Smallville
We may be "little," but we're mighty!
First of all…
IT’S E-MUSINGS’ ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!
Exactly 12 months ago, I began this adventure in newslettering with a post titled “Of Artichokes, Butterflies and Clarinets”. Just as I had for my blog, I had both high hopes and low expectations for my new writing project (I’m excited to be writing this!! Probably no one will read it!!)
Yet here we are, 58 (!) newsletters later. Lots of subscribers (not all friends and family, either—many of you I’ve never met). Several subscribers who are taking the much-appreciated extra step of giving E-Musings their paid support (and if you are so inclined—and bless you!!— it’s easy to become a paid subscriber for as little as $8/month (or $80/year). Just click the “subscribe” button below, which you can also use to “upgrade” your present, free subscription!
What will Year Two look like? Depends on what catches my fancy, but for sure there will be more videos, music, art, poetry, and essays (funny and serious). More theatre and book reviews, author profiles, recipes and travel tips. More inspirational quotations and reflections. In short, it’ll be like E-Musings Year One…only “more.” Thank you so much for sharing the past year with me, my friends!
Now then.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.
Originally a series of quirky and endearing shorts, these are slices of the life of its very very small, but spunky and oh so lovable hero, Marcel.
Marcel Mania ensued, and now there’s a full-length movie (here’s the trailer):
Oh and one of Marcel’s favorite things is watching the TV show “60 Minutes,” especially reporter Lesley Stahl. Here’s the delightful “60 Minutes” segment about that special connection…
PLEASE get to know Marcel, I promise I wouldn’t steer you wrong!!
BELOVED CHILDREN’S BOOKS FROM “SMALLVILLE”
Thinking little Stuart needs no introduction (but I encourage you to introduce him to your favorite young readers.) The classic E.B. White “tail” of the dapper person-like mouse on a quest…a masterpiece for all ages…
And this was one of Evan’s childhood favorites, about a mouse-sized person, written and beautifully illustrated by William Joyce!!
George Shrinks by William Joyce
AND A BELOVED BOOK FOR GROWNUPS, ABOUT AN IDYLLIC LIFE..
Author and illustrator Tasha Tudor and her family lived in an old Vermont farmhouse, with no central heat or running water—just as if they were in the New England of 100 years earlier. Theirs was a small, simple and lovely life—weaving, sewing, having tea parties for homemade dolls (complete with charming miniature hand-painted invitations), and gardening, all surrounded by their pets and farm animals. When I need to escape from 2024, I often do so through these pages…
BOTH SIDES NOW (looking at cloud formations and life):
Far beyond cumulus and cirrus…check out this fascinating description of some unusual types of clouds. How many types have you seen?
SONG: BOTH SIDES, NOW BY JONI MITCHELL …”and feathered canyons everywhere/I’ve looked at clouds that way…”
BLOG PREVIEW: OWL BE SEEING YOU
Hoot! Hoot! Somebody said last week that “of course, everyone has already written about Flaco.” Flaco was the owl who escaped from Central Park Zoo and survived in New York City for a year. Well, I had NOT written about him…until now! Join me at Working Title as I consider the famous Flaco—and share some fun facts about the coolest and wisest of birds!
owlet—talk about smallville (and cuteville)! photo by Jesse Cason on Unsplash
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
If Michael J. Fox can be that grateful, even with all of his health struggles, I can too! Grateful for each one of you this week…