Natalie Garbett–Historical Clothing
The Dear Surprise (no longer being updated, but a wealth of information!)
TERRIBLEMINDS (Chuck Wendig’s blog)
Pretentious Title (Rachel Aaron’s blog)
I found these treasures on Youtube and thought I’d share. Part of a series of episodes featuring the history, customs and culture of The Regency Era.
Follow the playlist for 2 more episodes after this one. (“Developing a Regency Brand” and “A Divided Decade”)
A while back, I was in a large group professional development class put on by our school district. Like most any profession, corporate training (what we teachers call professional development) is a tedious but necessary part of the job. Teachers are also lifelong learners.
Fortunately, this corporate trainer knew when to pull out the big guns and attract everyone’s attention with a discussion about creativity and looking at problems and situations from a different angle. The training video he showed us was “Celebrate What’s Right With The World,” featuring National Geographic photographer Dewitt Jones.
To say my socks were blown off was an understatement. In the video, Dewitt talks about focusing on the positive in the world and in every situation, using that positivity to work around obstacles and begin to see them as opportunities.
Dewitt shared his amazing photographs taken during his time with National Geographic and afterwords, relaying the stories behind them and truisms about how creativity is summoned from within, even when we think that well has run dry.
In “Everyday Creativity,” another one of his training films, he talks about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. The bullet list above is from my notes from watching this film. Key concepts are blow:
View Dewitt Jones and his amazing photographs on Pinterest.
http://www.celebratewhatsright.com
The first National Park ever established in the United States, Yellowstone actually sits atop the caldera of a “super volcano” that may or may not erupt. If it ever does, it will take out most of the western states along with it.
It’s an amazing, unique place but I’m just going to write about one small facet of our visit there last summer. We had the good fortune to stay at the hundred and ten year-old Old Faithful Inn, located just yards away from the iconic geyser that everyone lines up to see when they visit this amazing place.
Our room was about fifty yards away from the geyser and we could hear it erupt regularly throughout the night. In fact, on our first evening there, Mr. Aubrey and I tucked the kids into bed and wandered out to the bleacher overlooking the best viewpoint for Old Faithful in the wee small hours of the morning.
It was an impulse but it ended up being a truly magical moment shared with my cherished partner in life. I’ll never forget it. Above us curved a dome of stars in the blackest field, unencumbered by city lights, traffic and other interference. We spent muted moments picking out constellations we both know–finding Polaris, the North Star, or gaping at the jaw-dropping streak of white, the Milky Way painted across the midnight sky.
The air was brisk–all the more excuse for us to draw close to each other and share body warmth. But the magic didn’t end there. As if sensing our deep admiration and appreciation for the natural world around us, the geyser responded at 1 a.m., giving us alone a show that we will never forget. It was an experience for all the senses. I could see the steam rising from the mound in the near distance, I could smell the musty earthiness and feel the damp heat on my skin as the water rose from the bowels of the earth no longer able to contain it.
Nature had decided to pull out all the stops for us that night and give us a moment we’ll always remember. I still get chills thinking about how I felt, so insignificant and yet so closely tied to the natural world around me. I felt the connection immediately and it will not soon release me.
I must go back to this place some day. There was so much to see and so little time to see it. I am so thankful for our amazing National Parks service that seeks to preserve these special places for us and our descendants. If you haven’t visited a national park recently, I urge you to get out there and see one, or many.
Since I did not want to use someone else’s photos on my blog without permission, I will link the following image, probably one of the most stunning I found and what comes the closest to what we saw. Milky Way over Old Faithful
I’ve added some more stunning photos (via repins) on my Happy Places Pinterest Board. Have a look!
You can see more of my Happy Places posts by clicking on the category link “The World According to Bren.”
In keeping with my 2013 goal to continue reading regularly, I’m keeping a running list of the books I’ve read this year. I will add to it as the year progresses. The links will take you to the books on Goodreads.
Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim
Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. Forester
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
If I Fall by Kate Noble
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare
Midnight’s Wild Passion by Anna Campbell
The Pursuit of Pleasure by Elizabeth Essex
Heat of the Storm by Elle Kennedy
Our Tempestuous Day by Carolly Erickson
Follow me on Goodreads
