If you can awaken
inside the familiar
and discover it new
you need never
leave home.
This little poem is found in Ted Kooser's beautiful book "Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps," which I am rereading (and re-loving) currently. Kooser is a Nebraska poet (and the 13th poet laureate of the United States), but "Local Wonders" is a book of memoir, chronicling the seasons in the hills of southeastern Nebraska where he lives. (The "Bohemian Alps" he speaks of aren't the ones in Europe, they're the the local, joking name for this area of Nebraska.) I would recommend this book to anyone, poet or not. It showcases the small beauties of Kooser's home perfectly.
So what's the challenge, then? Well, in the midst of rereading "Local Wonders," I got to thinking about MY local wonders--the little places, things, and quirks that make my home in Iowa unique and beautiful. I decided to make this my theme for October, and thought others might be interested as well.
Therefore, if you're interested, in October, let's shoot the little things that make home home. My daily list follows (for those who, like me, enjoy lists). Feel free to pick and choose, play as much or as little as you like, or flip-flop a daily theme here and there, but let's all share our "local wonders" in October!
Tag will be localwonders.
Daily List:
1 wonders in your backyard
2 local historical landmark
3 local animal
4 local plant or flower
5 seasonal wonders
6 local person
7 local "tourist trap"
8 wonders on the way to work
9 tell about a local legend
10 quiet wonders
11 water wonders
12 early morning wonders
13 local insect
14 local industry
15 local festival or event
16 local park
17 roadside wonders
18 small wonders
19 wonders from a child's eye view
20 abandoned wonders
21 local laugh (something funny)
22 wonders that only last one day
23 night time wonders
24 local tree
25 wondering why
26 local saying
27 local custom
28 local food or drink
29 local celebrity
30 rusty wonders
31 local ghost story (for Halloween, of course!)
This sounds great! I am doing monthly themes at the mo. Was going to do Autumn as my October theme but I will keep this in mind for November xxx great idea! I hope to see more theme ideas from you in the future ☺️
Thanks for proposing this challenge! Just reading your list will help me keep my eyes open for photo ops that I may not have thought of otherwise. I'll no doubt participate here and there! :-)
That's one of the best-written and best-presented ideas I've seen in a long time! Interestingly (to me anyway) is that while I spend half my time in Lunenburg Nova Scotia, I have an endless supply of choices to fill every suggestion you offer. Back home in Southern California, in the suburbs, it would be a monumental challenge (for me) to fill all those slots without traveling on the freeways to find some of these items. So while I'm here, I look forward to taking the challenge, and I'll have a winter's worth of good memories when I return home! Thanks so much!
Think I'll have a go at this. I live in such a beautiful part of the country it shouldn't be too difficult to find wonders. @mace508 How are we tagging this......oops sorry, just noticed :)
This sounds like fun, and also something that might get me out of my photo funk. Thanks for the idea, I will try to play most days. By the way, I am a fellow Iowan.
I really like this theme, though it's a particular challenge to me because my 'local' changes so often. This is local for this week. Next week somewhere else:-)
@mace508 Thanks for your kind comment! And I had to laugh at your five-year-old's comment! It's true! We don't rake them up, so some small child (and maybe even some of us more "mature" ones) should be enjoying rolling in those leaves! Wish my little grandsons 9ages 6, 4, and 2) were here to do it!
This is the historical landmark I found in our community. If you would like to see a photo of the unique entrance to the Clay Street Cemetery please go to my Other Fav's album!
This is my "unofficial" photo for today...it's the requested albino emu, but he wouldn't move from in front of the sign that said he was a miniature horse, and after I took this one he waddled into the barn. Emu with an attitude problem. :)
This is my very dear friend, BJ, whom I met about 3 1/2 years ago when we were volunteering with an organization called LOVE, Inc. At that time she was receiving twice a month food boxes from our local food bank and needed someone to deliver them to her... While we are no longer serving her in that capacity, this special lady has become a much-beloved friend! She will turn 85 years old this month and has lived here in our community since she was 23! She is known for her tireless dedication over the years to rescuing dogs and working in conjunction with our local animal shelter. She enjoys jigsaw puzzles and can quote long passages of poetry she learned as a much younger person! I love her to pieces! She is my proud submission to the Local Wonders challenge for today: local person
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And love this idea.
Count me in with some modifications.
@mace508 How are we tagging this......oops sorry, just noticed :)
My first wonder of the month: white mystery feather in my back yard!
Little but trees and leaves and a vacant doghouse in my backyard... Still love it, though!
My "landmark" is the bandshell in the park by my house.
I really like this theme, though it's a particular challenge to me because my 'local' changes so often. This is local for this week. Next week somewhere else:-)
This is the historical landmark I found in our community. If you would like to see a photo of the unique entrance to the Clay Street Cemetery please go to my Other Fav's album!
My local animals were out for a swim at our park zoo this morning. This is my "official" photo for today.
This is my "unofficial" photo for today...it's the requested albino emu, but he wouldn't move from in front of the sign that said he was a miniature horse, and after I took this one he waddled into the barn. Emu with an attitude problem. :)
Plant/flower for today--you don't get much more "local" than my backyard (and oft-photographed) sunflower plant!
Seasonal wonders abound around here, with summer finally, slowly letting go and fall taking its place. Our trees are beginning to turn.
BJ, the Dog Rescuer
This is my very dear friend, BJ, whom I met about 3 1/2 years ago when we were volunteering with an organization called LOVE, Inc. At that time she was receiving twice a month food boxes from our local food bank and needed someone to deliver them to her... While we are no longer serving her in that capacity, this special lady has become a much-beloved friend! She will turn 85 years old this month and has lived here in our community since she was 23! She is known for her tireless dedication over the years to rescuing dogs and working in conjunction with our local animal shelter. She enjoys jigsaw puzzles and can quote long passages of poetry she learned as a much younger person! I love her to pieces! She is my proud submission to the Local Wonders challenge for today: local person
My "local person" travels with me...my oldest daughter (here in action, jumping off a wall).
Warning, warning, roadside statuary alert! We drove through the little town of Pocahontas the other day, so this HAD to be my tourist trap.