The Chautauqua

Wednesday, 20 November 2024

The trees are about to show us

how lovely it is to let things go.

- Unknown

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Monday, 18 November 2024

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Friday, 15 November 2024

November 15, 2024 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

I have a new pet peeve that is getting more and more peevish as the weeks go by.

My peeve is the increasing incorrect usage of the word “loose,” when they should be using the word “lose.”

At first I was able to let it slide as a “once in a blue moon” misspelling, but now it is EVERYWHERE!

I’m not sure if this is because people are using artificial intelligence more (ie Voice to Text features or ChatGTP apps) or if folks have completely forgotten their vocabulary! More likely, it’s a case of not proof reading their writing.

In simple terms, LOOSE means not tight. For example: The bolt was loose.

LOOSE does NOT mean to cease or no longer have. For example: I want to lose weight.

If the continued misuse of the word LOOSE doesn’t stop, I may just LOSE my mind!

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hMXEDjwNhFSjLSPpNNFPK7EIuD_no477/view?usp=sharing

Whether you've enjoyed reading The Chautauqua from the first issue 22+ years ago, are a brand new reader, or somewhere in between, I sincerely hope that The Chautauqua has enriched your life, as much as it has enriched mine publishing it. If you would like to help ensure it continues to enrich others like yourself, I ask you to please consider making a donation to The Chautauqua.

Mail a cheque or money order (made out to Beth Richardson – Chautauqua) to Box 261 Mirror, AB T0B 3C0

E-transfer/PayPal to thechautauqua@gmail.com

Your support and kindness is always greatly appreciated, and I look forward to continuing to bring joy and inspiration to you with each issue. Thank you so much and have a marvellous day!

Contact The Chautauqua via email: thechautauqua@gmail.com or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChautauqua

Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Both professionals and masters have to learn and practice their art,

polish their skills and technique, but to become a true master,

you need to learn to let go and trust yourself enough to create in the flow.

- Kristina Mand-Lakhiani

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Monday, 11 November 2024

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to purchase decks: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html

Saturday, 9 November 2024

Saturday Morning Comic

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Friday, 8 November 2024

My Artist Voice #31 November 8, 2024

Welcome to my 31st Letter to you. To receive these letters directly in your email inbox, please contact thechautauqua@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list. Please share this with friends who may also be interested. Thank you so much for your support.

I attended the dinner concert that kicked off the Stettler Variety Showcase 2024-2025 season on November 3rd, with my friend, Sheila. The meal was delicious (I freely admit I ate more than my personal portion and thoroughly enjoyed every single bite!). The performer was Trevor Panczak (www.trevortown.com). He mentioned that the last time he performed in Stettler was in 2002, which means he was the first SVS concert I attended! During the concert, Trevor mentioned he was the opening act during Don Williams’ final Canadian tour (I saw Don in person in Calgary during his 2nd last tour of Canada - the only time even though he was always my all-time fav singer) and has a Don Williams tribute album coming out in 2025. It was a great evening and I'm so glad I went as I missed the dinner concert the last two years due to extreme snowfall and sickness.

The next day, I attended the Bashaw Community Theatre's production of "Beauty and the Beast Jr." The cast did a great job, and it was neat to see so many tiny Belles in the audience.

Celebrations:

- I completed my 1,900th iPad sky drawing on October 6th!

- I published two more comic strips in the paper and posted them online.

Recently Completed:

Since the last newsletter, I've completed...

- 4 watercolour play faces on 9x12 mixed media paper. From left: Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn.

- More playing with the Walmart set of watercolours (and gel pens) on the pad of 4x6 watercolour paper. Except for the red, these are not colours I normally use so it's been neat creating fall foliage to try them out.

- From Sketchbook Revival, I signed up for Jessica Swift's free Art for Self-Care class which provided 5 different prompts for creating. I decided to make 3 different versions of each prompt in different mediums: (L-R) 1st - ipad, 2nd - tombow markers (4.5x6), 3rd Inktense coloured pencils (4.5x6)

- I completed my 33rd cartoon comic booklet and you can view it here: https://www.facebook.com/beth.richardson.10/videos/1798579700935462

In Beth's Kitchen:

- On October 11th, I finished making the grape juice and ended up with 11 (and a bit) cups.

- On October 29th - same day as our first snowfall - I made a baked oatmeal. Nice warm dish on a wintry day.

Our next snow day was November 5th and I decided that I could no longer put off dealing with some of the food stuffs in the fridge and pantry so made a couple of veggie casseroles, and I froze one.

Jigsaw Puzzles:

Since my last letter, I completed a 1,000 piece puzzle.

UFO (UnFinished Object) Update:

- From Oct 11 - Oct 31, in Inner Circle, we spent the 21 days working on a project that we wanted to complete. Rather than pick just one project (you should know by now that's not how I roll), I decided to deal with UFO's and other little tasks that needed done around the house. While I didn't spend every one of those days sorting, I did spend a few, and Optimistic Beth may have thought she was going to finish ALL of the crafts that Mom and Gramma had started and didn't finish, however Realistic Beth knew she wouldn't (and that quite truthfully, she didn't "really" want to!) - I boxed up MANY unfinished craft projects, MULTIPLE craft kits, and LOTS of craft supplies, and my sister took them. I assume she plans to complete them as she has completed a few already. I'd love to say that dealt with everything in the house, but there is still much more to go through.

- I watched 2022 and 2021 Woman Unleashed Summer and Winter Solstice sessions that I somehow never found time for when they were presented. That closed more open tabs on my computer.

- I recently watched a short class by Minette Riordan on colours and emotions in art. That closed another tab.

Courses and Challenges (free and paid):

- I watched a free class from Sketchbook Revival artist, Galia Alena from Australia, called Gentle Creative Invitations - some of her practices I already do, but I was intrigued by a guest artist she had in the class who paints on cardboard, mainly because I have a nice stack of cardboard pieces in the basement that I was just going to recycle. I think I’ll paint on them instead!

- Amanda Sophia's free mini Divine Woman Awakening course on the Celtic Wheel of the Year - we're now in Samhain (pronounced saa-wn), which began Oct. 31/Nov. 1. This is a time when the veils are thin and the focus is on ancestors and ancestral healing. As well as letting go of what no longer serves us. I will continue to sort items in the house - as time allows - thanking my mom and gramma for what they taught me, and letting go (ie crafts) what no longer fits the person I am now, and I acknowledge that it is more than okay for me to have my own interests that are completely different from theirs.

I also pulled out Demi Fox's Morgan Le Fay course that I did 2 (?) years ago and am going through the unit that corresponds with Samhain again.

- Amanda Sophia's free mini course on Feng Shui - finished this on October 11th. Great info, and my biggest takeaway was that I really need to get mom's belongings all dealt with so I can create a home that nurtures ME and MY dreams!

- Amanda Sophia’s free Geomancy & Land Healing course - I finally started this on October 11th. I only watched the video on the history of Geomancy so far, and will have to watch again as it had a LOT of info in it. What really stood out for me was that a meandering river is called that because it has a "meander" in it! And a meander is where the river does a U-turn (because of impenetrable rock) and flows back toward itself. This usually occurs with underground rivers and people can find where it happens as there is usually an ancient labyrinth on top - with the centre of the labyrinth right over the meander as that's where the most intense pressure and energy is. That puts a whole different spin on my theme for the year of "meandering!" Does that mean I'm supposed to U-turn somewhere in my life???

- Hillary Faye's (paid) Eternal Beauty course - I finished this course Oct. 27th. There are a couple of the guided meditation audios I really liked that I will continue to listen to in the days ahead as they are really good reminders (especially on days when I feel sick) of how incredibly awesome my body really is.

- To get moving on my drum playing, I pulled out a 5 Day Drumming challenge from an old email series. I still haven't gotten to Day 2 yet, though I do play the drum daily.

- Shiloh Sophia's Wild Card Oracle class - not sure if I will make more cards or not.

- Recipes, Remedies, and Rituals Ayurveda course practices: eating only my personal portion size for each meal and doing abdominal rubbing throughout the day to help with digestion/elimination and overall relaxation of the body.

Works in progress:

Currently, I'm working on...

- a 9x12 page of watercolour play

- playing on the 4x6 watercolour paper pad with my "fancier" watercolour paints

- I recently got 2 small inexpensive paint palettes so I'll soon be able to start playing with the watercolour technique I mentioned in my last letter re mixing watercolours.

- seated forward bends! Still a challenge and I'm only doing my seated forward bend in the tub when I have my evening bath. Rather than focus on how far my nose is from my knees, I'm focusing on how far my nose has moved from when I started.

Top: Day 1 - Feb. 19

Middle: 26 weeks (1/2 year!) - Aug. 19

Bottom: 33 weeks - Oct. 7

- "Mystery activity” I have done a little bit on it EVERY day for just over 10 weeks! Health-wise the past couple of weeks have made it quite the challenge, but I persevered!

Featured Art for Sale:

Lady of Desire (acrylic/mixed media) on 16x20 stretched canvas $450 I painted this from an online class. As I didn't have all of the materials and supplies required, I had to be a bit more innovative with what I did have. The first layer was created with orange napkins collaged onto the canvas - you can see a bit of the texture that created around her head. Her hair was created with pieces of lace. For the collar of her dress, I used small folded paper doilies. After painting with acrylic paints, I embellished her with a fabric flower in her hair and her jewellery was created with old buttons (that my mom had saved after taking the back stem with the hole off). Please contact me to purchase "Lady of Desire."

"Magical Moments in my Day Journal: for the extra special moments all around me" 6x9 lined journal $15 purchased from me or you can purchase from Amazon https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CJLKZ3KB

Please contact me at thechautauqua@gmail.com or phone 403-352-3837 to make a purchase.

Upcoming Projects:

- I offer Pay-What-You-Can Distance Reiki/Energy Healing sessions. Energy healing works great from any distance and I've sent Reiki healing as far away as Queensland, Australia. Please, contact me to set up your healing session.

"I have been suffering with Long COVID for over a year and have tried every healing modality in the book to get my energy back. Beth has been gifting me with healing Reiki energy for quite some time now and I have, for the first time in over a year, started to feel like myself again. Much of my weakness has dissipated, and the dark cloud that I have been stewing under has lifted. Thank you Beth. ♥️" - Carla, Esthetician, Nova Scotia

Thanks for reading, and as always, feel free to share with anyone you think might enjoy it.

Beth

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As a life-long creative, and now artist, I weave my varied interests and wisdom together in an enlightening and entertaining manner, to make people think, but above all else, bring a smile to their faces and hearts, as my style is childlike in its simplicity and playfulness. While bedridden for much of 2017, I developed 5 – 10 minute practices which allowed me to commit to them daily. I’ve been called the “Queen of Small Steps” because my simple practices – though they seem small individually – have added up to quite a body of work in a few short years.

~~~~~~~~

Thank you so much for your support, to receive this newsletter directly via email please email: thechautauqua@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list. Thank you!

Back issues of this newsletter are found here: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/ under the category "Artist Newsletter"

To support my artistic journey, please consider purchasing my artwork, items available in person at 4910-47 St, Mirror, AB

or make a donation via

Mail a cheque or money order (made out to Beth Richardson – Chautauqua) to Box 261 Mirror, AB T0B 3C0

E-transfer/PayPal to thechautauqua@gmail.com

Your support and kindness are always greatly appreciated, and I look forward to bringing you joy and inspiration! Thank you so much and have a marvellous day!

Wednesday, 6 November 2024

Success is a collection of problems solved.

- I.M. Pei

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Monday, 4 November 2024

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to purchase decks: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html

Friday, 1 November 2024

November 1, 2024 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

Sigh………………………………………

I’m not sure if the dust has all settled yet, but here’s where things are at the moment.

I did some more research into other printing options, and Black Press is still the best, and most economical, option for me (even with the massive price increase!)

As I had to make some really fast decisions to ensure that I could continue going forward, the first one I made - that has the most direct impact on yourself as a reader - was to drop the paper down to 8 pages.

Eliminating 4 pages certainly wasn’t easy (layout-wise and emotionally! I admit there are thoughts of being a failure swirling in my mind).

I sincerely hope there will be more than enough interesting and unique content for your reading enjoyment, and you keep supporting the paper.

My fingers are crossed that publishing an 8 page paper is just a very temporary measure, until I can get my feet under myself again, but I also am fully aware it could end up being the “new normal” for The Chautauqua going forward into the months ahead.

I continue to be amazed and grateful for the ongoing support I have received: kind words of encouragement, new ads, and donations. It is humbling to see how much you trust me to find a solution that works and to continue publishing the paper. I can’t thank you all enough!

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/147oRz1MXmCfJ9MsjyBqB76he06I5VW8_/view?usp=sharing

Mail a cheque or money order (made out to Beth Richardson – Chautauqua) to Box 261 Mirror, AB T0B 3C0

E-transfer/PayPal to thechautauqua@gmail.com

Your support and kindness is always greatly appreciated, and I look forward to continuing to bring joy and inspiration to you with each issue. Thank you so much and have a marvellous day!