Open Journal.


Write everyday.

Sketching with words, from home and on the road:

A living compilation of thoughts, ideas, stories, and impressions.


Art, Travel, Germany, Seasonal Market, Community Jessica Howe Art, Travel, Germany, Seasonal Market, Community Jessica Howe

The Gift of the Kristomos

Of all the many beautiful, remarkable works of art I had seen that day, this became the one I wanted to take home. I chose one holding a tiny amethyst point. A bright smile lit her face when she saw me select this Kristomos. She felt this was particularly special because he was holding the crystal close to his heart. Her radiant warmth, generosity, and genuine love for creating have stayed with me ever since, and this tiny figure is a reminder of the infinite connection that is possible through being open in meeting others. It’s the people we encounter on every journey who really define our experiences, like the points of starlight that comprise a constellation.

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Travel, Apostrophe Soul Radio, Exploration Jessica Howe Travel, Apostrophe Soul Radio, Exploration Jessica Howe

Backpacking & Finding Adventure

On this week’s episode of Apostrophe Soul Radio, my dear friend and business partner Mary interviewed me about my experiences as a traveler, adventure-seeker, artist, and writer. And we had a blast with this conversation! Any time I have an opportunity to openly share my love for travel, my soul lights up. Her wonderful guidance, insightful questions, and genuine interest made this interview an absolute joy of an experience. Speaking to this love of travel led me to reflect back to where it all began—and I realized that we plant the seeds of our next adventure through the act of dreaming everyday. A desire to travel allows our imaginations to be free, wild, and limitless. In sharing my experiences with Mary, I vividly recalled the earliest origins of my passion for exploring the world.

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Open Journal, Travel, Nature Jessica Howe Open Journal, Travel, Nature Jessica Howe

Be Your Own Compass:

Today, I awoke at sunrise and headed to the banks of Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve, to hang out with the deer and share reflections from the week. In this Open Journal, I talk about new discoveries, engaging with the magic of nature, and generating new growth through embracing what truly lights up your soul.

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Journal, Books, Travel Jessica Howe Journal, Books, Travel Jessica Howe

Building a Bookstore

For me, the connection between books and travel is inseparable. It is through books that I became emboldened to dream and imagine myself into other experiences. Places far beyond anything I had ever known. Seeing the artwork, reading the stories of others and their adventures abroad--these were the seeds that planted the beginning of my own journey as a traveler. I like to think of books as navigation tools, in opening doors within us and beyond us. They help us chart the course of our own journeys, and inspire us to take the next step.

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Journal, Travel, Expression Jessica Howe Journal, Travel, Expression Jessica Howe

Travel Journals

What is a journal? To me, it’s a tool for expression that breaks through resistance. The kind of resistance we experience when launching into a big dream or idea. Through journaling, we can be vulnerable, bold, imaginative, and boundless. Honesty and clarity emerge with the practice of writing our stories. Through this act of reflection, a kind of revelation unfolds and we learn more about ourselves, on a deeper level. We become more familiar with what we truly want, and free to openly exercise our voice.

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Help us keep adding to the pages of our Adventure Book!

The Adventures of Jessie and The Grumpy Gnome is an independent publication, created and managed by artist, musician, & travel writer Jessie Howe. All of the content on this site is our own—photography, art, music, stories, and experiences. We would love to keep bringing you the best of what we learn on our journeys, in the hope of inspiring you to create your own!

If you would like to support this beloved endeavor, you can purchase items from our Shop, Commission an original art piece, join our Patreon, and follow us on social media. All proceeds go toward the continuation of this work, and your generosity makes it possible for us to grow.

Thank you for visiting our site and sharing in our stories.