Good News

Good news includes all the things which make us happy or otherwise feel good. It can be personal or public. We never know when something wonderful will happen, and when it does, most people want to share it with someone. It's disappointing when nobody is there to appreciate it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our joys and pat each other on the back.

What good news have you had recently? Are you anticipating any more? Have you found a cute picture or a video that makes you smile? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your life a little happier?

Birdfeeding

Today is cloudy and warm with howling wind.  I'm frustrated because the wind makes it unfeasible to do yardwork outside, but I have a lot that needs doing.  Maybe it will calm down later.  Last night it rained a little bit.

I fed the birds.  I haven't seen much activity today.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 4/2/25 -- I managed to get a few more items for my antique jar terrarium: a piece of soft, wet, rotten wood; a piece of dry, hard, dead wood; and a piece of fresh, green, live wood.

I've seen a fox squirrel at the hopper feeder.

The Cornelian cherry is blooming in the forest yard.  Trilliums are up and have flower buds but aren't open yet.

EDIT 4/2/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I picked up some dry, crumbled leaf litter to use in the terrarium.

EDIT 4/2/25 -- I installed the wood bits and leaf litter in the antique jar terrarium.

I've seen several house finches.

EDIT 4/2/25 -- I wetted a handful of sphagnum moss and stuck it in a container, loosely lidded, to see if it will regrow.

I am done for the night.

EDIT 4/2/25 -- It's starting to rain.


 

Seed Sharing

Growing and sharing seeds can boost mental health

Storing and sharing seeds has clear environmental benefits. But new findings suggest they can bring about wellbeing wins too.
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Author Kathy Slack, whose new memoir Rough Patch explores how growing vegetables helped her recover from burnout and depression, was unsurprised by the connection. “Sowing a seed is an act of hope,” she says.“Not to be overly dramatic about it, but when you’re wondering whether it’s worth even bothering to stick around any more, planting a seed is like a promise to your future self.”


Projects like a community garden where people can just come in and grow things, a seed library, a seed / plant swap, etc. can have great benefits for individual and community wellbeing.

Photos: Antique Jar Terrarium Build Part 4: Dead Wood and Leaf Litter

Today I added some dead wood and leaf litter to the antique jar terrarium. Regrettably I was not able to collect microfauna as I had hoped, due to howling wind, so that will have to wait for later. See Part 1: Washing, Drainage, and Barrier, Part 2: Mixing Substrate, Part 3: Adding Mosses, Part 4: Dead Wood and Leaf Litter.

( Read more... )