May all your troubles last as long 

as your New Year's resolutions.

 - Harley Hay

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com 

or phone: 403-352-3837

From BEEing  Created by Beth Richardson ©2021 

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com 

or phone: 403-352-3837 to purchase

Saturday Morning Comic 

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com or phone: 403-352-3837

You suppose you are the lock on the door 

But you are the key that opens it. 

 - Rumi

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com 

or phone: 403-352-3837

Pray for peace and grace and spiritual food, 

For wisdom and guidance, 

For all these are good, 

But don’t forget the potatoes.  

 - John Tyler Petee

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com 

or phone: 403-352-3837

From BEEing  Created by Beth Richardson ©2021 

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com 

or phone: 403-352-3837 to purchase

December 19, 2025 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

   I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to my readers, contributors, and advertisers for your overwhelming support this year (and in previous years).

   It was quite the rollercoaster ride this year, and it was your continued encouragement (and my extremely stubborn nature) that kept me going with The Chautauqua. More than anything else though, it was your complete faith that I would be able to find a solution and continue to keep the Chautauqua as a print publication that touched me the most.

   May you all have a very Merry Christmas, and I look forward to continuing our adventures together in 2026! May the new year bring great joy and good times for us all!

Note: Ad rates have gone up to cover costs.

There is no charge to submit photos and/or news items, however, a donation is gratefully accepted.

I invite you to please donate a minimum of $23 in honour of the 23 years I’ve been in publication. That’s less than a $1/issue for a year. Receipts available on request. Thank you for your support.

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JmVNoP9aCF6D9PLlCVI3jE29TE7v6cf7/view?usp=drive_link

 Whether you've enjoyed reading The Chautauqua from the first issue 23 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 phone: 403-352-3837  

The universe is full of magical things

 patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. 

- Eden Phillpotts

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com 

or phone: 403-352-3837

From BEEing  Created by Beth Richardson ©2021 

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com 

or phone: 403-352-3837 to purchase

Saturday Morning Comic 

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com or phone: 403-352-3837

My Artist Voice #44 December 12, 2025

   Welcome to my 44th Letter. To receive these letters directly in your email inbox so you don't miss any, 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.  If you no longer wish to receive, please reply with "Unsubscribe."

   

   By the time you read this, the Christmas issue, with its Christmas greeting insert, has gone to print!  I survived another year!  The Christmas issue pretty much took all of my focus this past month.

Celtic Year theme: Joy and Delight (fire, do what brings you joy weekly, how can you bring joy to others?) 

Samhain: Imagine and Envision (air, let your imagination soar)

[WINTER/REST]: Cleansing Body and Soul (water, clear your energy/spirit)

Celebrations: 

 

   It's now 3 months later, and the greenery from the Telus bouquet is still lush and green in the vase on the table!

   I went to Bashaw's Christmas in the Country market on November 22nd and Mirror Library's Christmas market on November 29th where Niece and I ate some samples that were offered at different tables and had fun while Sis chatted with different people.  I was at the Alix Christmas market on Dec. 6th - saw Sis and Niece there too - I bought some baking as I didn’t get any made here in the past month.  I also visited the Fire Hall to get my annual picture with Santa!

   I finished watching the 2023 CPCA chuckwagon racing season replays online Dec. 5th.  I'll take a break from the chucks and watch Hallmark Christmas movies till the new year.  I am also still enjoying watching Josh Johnson's comedy sketches online - 1 per day for laughter and stress relief.

   I published two more comic strips in the paper and posted them online.  Both are repeats from last year.  

Recently Completed:

Since the last newsletter...

   I completed my 41st cartoon comic booklet, and you can view it here: https://www.facebook.com/beth.richardson.10/videos/1527783118367612

In Beth's Kitchen:

  Nov. 29th I roasted my 13 larger beets and just ate them.

Jigsaw Puzzles:

   Since my last letter, I completed a 1,000 piece puzzle (funny it was missing 7 edge pieces in a row!)

UFO (UnFinished Object) Update:

   I finished reading an historical fiction trilogy I was given as a gift years ago and hadn't read at the time.  Not one that I will read again so I decided to pass onto Sis. I had another historical fiction book that was a gift from long ago that I just read and will pass on as well.

   Kiala Givehand’s 7 Books in 7 Days course: I still have ideas for books I want to make though that's on the back burner for now.  

Courses and Challenges (free and paid):

  Deanne Fitzpatrick's (paid) Playful Joyful Rug Hooking beginner course: rug hooking has been on hold as I focussed on the Christmas issue of the paper.

   Lou Reed's Inner Empire Immersion: I missed the session on Nov. 19th because I was delivering papers so had to catch up on the replay.  Originally the plan was for us to do the introductory section (Gate 0) in 28 days, but it was extended so we can all get used to the process and how the rest of the journey will unfold.  I was able to be at the Dec. 4th session live, and share how the process has been for me so far.  The plan is now that we will move to Gate 1 on Dec. 19th (my time).

Physical Activity:

   There’s been snow to shovel so will count that during the winter.

   Rebounder: I'm still only doing a 1 min/day, and I've been on the rebounder for almost a full YEAR!  I think if you add up all the days I missed because I was sick, I may have missed just a week's worth total! Not bad at all!

  "Mystery activity” I’m still doing this DAILY!!  My aim is to increase my time to over 1 minute daily!  Most days I can do that, but not all.

Works in progress:

Currently, I'm working on...

- 13 inch round mandala acrylic painting (stalled)

- Era of the Dreamers journal - I usually do something in it every week as it's been a bit slower with the rest of life happening of late

- personal smashbook for daily journal writing as part of my connection to Spirit and my Guides

- mini collages (stalled)

- painting (18-20?) ceramic Easter egg people from Gramma's craft kits (acrylics) - stalled 

- UFO crochet project (not food) - stalled 

- my next small hooked rug (stalled)

   A good friend was surprised to hear that I had never watched the TV series "Yellowstone" and highly recommended it.  I watched the third season DVDs Nov. 15 - 17th.  Do you remember when television series were 22-25 episodes long??  When a "season" is less than 10 episodes, it sure doesn't take long to go through!  I watched "1883: a Yellowstone origin story" on DVD the last weekend of Nov.  Next up will be Season 4 of "Yellowstone" - not sure if I'll start before Christmas or wait till after.

Featured Products for Sale:

   For the month of December, I have my Creative Daily Planners available for purchase for a Heart-felt Donation to support The Chautauqua.  I do ask for a minimum donation of $25 to also cover potential shipping costs.  They make great gifts and can be viewed in person at 4919 47th St., Mirror.  Or email thechautauqua@gmail.com to purchase.  Thank you for your support.

   This is a great time to get back into routines, so I am making my hour long Love Your Body Yoga Class (suitable for beginners and all levels) available in digital format for $20.  If you would like to experience this class, please email thechautauqua@gmail.com.

  

   I have inspirational card decks, journals, chapbooks, musical CD's and more for sale that would make gifts and stocking stuffers.  Please contact me at thechautauqua@gmail.com or phone 403-352-3837 to make a purchase. Or visit 4910 47 St, in Mirror, AB.  Items are also available for sale at Amy’s Bakery on Main Street in Delburne, AB.

   I offer $50 Distance Reiki/Energy Healing sessions.  I’ve been an Kundalini Reiki Master since 2023.  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!

The thing is to become a master

 and in your old age to acquire the courage 

to do what children did when they knew nothing. 

 - Henry Miller

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com 

or phone: 403-352-3837

From BEEing  Created by Beth Richardson ©2021 

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com 

or phone: 403-352-3837 to purchase

December 5, 2025 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

   How are your stress levels as we progress deeper into the Christmas season preparations?

   This time of year can bring up so many emotions, as it is both a joyful time of year, but it can also be a very sad time of year.

   It is also when normally sane people can be completely irrational about holiday “traditions.”

   Traditions are important, and they give us a sense of stability and continuity. And yet, they can also derail us faster than anything else in life.

   If a family tradition still brings you and your family joy, great! But, if it is causing anger, stress, or worry, why are you still doing it? Really?

   We have an idea that because something is a “tradition” that means it can’t change, but traditions do evolve as we ourselves grow and evolve.

   What traditions need changed in your life for a happier holiday?

Note: Ad rates have gone up to cover costs.

There is no charge to submit photos and/or news items, however, a donation is gratefully accepted.

I invite you to please donate a minimum of $23 in honour of the 23 years I’ve been in publication. That’s less than a $1/issue for a year. Receipts available on request. Thank you for your support.

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Q3Jzkc7G6cv_pIUD2PJoLrV9MN8-SZA/view?usp=sharing

 Whether you've enjoyed reading The Chautauqua from the first issue 23 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 phone: 403-352-3837