Benita Stevens

@giraffey

“It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.” – Truman Designing gear that celebrates Milwaukie + speaks for justice ✊🏻 🔗 #BingCherry #PDX #CivilRights

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Bluesky

¿Es tu perfil?Reclámalo y giraffey.dirty.social es tuyo.Reclamar perfil

Benita Stevens@giraffey· 4d

Foul ball bounced down from the deck above, one hopper right at me. Drink tucked in my elbow. Ice cream in one hand. One-handed catch. ⚾️🙌 Apparently all those years of catching golf balls tossed at the end of a hole finally paid off. 🤣 The accolades? Didn’t hate ’em. #cardinalsbaseball #stlouis

Woman at Busch Stadium smiling and holding a foul ball she caught during a St. Louis Cardinals game, with the packed stadium behind her.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· 6d

Portland, yesterday… it’s really bad again today. 😞

Smoke-filled sky over a backyard with trees and a wooden fence. The sun appears as a dim orange-red disc through the heavy haze, tinting the sky a muted orange from wildfire smoke.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· 18d

Our first year hosting Milwaukie PorchFest, and what a wonderful evening. It was so nice to see neighbors, catch up with old friends, meet some new ones, and enjoy live music on a beautiful summer night. Looking forward to next year! #milwaukie #porchfest

Front porch of a home in Milwaukie, Oregon, with Adirondack chairs arranged around a circular fire pit beneath tall evergreen trees.

Front porch in Milwaukie, Oregon, with neighbors gathered for live music and conversation on a summer evening.

Guests seated on the front porch of a home in Milwaukie, Oregon, enjoying an outdoor neighborhood concert.

Wide view of a front porch in Milwaukie, Oregon, featuring a raised deck, outdoor seating, and mature trees surrounding the home.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· 29d

On the Fourth of July in Bar Harbor, we witnessed a community standing up for its neighbors. That message of compassion has stayed with me. We can’t keep living like this.

Community members march in a Fourth of July parade in Bar Harbor, Maine, carrying a large white banner reading, “WHERE ARE OURNEIGHBORS?” Spectators line the street under a clear blue sky. We saw this while vacationing in Maine over the holiday, where concern about immigrant detentions and deportations was visibly part of the local conversation and community response.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jul 9

Hey #milwaukie! Join us for Porchfest 2026! 🎶 #porchfest #milwaukieporchfest

PorchFest concert poster for Friday, July 24, from 6:30–8:30 PM at 5250 SE Logus Road. Featuring edad del pavo from 6:30–7:30 PM, an acoustic instrumental project blending Spanish guitar, Latin American percussion, and Pacific Northwest indie rock and folk, followed by 60 Hurtz from 7:30–8:30 PM playing classic rock favorites from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jul 6

🍒 A wonderful story about the Bing cherry, Ah Bing, and Milwaukie… but read closely. You may spot a certain couple in matching cherry “sweaters.” 😉😂 #milwaukie #bing #ahbing #lovemileaukie♥️ @seattlemag.bsky.social 🍒 Read the Seattle Magazine story⁠: seattlemag.com/features/how...

White long-sleeve hooded shirt displayed against a bright red background. The chest features an illustration of three red cherries with green leaves and the words “Milwaukie, Oregon” in vintage-style red script.

Benita and her husband, Damon, smiling together at an outdoor market, both wearing matching cream “Bing” cherry T-shirts celebrating the cherry that made Milwaukie famous. Benita also wears a matching Bing cap and sunglasses.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jul 5

It's working 🙄 A trumper called us communists at the little Fourth of July parade in Bar Harbor, Maine, after we supported these pro-democracy floats.

Gray pickup truck in the Bar Harbor Fourth of July parade carrying pro-democracy signs, including messages supporting the Constitution, Medicare, reproductive rights, and government.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jul 4

I'm with my people this week, laughter, tears, with gratitude for even the smallest things.💜

My husband, my brother, and me posing together outside the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum beneath the presidential seal.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jul 4

After these floats, the Trump asshole next to us was yelling out Trump propaganda, me and my husband (blue shirt), and brother, who normally hold back, had to share some facts. Man, I was shaking; the dude was so freaking hateful 🤬

A Trump supporter in a white shirt stands with arms crossed facing my husband in a blue shirt during a tense political exchange along the parade route.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jul 3

You might be onto something🤔

Screenshot of an AP News article quoting Donald Trump about former President William Howard Taft. The highlighted passage reads: “William Howard Taft… was our heaviest president,” Trump said. “I have to be careful because I don’t want to supersede his record… A thing like that would be possible if I allowed it to happen. For all of you out there watching, keep yourself in good shape.”

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jul 2

🇺🇸 Making our way from Boston to Portland, Maine, w/Bar Harbor up next; first time experiencing New England- basically lobster rolling our way from Mass through Maine. Every stop has been beautiful; every bite, delicious! J’s Oyster Bar in Portland is the best so far; great breakfast @ Becky’s. 🦞🌊

Fresh Maine lobster roll overflowing with large chunks of lobster meat, served with kettle chips and a pickle spear.

Lobster dinner with fries, a split lobster, melted butter, and ketchup on a paper-lined tray.

Lobster roll served with creamy coleslaw, French fries, and ketchup on a white plate.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jun 29

So good, so good, so good!! #fenway #firsttime #amazingw #boston I sure like it here! 🍀⚾️

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jun 29

@jonlemire.bsky.social @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Our first game ever at Fenway! So good, so good, good! 🧹🧹🧹 Sorry @williegeist.bsky.social, but it was… impossible not to root for the home team. 🍀⚾️🅱️

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jun 23

Awkward 🤔

Side-by-side photos of JD Vance sharing a warm embrace with a blonde woman at a political event. The body language appears notably more natural than the now-viral clip of Vance awkwardly patting his wife on the knee.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jun 22

Photo from our trip to Lucerne last year. The KKL concert hall. I had no idea I was accidentally documenting Switzerland’s future response to JD Vance. 🇨🇭😏🌈

KKL Luzern concert hall in Lucerne, Switzerland, featuring a rainbow “CRY ME A RIVER” installation across the front of the building. The photo is shared in response to JD Vance complaining about Switzerland after a diplomatic visit.

Close-up of the rainbow “CRY ME A RIVER” installation on the façade of KKL Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland. The message humorously reflects how Switzerland might feel about JD Vance’s criticism of the country.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jun 21

Perfect day for it! 🐾

A fluffy black cat rests against a person’s legs while they relax on a light-colored sectional sofa. The photo is taken from the person’s perspective, looking across a bright, open living room with striped pillows, skylights, a staircase, and large windows letting in natural light. The cat appears content and settled in for a cozy afternoon nap.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jun 19

But when he tumbles down the steps, landing in a heap at the bottom…

Scene from The Wizard of Oz showing Dorothy standing in the Witch’s castle surrounded by the Winkie Guards. The Cowardly Lion stands nervously beside her while a guard kneels in front of them holding a red spear. The dark stone room is lined with rows of identical guards carrying red staffs, creating an intimidating atmosphere.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jun 18

Thank you!!! I'm loving it, but don't think I would do it again. I'm too old for all the bending, and I hate measuring tapes & math, but I powered through! 😝🤣 It really made my little favorite space special! Where I go to escape the news!

Colorful outdoor seating area beside a garden shed, featuring orange chairs, potted plants, and decorative garden accents in a cozy backyard setting.

Warmly lit potting shed interior with wood walls and ceiling, workbench, storage cabinets, plants, and gardening supplies arranged in an inviting workspace.

Small garden shed painted dark green with light trim and a bright green door, surrounded by fencing, potted plants, and a stone pathway.

Interior of a garden shed featuring a freshly painted diagonal checkerboard floor in warm terracotta and light neutral tones, with storage shelves and gardening equipment along the walls.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jun 17

The algae trusted the experts 🤭

Screenshot of a social media reply draft showing a news headline about President Trump honoring construction workers who rebuilt the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during an Oval Office meeting after a rapid renovation project.

President Trump sits at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office signing red hats while members of the Reflecting Pool construction crew stand nearby watching. Several workers wear work clothes and baseball caps.

A group of construction workers stands in the Oval Office as President Trump distributes signed red hats and commemorative items. The workers line up near the desk while photographers document the event.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jun 15

The message is simple. Be Kind, America. ❤️🇺🇸 prettyfishstudio.etsy.com/listing/4341...

A woman stands in a backyard garden setting with a wooden fence, red tulips, and rustic watering cans in the background. She is wearing a black T-shirt that reads “Be Kind America” in colorful lettering, looking off to the side with a slight smile.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jun 12

Perfect! It's a beautiful day here in Portland, Oregon, enjoying my potting shed porch 💚 The process is always worth the wait. 🍃 I love me some flagstone!! 😉

View across a backyard garden with a flowering tree casting shadows on a paved patio. A wooden bench sits beneath the tree, surrounded by lush plants, flower beds, and a winding garden path leading toward the yard.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jun 8

I’m sorry, but here in Portland we’re busy celebrating our annual Rose Festival. Sailors are being welcomed and cheered by locals, the Catholic community is sharing a little love through a longstanding festival tradition, and we’re enjoying one of the most beautiful cities in the country.

Hundreds of U.S. Navy sailors in white dress uniforms gather in downtown Portland during the Rose Festival Fleet Week celebration, with American flags and city buildings in the background.

Evening view of downtown Portland along the Willamette River during Rose Festival season, with city lights reflecting on the water and Mount Hood visible in the distance.

Members of the Catholic Archdiocese of Portland participate in an annual Rose Festival procession, walking through downtown streets in clerical robes and religious vestments.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· Jun 4

Oh wow! We just went to a garden near us and saw the same tree! I had never seen anything like it! 😳 Did I take a pic of the flower, no, just the trunk with a name plate 🤪

Close-up of a tree trunk with textured gray-brown bark, patches of lichen, and green moss growing around a small black identification tag. The tag reads “Magnolia macrophylla” in white lettering. Sunlight filters through surrounding greenery in the background, creating a dappled woodland garden scene.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· May 31

As a Milwaukie, OR resident, I wholeheartedly support confusing Milwaukee residents. 😄 If you’d like to lean into the confusion, I have a few Milwaukie-themed items on Etsy, including some Bing Cherry designs that celebrate our little city w/ the “ie.” 🍒 prettyfishstudio.etsy.com/listing/4499...

White pullover hoodie featuring a vintage-style illustration of three red Bing cherries with green leaves on the chest. Beneath the artwork is the text “Milwaukie, Oregon” in a red script font. The hoodie is displayed against a softly lit, warm-toned indoor background with blurred lights.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· May 26

I’m really happy with how this little potting shed floor turned out. What started as “I’ll just paint a cute pattern” turned into measuring, leveling, taping, re-taping, and math that made my head explode 🧑‍🎨🎨🪴 But it came out better than I thought!!!!💚

Before photo of a narrow rustic potting shed with unfinished plywood flooring and wooden workbench.

Potting shed floor taped off with a hand-drawn diamond pattern laid out across a freshly painted white surface.

Midway through the project with terracotta floor diamonds painted between sage green taped accents inside the potting shed.

Finished hand-painted checkerboard floor in terracotta and cream tones inside a cozy rustic potting shed with wooden shelving.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· May 21

So does that mean we should be setting up a fund for these folks? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Blue graphic containing categorized lists of people and institutions reportedly targeted for retaliation or retribution by Donald Trump. Categories include legal and political enemies, Biden and Obama associates, members of Congress, and people whose security clearances were revoked. The final section references institutions such as law firms, universities, media outlets, federal employees, prosecutors, FBI agents, Democratic-led cities, and civil servants. The text is displayed in black font on a light blue background.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· May 19

“In war, the first casualty is truth.” New drop from PrettyFish Studio. Inspired by protest-era America, neighborhood summers, garage bands, front porches, and the generation that started asking harder questions. prettyfishstudio.etsy.com/listing/4507...

Young couple sitting on the hood of a vintage car in a quiet 1970s-style suburban neighborhood at sunset. The young man wears a white graphic T-shirt reading “In war the first casualty is truth” in blue handwritten lettering while the woman in a bohemian-style top leans against him.

Teen boy leaning against a vintage green car in a tree-lined suburban neighborhood with old houses and warm evening light. He wears a sand-colored graphic T-shirt reading “In war the first casualty is truth” with blue handwritten typography.

Young woman standing with friends on a suburban street at golden hour wearing a sand-colored graphic T-shirt reading “In war the first casualty is truth.” The scene has a nostalgic 1970s coming-of-age film aesthetic.

Group of teenage friends standing together in a quiet residential neighborhood at sunset. One teen wears a sand-colored graphic T-shirt with the phrase “In war the first casualty is truth” in blue handwritten lettering while the others wear casual vintage-inspired clothing.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· May 14

A wide cream-colored political graphic with the word “B.A.L.L.R.O.O.M.” in oversized navy blue block letters across the top, separated by red dots. Down the left side, large red initials spell out “BALLROOM,” each paired with a dark blue phrase criticizing corruption and authoritarian behavior, including “Backroom deals for the powerful,” “Abuse of office normalized daily,” and “Oval Office buried in gold and self-worship.” Thin gray divider lines separate each entry. Along the bottom edge, a row of small red flags stretches across the width of the image, giving the design a modern propaganda-poster or meme-style aesthetic.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· May 9

Nighty😴night

Black-and-white tuxedo cat curled up on a bed, resting with paws tucked in and fluffy tail wrapped around its body against patterned pillows.

Benita Stevens@giraffey· May 8