Friday, 28 April 2023

What doesn't work in one place 
is exactly right in another.
  - Adam Kurtz

Wednesday, 26 April 2023

A river cuts through rock
 not because of its power 
but because of its persistence. 
 ~ Jim Watkins

Monday, 24 April 2023



From TEA for the Bitter Times  Created by Beth Richardson ©2022


Friday, 21 April 2023

April 21, 2023 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

    For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been sorting through various resources that mom had kept through the years.  These ranged from school newsletters from her years of teaching, to church/Sunday School resources, to Girl Guide resources, to handicraft magazines.

   The stacks and stacks of handicraft magazines, mainly from the 1970s and 1980s (with the odd one that was older than that, and a few from the 1990s), included not only mom’s, but stacks of Gramma’s magazines, and even some from a gal who used to live in town years ago.

   As I flipped through the various magazines, I did a little trip down memory lane as I could remember Gramma or Mom teaching some of the handicrafts to my sister and I, or just making the crafts themselves to use as gifts or sell at bazaars.  I also thought that people had a LOT more time to do complicated/intricate crafts back then, than we do now!

   What was most striking to me though, was that so many of the crafts that were considered appropriate for elementary school aged children back then, probably would NOT be considered appropriate for any age except adults nowadays.  How society has dumbed down children.

   When Gramma and Mom taught us a craft we were expected to be able to complete it - no matter how complex or involved it may have been, or even how “dangerous” any equipment needed was.  We were taught the proper way to use it, and then we made not one, not two, but usually dozens and dozens of whatever the particular craft was.

   Having been involved in Guiding for years, I know the main reason is safety, but making things simpler doesn't necessarily mean safer.  Safety comes from teaching the proper way to do the task before they start.

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10uqEfiWLGgGhD25v4h7Zy4SCFaQAmqp0/view?usp=share_link

 Whether you've enjoyed reading The Chautauqua from the first issue 21 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 to thechautauqua@gmail.com 

PayPal at https://paypal.me/thechautauqua (note: you will need to sign into PayPal first, and then specify the amount) 

   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!


And, if you are looking for a unique gift idea, please visit: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html

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

Wednesday, 19 April 2023

Focus more on your desire 
than on your doubt, 
and the dream will take care of itself.  
- Mark Twain

Monday, 17 April 2023



From TEA for the Bitter Times  Created by Beth Richardson ©2022


Friday, 14 April 2023

My Artist Voice #12 April 14, 2023

   Welcome to my twelfth Artist Newsletter.  Thank you so much to everyone who has subscribed to date.  If you would like to receive this newsletter via email subscription, please contact thechautauqua@gmail.com and ask 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 was fortunate that my niece was able to come over to the house on March 18 and 25th for the day.  Besides having loads of fun, we did more sorting and cleaning in the house, and there is a lot more clear floor space!  Alas, there is still so much to do as Mom kept ALL of her teaching, church, Sunday School, and Girl Guide resources, as well as so much more.  Plus, Mom inherited a number of her mom's Guiding and handicraft resources.  At some point, I will hopefully have it all dealt with.

   My niece also was very helpful and let me practice my yoga practicum on her.  On March 26th, I did my Awaken Love Yoga Teacher Training practicum.  Let me tell you, teaching on Zoom is WAY different than teaching in person (my preference).  That said, it was great to pull out my tried and true teaching techniques, as well as incorporate some of the new ones I have learnt in the course.  If you would like to experience a moderately gentle grounding hour long practice, you can find it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O-WrXqREgUZGZxD3wgY37HtG6S43KOWA/view?usp=share_link

Celebrations: 

- My biggest celebration in the past month was completing my yoga practicum 

- My next biggest celebration was finally completing the CD Baby set up for the distribution of my music.  Not really an excuse, but after my CD released, I was deep into the Christmas issue of The Chautauqua and then it was Christmas, and then I just sort of hibernated for a bit to recover from the epic year I had last year.  I was quite surprised when I found out that people were buying my music online, and then I received my first ever royalty payment from CD Baby!!!!!!  WOW!  I NEVER imagined in my wildest dreams that I'd ever have music I sang in the world and that I'd get paid for it!  I'm still stunned!  
   That said, you can listen to my album "Just Show Up" here: https://linktr.ee/beth.richardson, and you can purchase CDs directly from me.

- in a way it's hard to believe that I have been sharing an artist newsletter every month for a whole year now!  Where did the time go?  I will freely admit I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep it going after the first few months because the Donalda Art Show and my album release were the biggest events I had planned, and I had no idea what I'd write about after that.  Well, obviously I was worried for no reason, as I never seem to run out of things to share.  Thank you again to everyone for reading, and for your continued support.

Recently Completed:

Since the last newsletter, I've completed...
Watercolour play (9x12 mixed media paper)

- as my niece and I were moving things around in the house, I found some pieces of mixed media paper that I had folded to make a large journal - after more than a year (give or take), I still hadn't made the journal and I decided I wouldn't be making it because the format/structure didn't really appeal to me.  So, I tore each sheet in half and made it into a 5.5 x 7 inch landscape-orientated journal.  Not sure yet what I'll use it for, but at least it's made.
- I completed my 21st cartoon comic booklet and you can view it here: https://www.facebook.com/beth.richardson.10/videos/1924454251252870

- I completed the Morgan Le Fay course on March 19th.  What was interesting about both courses - Dark Moon and Summer Moon - was how much herbal witchy stuff I already do in my daily life, but I don't call it a "ritual."  That said, I did learn a lot and am still deciding what I will incorporate into my daily habits.

- I completed Hillary Faye's 8-week Abundant Heart Kundalini yoga course.  As I mentioned before, there is a lot of overlap between it and my yoga teacher training, so I will continue to revisit the various practices.  While I'm not at the point yet of doing a full Kundalini yoga practice, I am getting stronger physically so it's not the impossible feat I thought it was when I first started.

Works in progress:

Currently, I'm working on... 
- a 9x12 page of watercolour play 
- an 8x10 acrylic painting (truthfully not exactly started yet) + a 16x20 acrylic painting (from Inner Circle 2022 Hawaii virtual painting retreat and that I'm continuing for the 2023 Hawaii virtual painting retreat)
- mandala on 9x12 mixed media paper 

- I planned to create more cards from Shiloh Sophia's Wild Card Oracle class, but have drawn a blank lately on what images to put on them, so am letting that project sit for now.

- The online Awaken Love Yoga Teacher Training is almost complete.  So hard to believe as the past two months just flew by.  We have our last Sunday session on April 16th and our final Thursday session on April 20th - which will also be our graduation!

- I hope to complete the self-paced "Painting with Words" course before the end of April, now that I have completed some of my other courses.

- I plan to finish off the Recipes, Remedies, and Rituals Ayurveda course by the end of the month or early May.

- Anne's Atelier pattern design membership: I haven't made any patterns for a while so will need to get back to that.

- I signed up for Hillary Faye's 8-week Faery Queen Council Initiations course - it started on April 12th and runs each Wednesday till the end of May

Upcoming Projects: 

- Awaken Love Yoga Teacher Training course graduation April 20th!

- 1st Anniversary of My Artist Voice newsletter May 12th 

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

Beth 

~~~~~~~~

As a life-long creative, and recently self-taught artist, I endeavour to 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 almost 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 may seem small individually – have added up to quite a body of work in a relatively short time period. 

~~~~~~~~

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

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

If you would like to support my artistic journey, please consider purchasing my artwork, select items available online https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html or in person at 4910-47 St, Mirror, AB

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

E-transfer to thechautauqua@gmail.com 

PayPal at https://paypal.me/thechautauqua (note: you will need to sign into PayPal first, and then specify the amount) 

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

Wednesday, 12 April 2023

Never underestimate the value of doing nothing, 
of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, 
and not bothering.  
- A.A. Milne

Monday, 10 April 2023



From TEA for the Bitter Times  Created by Beth Richardson ©2022


Friday, 7 April 2023

April 7, 2023 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

    Just to keep you in the loop, I finished the “impossible” puzzle in less than a week! My usual time for a 1,000 piece is 2-4 weeks, depending on the complexity of the image.

    March 26th, I did my practicum class for the Yoga Teacher Training I’m in. It went very well, and most of my fears around teaching on Zoom never materialized. If you would like to experience a moderately gentle, yet VERY grounding, hour long class, you can view it at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O-WrXqREgUZGZxD3wgY37HtG6S43KOWA/view?usp=share_link

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rhhh6-VUghZ4vQm7ENyKwC535SSwJzg9/view?usp=share_link

 Whether you've enjoyed reading The Chautauqua from the first issue 21 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 to thechautauqua@gmail.com 

PayPal at https://paypal.me/thechautauqua (note: you will need to sign into PayPal first, and then specify the amount) 

   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!


And, if you are looking for a unique gift idea, please visit: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html

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

 

Wednesday, 5 April 2023

Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, 
shift your energy to what you can create. 
 - Roy T. Bennett

Monday, 3 April 2023


From TEA for the Bitter Times  Created by Beth Richardson ©2022


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