Well, life has been a rollercoaster since my last letter! I had decided to stay with the press in Lethbridge because it was the best option based on the information I was given. So the second August paper was a trial run (so to speak) for the new shipping set up. Very long, very stressful story short, it was a gong show, and it was NOT the courier's fault - the guy who made the shipping label had my address incorrect so I had to track down my papers and get an address correction which took a whole day so I didn't get the papers when I should have, and I was late delivering them. I was NOT impressed.
Coincidentally, or serendipitously, the day I finally got the papers delivered to me, I received a phone call from a member of the Black Press management. I've known the gal for years as she used to be the publisher at the Red Deer Advocate. When she asked how things were going and if I was happy with the printing, I proceeded to tell her my numerous press woes from the past 2-3 years over a 1.5 hr call, and I shocked her.
Turns out I was supposed to be moved to the Vernon press for printing automatically when the Advocate was. I contacted Vernon the following week myself and got set up remarkably quickly and easily. A huge load of stress was suddenly eliminated from my life. And, I got my very reliable (grandfathered) shipping to my door back! I also discovered that the various reasons I was given, that made me decide to remain with Lethbridge, were all false! OY!
So, just when I was finally able to breathe a huge sigh of relief as the printing/delivery was very easy again, I was contacted by the press that I had 2 weeks to pay them in full (yes, unfortunately I was in arrears because I wasn't receiving payments in a timely manner due to Canada Post delivery delays) or they were cutting me off completely and I would no longer be able to print the paper. Sigh.... Through a lot of begging and pleading, I managed to get enough money to pay the press, and now I'm exploring other options for generating funding besides just advertising. Never a dull moment!
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Word of the Year: Hobbit (Comfort / Cozy)
Celtic Year theme: Joy and Delight (fire, do what brings you joy weekly, how can you bring joy to others?)
[SUMMER/HARVEST]: Affirmation for Growth (earth, take the next step)
Lughnasadh: Prayers and Wishes (air, wish on a star)
Celebrations:
I wasn't able to see my Niece on her birthday, so she came over on Aug. 22nd for belated birthday celebrations. We made a no-bake raspberry pie (her request). We picked fruits and veggies from the garden - 3 cups of cherries, some rhubarb, 2 dozen raspberries (I was shocked she found more as I'd stripped the canes the last time I picked), miscellaneous herbs, peas, beans, sweet peppers, and dug some potatoes. I pitted the cherries, chopped the rhubarb and dealt with the dill as my niece dealt with the other herbs and cut up the peppers. She found a couple of recipes for a hot sauce to dip the raw veggies into so I let her mix them up for us. I made applesauce mini waffles for our lunch. After lunch, she showed me her new nail art tools and supplies, and she did my finger and toenails. We played Clue and I actually won one game! All in all, a fun day together and she went home at 4:30 PM.
I recently discovered that Clive Pharmasave has a local vendor corner in their store and I dropped off some of my decks and other items on Sept. 8th. If you are in the area, be sure to check them out.
I listened to the Aug. 12 - 16th WPCA finals in Rocky Mountain House - full of thrills and literal spills (2 drivers were bounced out of their wagons and both were okay!) and had a great end to the season. I watched the replays for the Aug. 12 - 16th CPCA finals in Onion Lake, SK Aug. 16 - Aug. 20th - they also had some thrilling races and finish to their season. It was a delight to be able to follow the full season for both associations again.
I finished watching season 8 of "When Calls the Heart" and started season 9. I watched some Hallmark movies on the Global app on my ipad and Josh Johnson's comedy sketches online for laughter and stress relief.
I watched more YouTube videos from Hannah of Real Vintage Doll House and am now in the very early 2025 videos - her content is very enjoyable as she covers a range of topics within the 1940's time period. I really like the videos where she attempts to make a vintage recipe as she claims she's not really a cook or baker so she is always so surprised when the dish turns out. As well, I like her videos highlighting a substitution that was used by homemakers in the 1940's due to shortages and rationing.
It's made me more aware of what's in this house that I can use in other ways. For instance, I have a ridiculous number of partial packages of napkins (mom used to buy lots as we used them at church teas and Guiding events) and I decided that I can use them instead of paper towel for the times I need a paper towel as I don't go through napkins, as napkins, that fast when it's just myself (most are bigger/thicker than I need so I cut them in half to use).
I published two more comic strips in the paper and posted them online. Both are repeats from previous years.
Recently Completed:
Since the last newsletter...
I finished my 47th cartoon comic booklet. You can view it here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1884867009147814
In Beth's Kitchen:
I just ended up pitting and freezing my cherries - I'll make them into pies another time.
Aug. 16th, I mixed up some cinnamon buns and added dried diced banana and the last cup of fresh raspberries. Then I tried a 2-Ingredient Bread recipe I found. Mine was actually 4 ingredients because I didn't have self-rising flour so had to add baking powder and salt. Also, I used a can of coconut milk as I didn't have whole milk. I don't usually put parchment paper in my loaf pans, but did this time as per the recipe as I wasn't sure what to expect. All in all, it was better than I expected. Though, if I make this again, I'll make as two smaller loaves instead of one big one.
I pitted and froze 8 cups of cherries Aug. 18th. Then I started prepping apples for juice - out of the first 10 lbs I dealt with, I was only able to save 8 apples as the rest were completely rotten. So disappointing! Thankfully there were only 3 rotten apples out of the next 5 lbs I cut up so I was able to fill the Dutch oven for a batch of juice.
My week went sideways so I didn't finish the apple juice until the morning of Aug. 20th. I ended up with 8 cups of juice.
Aug. 24th, I probably should have just stayed in bed, but instead I was in the kitchen very early. First, I picked the last of the rhubarb and cut it up. With the rhubarb my Niece and I picked when she was here, I had exactly the right amount for a pie! I had pastry already made - from the cherry pie attempt - so figured the pie would go together quickly. Ha! It was worse than the cherry pie attempt. Sigh......Maybe a smaller pie plate? I did try cooking the pie in the electric frying pan to say I did - it cooked, but I need to do some tweaking so the whole pie cooks! Finished cooking it in the oven. Again, the filling was too runny (sigh) and the pastry left a bit to be desired, but it tasted wonderful!
I also went through the remaining 15 lbs of apples. Ended up with just over 5 lbs of usable apples as the rest were completely rotten all the way through (even the ones without a visible outside blemish). So disappointing, but on the plus side I didn't have to find crisper space for the apples, and they're all dealt with. I made 6 cups of applesauce from the usable apples.
Sept. 1st I decided to try a 2-Ingredient Biscuit recipe - again, mine being 4 ingredients as I didn't have self-rising flour. Well, the biscuits tasted good, but they didn't rise and end up more like pancakes! OY! So I need to figure out what I did wrong before I try making more.
As I had quite a few LARGE ripe tomatoes, I made 7 cups of tomato soup Sept. 4th. I start by blending up the tomatoes (peel, seeds, and all) and then add other items (ie onions, peppers, etc), before I simmer it all with miscellaneous spices. No two batches of soup are ever the same. Five jars went into the freezer and I ate the other two on cold rainy days.
A lot of my baking and cooking is based on what I have on hand as I rarely buy special ingredients just to make a recipe. After assessing my kitchen, I decided to try making a basic no-knead peasant bread on Sept. 7th, as I had lots of flour and yeast. I have made yeast bread since Mom passed away, but that was in the bread maker so I could decide if I wanted to keep said bread maker - I ended up selling it, So, like pastry, it's been eons and ages since I made yeast bread without a bread maker. Thankfully the recipe was quick and easy. And there is something so homey (Hobbit like!) about the smell of yeast bread baking.
I ended up mixing up another loaf of peasant bread on Sept. 8th. Now that I had a better idea what to expect, I decided to bake this one in a smaller pan and that worked better. It's a perfect sized loaf for 1 person.
I decided to make one more loaf of the peasant bread on Sept. 9th. While the dough was rising for the 2nd time, I went out and pulled some carrots and dug some potatoes. I ended up outside a wee bit longer than expected so the dough really rose up. But, when it was cooking, it ended up overflowing the loaf pan so I had a bit of mess! The only way I could get it out of the pan was to take the top crust off completely. Really, there are days I swear I'm not supposed to enter the kitchen. While not a "perfect" loaf, and smaller than planned in the end without the top crust, I popped it in the freezer so I have bread if I ever need/want it and don't feel like making any.
Yard & Garden:
We received another 1/4 inch of rain Aug. 13th and then 1/8th inch on Aug. 14th. My farmer friend was back on the 14th, and this time he was able to set the mole trap.
Aug. 15th I went out and picked the last of the raspberries - 24 berries! Hopefully next year's crop is better. Cherries were starting to split because we had had so much rain, and even after picking another 8 cups, there were still lots on the tree. I picked the rest of the apples and got another 10 lbs, so that was about 30 lbs total. I pulled all of the onions and found 5 that looked like they were okay - on closer inspection, I only ended up with 3 very small onions, and I had planted 1.5 bags of onion sets. VERY disappointing.
I gave myself a scare, and I felt like throwing up, because I ended up stepping on a dead creature when I was picking the peas (shudder) - the mole? I didn't look closely enough, I just headed right into the house!
I was outside for a bit Aug. 16th and pulled some carrots from the large garden planter - largest was the size of my pinkie finger!
We received another 1/4 inch of rain on Aug. 17th. Later in the morning, I went out and picked another 8 cups of cherries off the tree.
After lunch my farmer friend returned and removed the dead critter from my garden. Thank goodness! I can handle a lot of difficult tasks in life, but dead critters are completely beyond me. He said it definitely was a dead mole, so I hope it was THE mole terrorizing my garden, and that he didn't have any friends with him. Farmer took his mole trap, and told me to contact him if I see any future mole activity. Hopefully the sonic spike has been in the ground long enough to deter any future critters.
Aug. 26th I went out and spent 1.5 hrs (approximately) pruning trees and shrubs in the yard - the biggest job was pruning the Nanking cherry and I probably should have taken more off but called what I did good enough for this year.
I spent an hour outside on Aug. 27th. I picked the last handful of peas and the last 2 cups of cherries. I also spent more time pruning the Nanking cherry as I realized (after looking at it from my bedroom window) there were more branches that needed to come off.
Later that afternoon, my neighbour mowed my lawn - between the weather and trying to keep the paper functioning, the grass got away from me again.
My Niece came over the morning of Aug. 28th and loaded the branches into the truck. She drove us to the dump and unloaded the branches too.
Sept. 3rd we received 1/2 inch of rain. I really wish there was some way I could save all the water in my full rain barrels for next year!
Sept. 4th I picked a very small handful of peas. Some unexpected later growing plants were starting to produce!
Sept. 8th we received another 1/8th inch of rain.
Jigsaw Puzzles
Since my last Letter, I completed two 1,000 piece puzzles - Niece helped put the final pieces in the first one when she was here.
UFO (UnFinished Object) Update:
As part of my Hobbit year, I make sure that I let go of (or put away, or finish) at least one physical item per day, and delete at least one computer file (or old email, or tab closed) per day. Some of my bigger highlights so far...
- more items sorted and to my Sister
- more items to the school - I had offered boxes of old handmade Christmas decorations and they were thrilled because theirs had all been stolen last Nov!
- items given to friends who had a need for the items
- more items used up from the freezer and cupboards as I subbed ingredients in recipes for what I have on hand
- more open tabs on my computer looked at and closed
My niece was here Aug. 24th and helped me move two big wooden swinging lawnchairs out of the garage and to the front of the yard where my sale is set up. We also put some other items from the garage in the yard sale.
When she was here on Aug. 28th, we pulled more items out of the garage and added them to the yard sale.
I was able to open the sales a few days the end of Aug. and over the Sept. long weekend, and I sold some items! Hopefully I can sell a lot more before the snow flies!
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):
Karen Abend's annual (free) Sketchbook Revival online retreat. With the outside work, I'm currently stalled on the journal(s).
Deanne Fitzpatrick's (paid) Playful Joyful Rug Hooking beginner course: working on my larger (for me) rug.
Physical Activity:
Rebounder: It's been 6 months (!) that I've been doing 10 minutes of the health bounce, four times per day. I haven't missed a day at all! While I don't see anything "obvious," my body shape must be changing a bit as my clothes do fit slightly differently. Also, I notice my energy is a bit off on the days I'm not able to do my first 3 sets before lunch time.
"Mystery activity” I’m still doing this DAILY!! August marked 2 years and I haven't missed a day!
Works in progress:
Currently, I'm working on...
- Era of the Dreamers journal - almost daily as I've been recording my outside activities in the garden.
- personal smashbook for DAILY journal writing as part of my connection to Spirit, my Guides, and my inner Wisdom.
- mini collages - at the stage where I have a whole bunch more bits and pieces that need sorted before I complete more.
- painting (18-20?) ceramic Easter egg people from Gramma's craft kits (acrylics) - on hold
- UFO crochet project (not food) - on hold
- my next small hooked rug
- I have my 13 inch round canvas that I started in Lou's program last year (that I got kicked out of) and I'm trying to decide what to cover it with.
Featured Products for Sale:
This is a great time to get back into routines, so I have 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, and at Pharmasave, Main Street, Clive.
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
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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!
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