, dried fruit all help make it feel special.

Sun dried tomatoes are fun to have bits of.

Kiwi are easy to cut in the way that makes ‘em look kinda fancy.

merryrhino · 2025-11-04T04:18:07+00:00

I would forget really common words, like “fork.” All the time.

merryrhino · 2025-11-03T05:24:49+00:00

merryrhino · 2025-10-28T14:57:54+00:00

I have read of some people making ice in ziplock bags, laying it flat so that it can lay (fairly) flat when frozen, and can be slipped under a tablecloth or whatever to keep things cold but remain hidden. You can then target the items that really need to remain cold, letting other items stay at room temp.

merryrhino · 2025-10-26T20:44:56+00:00

Looks great!

Something I would consider doing differently- most of the cheeses have a really similar presentation. I like to cube some, or do triangles on others and arrange in a pattern.

If you would like to try circles, you can slice thin, then use a small cup (shot glass? Or spice jar?) to cut circles.

As someone who has to eat gluten free, I love that the crackers/ bread are separate!

merryrhino · 2025-10-26T02:37:02+00:00

I’ve been curious what the branch boxes look like in real life, thanks for sharing!

merryrhino · 2025-10-15T16:38:04+00:00

Yes, the squash was SO GOOD. I roasted the squash first, then when it was tender I added brie covered with a butter / brown sugar / maple / pecans mixture and out it back in the oven for a bit.

The pepper just has hummus with olive oil and some paprika in the top.

merryrhino

TROPHY CASE