Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, butterflies, good neighbors, inspiration, nature, Thoughts on July 21, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Ever had a day where your mind is cluttered and you’ve just spent hours wading through the news and it is both literally and figuratively cloudy, but then you look up to see a gorgeous little Monarch butterfly flutter by?
That’s me, today:)
Here’s to the many neighbors who have joined us in growing milkweed and other plants for these beauties, and to happy surprises!
* * *
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, classics, free fiction, inspiration, library, nature, short stories, Thoughts, weather, Writers, writing on July 18, 2026| Leave a Comment »
/where once fell soft rain
This phrase popped into my mind after a cloudburst rolled through overhead. We’ve been having more of those in the past few of years, intense concentrations of Nature’s power blasting through an otherwise clear weather map. It makes me miss the grey skies of summer rain, and the gentle drops that encouraged growth rather than washing it away.
The phrase also sounded very familiar, and a quick check assured me that yes, it was a variant on the title of a Ray Bradbury short story. It’s not a cheerful story by any means, but it is classic Bradbury.
There Will Come Soft Rains (short story) – Wikipedia
I found the story available here, along with a lot of other classics from the likes of HG Wells to George MacDonald to Bradbury, Christie, Chesterton, Gilman, and many more.
Library of Short Stories | Authors
Here’s hoping you find stories that encourage your growth as a writer.
Enjoy!
* * *
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, beauty, inspiration, make it so, the work of life, Thoughts on July 16, 2026| Leave a Comment »
“Life is pointless, and absurd, and magical and cruel and edifying and jaw-droppingly beautiful, sometimes all in the same week. And the meaning you’re able to construct from that swirl of chance and circumstance and self-determination is up to you… It’s worth it. You will make it worth it.” — Maura Judkis
* * *
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, inspiration, quotes, Thoughts, ways to be happy on July 15, 2026| Leave a Comment »
“The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer somebody else up.” — Mark Twain
* * *
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, another Hank Green quote, art in life, creativity, inspiration, life, practice, Thoughts, writing on July 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »
The path to good runs through bad, and that goes for art forms we don’t even consider art forms, like friendship, parenthood, and citizenship. But the only thing that gets us better is practice. — Hank Green
* * *
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, can't be working all the time, fun, inspiration, Thoughts on July 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »
In a culture obsessed with productivity, fun can feel frivolous. Yet research increasingly shows that play, delight, and shared enjoyment are essential ingredients of a good life.
Here’s to finding time for a bit of fun. Happy Saturday, everyone!
* * *
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, #AmericanDreams, inspiration, kick-ass adults, NASA, persistence, pioneers, space, Thoughts on July 10, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Today, I’d like to pay tribute to Wally Funk, one of the early pioneers in flight and one of the first women to train with NASA. She didn’t get to be an official astronaut in the end, but she could fly just about anything, trained thousands at her own flight school, and much more. She also made a suborbital flight via Blue Origin’s New Shepard ship in 2021, becoming the oldest woman to reach space at 82.
Wally Funk, the oldest woman to venture to space, dies at 87
“I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”
If you’re interested in the history of space, or women in space, or kick-ass ladies in general, I highly recommend the 2018 documentary Mercury 13 on Netflix.
Here’s to Wally’s example of determination, perseverance, and all-around excellence, and to finding ways to make dreams come true!
* * *
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, family, inspiration, lessons for living, Thoughts on July 5, 2026| Leave a Comment »
A brief selection of things I learned from my mother:
* * *
Posted in Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, America, Fourth of July, inspiration, Thoughts on July 4, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Happy 250th birthday, America!
How far have we come? There are a lot of answers to this question, but here I’d like to focus on what life used to be like in the 18th century.
Life in 1776 — Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress
Step back in time and explore the world of 1776. The features below offer a fascinating journey into the daily lives, culture, and events that shaped this era. Uncover the rich tapestry of life in 1776 and gain a deeper understanding of the foundations of our modern world.
For a (somewhat more recent) perspective on America’s evolution, journalist Derek Thompson takes a look back at what America was like a hundred years ago through the lens of a detailed report trying to capture history for future benefit (with excellent charts and graphs).
What a Forgotten 100-Year-Old Government Report Says About Who We Are
The document is almost entirely forgotten. But today, for America’s 250th birthday, I’m blowing the cobwebs off this sucker and taking readers inside its yellowed pages for a look back at what life was like in the U.S. exactly 100 years ago, when the U.S. was celebrating its sesquicentennial anniversary.
In many fundamental ways, we’ve come a long way. What will the next 250 years bring, and what will we need to bring to it?
“We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage.” —Theodore Roosevelt
Here’s to our courageous future.
* * *
Posted in Science!, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, inspiration, Mars, science, space exploration, Thoughts, Writers, writing on July 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Can you really survive on Mars? What science fiction gets wrong about off-world living | Space
Arnie said, “Get your ass to Mars”, but is it really a good idea? We asked the experts about our Martian future.
How likely is it that humanity will be able to live and thrive on Mars? Short answer, no. Longer answer? Still no! Doesn’t mean we can’t dream of new and exciting vistas in our future, though!
* * *
You must be logged in to post a comment.