My Washington DC Favorites

1. Favorite Spot in the City = The Tidal Basin. Day or night, cherry blossom season or iced over - the tidal basin is lovely.

2. Favorite Statue = The Einstein Statue 

3. Favorite Restaurant = Ted's Bulletin. Art Deco, old time movies, milkshakes, good food, homemade pop-tarts!

4. Favorite Building = Library of Congress: I could stay in here forever!

5. Favorite overlooked art piece = The "Victory Day" bas relief at WWII memorial (Why walk around a mail box when you can kiss your girl over it?)

6. Favorite museum = National Gallery of Art (Obviously!)

7. Favorite Run Route = Taylor Creek and Potomac Overlook trail (Technically in Virginia)

8. Favorite part of my commute = the George Washington Parkway next to the river

9. Favorite Memorial = FDR memorial  

10. Favorite Secret to share  = Kilroy is on the back of the WWII memorial 

"An Art Amateur's Guide to enjoying Art Museums"

1    Where do you want to go?

Selecting what type of art museum, and which exhibits you are actually interested in, is the first step to a great museum experience. If you are an art amateur, you may want to start with a classic museum over any type of neighborhood gallery show. Narrow your interests down by answering the following questions:

vs.

1.      Am I more interested in Modern Art or Classic Art?

2.      Do I want to see paintings? statues? furniture? jewelry? Etc.

3.      What area of the world, or time period, do I find most interesting?

If you cannot answer any of those questions, I would recommend always going to see the “Highlights” or the “Most famous” pieces from the museum. You can usually get a guide at the Info Desk when you pick up your visitors’ map.

2       What to see?

Once you've picked a starting place, there are a few ways to decide “what” you actually want to see.

·         Follow the crowds – you’ll find the most iconic pieces this way, or you can always note them by how many audio guide symbols are on the plaques / how prominently it is displayed in a room.

·         Look for something familiar – find those pieces you think you might have seen before somewhere in a textbook, classroom, maybe a movie?

·         Go where you feel drawn – what catches your eye? What pieces spark your interest from a first glance?

3       How to see?

People gaze at art pieces for varying amounts of time. Some pieces may only elicit a quick glance from you, while others may have you standing there for a while. Your interest, your time, and if there are benches in the room will all factor into how long you spend in the museum. However, my tip is to accept that YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE IT ALL  (Unless it happens to be a small museum).

If you are a new-be to the world of art, you may have no idea what you are looking for when you look at a painting or sculpture. So here are my best tips for you:

• 1.      Read the plaques of the pieces you find most interesting – take down the Titles and artists.
• 2.      If it is a painting you’ve never encountered before, ask yourself “What drew me to this specific painting?” and then ask “Why?” For example, if you are drawn to the size of the painting, the colors, or the subject matter, ask“Why do these things affect how I view or enjoy the art?” “What, or who, does it make me think of?”
• 3.      If it is a “famous” or “Iconic” piece, you may want to start with the question: “Why is this so famous?” “What makes it stand out from any others?” “Do I like it? Or not?”
• 4.      Of course, you can always take a tour or listen to an audio guide. Do you know a friend who loves art? Bring them along and have them share their knowledge! Art has lots of symbolism, so it can be helpful to have someone point that out to you.
• 5.      Get close and then stand back. Sadly, you can’t get TOO close to the paintings because the guards will have a heart attack. However, it’s important to really “experience” an original painting by seeing the physical paint. In fact, if you come across a Van Gogh or a Seurat, you MUST get close to the painting in order to see the brush techniques. It will change the way you see their paintings forever!  But, just as it is important to get up close to the work, sometimes (especially with large canvases) the beauty is simply in standing back and taking in the work’s breadth.

Don’t come to an art museum tired, hungry, or thirsty. It often involves lots of walking and standing, which can leave you hungry and tired. Pack some snacks if possible because museum coffee shops are often overpriced. Take breaks! Eat, sit, relax. Don’t feel like you have to push through the whole time.

Don’t overlook the museum itself. Sometimes the actual building can be as interesting and as beautiful as the artwork.

You don’t have to like it, but you should at least consider it.

This is especially true for modern art, but could be applied to any style. Even if you decide that you don’t like a piece, a style, or even art in general, you should at least consider why someone else might love it or find it interesting. Sometimes all it takes it looking at a piece in a different way. This simple thing will really enhance your viewing experience. 

Even When We're Broken

I learned about a special Japanese technique for fixing pottery this last week.
 It's called Kintsukuroi.
When a bowl cracks, instead of discarding it completely, they inject gold into the cracks to strengthen it.
This kind of struck me.. What a Beautiful Concept!
However, a certainly familiar concept.
How often are we the broken bowl, cup, jar, etc? Something happens, Life happens, and we are left cracked and broken.
In these moments, we don't feel presentable. That ache is real as if cracks cratered through our own heart.
However, hands of mercy offer us new and beautiful opportunities to be whole again.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the gold that fills our cracks and makes us whole again, leaving us even more beautiful than we were before.
We are always provided the golden opportunity to start again.
Even when we're broken, we are loved.

"Trust in God. Hold on in his love. Know that one day the dawn will break brightly and all shadows of mortality will flee. Though we may feel we are 'like a broken vessel,' as the Psalmist says, we must remember, that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter." 

-Elder Holland

Dear Me

I like to write letters.
Sometimes I write letters that I never actually send.
I find it therapeutic and helpful in expressing and understanding my feelings.
Sometimes I write letters to myself.
Here's one I found today... dated April 18th 2013

Dear Jenny,

     Good job finishing another semester! Sure, that research paper probably needed one more look over, but maybe the score will pleasantly surprise you. You've got your first final tomorrow and I hope you do a fantastic job. But whatever scores you get, you've learned a whole lot more than that number represents.This was a crazy semester and I'm proud of you for making it. You did a lot of hard things, but both of us know you did not do them alone. I'm sorry to say that more hard things are bound to come. You've got a lot of big decisions still ahead of you, but don't be afraid.  You can make the right decision. You know how...Trust in that!
      It's ok to be scared and it's ok to feel lonely sometimes, but know that ultimately you are so very taken care of and surrounded by love. Love can still be magical and beautiful even if you are not dating anyone. And, speaking of that, remember that you are very young and still have lots of experiences coming ahead. Better things are on their way. Be an optimist and happiness will find you!

     I know you feel unsure about the future, but relish in the possibility of possibility. The world is your oyster...go get your pearl! Don't let anyone put you down or make you feel like you've sold out. You are an amazing woman. You are talented and so smart. You are capable of doing anything (well, maybe not computer programming---But, I bet you could learn!)

      Did you know that you are so lucky? How many people have had the education that you have? How many people have had the opportunity to travel like you have? How many people have enjoyed a family-love like the one your family has? You are going to do great and inspiring things. AIM BIG!!!! Don't forget your purpose and the way God sees you. Reread your patriarchal blessing if you need a reminder.

     You are beautiful. Even though you feel chubby and out of shape right now, you are beautiful. You'll wish you still had this body years from now. Someone will recognize your body for its beauty someday and he is worth waiting for! There will be more than one boy who will ever love you, and you are capable of falling in love again too. It will be beautiful and sparkling again. Just be patient and don't let yourself go while you wait.

    So here's to us - you and me. Good luck with finals! Just do your best and move forward. Get good sleep, eat a good breakfast, and breathe. You are almost there...did I mention that you get to sleep in your "big girl" bed for a straight five days next week? Heaven!!!! Now go get 'em done!

   I love you. I know your great potential and the depth of your heart. Let's stay best friends ok? Thanks.

Love,

Yourself 

     

What can I give him?

"What can I give him?

Poor as I am.

If I were a Shepherd, I would bring a Lamb. 

If I were a Wise man, I would do my part.

Yet, what I can- I give him.

Give my heart" 

"In the Bleak Midwinter" is one of those Christmas carols that isn't played on the radio often, but I adore it. Even though it likely wasn't snowy or midwinter when Christ was actually born, I don't think that matters much. Even if the earth wasn't "hard as iron, water like a stone", I feel that sometimes our hearts are that way - frozen, hardened, cold, and with one good hit - shards of ice. But, when we give our heart away, or simply open it to let in the love from others...warmth engulfs us. 

Angels and arch angels may have gathered at Christ's birth. Kings in royal regalia and shepherds with wet earth on their shoes knelt before him. If I had been there, what would I have given the babe? Yes, my heart--with all its longing and love. But, what else? It's an interesting thought. I suppose I would give him a smile, a kiss, and a lullaby.

What will you bring the babe in the manger? Merry Christmas

Change is Good

I've been waiting on a call about a job I interviewed for last week 

and that call finally came last night. 

"Embrace Change...Change is Good" 

Those are the words I wrote down from Stake Conference this past Sunday. 

So here's to embracing a big change.

Starting this January- I'll be writing my lovely blog posts from a new home with a new job.

Washington D.C. Bound! 

 

Swiss Roots

Do you believe in coincidences?
Someone once told me that coincidences are just God's way of going under cover....I don't know if I would go as far as to say that, but sometimes it is miraculous the ways things fall into place.

The main reason I wanted to go on this trip was to trace my Swiss roots. Since both of my grandmother's parents were from Switzerland, I believe part of my blood must be Swiss chocolate.

So there we were - driving in the pouring rain, holding an old photo of my Great-Great Grandfather's house and an outdated map with little red circles and no street names. We were bound and determined to find this house.
Up and down, back around, turning here, stopping there. We sifted every house on this one street in this tiny cow town at least twice. None of them matched the picture and I was beginning to lose hope...and patience.
"Can we please just stop and ask someone?" I plead. So we pulled over at a random business and went in hoping for some answers.
COINCIDENCE #1 - Not only did we find someone who speaks fluent English, but this little business also happens to be the real estate agency that tore down my Great-Great Grandfather's house in the late 90's. They looked up the information and pointed us to the place the house used to stand.

Even though the house was gone, I was pleased to know we hadn't been looking on the wrong street after all. With new hope, we headed to the next town and the next house hunt. We climbed the green hills and there it was. Perfect. I was so happy to find it still standing. We met the woman who lives in the house currently, took lots of pictures, and directed our paths toward the rock quarry my Great-Great Grandfather used to own.

I assume not many tourists drive their cars into rock quarries, because a car followed us in and certainly was curious as to our intentions. The lady asked if she could help us and we (with the aide of pictures and family trees) explained our purpose for being in the rock quarry.
COINCIDENCE #2 - This woman just so happens to have the same last name as my relatives and her husband is the current owner of this quarry. She invited us to her restaurant, where we swapped old photographs and attempted to piece together the possibility of our connection. We didn't ever pin it down because the language barrier provides some difficulty, but her husband's family happens to come from the same city that my Great-Great Grandfather's brother was from. Even if we are not related, what were the chances that another Bruderer would run into us in the quarry??

Reading my Great-Great Grandfather's autobiography and then seeing the places he described was something very special. I saw my Grandma's brothers in each of the Appenzeller men - the similarity in stance was undeniable. Perhaps heightened because I lost my grandma just last winter, but I felt my family with me in the most peaceful way there. They were proud of me (for what I am not really sure), but I felt of their happiness and love.

So even if Switzerland weren't one of the most beautiful places with the best chocolates and cheese, it would still be dear to my heart because it's part of my history.

My Great Grandparents