“By doing things badly, we make ourselves less real.” Thomas Merton Less real? Wow. Shoddy half-baked careless work makes you less real? Is that true? I think we know it is. In fact, I think it has something to do with beauty. I once heard Sir John Polkinghorne (yes, that really is his name) say… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Creativity
Let Me In! — Simon’s Cat video
It’s Cat Monday again! Hooray! (In case you weren’t around I found this fantastic series of small cat videos that I love. They are funny and they will make you laugh. And so, because I’m nice like that, I will be posting every single one I can get my hands on. And there are LOADS… Read more »
Careless in his care
“careless in the care of God” That’s a phrase from Eugene Peterson I read this morning. (From his translation of Matthew 6:26 where Jesus is talking about the birds and how they don’t worry about what to eat or what to wear. And how life is about more than that. And anyway look how God… Read more »
The Box — Simon’s Cat video
It’s Cat Monday! Hooray! (In case you weren’t around when I posted the first two, here is the first one and the second.) I found this fantastic series of small cat videos that I love. They are funny and they will make you laugh. (And what could be wrong about that on a Monday?) And… Read more »
Coloring Poor Doreen
Have you ever seen a fish carrying an umbrella? How about a fish wearing a headscarf? Poor Doreen wasn’t even supposed to be in my book. She just arrived without me inviting her. And took over. (I got the idea for the book when I was out running.) The book I wanted to write was… Read more »
Running and Writing and Cups of Tea
A few years ago, I was on Fripp, a barrier island in South Carolina. (I was there with great friends on a writing retreat.) I got up early one morning and went running — and happened upon a magical scene… As the mist hung over the marsh, the sun was just rising, a fisherman in… Read more »
Instagram of the Week: Marilyn
The other day my friend, Melanie Penn, and I took a road trip out of the city. We imagined an amazing day filled with beauty. We ended up in a twilight zone filled with ginormous scary sculptures. We were visiting the Ground for Sculpture. It was fascinating. For about 2 minutes. And then we were… Read more »
Mirror Mirror — Simon’s Cat video
It’s Cat Monday! Hooray! (In case you weren’t around when I posted the first one, here it is.) I love this series. It makes me laugh. And so, because I’m nice like that, I will be posting every single one I can get my hands on. And there are LOADS hooray! Every other monday will… Read more »
Instagram of the Week: Neon Signs
Almost exactly to the day, one hundred and sixteen years ago, in a laboratory in London, two British chemists did an experiment that would transform New York City. On June 12, 1898 they discovered neon. From 1920 neon became a fixture in the city. Visible even in daylight, people would stop and stare at the… Read more »
Picture Books, Theater and the Turn of the Page
A good picture book is like theater. You’re probably familiar with The Caldecott Medal (awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children). But who is this Caldecott exactly? Beatrix Potter called him, “one of the greatest illustrators of all.” Maurice Sendak credited him with inventing the modern picture book…. Read more »