Courtney Ellis
@courtneyellis.bsky.social
author. birder. pastor married to a pastor. author of Weathering Change, Looking Up, and Uncluttered. host of The Thing with Feathers podcast, about birds and hope. stubbornly kind.
Pinned
Creation is constantly in flux—seasons, tides, migration, life cycles. Witnessing the ways nature weathers change offers wisdom in how we might do the same.
So excited to announce my new book, Weathering Change. Preorder yours today!
So excited to announce my new book, Weathering Change. Preorder yours today!
When you let the 7yo decorate the Christmas cookies
December 9, 2025 at 3:08 AM
When you let the 7yo decorate the Christmas cookies
The good news: I put a lot of thought and effort into your gift.
The bad news: It will look like it was wrapped by an angry toddler.
The bad news: It will look like it was wrapped by an angry toddler.
December 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The good news: I put a lot of thought and effort into your gift.
The bad news: It will look like it was wrapped by an angry toddler.
The bad news: It will look like it was wrapped by an angry toddler.
The thing about kids is that they melt your heart on the regular.
December 8, 2025 at 3:33 AM
The thing about kids is that they melt your heart on the regular.
I’m out sick. In sweats for days. Got the kids ready for their banquet last night. Fancy clothes. Hair. Shoes.
At the door, middle kid turns back: Aren’t you coming?
Me: Bud, look at me.
Him: Oh… I guess you wouldn’t wear sweatpants.
May we all look at one another with the kindness of kids.
At the door, middle kid turns back: Aren’t you coming?
Me: Bud, look at me.
Him: Oh… I guess you wouldn’t wear sweatpants.
May we all look at one another with the kindness of kids.
December 4, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I’m out sick. In sweats for days. Got the kids ready for their banquet last night. Fancy clothes. Hair. Shoes.
At the door, middle kid turns back: Aren’t you coming?
Me: Bud, look at me.
Him: Oh… I guess you wouldn’t wear sweatpants.
May we all look at one another with the kindness of kids.
At the door, middle kid turns back: Aren’t you coming?
Me: Bud, look at me.
Him: Oh… I guess you wouldn’t wear sweatpants.
May we all look at one another with the kindness of kids.
I don’t have Spotify but I am putting all of your shared top hits into a single playlist.
It is making for delightfully unhinged listening.
It is making for delightfully unhinged listening.
December 4, 2025 at 1:23 AM
I don’t have Spotify but I am putting all of your shared top hits into a single playlist.
It is making for delightfully unhinged listening.
It is making for delightfully unhinged listening.
I’ve been home sick all day but also there was the first ever kestrel in our yard. Good day.
December 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I’ve been home sick all day but also there was the first ever kestrel in our yard. Good day.
Gotta respect how protein bars call their flavors things like double chocolate yum and peanut butter delight and strawberry sprinkle donut when the only actual flavor is cardboard.
December 3, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Gotta respect how protein bars call their flavors things like double chocolate yum and peanut butter delight and strawberry sprinkle donut when the only actual flavor is cardboard.
Me: Sounds good! I’ll look for the email.
My kid’s school: Actually, we prefer communicating through these five glitchy, ad-filled apps that you’ll need to download.
Me:
My kid’s school: Much easier.
My kid’s school: Actually, we prefer communicating through these five glitchy, ad-filled apps that you’ll need to download.
Me:
My kid’s school: Much easier.
December 2, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Me: Sounds good! I’ll look for the email.
My kid’s school: Actually, we prefer communicating through these five glitchy, ad-filled apps that you’ll need to download.
Me:
My kid’s school: Much easier.
My kid’s school: Actually, we prefer communicating through these five glitchy, ad-filled apps that you’ll need to download.
Me:
My kid’s school: Much easier.
What a review!
"Ellis has written another exquisite contemplation; shelve this alongside her earlier works, books by Anne Lamott, and Barbara Mahany’s The Book of Nature." -- Booklist Review, December 2025
Preorder your copy at my fave indie bookstore: nooks.gallery/products/wea...
"Ellis has written another exquisite contemplation; shelve this alongside her earlier works, books by Anne Lamott, and Barbara Mahany’s The Book of Nature." -- Booklist Review, December 2025
Preorder your copy at my fave indie bookstore: nooks.gallery/products/wea...
Weathering Change - by Courtney Ellis (Paperback) RELEASES 2/17/26
Nooks
nooks.gallery
December 2, 2025 at 5:16 PM
What a review!
"Ellis has written another exquisite contemplation; shelve this alongside her earlier works, books by Anne Lamott, and Barbara Mahany’s The Book of Nature." -- Booklist Review, December 2025
Preorder your copy at my fave indie bookstore: nooks.gallery/products/wea...
"Ellis has written another exquisite contemplation; shelve this alongside her earlier works, books by Anne Lamott, and Barbara Mahany’s The Book of Nature." -- Booklist Review, December 2025
Preorder your copy at my fave indie bookstore: nooks.gallery/products/wea...
I have a New Year’s Eve tradition of falling asleep with a new-to-me novel. I like an epic story with great prose and notes of grace.
Previous years I read McCarthy’s The Road, Williams’ Time of the Child, Millet’s Children’s Bible and Duncan’s The Brothers K.
What should I read this year?
Previous years I read McCarthy’s The Road, Williams’ Time of the Child, Millet’s Children’s Bible and Duncan’s The Brothers K.
What should I read this year?
December 2, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I have a New Year’s Eve tradition of falling asleep with a new-to-me novel. I like an epic story with great prose and notes of grace.
Previous years I read McCarthy’s The Road, Williams’ Time of the Child, Millet’s Children’s Bible and Duncan’s The Brothers K.
What should I read this year?
Previous years I read McCarthy’s The Road, Williams’ Time of the Child, Millet’s Children’s Bible and Duncan’s The Brothers K.
What should I read this year?
Me: *really enjoying a buy-nothing clothing year*
Holiday bird sweater ads: LOOK HOW CUTE
Me:
Holiday bird sweater ads: LOOK HOW CUTE
Me:
a man in a suit is sitting in a chair with the words `` control ! control ! control . ''
ALT: a man in a suit is sitting in a chair with the words `` control ! control ! control . ''
media.tenor.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Me: *really enjoying a buy-nothing clothing year*
Holiday bird sweater ads: LOOK HOW CUTE
Me:
Holiday bird sweater ads: LOOK HOW CUTE
Me:
It is time for your DAILY BIRD FACT
Did you know that most counties in the United States have between 100-400 different species of birds at any one time? And that some stay put but others migrate to/from/through?
This has been your daily BIRD FACT
Did you know that most counties in the United States have between 100-400 different species of birds at any one time? And that some stay put but others migrate to/from/through?
This has been your daily BIRD FACT
December 1, 2025 at 9:27 PM
It is time for your DAILY BIRD FACT
Did you know that most counties in the United States have between 100-400 different species of birds at any one time? And that some stay put but others migrate to/from/through?
This has been your daily BIRD FACT
Did you know that most counties in the United States have between 100-400 different species of birds at any one time? And that some stay put but others migrate to/from/through?
This has been your daily BIRD FACT
Honored and delighted to have the one and only @girlinwhiteglasses.bsky.social on the show today talking about her fabulous and hilarious new book.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
December 1, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Honored and delighted to have the one and only @girlinwhiteglasses.bsky.social on the show today talking about her fabulous and hilarious new book.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Our 13yo wants a bike for Christmas.
Our 9yo wants drums.
Our 7yo wants “a pet tarantula because my brother is afraid of them.”
Our 9yo wants drums.
Our 7yo wants “a pet tarantula because my brother is afraid of them.”
December 1, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Our 13yo wants a bike for Christmas.
Our 9yo wants drums.
Our 7yo wants “a pet tarantula because my brother is afraid of them.”
Our 9yo wants drums.
Our 7yo wants “a pet tarantula because my brother is afraid of them.”
I bet there’s a German word for the creeping dread when your family is sick so you take care of them because you are the only one who isn’t sick. Yet.
December 1, 2025 at 2:01 AM
I bet there’s a German word for the creeping dread when your family is sick so you take care of them because you are the only one who isn’t sick. Yet.
Advent begins on Sunday, November 30.
If you aren’t feeling ready, don’t stress. God meets us in the midst of everything else swirling about.
Light a candle. Take a breath.
Christ will come again.
If you aren’t feeling ready, don’t stress. God meets us in the midst of everything else swirling about.
Light a candle. Take a breath.
Christ will come again.
November 30, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Advent begins on Sunday, November 30.
If you aren’t feeling ready, don’t stress. God meets us in the midst of everything else swirling about.
Light a candle. Take a breath.
Christ will come again.
If you aren’t feeling ready, don’t stress. God meets us in the midst of everything else swirling about.
Light a candle. Take a breath.
Christ will come again.
Please be advised that all the house numbers in Kevin McAllister’s neighborhood start with 67, and the criminals read them out about 20 minutes into the movie.
November 30, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Please be advised that all the house numbers in Kevin McAllister’s neighborhood start with 67, and the criminals read them out about 20 minutes into the movie.
Only monopolized the Thanksgiving table conversation for a few minutes about the eight species of hummingbirds we see here in SoCal. ✅
November 29, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Only monopolized the Thanksgiving table conversation for a few minutes about the eight species of hummingbirds we see here in SoCal. ✅
When Daryl says, “Want to do a quick birding stop on the way home?” you say yes, even if you aren’t wearing proper footwear.
November 28, 2025 at 7:51 PM
When Daryl says, “Want to do a quick birding stop on the way home?” you say yes, even if you aren’t wearing proper footwear.
What’s your post-Thanksgiving read?
November 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
What’s your post-Thanksgiving read?
What bird are you most thankful for?
Besides turkey, that is.
Besides turkey, that is.
November 28, 2025 at 3:03 AM
What bird are you most thankful for?
Besides turkey, that is.
Besides turkey, that is.
I keep every recipe I love in an open tab on my phone so that I can find it again, and apparently… there are better ways to do this?
November 27, 2025 at 12:09 AM
I keep every recipe I love in an open tab on my phone so that I can find it again, and apparently… there are better ways to do this?
Ordering books for Christmas?
Consider buying them from an independent bookstore. Might I suggest Nooks? It’s owned by two writers in Lancaster, PA (Shawn and Maile) and they're WONDERFUL. Free shipping over $35 and they can order any book you want if they don’t have it.
bookshop.org/shop/Nooks
Consider buying them from an independent bookstore. Might I suggest Nooks? It’s owned by two writers in Lancaster, PA (Shawn and Maile) and they're WONDERFUL. Free shipping over $35 and they can order any book you want if they don’t have it.
bookshop.org/shop/Nooks
Nooks Bookshop
Nooks is an independent children’s bookshop & gallery located on Gallery Row in Lancaster, PA. We specialize in a curated selection of illustrated picture books and toys for children, as well as f...
bookshop.org
November 26, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Ordering books for Christmas?
Consider buying them from an independent bookstore. Might I suggest Nooks? It’s owned by two writers in Lancaster, PA (Shawn and Maile) and they're WONDERFUL. Free shipping over $35 and they can order any book you want if they don’t have it.
bookshop.org/shop/Nooks
Consider buying them from an independent bookstore. Might I suggest Nooks? It’s owned by two writers in Lancaster, PA (Shawn and Maile) and they're WONDERFUL. Free shipping over $35 and they can order any book you want if they don’t have it.
bookshop.org/shop/Nooks
There are loud bumps and jolts coming from the roof above the church office and I have been informed that it’s the Heating Repair service and not, in fact, Santa.
November 26, 2025 at 7:35 PM
There are loud bumps and jolts coming from the roof above the church office and I have been informed that it’s the Heating Repair service and not, in fact, Santa.
Our three Thanksgiving table questions:
1) who is someone outside our family you’re thankful for?
2) what is one experience from this year you’re thankful for?
3) what is one thing you are grateful to have learned this year?
1) who is someone outside our family you’re thankful for?
2) what is one experience from this year you’re thankful for?
3) what is one thing you are grateful to have learned this year?
November 26, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Our three Thanksgiving table questions:
1) who is someone outside our family you’re thankful for?
2) what is one experience from this year you’re thankful for?
3) what is one thing you are grateful to have learned this year?
1) who is someone outside our family you’re thankful for?
2) what is one experience from this year you’re thankful for?
3) what is one thing you are grateful to have learned this year?