Birdie Cam IV

Posted on March 15, 2026 by John

Today marks the fourth year of putting up a birdhouse sized for chickadees that has a camera mounted inside. (Last year’s birdies.)

The house is the same as last year, but this time I left it out all year long, after cleaning it up once the last hatchling left. Back then I added fresh wood shavings. (I put on a temporary roof without the camera for the winter.) I’m thinking the birds would be more comfortable in a ‘seasoned’ cavity. I checked a few times during the year to see if anyone set up camp, but no one did.

I’m now getting more serious about noting when things happen in the house –

Year w/LinkHouse UpMossEggsHatchLeft
20263/15
20253/304/174/235/95/27
20243/83/264/175/45/24
2023Did not do.    
2022  5/26/36/21

For the last two years, it took about a week or two to see our first signs of nest building – moss. We see birds peeking about before that. I’ll be sure to keep this post updated.

Camera tests OK. (Index finger.)

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Patient’s Preparation – Data Visualization With Timeline Marginalia

Posted on November 13, 2025 by John

How to convey to a patient the multi-day process of diet restrictions and medication prior to a colonoscopy?

While the instruction list in quasi-outline form (based on the number of days before the procedure) is informative, I thought I could improve with bit of data-viz marginalia. I sketched a proposed timeline to the left side of the text. I think it would improve compliance.

Each block represents a day. Each group of days is related to the text instructions. (Which may be propietary to the particular vendor I had access too. Thus, I did not include here.) Arrows between the groups allow for extra text/pages of text before the next group of blocks.

Each block has a faint number inside, which is the number of days before the procedure. The idea is the patient/caregiver would fill in the actual date/day of week in each block.

The final two days/blocks are subdivided by lines for diet/medication changes during that day. The day before has static times given by the vendor. The final day has a time which is dependent on the time of the procedure, so space and a colon are provided for someone to note that.

I also gave the blocks a dark to light outline as the process progresses, helping to convey the passage of time to a goal, as well as the literal outcome. I hope the blocks and tones are not too scatological, but it is what it is. 🙂

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Ice Cream Spoon Mod

Posted on October 28, 2025 by John

I get these super sturdy spoons whenever I go to the ice cream shop. Although compostable, I don’t like to throw them away, so I’m getting quite a large pile.

So, more for fun than anything else, I turned this one into a spork with sawing edge, a hanger, and leash. A jewelry saw, files, and sandpaper did the trick.

Probably could have put in a hex bit driver, but that would have been silly!

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Salt Fired Stein With Copper Lid

Posted on October 26, 2025 by John

I received a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Utah State University under the tutelage of ceramicists John Neely and Susan Harris. John’s recent death had me reminiscing about my time there.

The image above is the postcard from my graduate show. The stein is ~6″ in height. The idea of a stein came to me one stormy night in the kiln shed when a rusty drop of water went straight into my mug before I took a sip. I heard the sound, but it was the taste that confirmed what had occurred.

The idea of the tall shape with single finger handle was inspired by a mug by Thomas Orr.

In my version, the thumb can actuate the raising of the lid. The lid is slightly offset to allow exposure of the rim for one’s lip and cheek.

The copper work is done off the pot after firing, but bending the thick copper piece through the relatively fragile clay handle is nerve racking.

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Tea Zine

Posted on September 28, 2025 by John

A number of years ago, on a whim, I emailed a local purveyor of loose-leaf teas, Oregon Coffee & Tea, asking them to put a flight of teas together for me. I asked for five teas I could drink over the workweek that made an interesting grouping. They more than came through. I’m on my third series of five teas. I’ve been enjoying teas I probably never would have tried before, had wonderful experiences as the flights unfolded, and helped refine my sense of taste.

Along with the tea, they’ve included brief descriptions on their origin, processing, and tastes. I took the last one and made into a small booklet that sits well on my desk so I can refer to it while sipping – as well as make my own notes.

Cover of small zine with black and white sketch of tea bowl with wings over Asia. Oregon Coffee & Tea Flight III.
Fanned pages, interior of zine with printed descriptions and "notes" area.
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