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William Wordsworth's Heaven on Earth

10/11/2017

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This was my third trip to the Lake District, one of the loveliest places on earth. The first time I went, I was a college student, and I honestly felt like I'd died and gone to heaven. I could not suppress the joy.

The Lake District hearkens back to a time when everything was kinder, simpler, quieter, and nothing competed with the natural world it revered. Stacked stone walls divide pastures of sheep, and everything feels just right, the way each stone is carefully selected to fit perfectly with the stones above and beneath. A metaphor for our thoughts and our lives, which yearn to find order in chaos.

The climate is a rich, humid invitation for growth, and oh, how the flowers respond! I caught this view as I was leaving Dove Cottage, Wordsworth's beloved home in Grasmere. His words are far better than mine at describing life in the Lake District, and its conduit to the heavens:

"How does the Meadow flower its bloom unfold
Because the lovely little flower is free
Down to its root, and in that freedom bold.


and...

"a sound and healthy friendship is the growth of time and circumstance,
it will spring up and thrive like a wildflower when these favour"


and...

"'Be thankful, thou; for, if unholy deeds
Ravage the world, tranquillity is here!'"

Oh, how the world needs that tranquility today! I'm so grateful this timeless place has been preserved for all to experience.

Question: Where do you go to find freedom, growth, and tranquility?
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    I am an artist and art instructor working in water media. Just knowing I can watch colors run together makes it worth getting out of bed every morning! Helping students capture the same excitement is equally rewarding.

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  • Home
  • About
  • GALLERY
    • Landscapes
    • Florals
    • Figures
    • Contact
    • Abstracts
  • LEARN
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Sold
  • COMMISSIONS