It's great to read what others have to share from their lives. Come visit! Hope everyone is beginning a terrific week!
My One Little Word is "wander", and while I haven't really been out of town, I have been trying a few new things. I am still weaving, but the new work at school has taken more of my time. I am traveling in a little while to visit my son, daughter-in-law and grandson, and I have plenty of terrific plans for the summer.
However, now that it is definitely spring, and the weather is wonderful, it's also time to get outside, to look for "other" kinds of wandering. I live near a huge wetlands, and have been trying to 'wander' over to do a little sketching and journaling. Also, since I can't go anywhere far, I've also been sketching from a few postcards and photos I have from past journeys. Here's a quote I put at the beginning of recent journals, and a couple of sketches, now recently a slice of my life.
from The Literary Traveler, Larry Dark, ed.
But one thing is certain: Those
travelers who take their own small worlds with them wherever they go might just
as well stay home. For only when we put aside our narrow expectations and rigid
preconceptions can we discover the wonders of the world outside ourselves, and
within.
 |
| from a picture I took a long time ago |
I love that you are updating on your OLW!! My favorite thing about OLWs is that they usually don't take you where you expect. I wonder what kind of wandering you've done inside your home and classroom...I love looking at a word in a new way with OLW. Your sketches are amazing! Keep updating us on OLW...I look forward to seeing where you wander!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle-The word has pushed me a bit to do a few different things as I have time!
DeleteThank you for sharing that quote. I liked that he talks about interior traveling as well as exterior traveling.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Bernadette. I like that, too.
DeleteThe part about not taking our own little worlds with us is so important. Only when we are open to our surroundings can we truly experience them and begin to connect and understand.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's why I love the quote, Jane. It reminds me every time I read it. Thank you!
DeleteYour drawings remind me that being a close careful observer involves interaction what we encounter. The quote in some ways reminds me of Fran's post todayhttp://franmcveigh.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/on-the-importance-of-listening/comment-page-1/#comment-1097 on listening vs. replying.
ReplyDeleteThanks for Fran's link, Julieanne. Close listening is important in all parts of our lives, I agree. Will find Fran!
DeleteI love that quote, Linda - especially because I have more than a fair share of wanderlust in me. How wonderful to explore with your notebook in hand, Merriwether Lewis style, I need to do more of that. It will be interesting to see what memories and stories these sketches evoke.
ReplyDeleteActually the classroom has started a new motivation for me, Tara. I'm helping students sketch a book response, & I was inspired, too. Thanks! Isn't the quote terrific!
DeleteHow often have a moved away from a place that I lived for a while, feeling like there's so much I didn't take advantage of, like I should have wandered more. Happy wandering to you, Linda!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle. There are certainly places here I haven't been to in years. I probably need to make a list!
DeleteAnd another talent is revealed, artist. Great sketches, I especially love the plant page. It could have been taken from a field guide. I love the way you find to wander.
ReplyDeleteThanks Elsie-it is fun to have a goal to get me outside. My gardening is done until I can start planting. Our predicted, final frost free date isn't until May 15th, so still have to wait, then I'll have some of that to do outside!
DeleteThat quote is profound. Instead of being enshrouded in our small worlds, we need to open our minds and hearts. I love your sketches!
ReplyDeleteI've seen people carry their pillows with them to faraway places, and demanding other 'perks' instead of going with what's available. The quote means a lot to me. Thanks, Holly.
DeleteLinda, this is just what I needed: a nugget of inspiration for my journaling! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan. You should sketch those baby owls! Your park is also wonderful don't you think?
DeleteSpring is in full bloom and the sunshine is bright. I need to do a little wandering to open (my OLW) myself to observation. I feel the last few months have been so focused on tasks. I am ready to settle back and take things in, rather than making things happen. Thanks for your inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYou do quite a lot in the community though, like the dancing, Margaret. It's such a treat to slow down & sketch, too, then write. Thank you!
DeleteLovely quote and sketches. You are a talented lady! Our spring has definitely sprung here in AR and the trees have fully leafed out. I love going out, searching and wandering. Great OLW - hope it takes you to many new adventures.
ReplyDeleteThanks Judy, our trees (all of them) finally popped out this week. So lovely to see the green & to begin to have the shade. I envy you being in the woods, & growing up in Missouri, I know what they are like-gorgeous!
DeleteNOW this quote is a keeper. "when we put aside our narrow expectations and rigid preconceptions"....This resonates with me this week as I reflect on the teaching/learning year. It is so easy to live in a bubble of what we know and have done. It is just wonderful when we are open to new potentials
ReplyDeleteAnita, it is perfect for things besides travel for sure. I don't like it much when people say, "but, we've always...". It's challenging to have a conversation then, isn't it. Thank you!
DeleteI love the quote. It reminds me of my daughter's exchange year. The kids were taught to say "yes" to everything so that they could learn as much as they could about their new country. Your wanderings are taking you to amazing places.
ReplyDeleteExactly! what a gift she received through that year, didn't she, Julie? Thank you!
DeleteOoh, I love that quote, Linda!!! It is so true -- only when we open our minds & hearts can we really discover all there is to learn, whether we're traveling far or close to home!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer, I suspect you are a super traveler. Wonder what your students would think of the quote?
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