“Exploration,” says John Stilgoe, author of Outside Lies Magic, “is a liberal art, because it is an art that liberates, that frees, that opens away from narrowness. And it is fun.”
Yes: it is so, so much fun, and that is why I write these posts all chattery with excitement over this or that connection the kids made today. (Or that I made myself!) I know I get carried away, but that’s the point, isn’t it, that way leading on to way has carried me away?
And yet—and yet—I think we are at once ‘carried away’ and made more fully present in the now, more rooted, by these relationships between ideas about things past and future. The joy of connection makes me want to celebrate this moment, this brief encounter with wild-haired child and broad-trunked tree, bus going by, sign on church wall, Scottish warlord creeping over the tower wall and startling the English soldier’s wife who has just put her babe in arms to sleep by crooning that the Black Douglas won’t get him. Child, laughing, shouting “Dinna ye be sae sure aboot that!” across the courtyard outside the library. How can I not celebrate this freedom?
Every day is complicated, messy, and full of friction. And every day has glorious or cozy moments worth celebrating. I seldom bother to chronicle the friction and the mess because writing time is fleeting and precious—and childhood even more so. I’d rather capture the small joys that I might forget—or take for granted—if I don’t take time to set them down in words.
(Excerpt from this post about Real Life, quoted here because I don't want anyone to be under the impression that things are always perfect around here! Heaven knows we are anything but. Perfect, frictionless, orderly? Nope. Happy? Most of the time!)
Be like the bird
Who, pausing in flight
On limb too slight,
Feels it give way beneath her,
Yet sings,
Knowing she has wings.
It’s a beauitful little face.
Posted on January 28th, 2007 at 4:28 pmShe is so cute – such beautiful eyes!
Posted on January 28th, 2007 at 5:03 pmA perfect delight! Thanks for sharing your sunbeam.
Posted on January 28th, 2007 at 6:37 pmWhat a babydoll!
Posted on January 28th, 2007 at 7:34 pmLissa,
Posted on January 28th, 2007 at 7:56 pmYour children have got the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.
Oh my gosh! Adorable.
Posted on January 28th, 2007 at 8:35 pmNo, I COULDN’T answer e-mails with that sweet little face at hand.
And you are certainly NOT to be faulted for anything other than having children who are WAY too cute.
Posted on January 29th, 2007 at 10:27 amShe is delicious!
Posted on January 29th, 2007 at 3:14 pmOh my! And I suppose she’s also making those terribly distracting and delightful baby gurgles and laughs!
Posted on January 29th, 2007 at 4:07 pmToo cute!!! Love the drool on her chin.
Posted on January 29th, 2007 at 8:23 pmUmmm nope, I couldn’t do it either! She is adorable. Oooo those cheeks!!
Posted on January 29th, 2007 at 9:42 pmThanks for all the great pictures.Can’t wait to chew those cheeks. Hope I’m allowed to .See you
Posted on January 30th, 2007 at 9:17 amssooooooooooon. M/G
She’s so very kissable!
Posted on January 30th, 2007 at 9:35 amRuth Tucker says:
She is so beautiful!
Posted on January 30th, 2007 at 5:49 pmOh my heavens, what a gorgeous child! And such a smile!!
Posted on February 3rd, 2007 at 10:05 pmShe is ridiculously cute, particularly in my favorite Hanna daydress!!!
Posted on February 4th, 2007 at 8:06 pm