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poetry credit: moms who write
Jan25
for the children.
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poetry credit: moms who write
Author Archives: beth
Jan24
the magic.
walking in the icy freezy slushy mess and finding this
—
‘the magic is in the mess.’
-brene brown
Jan23
frost.
winter beauty
living this week and next
with single-digit and below zero weather
frost, ice, sleet, and snow
some of you may remember the beauty of this lovely place
I visited last summer on my the first time
in the upper peninsula of michigan
Kitchitikipi
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“there is no end to the lovely things that frost
and the running of water can create between them.”
-nan shepherd
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KITVCHITIKIPI is Michigan’s largest natural freshwater spring. The name means “big cold spring” in the Ojibwe language. It’s located in Palms Book State Park in Manistique, Michigan. USA
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Photo credits: Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Jan22
a fraction of a dot.
Jan21
dinner?
if I could invite
any mix of people to dinner
for an interesting chat, a meal, and a laugh?
mr. rogers would be one of my guests
of course, dolly, who I wrote about yesterday, would be another
and rod serling, one of my favorite writers, twilight zone man
—
all good humans
smart, kind, creative, generous, funny, and i imagine, good company
all people I admire
we could fit right into a booth.
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who are the 3 people
that you would invite
to sit in a booth with you
to talk and laugh and have dinner with?
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‘i’ve never been to a dinner party where everyone
at the dinner table didn’t say something funny.’
-lorrie moore
*Lorrie Moore is a celebrated American author, known for her witty, poignant short stories and novels that often explore the complexities of modern relationships, career struggles, and heartbreak. A professor of English and Creative Writing, she’s recognized for her sharp dialogue, mordant humor, and ability to blend tragedy with comedy, earning numerous awards.
Jan20
hello, dolly!
happy 80th to dolly
one of the kindest, most generous humans around
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“Light of a Clear Blue Morning” featuring Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah and Reba McEntire is out now. I wrote this song during a season when I was searching for hope, and fifty years later that message still feels just as true. As I celebrate my 80th birthday, this new version is my way of using what I’ve been blessed with to shine a little light forward, especially by sharing it with these truly incredible women.” – Dolly
Listen now! https://dolly.lnk.to/LightOfAClearBlueMorning
All net proceeds from this recording and music video will benefit pediatric cancer research at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN.
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and yet another incredible project created by dolly:
DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY
https://imaginationlibrary.com
TOTAL KIDS REGISTERED
3,197,250
TOTAL BOOKS GIFTED
304,538,420
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five, through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Republic of Ireland.
Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write Dolly started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts millions of free books each month to children around the world.
“When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer.
The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.”
—
‘life is a song to me.’
-Dolly Parton
Jan19
our hope.
on Martin Luther King Day and every day
Jan18
serial plant killer redemption.
did it!
kept a house plant alive
long enough
(three whole weeks almost)
for it to bloom and thrive!
(okay, so it didn’t need dirt or water, but who cares about the details?)
way up high
away from the felines
away from the over/under water-er
away from the over/under feeder
away from over/under attention-giver
and there it is
my curse is broken
swear my thumb is looking a bit green.
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‘did i ‘kill a plant’ or did a plant not thrive in this fast-paced environment?’
-alittleexrra
i
Jan17
Leng Jun.
Chinese painter Leng Jun is known for his hyperrealistic portraits of women.
This portrait of Xiao Jiang in oil (2013) is considered by some
to be the most realistic painting in the world.
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Creating portraits that are startlingly lifelike, Chinese artist Leng Jun is a master of hyperrealism.The accomplished painter is particularly known for his detailed oil paintings of women, where every wisp of hair and fiber of clothing is rendered to perfection. Born in 1963, Leng came of age during a time of great economic reform known as the Opening of China. This great cultural change, and the Western influences it introduced, greatly influenced his art.
Interested in painting from a young age, he first experimented with oil paint while in middle school. Though no oil paints were readily available in China at the time, a friend gave him a few colors to experiment with. These early experiments stayed with him and so he continued his studies with a steady flow of information from the West helping to shape and mold him as a painter.
Though he was well respected as an artist prior, it was after his 2004 oil painting titled Mona Lisa that his work went viral. This photorealistic portrait of a woman was based on the principles of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting but depicts a modern woman. This work was followed by a series of photorealistic portraits of women, each more detailed than the next. By examining the details, one can appreciate the precise brushstrokes that pull out each aspect of the sitter.
While there is some criticism that these works look too much like photographs, Leng maintains that anyone seeing the paintings in person won’t be deceived. It’s not his intent to compete with or imitate a photograph, but rather he’d like to push his art to its limits. By balancing technical skill with the ability to bring emotion to his paintings, he’s been able to touch people around the world.“
“I want to push my painting skills to a higher level. What is the most difficult thing? To paint people. For example, still life or rusted metals, they’re not something we see every day. People deal with people the most and people are most familiar with people. To portray people and make others believe is the hardest thing.”
Every detail of the model, from wisps of hair to fibers of clothing,
is rendered with precise detail.
“the position of the artist is humble. he is essentially a channel.”
-piet mondrian
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source credits : my modern met, jessica stewart
Jan16
a bridge too far.
The bridge to Canada is the most aggressively well-marked exit in Michigan.
Giant signs. Multiple warnings. Lane arrows. Last-chance reminders. Border patrol energy from a mile away. And yet… everyone knows someone who has taken it by accident.
Your aunt. Your college roommate. A friend of a friend who “was just trying to stay left.” Suddenly you’re inching toward an international border with no passport, no plan, and a growing sense of doom.
You swear you didn’t mean to. The car knows you didn’t mean to. The signs absolutely warned you. But now you’re committed, rehearsing your explanation while Googling “what happens if you accidentally enter Canada.”
It’s a Michigan rite of passage. You don’t live here long enough without either doing it yourself—or knowing someone who has a story that starts with:
“So I accidentally crossed into Canada once…”
And somehow, despite all the signage, it keeps happening. I’ve done it myself. More than once. Along with most everyone I know. It is south of Detroit…
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Here are some responses from other Michiganders when asked –
I knew someone that did it, went through customs, explained the mistake, came back. Then followed the GPS to do the exact same thing again. Border control was not as nice the second time.
I crossed, my phone didn’t get coverage, and it’s much harder to cross back!
Took kids on prom night, we were trying to get to Wendy’s.
I think we all did it once.
Years ago I was heading somewhere different but ended up going towards Canada I kept seeing signs last minute I caught a exit and got off that route.
When it was under construction I went over. The agent before the border said that there was a turn around right before the bridge, however by the time you see it, it’s already too late.
Years ago, John Steinbeck wrote of such an episode in “Travels with Charley.” Canada Customs told him he could bring Charley (a dog) into Canada but he didn’t have the papers to get the dog back into the States. Back on the Stateside control point, when he told the U.S. he hadn’t been away, an exchange that ran the better part of two pages followed. Resolved when Stateside officer rang up his Canadian counterpart who confirmed the story. Thus Charley hadn’t officially left the States and couldn’t be quarantined as a dangerous animal.
I have accidentally done it TWICE. Which is hilarious cause how.
One of the main reasons i got an enhanced license is if i accidentally take the bridge to canada somehow
I told the guard “I can’t go to Canada, I have school tomorrow!” She let me turn around!
Should build a new bridge called bridge of shame as a turn around for people who accidentally do it…nothing better then telling someone you went to the border and have to use the bridge of shame to get home.
I’ve done that on a snowmobile. Didn’t realize we were in Canada until we stopped to fuel up and gas prices were in litres.
You look at the sign here and you think how can anyone accidentally cross it. But there you are, in Canada, and your phone is no longer working. And you panic.
The only place in the U.S. where you travel south to enter Canada.
I accidentally turned into the entrance to the tunnel and had to explain to the border guards that I’m stupid so please let me turn around.
Did it with a horse trailer in tow lol.
We did this many years ago. I had my niece, mother in law & aunt in the car, going to bingo! Somehow in the wrong lane! Guess I was thinking bingo! No excuses.
I was so terrified. Luckily, we always managed to avoid the Exit of Doom.
This is why I keep my passport in my purse. Just in case!
I went with my mother to get her global entry at border patrol. It is literally under the bridge!!! We couldn’t find it. Yep. Ended up in that lane!!
Guilty. I was messing with my CarPlay and missed my exit. That was a fun conversation with border patrol.
Yep, my dad did this helping his buddy learn to drive.
My husband and I and some friends ended up on that exit… I just sat back and watched the s*it show unfold… told them we are headed to Canada they said no I said yes… all I can say is our friends had a time explaining their reasons for taking that ramp.
Omg that one time we turned in before the concert and they searched my car..
We did it once trying to get to the Ren Hotel. Fortunately we stopped before we got beyond the parking garage or whatever it was and Border Patrol let us turn around by their barrier. They said it happens a lot..
My stepson announced he had to go #2 when we were halfway up the exit. My husband had to quickly put the car in reverse. I was positive they were going to come after us!!
We had a parent do it taking a car full of teens to a football game as part of a pep band.
I’ve come close. I couldn’t get left. Had to cut someone off. I mean, they knew too. I had my blinker on.
I’ll admit to being guilty of this one for sure!
I did it back in 2012. I had to wait for 2 hrs for an escort to the border exit. There were 2 other cars. They were out of their cars just socializing. I was inside my car texting and complaining that I did such a stupid thing
I’ve done it- It was a night I will never forget!!
Omg!!!! That was a funny day calling the boys saying we accidentally went over the bridge.
I did it years ago!
My brother and I took it by accident once! We were teenagers
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“if the road is easy, you’re likely going the wrong way.”
I didn't have my glasses on.... 