Friday 29 December 2023

Many years ago I resolved never to bother with New Year's resolutions, 
and I've stuck with it ever since. 
~ Dave Beard

Wednesday 27 December 2023

The biggest secret to setting ourselves up for success: 
making sure our days are actually achievable. 
 - Tonya Dalton

Monday 25 December 2023

Merry Christmas!



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


Saturday 23 December 2023

Saturday Morning Comic 



Friday 22 December 2023

Christmas, children, is not a date. 
It is a state of mind. 
 ~Mary Ellen Chase

Wednesday 20 December 2023

Read the books they don’t want you to.  
That’s where the good stuff is. 
 - Levar Burton

Monday 18 December 2023



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


Friday 15 December 2023

December 15, 2023 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings  

  We are days away from the Winter Solstice - shortest day, longest night.

   As an adult, I always found it interesting that what should be a time of quiet and reflection in our year is the busiest and most frantic time as we prepare for and celebrate Christmas (and other holidays if you are of a different faith background).

   I also found it really interesting this year that I felt the return to Standard Time in a way I haven’t notice before.  I’m sure this isn’t the first year it’s happened to me, but it certainly is the first year that my body really registered the time change.  So much so, that I suddenly felt like I was no longer “rushing” through my days. 

   Now, to be clear, just because the time changed, that didn’t mean that my life dramatically changed, because it didn’t.  If anything, life got a lot busier as I collected the greetings for this issue’s special insert. 

   But, in amongst the busyness, and frantic phoning, and everything else I was juggling, I felt myself move through the day in a completely different manner.

   I wasn’t looking at the clock or my watch every 5 minutes and lamenting about how fast the day was going. I wasn’t rushing through meals because it felt like I didn’t have enough hours in my day.  I didn’t feel like I was trying to cram a week’s (or month’s) worth of work into the day just to get done what needed to be done. 

   No, I was actually waking up later in the morning than before the time change.  I was eating my meals leisurely.  I was getting the majority of my work done before lunch.  I was ending my days with my evenings free to do whatever I wanted.

   Now, I do realize as a single person, I have more flexibility in my life than most people, but even so, we all need to take some time, as the days shorten, to create some more space and leisure so we can truly enjoy the various celebrations this time of year.  Merry Christmas!

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y8hGw9u4C-BTXJPlP-bIDPKhrpMf46EV/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 13 December 2023

Time management is not about learning how to do things faster;
 it’s choosing where – and how –
 to spend your time. 
 - Tonya Dalton

Monday 11 December 2023



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


Friday 8 December 2023

My Artist Voice #20 December 8, 2023

   Welcome to my 20th 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.  
   
   November was mainly spent collecting Christmas greetings for The Chautauqua Christmas insert.  Even though I started the beginning of September, I still felt like I needed a totally free month between October and November to get everything together!  Partly because this year the Christmas issue is December 15th, which is early for the 3rd Friday of the month.  On the other hand, that means I'm officially on Christmas holidays on December 16th as there are 5 Fridays in December. 

I had my annual visit and picture with Santa on December 2nd.  The tradition continues. 

Celebrations: 

- on November 12th, I completed my 1,500th ipad sky drawing since April 27, 2022!

- My commissioned Christmas header went live on Wondercafe2 on November 25th, and was very well received.

- I entered the UK Wraptious Fall Artist Contest November 1st and they will announce the winners around December 19th.  There were over 1,600 entries so fingers crossed.

Recently Completed:

Since the last newsletter, I've completed...
- JOY painting (watercolour pencils, acrylics, Posca paint pens on 9x12 mixed media paper) based on a process by Whitney Freya
- Watercolour play (on 9x12 mixed media paper)
- REST painting (watercolour pencils, acrylics, Posca paint pens on 9x12 mixed media paper) based on a process by Whitney Freya
- LOVE painting (watercolour pencils, acrylics, Posca paint pens on 9x12 mixed media paper) based on a process by Whitney Freya

- November 10th I made a baked oatmeal and on November 26th I made another.  They are so quick and easy to make, I should be able to make lots and have some in the freezer for future, but some days, I just don't have the energy to do any baking.

UFO (UnFinished Object) Update: 

For the past month, I've been tackling a different type of UFO in my life - all of the numerous website tabs I have open on my computer and ipad - I won't tell you the exact number, just know it's a ridiculous amount.  Some are websites that have been recommended to me and I opened so I wouldn't lose them, but then never looked at again (cause we all know "life happens"), and some are ones where I needed to do something (subscribe, download, save, do the class, etc) and didn't think I had time so left it open to "deal with later." Now one bonus about leaving things undone a long time is that by the time you return, sometimes it isn't relevant to you any more, or sometimes the site no longer exists - those ones are quick and easy to close.  There are some that I still need to access so they are remaining open, and there are a bunch that are online classes (art, yoga, Qigong, drumming, Ayurveda, etc) that I still want to do so they too will remain open for now. 

Works in progress:

Currently, I'm working on...

- a 9x12 page of watercolour play
- based on Whitney Freya classes, I'm working on a BODY painting and a Laughing Buddha painting (in my personal smashbook)
- Heart Cards in watercolour pencil/Posca paint pen on mixed media paper 
- an 8x10 acrylic painting (definitely a UFO) + a 16x20 acrylic painting (2022/23 Hawaii virtual painting retreat - I am prepared to move forward on this soon) 

- I really need a better "studio" setup, but I managed to get the easel off the kitchen floor so I can at least walk around the room without tripping.

- On November 18th I signed up for Laura Rose's Honey Pot (embodiment) self-paced online class.  It was originally a year-long class with monthly live Zoom sessions and was unfortunately out of my price range.  After the year was complete, she offered it as an online course, that was still out of my price range.  As she's currently on maternity leave, she offered her programs at dramatically reduced prices and I was able to sign up this time.  I am really looking forward to diving into the course. 

- I'm practicing my drum playing daily, and hope to view the next lesson before the end of the month (fingers crossed).

- Shiloh Sophia's Wild Card Oracle class - still not sure if I will make more cards or not.

- Recipes, Remedies, and Rituals Ayurveda course - it's been so long since I did anything on it, I will have to start over for a refresher when I get back to it!

- I had Ember do another set of scans for me and now I have a few to work with and get up on the Art of Where site, and on different products.

Featured Artworks for Sale:
It's time to create some space, and raise some much-needed funds, for future art projects!  For the month of December, I have the following items for sale (prices include GST) that would make great gifts:

Books:
"The View from My Window" by (Peeping) Thomasina (2020) $10

"Exploring My Artist Voice: a journey without a map" (2022) $15

Card Decks:
"Traditional Wisdom: proverbs for everyday guidance" (2020) $25

"Daily Wisdom: proverbs for living life to the fullest" (2020) $25

"BEEing" (2021) $20

"Deep Truths for Remembering and Reclaiming Yourself" (2021) $40

"TEA for the Heart & Soul" (2021) $75

"May I" (2022) $25

"TEA for the Bitter Times" (2022) $45

Planners and Journals:
"Creative Daily Planner: for the unconventional, non-conformists, creatives, rebels, and other out of the box personalities" (2022) $30 or from Amazon https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BMJM1SD3

"Magical Moments in my Day Journal: for the extra special moments all around me" 6x9 lined journal (2022/2023) $15 or from Amazon  https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CJLKZ3KB

Music Albums:
"Just Show Up" (fall 2022) https://linktr.ee/beth.richardson CDs $15

Tea towels:  $20 each 

Please contact me at thechautauqua@gmail.com or phone 403-352-3837 to make an addition to your collection.

As well, painting/canvas purchases this month will include a signed copy of my chapbook, "My Artist Voice: a journey without a map." 

"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

I have a number of pairs of knitted and crocheted fingerless gloves for sale (prices range from $20 - $25 with GST included) First come, first serve for colour choices.

 Upcoming Projects: 

- I offer 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 

As I will be making some dramatic changes to The Chautauqua in the new year, as printing costs continue to rise, I decided to try something new and bring my cartoon/comic drawings out of the closet (so to speak) and publish some in the paper.  My first strip (below) will appear in the Christmas issue as an experiment.  Drawing on the ipad is quite different from drawing with a ball-point pen on paper, but I think I figured out how to make it work for me.

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

I wish you all the merriest of Christmases, and I'll see you in the new year!

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, items available 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 6 December 2023

We have to stop rushing through life 
and missing all the goodness that is there before us.  
We need to create space 
to soak in and enjoy the moments. 
 - Tonya Dalton

Monday 4 December 2023



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


Friday 1 December 2023

December 1, 2023 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

   Sigh...as costs continue to rise, especially the cost of paper and printing, I found myself faced with a very difficult decision.  

   The printing costs are currently 3/4s of the overall expenses, so in order to continue printing the paper, I have to make some changes.  I will not be going completely online due to the unpredictable whims of the online world.  And, there remains something special about a physical newspaper, especially for those of us who rebel a little with more going online..

   The incredibly tough decision I made was that I will no longer be publishing the council minutes for Alix, Bashaw, Clive after January 5, 2024.  I know some people enjoy reading the minutes, and you will be able to continue reading them, just in other ways, if you desire.

   This was a tough decision because when I took over the paper in 2002 from Linda VanRingen, the council minutes were included.  I continued to print them for free as a community service.  Otherwise the municipalities would have had to pay $560 PER issue to have them included.

   While I would love to increase the number of pages of the paper (sadly not an option with current printing costs), I have not able to currently include as much as I’d like from our various communities as the council minutes take up such a significant chunk of the paper.  Without the minutes, there will be space to showcase other community news

   Also, in the event that my only other option to keep going is to drop down to 8 pages (must be in multiples of 4 pages), it will be easier without the council minutes - which cover close to 4 pages now.

   It is my sincere desire that not only will you continue to read and support the Chautauqua once the minutes are no longer printed, but that the communities and their organizations will continue to submit their ads, news and happenings so that we can all continue to support each other.  

   As the bulk of the paper’s income comes from ads and donations, I greatly appreciate any financial support, as I continue to publish.

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KUgu-JyE6yxYxo9HtuaEy_HGJ7MlyWp3/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   

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)