Monday 14 October 2024



From May I  Created by Beth Richardson ©2022


Saturday 12 October 2024

Saturday Morning Comic 


email: thechautauqua@gmail.com

Friday 11 October 2024

My Artist Voice #30 October 11, 2024

   Welcome to my 30th 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 pulled all of the (golden) beets on Sept. 22nd, and the carrots on Sept. 23rd.  Despite planting many seeds, in many rows, my harvest this year was very, very small! 

 I picked a handful of small peppers (second picking) on October 8th.  I also picked all of the parsley and the grapes - they were ripening v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y this year - which I decided to make into juice.  That's the harvest all done and I just have the garden clean up still to do.

     The Chautauqua is my other life passion.  This fundraiser is a great opportunity to see my art in person and purchase some early Christmas gifts for your family and friends.

Celebrations: 

- I sold 2 of my crochet bears - personalized them with initials for the buyer.

- 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: Water, Earth, Air, and Fire.

- a HUG painting (watercolour pencils, acrylics, Posca paint pens on 9x12 mixed media paper) inspired by a process by Whitney Freya.  When I started, it definitely wasn't going to be another word painting, but that's what it ended up being.

- 3 x 3 inch mini watercolour book - I used only my new Walmart watercolours and gel pen.  You can view a flip-through here: https://www.facebook.com/beth.richardson.10/videos/370000379384530

- I completed more mini collages on 4.5x6 mixed media paper.  Since I did my 100th, I'm embracing this practice more readily.


- I also started playing with the Walmart set of watercolours (and gel pens) on the pad of 4x6 watercolour paper.

- I completed my 32nd cartoon comic booklet and you can view it here: https://www.facebook.com/beth.richardson.10/videos/1511705449711568

In Beth's Kitchen: 

- My attempt at canned potatoes didn't work (not processed enough??  Some other reason??).  Disappointing, but honestly, it's more work than my body can handle now so I won't be trying again this year.

- On Sept. 28th, I made a baked oatmeal with the last of the oatmeal in my cupboard!  I also made a tiny jar of (freezer) pickled carrots.  I roasted all of the beets, and even cut in half, they barely covered the bottom of a pie plate!

Jigsaw Puzzles:

Since my last letter, I completed a 1,000 piece 3-puzzle teapot & teacup set 
I also completed a 500 piece (left) and 300 piece (right) puzzle 

UFO (UnFinished Object) Update: 

- I finished reading through the old gratitude/prayer journals (2002 - 2006) - 2004 was a very challenging year, 2005 a bit better, and 2006 was a vast improvement.  On September 15th, I pulled out my shredder and took over an hour (!) and shredded it all!  I did have some other papers that needed shredded so did it all at once, but even so, over 3/4s of the bag was just the old journal pages.  Unbelievable!  And, a huge relief to get that old energy out of my life!

- I watched 2023 Woman Unleashed Summer and Winter Solstice sessions that I somehow never found time for last year.  That allowed me to close more tabs on my computer.  Then I discovered that I had some sessions from 2022 and 2021 that I didn't watch at the time, and still wanted to, so I started watching those.

- On Oct 5th, I pulled out the Tupperware I kept after Mom passed away, because I liked it and planned to use it.  Well, over 5 years later, I hadn't used it at all.  I repurposed some cute smaller pieces that I really, really like to hold paperclips and elastics in my stationery drawer.  Some Tupperware went to my sister, some went into the yard sale and some went back into the cupboard.  We'll see in a few months if I've used it or not.

Courses and Challenges (free and paid):

- I watched all of the 2024 Sketchbook Revival (free) sessions.  My favourite was how to make your own watercolour paints.  While you do need special ingredients, the whole process is so much easier than I imagined so I added making watercolours to my Basket of Possibilities.  There were a few artists who were new to me that I enjoyed: Salli Swindoll - on creating new colour palettes - was just so fun to watch, Galia Alena from Australia was also fun to watch, Wendy Solganik had a vastly different way to paint with watercolours as she doesn't clean her brush between colours so ends up creating the most intriguing colour mixes (I would like to try that!), and Helen Colebrook does dot art that I loved (and wouldn't be a huge stretch for me as I do lots of dots in my art as embellishments).  Of course, the sessions with artists I enjoy following were great too: Caylee Grey, Charlie O'Shields, Marisa Anne Cummings, Jessica Swift, and the retreat hostess, Karen Abend.

- Amanda Sophia's free mini Divine Woman Awakening course on the Celtic Wheel of the Year - we're now in the Autumn Equinox season, which for Amanda Sophia is the "New Year" as we entered the time when the days are really getting shorter.  For this Celtic New Year, I chose a word of the year - "unconventional" - and I did a wheel of the year oracle card reading - my main theme for the year (centre card) is "Speak Your Mind."  It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the coming months.

- Amanda Sophia's free mini course on Feng Shui - started from the beginning again as it's been so long since I worked on it.

- Amanda Sophia’s free Geomancy & Land Healing course - not started yet.

- Hillary Faye's (paid) Eternal Beauty course - I listened to the guided meditation audios for each of the 6 weeks of the course, and will go back and complete the suggested activities for each week.

- 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 

- more crochet food for my epic buffet project!  It feels so wonderful to be working on this again, even if overall progress is still slow.

- seated forward bends!  Still a challenge to keep doing my practice 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 6 weeks!  I think this might be the longest stretch I've ever done since I first attempted this activity back in the mid-1990's!

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 

~~~~~~~~

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 9 October 2024

Working is one of the most dangerous forms 
of procrastination.  
- Gretchen Rubin

Monday 7 October 2024


From May I  Created by Beth Richardson ©2022


Friday 4 October 2024

October 4, 2024 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

   It has certainly been a weird year for harvesting my garden.  Though with the grasshoppers and heat, I’m glad (and amazed) I got anything.

   The potatoes and raspberries were the best crops.  I ended up with 5 onions in total, a handful of ping-pong ball sized beets, and a generous handful of carrots the size of my fingers.  I also got 10 cups of cherries and a couple dozen apples that I just made into juice as they weren’t that good.

   The melons didn’t do too bad.  I only had enough strawberries, peas, beans, cucumbers and patty pan squash to pick and eat occasionally as I watered the plants.

   At the time of this writing, it looks like I’ll get a fair number of grapes this year.  They aren’t ripe yet so I’m crossing my fingers.  And, I already have loads of ideas for next year’s garden. 

   May you have a lovely thanksgiving - we truly are blest.

Beth


Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NCsw1XC01dVSNW19V39qBA0pazIlzTwQ/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. There are three methods available:   

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 2 October 2024

Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they’re finished.  
The person you are right now is as transient, 
as fleeting and as temporary as all the people you’ve ever been.
 - Daniel Gilbert

Monday 30 September 2024


From May I  Created by Beth Richardson ©2022


Saturday 28 September 2024

Saturday Morning Comic 


email: thechautauqua@gmail.com

Friday 27 September 2024

What’s critical is we know what we’re doing now
 and we know what we’re doing next, 
so attention can stay focused in the present. 
 - Steven Kotler

Wednesday 25 September 2024

Start with what you want and work backward.  
Think and act from your goal, 
rather than toward your goal. 
 - Dr. Benjamin Hardy

 https://www.facebook.com/TheChautauqua

Monday 23 September 2024


From May I  Created by Beth Richardson ©2022


Friday 20 September 2024

September 20, 2024 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

Just to give you an update on where things are right now.

   A HUGE heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who made donations and placed ads in the paper.  Your support means the world to me.

   I was able to have all of the outstanding printing payments made in full by the end of August!!!!!!

   I am still waiting to hear back if I am eligible for the grant or not.  Truthfully, it doesn’t look promising.  While there was no requirement stated that I had to be a “traditional” newspaper to apply for the grant (just had to be a publication that was published consistently throughout the year), they have been asking for information that I can’t provide them because it doesn't fit my situation at all.

   That means going forward, your support in the form of donations and advertising is even more important now.  Please keep helping the paper!

Beth


Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xMltCuVxND48noRtGKH_joS5mCZXmMnz/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. There are three methods available:   

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 18 September 2024

The stories of our lives,
 far from being fixed narratives, 
are under constant revision. 
 - Gordon Livingston

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