Jo Simons (she/her)
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josimons.bsky.social
Jo Simons (she/her)
@josimons.bsky.social
470 followers 730 following 43 posts
Dr. Jo, Pākehā, Academic Librarian in Aotearoa NZ, Plant enthusiast, fibre crafter, hoarder of pens, herder of children and cats

Working with Digital Library team at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland, opinions mine not my employers
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josimons.bsky.social
My team came back from #iPRES2025 with all sorts of sticker swag to share. I’m particularly fond of this one from  ‪@dpc-chat.digipres.club.ap.brid.gy‬ but can’t decide where to put it as I have too many things I want to stick it to! #digipres #libraries
A green sticker from the digital preservation coalition states: this is not an archive. It is sitting balanced on a stack of external hard drives labelled with post it notes.
November 11, 2025 at 4:17 AM
josimons.bsky.social
I lost my 16 year old moggy last month, so I’m currently petless. She was lovely and I miss her but I can’t imagine it’ll be long into the New Year before the daughter-creatures are trying to talk us into new fur-companions
An elderly tortie-tabby moggy cat lies on a cluttered desk with her eyes shut between the keyboard, the laptop and the second screen. That is her mouse though and she will wake up if you try to use it.
November 11, 2025 at 3:20 AM
josimons.bsky.social
Excited to be playing #SecretSantaAoNZ again this year! Half my brain is saying “Argh too busy” but the other half is just going “Squeeeee!!!!”
Christmas tree in the atrium of the ClockTower building at Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland from 2024. I wonder what it will look like this year?
November 10, 2025 at 11:10 PM
josimons.bsky.social
First strawberries of the summer out of the garden! They smell amazing but we are saving them for after dinner. #gardening #TamakiMakaurau #Summer
Four ripe red strawberries of assorted sizes and shapes sitting on a white kitchen bench top
November 9, 2025 at 4:13 AM
josimons.bsky.social
Finished the second bag just in time for it to travel down to #iPRES2025 in Wellington with my team members. I’m sure they’ll have a great time and learn heaps! Looking forward to keeping an eye on the hashtag and hearing about the presentations.
A calico bag with the iPRES 2025 Tūī logo (the blue and gold version) embroidered on the front using cross stitch. The embroidery pattern is poking out from behind the bag.
November 2, 2025 at 4:28 AM
josimons.bsky.social
Final version of #embroidery, now just needs a press to get those creases out and some felt for the back so it’s nice to hang. Hope they like it!
Same embroidery as original post, now with all cross stitch succulents completed and framed by the words “It’s not hoarding if it’s plants” in block text
October 25, 2025 at 3:56 AM
josimons.bsky.social
Working on a small #crossstitch kit project for a friend’s birthday. I’d forgotten how much fun small projects like this are and how quickly you make progress #embroidery #craft
Partially completed small cross stitch project with 3 cacti in pots in cute illustration style. 2 of the cacti are completed and 1 is still in progress. The embroidery is being done on white Aida fabric and the edges of a wooden embroidery hoop are visible at the corners of the photo.
October 17, 2025 at 7:09 AM
josimons.bsky.social
Well it hasn’t been a great news weekend except for the Black Ferns winning their quarterfinal, but I did have a duck come visit my suburban garden this morning.
Female mallard or grey duck cross sits on top of a tall dark wooden fence in a suburban back yard with palm tree, shrubs and the top of the neighbours house. Duck is tilting its head to look at the camera as if wondering what you’re doing here
September 14, 2025 at 7:27 AM
josimons.bsky.social
We may have made slightly too much quince jelly. It tastes amazing but there’s only so much you can work through (especially when there’s other flavours of preserves still in the cupboard). Oh well time to find out which of our friends want some….
A white kitchen bench beside a stovetop covered with a motley collection of lidded jars filled with clear dark orange red fluid. There are 10 large and three small jars of homemade jelly. I only wish you could smell the kitchen, the floral fruity sweetness is amazing
March 30, 2025 at 7:51 AM
josimons.bsky.social
Some pretty #WildFlowers growing in the more chaotic part of my yard. These purpletop vervains working well alongside the clover to keep the bees and other flying beasties happy #BloomScrolling
Close up shot of the flower clusters of a purpletop vervain, Verbena bonariensis, with a blurry background of lawn plants
February 6, 2025 at 7:09 AM
josimons.bsky.social
Sometimes a small bumblebee is just what you need to cheer you up :)
#bees
Buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris on a small yellow catsear flower in a lawn.
January 31, 2025 at 7:23 AM
josimons.bsky.social
You’re expecting a LOT of me this year dictionary people, don’t hold your breath
Screenshot from the Merriam-Webster gif that says “uplifting”
January 7, 2025 at 7:46 AM
josimons.bsky.social
Kia ora Sarah, it's my first day back at work, but a definite win in that there are still Clyde picnic cherries to snack on and they are so good!
four recently washed black picnic cherries sit on a wooden chopping board. They look fresh and delicious
January 6, 2025 at 2:12 AM
josimons.bsky.social
Well I wasn't planning on a new socials account but here I am. Here, have a native bee while I figure out how to make this thing work.
New Zealand native bee sitting on the freckled pale arm of a wahine pākehā
January 6, 2025 at 1:52 AM