“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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Posts Tagged ‘nature’
Heading Outside
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, inspiration, nature, Thoughts on September 27, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Dear Monday: It’s Not You, It’s Me
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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A Good Place to Be
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, home, lawns, nature, Thoughts, wildlife on August 10, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Like many of you, we’re currently sitting in the middle of a days-long heat wave, and its effects are being felt. Not only is the air quality too soupy for much in the way of outdoor exercise, but everything is dry. Our issues are minor compared to the ones playing out in farmers’ fields all around us, and normally I wouldn’t worry about watering our lawn. I have little love for perfect lawns and mowing and all the other inputs the American lawn requires, including water. Lots and lots of water.
But it’s not just a lawn. Because we don’t work at having a perfect suburban lawn, because we don’t worry about volunteer flowers and the odd weed, our lawn is actually pretty popular with the local wildlife.
The roster includes birds, squirrels (grey, black and red), more birds, bees, butterflies, an occasional skunk (which I don’t love but what am I going to do, go out and shoo him away? no thanks!), chipmunks, groundhogs and rabbits.
It’s that last critter that’s on my mind today. An adorable little rabbit has moved in under a bush. I see the faint trail she leaves moving between the bush and the cedar hedges. I see the little circle of matted grass inside a fountain of daisies. And I see her out in the early mornings looking for breakfast, which she finds at the edge of the bush in our yard, or in the pocket of native plants we have in the planter bed. And so I’m watering, at least a little.
I’m not worried about the lawn. I’m thinking about the food sources that keep Ms Bun and the rest of our animal neighbors happy and healthy. And so I was out early this morning watering her front doorstep, helping to make our corner of the world a good place to be.
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Squirrel-ly Question
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, nature, questions, Thoughts on June 7, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Super serious science/nature question here, folks: does any one have any idea why the squirrels would go crazy over our mock orange shrub? They spend a great deal of time trying to grab certain branches and eat them.
Is it the plant, or some fungus that provides the world’s best squirrel high?
Inquiring minds want to know!
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If You Need Me, Haller
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, forest-bathing, inspiration, nature, Spring, Thoughts on May 6, 2025| Leave a Comment »
It’s Tuesday, ugh, but it’s also spring, so today I’ll be taking a moment to enjoy the bluebells in the forest of Hallerbos.
Join me!
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Mrs. Munk
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, garden, haiku, nature, Spring, Thoughts on April 30, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Beneath violets’
purple shade, the chipmunk darts
from winter to spring
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Even More Fishies
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, inspiration, meditations, nature, wildlife, zen on April 25, 2025| 1 Comment »
As mentioned, I’m still having fun watching the Fish Doorbell, but I haven’t actually seen any fish. That’s fine, it’s more of a meditation than anything (and we could all use some zen right now, amirite?) but some days the world is grey and you just want to chill out with the ocean.
For that, I give you a coral reef in Florida:
Underwater camera documents daily life on a Miami coral reef
The Coral City Camera shows endangered corals that are thriving and remarkably resilient in the heart of Miami’s busy port. The live feed has helped scientists gain a new understanding of the value and beauty of something they call “urban corals.”
A thing I learned: “Rip rap are large pieces of rock that armor a shoreline, protecting it from erosion, storm surge and sea level rise.”
Because the world is awesome, and so is science.
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Moose on the Loose
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, cool stuff is cool, inspiration, moose, nature, slow tv, Sweden, Thoughts on April 19, 2025| 2 Comments »
I’m still watching the Fish Doorbell (it’s been quiet at the times I’m on but it’s still fun), and now I’ve added a new livestream to my list of “things to watch when I need a minute of chill.”
If you also need a minute of chill, check this out:
Livestream of moose migrating to their summer pastures fascinates millions | AP News
Before Swedish slow TV hit “The Great Moose Migration” began airing Tuesday, Ulla Malmgren stocked up on coffee and prepared meals so she doesn’t miss a moment of the 20-day, 24-hour event.
“Sleep? Forget it. I don’t sleep,” she said.
Here’s the direct link to this distillation of slow Swedishness: Den stora älgvandringen – Idag 00-00 | SVT Play
Despite the many ongoing challenges of animals in the modern world, there’s something deeply comforting about this reminder that the non-human world continues to turn.
And moose are still on the loose.
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Naught But Joy
Posted in Likes, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, bright side, haiku, nature, Thoughts, writing on February 7, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Of all Nature’s gifts
Bright sun, warm rain, skies above…
You bring naught but joy.
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Cloudy With A Chance of Meteors
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, astronomy, beauty, inspiration, meteor shower, nature, space on December 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »
If you happen to live in a place that will have clear skies tonight (or tomorrow), rejoice! It is time for that highlight of the annual meteor shower cycle, the Geminids.
Geminids meteor shower: What to know, viewing tips – NPR
The Geminids, which are bright and have a yellow hue, are considered one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers, when at least 120 meteors are usually seen per hour during its peak, NASA says.
The Geminid meteor shower peaks in the middle of December, with the most activity this year expected late Friday and into early Saturday, according to NASA.
Alas, we expect snow and clouds here tonight, but I’m happy knowing that you, dear reader, might have a chance to see one of the most spectacular shows in the solar system.
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