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Saturday, September 26, 2015

Making Stories


              I celebrate each Saturday with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build - It's a close community that celebrates together. Come join us!          Tweet at #CelebrateLu


              Ruth often writes about story and its value. Today, I celebrate story as I meandered through my week, reading and writing, spending time noticing on my morning walks. I spent time with my granddaughters, watching them build their own "libraries of memories, and observed a new teacher's lesson as he began his journey of teaching.  



I saw this first leaf turning one morning. Some time ago I read an article about a workshop where the leader asked the participants to write their memories of trees.  You can access this article here at NCTE. Scroll down to Page 3. When I posted a poem yesterday for Poetry Friday about a tree that a grandfather called "mine", so many commenters spoke of a tree in their childhoods. Stories about trees are worth celebrating.

On one walk, I liked the shadows, but imagined this one chair placed in a sunny spot was going to be a warm place to enjoy a winter morning to come.

I posted this on Facebook, wondering about the stories this old galvanized tub would tell if only it could speak! One reply imagined three young children having a wonderful, splashy bath time. I imagine the work that women had to do on Monday wash day, and remember that an uncle bought my grandmother her first ringer washer.


My school has a labyrinth. I pick up Ingrid each Friday, and when there is time, she takes advantage of things she cannot do while in school, like running the labyrinth, arms out, in and out, joyful. Stories of play are ones to celebrate.

I found new books about fall and pumpkins for the girls, and they let me take a picture so I could share with the author. I celebrate authors who work hard to bring stories to us to love.


             I hope you have stories in your life to share and celebrate all through your days!

26 comments:

  1. A labyrinth?!?! That's awesome!!! I love that you give your granddaughter time to explore and celebrate that space!! Thank you for continuing to share your story!! :)

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    1. Thanks, Michelle. The labyrinth is rather mysterious I think, to the younger students, so of course Ingrid wanted to explore. It's a special place at school.

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  2. These are the moments that are lost in the crowded busyness of life. What a joy to reflect and savor the story in each. You are living a dream.

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    1. Thank you, I do try to appreciate them, Elsie, know that they are the ones that make the stories.

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  3. I love labyrinths. Although I'm usually too impatient and want to finish it the first time around before I get to truly enjoy it during the second walk.

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    1. Unless you're a little one, they do make you slow down, don't they, Earl?

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  4. I celebrate the variety of perspectives a picture, an object or a place can bring. Your post breathes calmness. Your stories today are sunny.

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    1. Thanks, Terje, nice to have sunny moments, for sure.

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  5. I like the idea of sharing tree memories. I will have to put that in my journal as a future writing prompt. The labyrinth looks fantastic. Like Terje, I think your stories are sunny and bright. Thanks for sharing peace and joy.

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    1. I hope you'll enjoy the article, Crystal. It tells of such stories that surprised and came from writing about trees. Thank you.

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  6. It has been such a long time since I have visited my blogging friends. I feel like I need to read back and catch up to what you are doing. Thank you for reminding me again, the importance of stories. Your pictures are wonderful. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Thanks, Leigh Anne. I hope all is going well with you, know you are busy!

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  7. So many things I love in this post! So many shared and hinted at stories. What joy.

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  8. Today I celebrate with you as you enjoy walks, trees, poems, grandchildren, and life.
    My Celebrate the Week

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    1. Thanks, Anne, nice to celebrate with you, too.

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  9. The importance of stories! Yes! I have been talking with my students about this a lot this year so far... and I love reading your celebration of story.

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    1. Terrific, Ona. I hope they will find their own 'small' stories & write them! Thanks!

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  10. Stories in our lives . . . so many wonderful ones. I love the pics you share, it's almost like we can stroll with you. You always amaze me with the shadow pics. And of course, there's nothing better than seeing the pics of your grand girls, especially with book in hand. Happy weekend, Linda!

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    1. Thank you, Ramona. It was a fun week. Hope you have a nice rest of the weekend.

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  11. It sounds like you spend a lot of time with your granddaughter. Isn't it wonderful to be able to look at the world through their fresh, young eyes. I think you captured that with your picture of Ingrid in the labyrinth.

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    1. Thanks, Bernadette. Yes, I agree, it is a pleasure being with young children, and most especially my grandchildren.

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  12. Your post has such a contemplative feel. From trees, to labyrinths. I'm imagining your writing life exploding now.

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    1. Oh, Julieanne, working on it! I'm trying to get into a rhythm of sorts. Like thinking about teaching, quite challenging, but so much fun, too. Thank you.

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  13. Gamma’s steps
    Skipping round and round
    My steps tiny next to hers
    Ship sailing on kite wings of stories
    Balance beams of words
    Swirling steps cross pages of imagines
    Grammas steps and my steps
    Dancing the same story
    Sun ray slipper leaf ruffled songs
    Grammas smile whispers
    I love the story of our
    Steps traveled skipping round
    On Balance beams of words
    I smile my hand tinny inside of Grammas hand
    I love the story of our
    Steps traveled skipping round
    Ship sailing on kite wings of stories
    On Balance beams of words
    My steps tiny next to hers

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  14. Linda, I love hearing about your morning walks that are filled with celebrations of life. Perhaps, one walk will connect and you will find fall in its picturesque scenes. The first leaf above must have a story for you to tell poetically.

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