My niece was here on July 25th and, as usual, we had a lot of fun! I went out just before 8 AM and picked all of the rhubarb, and I was picking peas when she arrived at 8:30 AM. We picked more garden produce - mainly greens and herbs. Back in the house, my niece cut the rhubarb as I shelled peas - then we prepped the rhubarb for juice. We made a marinated salad with the various greens - I told her to massage the greens with olive oil and she refused till she saw what I was doing and then she wanted to do it! We made a batch of granola (I ended up leaving it in the oven a wee bit too long but it’s fine) We chopped and froze 1.5 cups of onions and a cup of chives. We blended up some tomatoes for juice. We had waffles for lunch with freshly picked raspberries. We dealt with the turnips we'd picked - first time I planted them and I ended up with 10, but the worms had really gotten to them (grrr) - after cutting off all the wormy bits (about half of each turnip), we were able to salvage enough that I could freeze 3 small bags. Then we somehow ended up sorting clothes in my closet (not something I planned to do) - we’d try on 5 garments and then bring up something from the basement, then try on 5 more and then bring something else up, repeat. I took her home at 5 PM. All in all, a really good day. Didn't make a lot of progress on the house, but we did do a LOT!
Celebrations:
- I didn't make the short-list in the Wraptious contest, nor did I make the long list of special mention runner ups. Disappointing. I'm still celebrating because I entered (and can enter when they have their next contest in October), I did get votes, and I believe I had two items sell with one of my images - I'm still waiting to hear for sure and receive my share of the sales.
- The morning of July 30th, I FINALLY did a task that I was going to get done (for sure) back in April/May (ie BEFORE the weeds grew!). I weeded on both sides of the playhouse (my uncle had made the playhouse for my 6th birthday) and put gravel down. One reason is to make mowing around it easier, and the other is so I can put flower pots on the east side. My yard is an ongoing project, and even more so as I'm not able to work at it as much as I'd like due to health and/or weather.
My garden is growing (the weeds too, though most are edible), and I have been picking and harvesting veggies. Though something (deer?) has been taking one bite out of my tomatoes and peppers leaving them to rot, and something (deer?) stripped all the yellow bean plants before I could pick the beans. Aggravating!
Since the last newsletter, I've completed...
L-R: Watercolour play (on 9x12 mixed media paper), Rose mandala (Posca pen/Derwent Inktense pencils on 9x12 mixed media paper)
Whatever the urge was to do the mandalas, it seems to have been resolved/completed as I don't feel the need or desire to do anymore at this time.
- the days and weeks are flying by so fast! I finished my twenty-third cartoon comic booklet and you can view it here: https://www.facebook.com/beth.richardson.10/videos/814814746919207
- This has been a weird year for me health-wise so I haven't been able to be out in the yard/garden as much as I should - edible weeds are taking over!...I brewed some of my dried dandelion into an ice tea and it tastes delightful mixed with ginger ale. July 14th, I made 4 pints of green smoothie with garden greens/herbs and froze it as an experiment. There was only a handful of Nanking cherries on my bush so I made them into a pint of juice on July 16th. On July 18th I tried a new recipe for No Knead bread - it was an EPIC fail, so much so, I had to toss it into the compost. Aggravating! I made more green smoothies on the 24th and froze 3 pints (forgot to take a picture!). Before my niece arrived on the 25th, I made two pumpkin baked oatmeal and froze one. On July 29th, I finished making the rhubarb juice we started - ended up with 5 quarts, 6 pints, and 4.5 cups! I was clearing out the fridge and on August 7th, I used a jar of homemade pecan butter to make a batch of pecan butter/Skor cookies - alas, they royally stuck to the nonstick surface of my cookie sheet so I ended up with a bowl of cookie pieces - they tasted great and thankfully didn't have to hit the compost like the bread fiasco. I'm still making lots of green smoothies with the greens, herbs, tomatoes and now peppers.
Works in progress:
Currently, I'm working on...
- a 9x12 page of watercolour play
- 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)
- I'm creating Heart Cards in watercolour pencil/Posca paint pen on mixed media paper - not sure yet what these will become, but I'm having fun playing with them.
- Recipes, Remedies, and Rituals Ayurveda course is temporarily on hold as I focus on other tasks and the garden. The advantage, and disadvantage, of a self-paced course.
- Anne's Atelier pattern design membership: I stayed up waaaaaaaay past my bedtime one night as I had thought as I was falling asleep that some of my lilac playing could possibly work as a pattern. Normally, I would have just waited till morning, but this time I pulled out my ipad and spent hours creating a basic pattern, plus two variations. Worked better than I expected! The next day I created two silhouette versions.
It's time to create some space, and raise some much-needed funds, for new art projects! For the month of August, I have the following printed canvases available (all prices include GST). All 4 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.
"This book, Exploring My Artist Voice, is a journey of discovery, inspiration and overcoming adversities. Beth illustrates her journey with examples of her art throughout. What makes it powerful is that while Beth is working through her own personal issues, it is easy for the reader to identify with the problems and obstacles that she encounters. For me it was truly inspiring and beautiful." - JaneAnn Settergren, MFA, MDiv
Brown/Yellow Mandala 18x20 printed stretched canvas $225.00
This is a printed canvas of an original watercolour painting I did in February, 2022. I ended up using colours I don't usually use, and was quite surprised that it ended up being my favourite.
Quite honestly, I started playing around with a watercolour set that I wasn't sure I'd ever use, and planned to pass onto my niece, but I thought I'd give it a try first. I started out just slapping watercolour on the page, and it wasn't long before I started creating my meditative dots.
Green Mandala 10x14 printed stretched canvas $150
Another printed canvas version of my meditative dot watercolour painting from March, 2022 - this one is in shades of green
Blue Mandala 10x14 printed stretched canvas $150.00
A printed canvas of a blue version of my watercolour meditative dot series from March, 2022
Yellow Mandala printed stretched canvas $150
A brighter version in my series of watercolour meditative dot mandalas from March 2022. Each one is organic and unique.
I also have my card decks, chapbooks and my musical CD (listen to sample here: https://linktr.ee/beth.richardson) for sale too. Please reach out to find out more, or to purchase.
"I'd like to share with you my impressions of Beth Richardson's surprising, new iconic album - "Just Show Up"...
Beth must surely be a reincarnated soul! She is a master storyteller...
Her voice paints evocative word and sound pictures (both spoken and sung in a sweet, sort of Celtic or folksy old Americana lilt!) - that are equal parts wistful and whimsical - as they strike a chord of remembrance of melancholy eras gone by...
Somewhere between a female Burl Ives, Edgar Allen Poe and the Brothers Grimm, Beth - and her brilliantly intuitive producers (Nile Street Studios) - succeed in bringing forth a timeless piece of musical art - for the ears, mind and soul - that cut through any preconceived notions of age - or what is popular or worthy listening material... It's its own original experience - and the sound effects are delightful!
Simultaneously mature and childlike, I'm fascinated to wonder how this work is received by the little ones... For me, it was magical and haunting - with a tonal quality that lingers when it's done... I feel touched and changed in a good way - privileged to have heard such a refined creation - especially from a first-time recording artist (though Beth seems to excel at whatever medium she turns her prolific imagination to!)...
Stellar, really!
Many Blessings" - Tes Kempner, Fellow Songwriter-Muse reverbnation.com/rpk/yes2tes
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 :)
- I am offering 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
- If you would like a personal 3-card inspiration/encouragement reading from one of my card decks, please contact me to book your session. Cost $25 per reading.
If you have ever wished you could have my wit and wisdom handy, why not consider purchasing a deck of your own. I have seven different inspirational/encouragement card decks to choose from: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html
- 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
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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!
