experience – Journey to Imagination

Tag: experience

We’re off to See the Wizard, Part 3: The Man Behind the Curtain

Posted on October 15, 2018October 15, 2018 by Laura

Would you hire this guy? So....is this guy a wizard or a humbug? Would you hire him? I suppose it depends on what you need. And how you measure success. The thing that L. Frank Baum is best known for---writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz---didn’t occur until he was 44...Read More

Elmer Sparks, Part 2: Spreading Happiness through Bluegrass Music

Posted on August 30, 2018August 28, 2018 by Laura

Tuesday nights at the Muckwanago Library must be the happiest in all of Wisconsin. It’s the night of the monthly Bluegrass Jam. Even before I stepped foot in the room (April 9, 2018), the twangs, strums, and picking of banjos, guitars, and string bass wafted out to the corridor, compelling...Read More

Elmer Sparks, Part 1: Spreading Happiness through Photography

Posted on August 27, 2018August 23, 2018 by Laura

Only one photographer ever got my husband to smile for a portrait. Just one. And a genuine smile, not a fake smile-through-your-teeth “can we get this over with?” kind of smile. That man is Elmer Sparks. That was the year he took portraits of every family in our church for...Read More

Master Gardeners: Beautifying the World, One Yard at a Time, Part 2

Posted on August 16, 2018August 19, 2018 by Laura

For years, every time I called my dad, he’d say, “Dave and I weeded this . . .” and “Dave and I built that . . .” and “Dave and I transplanted this . . .” Who is this Dave? I wondered. My siblings and I only knew him by...Read More

My Gardening Tip: Live next door to Neighbors with Gorgeous Landscaping

Posted on August 9, 2018August 9, 2018 by Laura

I grew up spoiled by beautiful lawns surrounding me. Both of my parents had gardens, but Dad also landscaped and diligently tended each tree. The care he gave to our one-acre property rivaled the tedious care that strict English teachers give to marking grammar errors, or that car buffs give...Read More

Lisa Doyle–Beauty in the world, Part 2: Leaving people better than how you find them–through Chosen, Inc.

Posted on August 2, 2018August 2, 2018 by Laura

Last time I introduced you to Lisa Doyle, and the story within a story: the book Dear Lois. This book plays a vital role in the formation of the non-profit Chosen, Inc. which supports adoptive and foster families in the greater Milwaukee area. As a board member, Lisa aided the...Read More

Lisa Doyle–Beauty in the world, Part 1: Leaving people better than you find them

Posted on July 30, 2018June 21, 2018 by Laura

Lisa Doyle embraces a mantra she’s had since age twelve. She found this quote on a decoupaged piece of cardboard in 1983: ******* “One day I would like to teach a few people many and beautiful things that will help them teach a few people.” --unknown, A Teacher’s Prayer ******...Read More

Artist Marie Scott: Mixing Business with Pleasure

Posted on July 12, 2018July 12, 2018 by Laura

Mixing art and business is just as tricky as mixing colors to get precisely the right hue. And it takes just as much skill as applying paint to the canvas in a pleasing manner. For those of us who create and want to share our creations with the world, there...Read More

Are you Celebrating or Lamenting?

Posted on June 18, 2018July 26, 2021 by Laura

Did you ever read a book and wish you’d written it? Have you walked through a gallery and wished you had a better eye and camera for your own photography exploits? Have you found yourself envying the singer with the beautiful voice or the musician with such mastery of his...Read More

Revision: When is it good enough? Finished or abandoned?

Posted on June 14, 2018May 22, 2019 by Laura

How do you know when you’re done revising a poem, essay, or novel? Leonardo Da Vinci said, “Art is never finished, only abandoned.” He obviously wasn’t completely satisfied with the final product. French poet Paul Valery concurred by saying, “A poem is never finished, only abandoned.” Such is the case...Read More

The Compulsion to Tell A Story: The Dog Ate My Glasses

Posted on June 7, 2018April 23, 2018 by Laura

My husband Tim tells the story of when he was in 4th grade playing baseball with the neighbors. He had brand new glasses and was afraid of breaking them. He set them in a “safe place” in the grass nearby. A dog was snooping around. After he got up to...Read More

Risk-taking & Art, Part 2: Birds in the Woods

Posted on May 31, 2018April 23, 2018 by Laura

When my husband Tim coached middle school girls basketball, one of his players ran the wrong way down the court and made a basket for the other team. Sure, this kind of mishap happens regularly with inexperienced players, but Tim can recite foibles from teams of various calibers. His coaching...Read More