Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, citizen scientists, helping, inspiration, nature on March 3, 2026| 3 Comments »
Yes, the world is a dangerous mess right now but not everything is terrible. Exhibit A: The Fish Doorbell is back!
The Fish Doorbell — The Fish Doorbell
Every spring, thousands of fish swim through the Oudegracht in Utrecht, searching for a place upstream to lay their eggs. But the Weerdsluis is often closed. You can help the fish continue their journey! If you see a fish, press the doorbell. This alerts the lock operator to open the lock.
Love this!
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Posted in Other, Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, birds, broken isn't always forever, inspiration, nature, people power, volunteering on February 21, 2026| Leave a Comment »
This story is so encouraging:
The Ordinary People Who Saved the Bluebird
There was a time when seeing a bluebird felt less like spotting a bird and more like witnessing a small miracle. But then, the Eastern bluebird population made a comeback. The hero?
A lot of volunteers — and an ordinary box.
Sure, we broke it. But now we’re fixing it, and that’s a story I think we all could use.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, #BirdsAreReal, nature, Thoughts on January 16, 2026| Leave a Comment »
It’s cold here today, the temperature almost 20C/35F lower than it was before a storm came through and left a thick coating of lovely but frigid snow.
Which got me thinking, and not for the first time: How do birds stay warm?
Here’s a short explainer article with a helpful video of chickadees, cardinals, jays and other birds (some in dramatic slo-mo!):
How Birds Stay Warm in the Winter Snow: Backyard Birds Revealed | All About Birds
Some of the survival tricks captured in this episode include: “drinking” snow on icy days; an ingenious solution to the problem of cold feet; and the incredible warmth of a fluffy coat of feathers.
Now I’m off to refill my bird feeder and top up the bird bath. Because it’s cold!
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, nature, Thoughts on January 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Well, it looks like Big Thom the Turkey has winged his way off to other climes. Did he get bored in the back yard? Run out of food? Or was it the H?
As I mentioned yesterday, adding that olde thyme H just seemed right, especially as I gave a shoutout to his dinosaur ancestors. Maybe he didn’t like that. Maybe he’s a modern turkey who wants nothing more than to shrug off the expectations of Uncle Rex and Auntie Stega and move to the big city to find his true calling, like being a graphic designer or a skydiving instructor or maybe even an artist who DJs on the side.
I hear you, big guy, we all need to find our purpose, and use it to bring good into the world.
Nice knowing you, Thom!
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Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, bit of fun, it's all relative, life, nature on January 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Another entertaining project from Neal.fun:
(Although the image of a person next to that Titanoboa is more than a little scary. At least we could have taken that angry turkey Velociraptor!)
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Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, inspiration, music, nature, science on October 15, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Ok, this is amazing.
And if you wired other nearby plants and trees, would they all play in synchrony?
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, autumn, fall, inspiration, nature, photography, Thoughts on October 14, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Mr Man and I were out for a hike a few weeks ago when a barred owl flew across the path. I hadn’t expected to see an owl in daylight, but there it was. We watched it for a moment as it nestled into the crook of a tree, and went about our way.
This is what it might have been like to stay.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, autumn, fall, inspiration, nature, quoteandaprettypicture, Thoughts on October 13, 2025| 1 Comment »
For those who have experienced the joy of being alone with nature there is really little need for me to say much more; for those who have not, no words of mine can ever describe the powerful, almost mystical knowledge of beauty and eternity that come, suddenly, and all unexpected.
— Jane Goodall
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, inspiration, nature, Thoughts on September 27, 2025| Leave a Comment »
“Within National Parks is room—glorious room—in which to find ourselves, in which to think and hope, to dream and plan, to rest and resolve.”
— Enos Mills, Naturalist
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Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, life, mental-health, Mondays, nature, take a break, Thoughts, work, Writers, writing on September 8, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Poor Monday. It gets a bad rap not because of what it is, but what we have made it. The first day of another round of school or work, forced to carry the weight of expectations, regrets and often just plain exhaustion.
It’s not Monday’s fault, it’s ours.
How can we do better?
By making sure that we are doing our best to stay sensible, as in balanced but also as in aware. For me, that usually means going outside.
I’m an introverted reader/writer type, so you know I think that being inside is great. There are comfy chairs and cuddly kitties and good books inside. There are mugs of hot chocolate and fun recipes and cake inside. But I always enjoy those things more when I’ve been out in nature.
This weekend Mr Man and I discovered two new hiking spots and had a great time out in the woods.
We had dinner with friends. They gave me a fun new mug that captured a lot of what I wanted to say about the weekend.
Sometimes it’s okay to take time off. And sometimes a break is more helpful than trying to power through and keep working.
Just because you can doesn’t always mean you should.
So I try to take a little time when possible, even if it’s a quick walk after lunch or remembering something transformative, like looking up at the stars and realizing that someone out there may be looking up at me too, or standing on the edge of a live volcano (Hawaiian, not Icelandic; stay safe, people!).
Then when I head back to work, even on a Monday, I’m better for it.
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J.R. Johnson 
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