Monday 31 July 2023



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


Friday 28 July 2023

Awareness is like the sun.  
When it shines on things they are transformed.
 – Thich Nhat Hahn

Wednesday 26 July 2023

If you want the moon, do not hide from the night.  
If you want a rose, do not run from the thorns. 
If you want love, do not hide from yourself.
 - Rumi

Monday 24 July 2023



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


Friday 21 July 2023

July 21, 2023 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

   As I write this, we are smack dab in the middle of my all-time favourite time of year - the Calgary Stampede!

   Now, I know there are some people out there who find it hard to believe (though I have no idea why exactly) that I am such a big rodeo fan, but let me assure you, I come from a long line of ranching ancestors.  Ancestors who lived the way of life that the Stampede gives us a small taste of every year. 

   My great-great grandfather, John Ellis, on my Mom’s side managed the Stair Ranch in the Cypress Hills area (and invented the barbwire telephone in Alberta), before establishing Glenmar Ranch northeast of Medicine Hat in the late 1890s.  A great uncle raised rodeo stock in the Redcliff area.  Mom’s cousin, Dale “Hoot” Rose, was a well-known bullrider on the circuit for years - he competed at the Calgary Stampede in the 1970s, and many of the bullriding greats who followed behind him, practiced at his place outside of Redcliff.  There were ranchers on Dad’s side too.  Plus, my Dad (who spent the first 6 years of his life living in a covered wagon) used to tell stories about heading down to the Stampede grounds in the 50s and 60s with his brothers and riding some of the stock in the slack before the Stampede started. 

   While I enjoy watching all of the rodeo events, hands down, my favourites are the bullriding and steer wresting.  But even more than those, I absolutely love watching the chuckwagon races.

   This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first chuckwagon race at the Calgary Stampede, that ran July 9, 1923.  While we’ve come a long, long way from the days when the wagons were real working trail ride chuckwagons racing to see who could get around the track and light their stoves first, the thrill of seeing the races never gets old.

   Today’s wagon drivers may not be the “ranch cook,” but they certainly serve up thrills and excitement every time they hook up their horses and race against each other, even breaking a track record or two!

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wGrD0H1Xy15Hiu_bNrqWDYxfF6uNPiks/view?usp=sharing


 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 July 2023

We believe we need to fill our day completely 
so we can do as much as possible.  
In reality, to be truly productive 
we need to give our brains a little space to play and explore – 
some unstructured time.  
- Tonya Dalton

Monday 17 July 2023



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


Friday 14 July 2023

My Artist Voice #15 July 14, 2023

   Welcome to my 15th Artist Newsletter.  Thank you so much to everyone who has subscribed to date.  If you would like to receive this newsletter directly in your email inbox, 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.  

   A highlight - and intense frustration - in June was entering the Wraptious art contest out of the UK, which one of the gals in Anne's Atelier shared with us. 

    The intense frustration came because for some unknown reason Adobe Illustrator would not save the 5 images I "wanted" to use, and I couldn't get the images uploaded to the site.  It seemed like no matter what I did, technology was against me!  For almost a week I tried to enter, and was forced to say numerous times that I wouldn't be.  

   Finally, very late in the evening on June 20th, I managed to get 5 of my images formatted correctly - NOT the images I had planned to use - and then on the morning of June 21st, I hit the submit button!

   This is the first artist contest I have ever entered so I didn't know what to expect, or what the response would be.  People may say they like my art, but that doesn't mean they'd vote for me!

   There were almost 6,000 images entered all together, from all around the world, and at the end of the voting on July 10th, I was amazed and thrilled that I had 32 votes for the pansies, 29 votes for the Yay or Nay, 28 votes for the roses, 23 votes for the rainy sky, and 20 votes for the fall leaves, plus additional votes and shares on Facebook.  And, I was totally surprised to hear that two items with my Yay or Nay image on them had been purchased! Wow!

    If you would like a pillow, print, or canvas with my artwork, they are available for purchase here: https://www.wraptious.com/collections/summer-2023-submissions-by-beth-richardson?fbclid=IwAR0DbU42au625Rd3Ug5DiXUsjq3KvJy5ScbuSqBgsubb7QaDlmTkZ2ttIwU until the end of July.

   The shortlisted entries will be announced on July 19th, and the winner announced on July 27th.
    
Celebrations: 

- I was the spotlight interview for the month of June in Anne's Atelier pattern design membership on June 12th.  You can watch my interview with Anne here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lonoccsh6SsjWitiIW5eW3dcpks3SbiS/view?usp=sharing

- Another big celebration is that I survived a tire flying off my car!  The morning of June 19th, I was on my way to Bashaw, and about 5 mins out of Mirror, the driver's side front tire flew off, rolled across the highway, down the ditch, across the grass, up the side of the train tracks, then bounced right OVER the tracks and disappeared down the other side!  It was actually a pretty impressive sight if you think of it like the "Runaway Pancake" or a scene from an action movie.  Fortunately, I was able to quickly and safely park on the side of the road.  My brother-in-law wasn't home, so a neighbour came and rescued me from the side of the highway, though I was close enough I could have walked back to town if I had to.  We looked, but weren't able to find my tire.  My brother-in-law returned home about an hour later and came to get me - he thought I had a flat so was rather surprised when we got to my car to find that there was no tire at all!  He plunged over the tracks, down the steep embankment, and found my tire!  That was a huge relief.  We had to go back to the house to get some tools, before we returned to my car to put the wheel back on.  A helpful Fortis guy, named Darcy, stopped and helped get my tire on enough that I could drive it back to Mirror - after they boosted it as the hazards had drained the battery.  I drove my car very slowly back to my brother-in-law's.  He fixed it and returned it to me the evening of the 22nd.

- Also on Monday, June 19th, I attended Hillary Faye's Kuan Yin Healing Zoom.  I have a new mantra to add to my daily practice. 

 - On Friday, June 23rd, I took part in Sue Crites' Qigong masterclass on balancing the five elements, which was a wonderful follow up to the Level 1 class I took in January.  There was so much great information, and great ideas for deepening our daily Qigong practice - I have added chants to my Qigong moves.

- this week, I've been having a wonderful time watching the thrills and spills of the Calgary Stampede rodeo events and the evening chuckwagon races.  This truly is my all-time favourite time of year!

Recently Completed:

Since the last newsletter, I've completed...
L-R: Rose mandala (Posca pen/Derwent Inktense pencils on 9x12 mixed media paper). Watercolour play (on 9x12 mixed media paper)

- I have been having a lot of fun in the kitchen.  June 13th, I made a raspberry banana baked oatmeal.  June 22nd, I made a banana plum baked oatmeal, 3 quarts of apple juice, and no-bake chocolate hazelnut squares (hazelnuts, chocolate chips, dates).  On June 24th, I made 5 quarts + 3 pints of rhubarb juice.  June 30th, I made a banana rhubarb baked oatmeal.  On July 3rd, I decided to brew up some of my dried dandelion to make ice tea. While I tend towards strongly brewed tea, I got it a bit too strong so diluted it when I drank it. I discovered it tastes amazing mixed 1:1 with ginger ale.  As my earlier experiment of freezing the dandelion juice worked out, I made 8 cups of green smoothie (arugula + miscellaneous herbs) and froze it on July 7th. Fingers crossed it works.  I also brewed up another quart of the dandelion ice tea.  On July 9th, I took a trip down memory lane and made some orange popsicles in mom’s old Tupperware moulds.  On July 10th, I made a cheesy banana baked oatmeal - I think this is my favourite now.

Works in progress:

Currently, I'm working on... 
- a 9x12 page of watercolour play
- mandala on 9x12 mixed media paper 
- started some heart cards - watercolour pencil and Posca paint pens on 9x12 mixed media paper
- an 8x10 acrylic painting (still not really started, but I'm hopeful) + a 16x20 acrylic painting (2022/23 Hawaii virtual painting retreat - truthfully stalled and on hold)

- Shiloh Sophia's Wild Card Oracle class - I believe I mentioned in the last newsletter I was stalled on this project.  During our weekly Zoom on July 6th, as I told the Aussies how much I enjoy doing these cards, but I had no ideas for further cards, a crow landed on the roof above the window and proceeded to caw so loudly the gals had a hard time hearing me speak - I had also mentioned the heart cards I want to make.  When I looked out, the crow was leaning over the edge of the roof looking right at me!  S/he was soon joined by a second crow and they made quite the fuss!  The gals said the crows had spoken! :) The next morning, I had an idea for a card and sat down to create it, and the next thing I knew, I had 18 (!) more cards started.  Each day I have finished a couple as I work my way down the stack.
- Recipes, Remedies, and Rituals Ayurveda course is temporarily on hold as I focus on other tasks and the garden.

- Anne's Atelier pattern design membership: haven't started creating more patterns yet.

Featured Artworks for Sale:

It's time to create some space, and raise some funds, for new art projects!  For the month of July, I have the following 4 paintings, from early in my painting journey, available (all prices include GST).  All 4 of these paintings were featured in my solo art show at the Donalda Gallery for the Arts in 2022.  Please contact me at thechautauqua@gmail.com or phone 403-352-3837 to make an addition to your collection.

Transform 16x20 stretched canvas acrylics Mar 22, 2018     $400

This painting is from the 2018 Woman Unleashed 6-week Creative Imitations class.  It was painted in the Intentional Creativity style over the course of the class.  The butterfly “emerged” when I painted a “B” over the “R” and took the painting in a direction I didn't expect.

 


Mandala 18x24 acrylics stretched canvas  Mar 24, 2018    $500

I completed this painting over the course of several days and weeks.  The background started as various colours of infinity signs, and then I painted the dots - one ring (or half ring) each day. 

I was going through a very stressful time in my life health-wise, and painting this was my daily meditation practice.

 




Lady of Desire 16x20 stretched canvas  Feb 29, 2020   $450

 

This painting was inspired by a session in an online retreat I took in 2018, I believe.  The painting contains many mixed media elements, from the napkins that were collaged on for the background, to her lace collar made of paper doilies. The texture around her head was created by pieces of lace, and she’s finished off with a ribbon rose and jewellery made from old buttons (with their posts removed) giving her a bit of a 3D feel.

 


Love Move Dance Bloom 18x24 stretched canvas May 22, 2020     $500

This painting was started in a 2020 Inner Circle Intentional Creativity session with Amber Bonnici, where we used each layer and symbol to uncover deeper messages that our inner selves were communicating to us.

 Originally the painting was orientated in a landscape position, however, partway through the process I turned the canvas and this abstract body shape emerged, and I decided to develop that theme further.  Our bodies are happiest when we are moving!

 



   I also have my various card decks, chapbooks and my CD for sale too.  Please reach out to find out more, or to purchase.

 Upcoming Projects: 

- My yard and gift sales are open most weekends and the odd week day (weather and health permitting) at 4910 47th St, Mirror - a great opportunity to find out more about my artwork, decks, books, CD and more in person before you purchase :) 

- If you would like a 3-card inspiration/encouragement reading from one of my card decks, please contact me to book your session.  Cost $25 per reading.

- I am offering 3-hr in-person VIP sessions (morning or afternoon) for the introductory price of $300 per session.  Sessions will be customized to the individual and may include topics such as yoga, Reiki, mindset, creativity, writing, behind the scenes in my studio, and more.  Also, each person who signs up will receive a lovely gift to take home.  I am also open to doing 2 people at a time (ie mother/daughter sessions) for $500 total.  To find out more, and to book, please contact me.

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 July 2023

What feels enormous and heavy to you
 is nothing compared to the endless possibilities
 that lie before you. 
- Susie Moore

Monday 10 July 2023



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


Friday 7 July 2023

July 7, 2023 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

   Ah, we’re entering the lazy days of summer!

   Are your summer days lazy?  Or, are they as busy, if not busier than your regular life?

   I recently finished reading “Rest is Resistance: a manifesto” by Tricia Hersey.  In a nutshell, she advocates taking back our time and our bodies from the tyranny of capitalism though resting.

   How has society, and our lives, gotten so out of control that we need books to tell us how and why to rest?

   And, rest isn’t for the non-working.  I remember my Dad coming home for his lunch break from work - he had an hour long break and 30 mins was spent eating, and 20 mins was spent napping on the couch, before he returned to work.  I have memories of other adults in my life who also would have a cat nap after lunch or before supper.  Plus, there are cultures around the world that have their daily siestas.

   (Personally, I envy anyone who can lie down and just nap as my body doesn’t work that way)

   But resting is more than just naps.  It includes taking a moment to sit down if you’ve been on your feet for a long time.  It includes stopping to chat with someone as you are out and about running errands.  And more importantly, it includes any activity that refuels you such as hobbies, reading, talking a walk, gardening, and so much more. 

   Note: to be a proper rest, it does not include scrolling on your phone or dealing with emails.

    I also recently learnt that in their entire lives, eagles perch (aka rest), to conserve their energy, more then they fly.  They only fly to get food and to stay safe. 

   I’m sure there are a lot more birds and animals in this world that also live lives where they rest considerably more than they move for survival.  So, why do we think as humans (mammals) we don’t need to rest lots as well?

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZGsa3IDguDQ-T7caEiqm9OT_GNKACgLE/view?usp=sharing


 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 July 2023

Travel light, live light, 
spread the light, be the light. 
- Yogi Bhajan

Monday 3 July 2023



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


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