You are right about that sort of internal nagging to have "something to show" for a given amount of waking time having expired. Something tangible, and not simply expressive, like art or music or writing. When I hear that voice reminding me of this or that job that really should be done, a fence painted or a room decorated etc , I now just remind myself that. no matter how assiduously I attend to all those maintenance/repair/improvements lists......it will still happen that within a few days of my remains being scattered to the four winds in the local hills, there will again be jobs that need doing on the house. And they will be done in good time by someone, when they don't have something less "productive" to do ! thanks for sharing your wonderful art pieces again. The lilypads and forever climbing trees image I particularly like.
This is such a great perspective on the whole struggle of doing something/nothing and the ways we spend the time we have and what we leave behind. Thank you for this food for thought. And thank you for reading and for the kind comments on my art! That painting is one of my favorites, too.
Jenn, first of all your work/art is lovely and I always look forward to seeing what you've been doing while "doing nothing." Which leads me to Frederick, and the author, whose words himself are amazing in the process of creating. I remember seeing this book, in a bookstore, although my kids were already grownup, where I stood and read it. It makes a great gift. Such a beautiful message. Your writing and your thoughts are exquisite Jenn and I am so happy I caught this. Substack has been a bit depressing lately and most of what I treasure and value here, like you, Michael, and many others has been hidden from view. Sending you much love and looking forward to connecting when life slows a bit. Keep doing nothing and filling those beautiful children's minds with what matters most in life. oxoxox
I am so excited to hear you’ve read and gifted Frederick! It is such a sweet book. What a beautiful message to give to children. Thank you for the very kind words, I can’t term you how much I appreciate it and how sorry i am to hear that the good stuff here is drowned out by the bad stuff. And thank you for the kind words about verdonk! He was so fun to make. Enjoy your time with your mum and your holidays, and we’ll catch up soon. Thank you again, my kind friend 💕
Love that I found you. I don’t often subscribe back so soon but your post captured me. I love your art! Yes, I love it all. My granddaughter just started an outdoor kindergarten that has an art class everyday. I’m hoping that you share more & more of what you suggest for that age.
Also, this made me think of what I thought was a saying from a famous artist or philosopher?
It was like, “ If you have 2 dollars to grocery shop, spend a dollar on bread & a dollar on a flower.” Anyway, it’s a balance in life. We need the beauty of art. And MUSIC!
P. S. Are you going to make your art available to purchase? I hope so. 💕
That’s so funny, I am glad that we found each other then! It was meant to be. I love your flag avatar, it’s quite striking. Thank you so much for the kind words and for checking out my post. That is so cool that your granddaughter is doing an art class for the young ones! I homeschool my three kids and started teaching them art last year. The book “Drawing With Children” by Mona Brookes was immensely helpful. I bet that’s a really fun class. Kudos to her, it can be chaos with that age group!
I have never heard that saying and I love it. I wrote it down. Thank you for that! Yes, art and music! I taught my kids an orchestra/famous composers class two years ago and it has enriched our lives quite a bit. We love music
I’m glad you found my Etsy, thank you for your interest and for taking a look! If you ever find any of my art you like but it’s not listed or you prefer not to use Etsy, just send me a message and we’ll figure it out. Thank you again and I hope you have a beautiful week!
Thanks! I ordered that book. My granddaughter is in a kindergarten class & it’s based almost 100% outdoors. They bundle up & use nature as a big part of their learning. They have a rain garden that is filled with random drums & metal pieces. It’s so cool. The music it makes is beautiful. It rains here, a lot!
They have math, writing, reading , yoga, & art. It’s my dream school if I could go back. They get so dirty some days but have a blast. Lots of farm animals & room to run. It’s so cool you’re teaching kids. That’s just the best! My daughter is a behavioral specialist and has worked in many classrooms helping teachers.
She is home now with her 2 girls. She tried an internet website to help teachers & parents but has decided to go a different route. She’s probably close to your age & is so passionate about it. If you ever have issues with your kids, she can help. So much great advice I’ve seen her give that’s changed all the frustration & chaos, for the child & teacher.
( Back in the day, we handled behavior so differently. I love when the kids can learn to fix or overcome a problem.)
( when you said the age can be “ crazy”, it made me want to tell you all this)
You are absolutely right! They kick my butt when I just watch my 2. So.. much energy! 💕
That sounds amazing; I would love to have gone to a kindergarten like that! The rain garden sounds so neat as well as the variety of subjects and the animals. So cool.
I do love homeschooling my kids, we have so much fun together. Your daughter sounds incredible with a beautiful heart for helping people.
I hope you enjoy the book! We had fun going through it and my kids showed good improvement on their skills. It reignited my love of sketching and was why I started drawing with a pen!
So beautiful Jenn! Painting is poetry and you are a heArtist. I love how you connect the dots and take it into your own truth. Transforming. What a wonderful hands on education, your kids are receiving. Beautiful paintings as well. I can’t take my eyes off of the mustached Verdonk. Thanks for being you. 🙏❤️
Verdonk was so fun to draw, I loved his mustache! Thank you so much, Jamie, for being here and reading my my thoughts and checking out my art. I love your heArt as well. Thank you for the lovely and kind comments, you are much appreciated ❤️
To see the waves curl and write the songs sung heard from the silent sands of time. A teacher sees and creates, shapes, molds the expanding minds of youth that will last through their lifetime. Your work is inspiring.
This is so charming and beautiful, thank you. And thank you for stopping by my post, I’m grateful and humbled that you found it inspiring. I hope you have a lovely week!
I’m so glad you shared this, even just for the nugget of knowledge about the painting that Bill Murray was moved by.
I have a special place in my heart for him since he was in a film that took place in my hometown. Much of it was filmed where I grew up (Woodstock, IL). In fact, the house in the film (bed and breakfast inn) is one block away from one of the houses in my scary basement essay and a few blocks away from another house I described in that essay.
So my ears always perk up when I hear anything about him, and also because I admire him as an actor/human.
You write well and I enjoy seeing your art! I’m a new follower after just one read. 🙏🏻
I really like Bill Murray as a person/actor, too. My heart just dropped when I read that about him. And it felt serendipitous to have learned it at that exact moment. That is really cool that he shot a film in your old stomping grounds! So close to your scary basement, too, that’s crazy. I love that a painting made life worthwhile for him, that is so… human. Thank you so much for checking out my post! I appreciate it and I’m glad I could shed a tiny bit more light on Bill Murray for you. I hope you’ll enjoy my future scribbles!
loved this new take. We think a lot about building community and what skills are needed. Many try to do it with people who all are like minded. A group of engineers failed. all theory, little practice. A group of farmers failed. no one to process the medicines or a place to come home to with beauty. We though about the elders who wouldn't be able to do physical work, the people with disabilities. They all have a place.. Wisdom from experience from the old ones, inspiration and philosophy from the poets, the person who cheers everyone else up with their laughter. While i do think remembering practical basic needs and proactive thinking is something we all could benefit from given that our society is disconnected from this work. I so value fredrick and relate. I got to the jungle to homestead and felt useless. couldn't carry heavy things, didn't have skills to build or plant just yet. My body tired using a machete or a pick. But I realized i have skills and things to offer my community too. Big hug and loved being on this ride with you.
Thank you! You totally understood what I was trying to say. Everyone has a gift to give, a part to play, the variety in skills and viewpoints forms a healthy, happy, and functional community. I am so glad you could relate to Frederick, it was a refreshing take on a classic, it is really a beautiful story. Sending you hugs back and thank you for being here and leaving this lovely and thoughtful comment!
You are right about that sort of internal nagging to have "something to show" for a given amount of waking time having expired. Something tangible, and not simply expressive, like art or music or writing. When I hear that voice reminding me of this or that job that really should be done, a fence painted or a room decorated etc , I now just remind myself that. no matter how assiduously I attend to all those maintenance/repair/improvements lists......it will still happen that within a few days of my remains being scattered to the four winds in the local hills, there will again be jobs that need doing on the house. And they will be done in good time by someone, when they don't have something less "productive" to do ! thanks for sharing your wonderful art pieces again. The lilypads and forever climbing trees image I particularly like.
This is such a great perspective on the whole struggle of doing something/nothing and the ways we spend the time we have and what we leave behind. Thank you for this food for thought. And thank you for reading and for the kind comments on my art! That painting is one of my favorites, too.
Lovely, Jenn. Thank you.
Thank you, truly. ❤️
P.S. Your Verdonck is a stunner!! ✨
Thank you 😁
Jenn, first of all your work/art is lovely and I always look forward to seeing what you've been doing while "doing nothing." Which leads me to Frederick, and the author, whose words himself are amazing in the process of creating. I remember seeing this book, in a bookstore, although my kids were already grownup, where I stood and read it. It makes a great gift. Such a beautiful message. Your writing and your thoughts are exquisite Jenn and I am so happy I caught this. Substack has been a bit depressing lately and most of what I treasure and value here, like you, Michael, and many others has been hidden from view. Sending you much love and looking forward to connecting when life slows a bit. Keep doing nothing and filling those beautiful children's minds with what matters most in life. oxoxox
I am so excited to hear you’ve read and gifted Frederick! It is such a sweet book. What a beautiful message to give to children. Thank you for the very kind words, I can’t term you how much I appreciate it and how sorry i am to hear that the good stuff here is drowned out by the bad stuff. And thank you for the kind words about verdonk! He was so fun to make. Enjoy your time with your mum and your holidays, and we’ll catch up soon. Thank you again, my kind friend 💕
I think this was one of my favorite posts of yours but all of them are really! We need more beauty like this. Thank you Jenn. oxox
Thank you, I feel those kind words deeply, and I am grateful ❤️. One can never have too much beauty 😁
Beautiful post
Thank you
Thank you, Dave, that means a lot to me, I really appreciate you.
Love that I found you. I don’t often subscribe back so soon but your post captured me. I love your art! Yes, I love it all. My granddaughter just started an outdoor kindergarten that has an art class everyday. I’m hoping that you share more & more of what you suggest for that age.
Also, this made me think of what I thought was a saying from a famous artist or philosopher?
It was like, “ If you have 2 dollars to grocery shop, spend a dollar on bread & a dollar on a flower.” Anyway, it’s a balance in life. We need the beauty of art. And MUSIC!
P. S. Are you going to make your art available to purchase? I hope so. 💕
Never mind, I found your Etsy. Yahh! 👍
That’s so funny, I am glad that we found each other then! It was meant to be. I love your flag avatar, it’s quite striking. Thank you so much for the kind words and for checking out my post. That is so cool that your granddaughter is doing an art class for the young ones! I homeschool my three kids and started teaching them art last year. The book “Drawing With Children” by Mona Brookes was immensely helpful. I bet that’s a really fun class. Kudos to her, it can be chaos with that age group!
I have never heard that saying and I love it. I wrote it down. Thank you for that! Yes, art and music! I taught my kids an orchestra/famous composers class two years ago and it has enriched our lives quite a bit. We love music
I’m glad you found my Etsy, thank you for your interest and for taking a look! If you ever find any of my art you like but it’s not listed or you prefer not to use Etsy, just send me a message and we’ll figure it out. Thank you again and I hope you have a beautiful week!
Thanks! I ordered that book. My granddaughter is in a kindergarten class & it’s based almost 100% outdoors. They bundle up & use nature as a big part of their learning. They have a rain garden that is filled with random drums & metal pieces. It’s so cool. The music it makes is beautiful. It rains here, a lot!
They have math, writing, reading , yoga, & art. It’s my dream school if I could go back. They get so dirty some days but have a blast. Lots of farm animals & room to run. It’s so cool you’re teaching kids. That’s just the best! My daughter is a behavioral specialist and has worked in many classrooms helping teachers.
She is home now with her 2 girls. She tried an internet website to help teachers & parents but has decided to go a different route. She’s probably close to your age & is so passionate about it. If you ever have issues with your kids, she can help. So much great advice I’ve seen her give that’s changed all the frustration & chaos, for the child & teacher.
( Back in the day, we handled behavior so differently. I love when the kids can learn to fix or overcome a problem.)
( when you said the age can be “ crazy”, it made me want to tell you all this)
You are absolutely right! They kick my butt when I just watch my 2. So.. much energy! 💕
That sounds amazing; I would love to have gone to a kindergarten like that! The rain garden sounds so neat as well as the variety of subjects and the animals. So cool.
I do love homeschooling my kids, we have so much fun together. Your daughter sounds incredible with a beautiful heart for helping people.
I hope you enjoy the book! We had fun going through it and my kids showed good improvement on their skills. It reignited my love of sketching and was why I started drawing with a pen!
wow you rocked the drawing of Van Gogh and I love the mouse story!
Thank you! It is a wonderful story. I so appreciate you taking the time to read and leave a kind comment, too!
So beautiful Jenn! Painting is poetry and you are a heArtist. I love how you connect the dots and take it into your own truth. Transforming. What a wonderful hands on education, your kids are receiving. Beautiful paintings as well. I can’t take my eyes off of the mustached Verdonk. Thanks for being you. 🙏❤️
Verdonk was so fun to draw, I loved his mustache! Thank you so much, Jamie, for being here and reading my my thoughts and checking out my art. I love your heArt as well. Thank you for the lovely and kind comments, you are much appreciated ❤️
To see the waves curl and write the songs sung heard from the silent sands of time. A teacher sees and creates, shapes, molds the expanding minds of youth that will last through their lifetime. Your work is inspiring.
This is so charming and beautiful, thank you. And thank you for stopping by my post, I’m grateful and humbled that you found it inspiring. I hope you have a lovely week!
I’m so glad you shared this, even just for the nugget of knowledge about the painting that Bill Murray was moved by.
I have a special place in my heart for him since he was in a film that took place in my hometown. Much of it was filmed where I grew up (Woodstock, IL). In fact, the house in the film (bed and breakfast inn) is one block away from one of the houses in my scary basement essay and a few blocks away from another house I described in that essay.
So my ears always perk up when I hear anything about him, and also because I admire him as an actor/human.
You write well and I enjoy seeing your art! I’m a new follower after just one read. 🙏🏻
I really like Bill Murray as a person/actor, too. My heart just dropped when I read that about him. And it felt serendipitous to have learned it at that exact moment. That is really cool that he shot a film in your old stomping grounds! So close to your scary basement, too, that’s crazy. I love that a painting made life worthwhile for him, that is so… human. Thank you so much for checking out my post! I appreciate it and I’m glad I could shed a tiny bit more light on Bill Murray for you. I hope you’ll enjoy my future scribbles!
loved this new take. We think a lot about building community and what skills are needed. Many try to do it with people who all are like minded. A group of engineers failed. all theory, little practice. A group of farmers failed. no one to process the medicines or a place to come home to with beauty. We though about the elders who wouldn't be able to do physical work, the people with disabilities. They all have a place.. Wisdom from experience from the old ones, inspiration and philosophy from the poets, the person who cheers everyone else up with their laughter. While i do think remembering practical basic needs and proactive thinking is something we all could benefit from given that our society is disconnected from this work. I so value fredrick and relate. I got to the jungle to homestead and felt useless. couldn't carry heavy things, didn't have skills to build or plant just yet. My body tired using a machete or a pick. But I realized i have skills and things to offer my community too. Big hug and loved being on this ride with you.
Thank you! You totally understood what I was trying to say. Everyone has a gift to give, a part to play, the variety in skills and viewpoints forms a healthy, happy, and functional community. I am so glad you could relate to Frederick, it was a refreshing take on a classic, it is really a beautiful story. Sending you hugs back and thank you for being here and leaving this lovely and thoughtful comment!
hehe. was right with you as you were like! OMIGOSH. wisdom bomb! hehe.
Yes!!!! Exactly. Wisdom bomb, I so love that!