Kes Beacon, author and artist

Spring is a perfect time to start a nature journal. I've been talking about it with some friends so I wanted to share some resources here. It doesn't have to be fancy. It can have text, art, photos, pressed leaves, whatever you want to include. There are different approaches; all of them are good. Grab a blank book with plain or lined pages as you prefer, something to write or draw with, and head out to your yard, garden, or a nearby park.

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Today is partly sunny, breezy, and cool. There is a frost warning for tonight, so I'm doing non-planting tasks today.

I set out my flats of plants to get some sun.

EDIT 4/19/26 -- I fed the birds. I've seen a few house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 4/19/26 -- I wanted to waterseal the solid-top pallet today. But while I was trying to lay out the dropcloth for that, the wind picked up so much that it wouldn't lay still no matter how I weighted the edges or middle. I had to give up and undo everything. >_< Frustrating.

EDIT 4/19/26 -- I started finishing the apothecary cabinet that I plan to use as a spice cabinet. It has doors over the shelves to block light. We set up the worktable in the garden shed and covered it with a garbage bag, then set the cabinet on top. I used an old hand towel to spread the finish, which is made of orange oil and beeswax, very pleasant to work with. I wanted something reasonably natural for a spice cabinet, although it doesn't need a finish meant for food preparation like butcher block wax. I spread on a very thin coat over the top and sides, and that will need some time to dry before I do another section. I still need to coat the inside and the back. While I don't have the woodworking skills of my parents and grandparents, I did pick up the "assistant" level skills, so I'm very pleased that I still know how to finish a piece of furniture that someone else constructed. :D

EDIT 4/19/26 -- I did more work on the apothecary cabinet, covering the inside with the door open. It turns out there will be very little work to do on the back, as much of that space is covered by a thin fiberboard to minimize weight, which doesn't need to be waxed. Progress!

I've seen more house finches, a few sparrows, a pair of cardinals, a brown-headed cowbird, and a fox squirrel.

EDIT 4/19/26 -- I finished the back of the cabinet. The waxing is done. \o/ I'll let that dry overnight. Tomorrow I'll buff it with a dry cloth, and then it should be ready to hang.

EDIT 4/19/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 4/19/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 4/19/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

As it is now dark, I am done for the night.

Today is cloudy and cold.  We got a good soaking rain last night.  :D

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 4/18/26 -- We went up to the Third Saturday Bazaar in the Otto Center, and also stopped at a greenhouse where I bought a flat of flowers and a couple extra petunias.  But then I got home to find a frost warning for Sunday night. *headdesk*

EDIT 4/18/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 4/18/26 -- I filled a trolley with sticks from the south lot and dumped those in the firepit.

EDIT 4/18/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 4/18/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

Today is mostly sunny and mild.  Last night we finally got a good soaking rain.  :D

I fed the birds.  I haven't seen any yet.

I put out water for the birds.

4/16/26 -- We stopped by Whiteside Garden again.  This time I picked up a holly.

Then we went to Rural King for an extension cord.  I also got two pastel poppies, two 4-packs of pinks and one of dusty miller artemesia, a curly parsley, and a flat parsley.

4/16/26 -- I opened up some of the water jug greenhouses with big plants to let them get more sun.  I also brought some of my indoor flats outside.

4/16/26 -- I planted the holly in the Midwinter grove on the south side.