Straddle the Turtle

Learning to slow down, because life's too short ~ ~ ~

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Message in a Typewriter

12.27.2018 by Barbara Grant //

Recently I was rearranging some tables in my studio and noticed an old typewriter tucked underneath with boxes of supplies. I’d found this portable Royal Caravan at an estate sale for $7. When I first showed it to my young grandson a couple summers ago he went crazy over it, mesmerized by a keyboard that clunked with each punch of the key… and so slow…! It occupied him for hours just examining the mechanics of such an ancient tool. I had forgotten about it until I opened the case and found this message:

Translation: Helo Nana, how are you doing since I saw you last? I can,T wait to see you again! You are soo fun, and I love seeing you! I wish we could just live together. I think we should be neighbors! That would make our life sooo much easy er! We could get everything we want done I hope you have been having a great time without seeing me, and without myself seeing you, because of school. We have to find time to see each other again!

Someday he will be a grown man, busy with lots of responsibilities. I know that, so I’m cherishing our times together now.

Categories // Just felt like sharing :)

Color Me Poetry

11.27.2018 by Barbara Grant //

Blue Whale
Blue Whale*

Color Me Poetry (by Aldo, age 10)

There was a blue whale.
He was as hungry as the sky was for the water.
Soon he saw a red chili.
It was like fireworks (boom, boom) that went up into the sky.
Soon the blue whale got the chili and became purple like grapes and bumpy like a chameleon.

* Blue Whale 2018 watercolor painting by Barbara Grant was donated to today’s fundraiser for America Scores in Milwaukee 

Categories // Art for worthy causes

A New Way of Walking

11.19.2018 by Barbara Grant //

Dreams can be so fascinating. I came across this page describing “The Ballet Feet Dream” from over 20 years ago. 

In case it’s too difficult to read my writing, I’ve converted to text here:

“This takes place in a small circle apart from a bigger group of people at some type of gathering.

A few people (including Dori who is laughing hysterically) are watching me attempt to stand and walk with my feet and ankles wrapped and taped up in toe-shoes.

I start off very hopeless – hardly able to stand at all – knees bent to keep my balance. But I begin to try to straighten up some, and it gets a little easier, and then as I walk and turn around and keep persisting it begins to feel fine, and I can balance with no problems at all. In fact, my feet and ankles are so secure that this binding around them and this way for walking seem like it’s permanent.”

Categories // Creative Process

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I’m adding to my zine collection!

Zine next to a cup of coffee
"Straddle the Turtle" folder for collecting my ideas
My turtle story

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