An obituary for the author, Sue Batton Leonard, on a life well lived.

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Sue Anne Batton Leonard passed away peacefully on October 30 due to heart failure at the age of 71. Sue was born on August 20, 1953 along with a twin sister, Jan Lee Batton. Her parents were Fred C. Batton, Jr. and Helen Meads Batton, predeceased.

Sue grew up in Towson, MD and attended Towson High School and received a bachelor’s degree at Johnson State College in Johnson, VT. 

She took great pleasure in her volunteer work in communities where she has lived throughout her life : Stowe, VT, Bondville, VT , Steamboat Springs, CO and most recently Bel Air, MD. Sue loved interaction and connection with her many family members, high school and college friends, acquaintances in her community and churches, as well as with, friends and colleagues in the publishing and art world. 

Sue Batton Leonard was an award winning memoir writer which included her own memoir, Gift of A Life Time: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected. Other memoirs authored by her are An Artist Journey: Richard Galusha, as well as, A Life In Retrospect: Claire Krantz Ebeling. She also published two books of short stories, Heart of Community and Short Stories: Lessons of the Heart and Soul. Sue was also a contributing writer for the book, Wounded Healers. 

Sue was known to many for in her positive and insightful writings through her blog, 

AllThingsFullfilling.com which delivered heartfelt, uplifting and inspiring thoughts. She also shared her knowledge of writing and self publishing as well as information on church, art and community.

Sue Batton Leonard is survived by her beloved son, Marc Ryan Leonard, daughter in law, Meghan Womack and two granddaughters, Charlotte and Louisa Leonard (known to them as SueSue). She is also survived by a twin sister, Jan Batton Smolca and two brothers, Rick and Scott Batton as well as seven nieces and nephews. Sue will be greatly missed and remembered by many as one who lived her life with great strength, optimism, resiliency and faith. 

A celebration of life will be held at a future date to be determined.

Deeply Ingrained: #2 Blog Series

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All families have that one member who’s a nutritional overachiever.” – Unknown

I had to laugh when I read this quote. Our family knows good humor and it’s always a good time when we gather.  There is even has a place for “nutritional under-achievers,” and  we are well-taken care of by the others.

Now, our numbers are so large just among my 4 siblings, their kids and grandkids ( nearing 40)  it is no wonder my mom, (pictured hosting her/ and our last BIG fall gathering), knew when it was time to pass the torch to the next generations. God bless her and my Dad – they are probably sitting at the table of the Good Lord every Sunday, making sure all members are accounted for here on Earth. Fourteen live in other States, others locally. All come running when able or needed.

I have wonderful memories of our Sunday gatherings with my paternal grandparents and their only child, their son (my Dad), Mom and us 4 grandkids. We had plenty of room and sharing in the conversation was much easier. My grandmother more than made up for the lack of bodies by the number of dishes (always China) and even then every conceivable food stuff you could think of, including what was requisite back then – always the bread basket filled with warm rolls, and sliced bread. No doubt, one-hundred twenty-four years later, she’s not turned a blind eye either and knows exactly how fertility happens.

Today, I’ve been indulgent sharing my love for writing about a shiny window into a life.  I promise, I hold some writing about my own family in check most of the time.  Let’s get realistic. We too, have many windows of time when I or my big family is challenged in every conceivable way and in all proportions. There are not always clear windows. Some days are foggy. That’s life, and memoir writing. There are those who find sharing their stories much too painful so they are held close to the chest.

Post #3 in the series will be published on 10/29/2024.I will soon share an interesting post about this very subject. Will you join us again? Look forward to it.

Deeply Ingrained: #1 in Blog Series

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Naturally, since I am a memoir writer, I spend much time thinking about the influences our ancestors played in the kind of life we live after they have departed this Earth. For me, this topic can not be covered all in one blog post. This is the first in a series of three writings on this subject. What I have in mind for the final, I am especially excited about because it will culminate the series into an obvious thread of ponderings.

“I remember with great affection my mother’s wonderful eye for design and the well-coordinated home she made for us four kids and my Dad, the one who custom-built homes for our family and so many others…The hunt for economical, special cast offs is something I have developed…they bring interest to an abode…” ~ excerpts of writings from my personal journal which sits on my  inherited 1920’s antique spinet writing desk of my grandmother. ~  Sue Batton Leonard.

Do return for the 2nd in the series of blog posts about my life as a memoir-writer and other ponderings about my family flock. Our ancestor’s influences have been cast into the big net of family who took great notice.

 Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. ~ Winston Churchill

Art Journeys

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Hemingway once said “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” 

For the time being, a place on one of my “art adventures wish lists” has been put on the sidelines. Mother Nature dealt Asheville, NC a hard-blow with Hurricane Helene and I pray for the Floridians who will face ravages of Hurricane Milton. One can only hope “a better safe than sorry,” approach has been taken and the coastal residents have fled for safety.

For now, Asheville, North Carolina, specifically the arts district and the beautiful grounds of the Biltmore have been replaced with an art museum in Bentonville, Arkansas which has been on my radar for quite sometime.

The curvaceous Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

There are current and many upcoming exhibitions which can be viewed on their website. Even if much time passes before I hit this art venue on my “wish list” I have no fear of missing out. Great exhibitions are always scheduled at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

 

Quiet the Waters

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And on this beautiful fall day, my memories ripple over one another, like stones tripping over water. So writing about a central theme  is not the goal for this day.

 

Last summer on our 70th landmark birthday weekend, my twin sister and I found this scene along the Brandywine River in PA when we went to the 2023 American Impressionistic Society Show.

 

Take a few minutes to quiet. What thoughts come to your mind when you look at this image? Sitting in peace once a day for ten minutes or more, daily without one thing other than our own thoughts, is the only way we can truly quiet the waters.

“Peoples thoughts can be a deep well, but someone with understanding can find the wisdom there.” ~ Proverbs 20:05

Provisions and Forages

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In what seems like the blink of the eye, the whole picture has changed out on my wonderful porch. Many days of summer were spent out on it.

Now, one need not look any further than the porch door to see the squirrels foraging for winter.

How about you? Are you beginning to stock the larder with soup and stew makings? Things to keep on hand – basic soup stock or bouillon, dried beans and legumes ,barley and rice. Then there are veggies that hold in a root cellar – carrots, potatoes (russets and sweet), turnips, onions, leeks, shallots for the daintier tasting soups (such as leek and potato) and of course plenty of fresh and dried seasonings. A heavier hand in seasoning brings better results. Something I need to take note of.

Many old-world master paintings as well as many of today’s contemporary artists have chosen to feature items from the pantry or root cellars in their autumn paintings. The fall season has arrived! Enjoy it in your own creative way of living.

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” ~ Matthew 9:38

 

Vessels to hold God’s Gifts of Nature

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Vessels to hold God’s gifts of nature ~ Sue Batton Leonard

Is there not a thing on Earth that does not require a vessel?

Vases for heady scented lilacs, for spring tulips with their straight and narrow stems, tall containers for wispy forsythia branches or late summer gladiolus, remembrances of a long summer.

Then there are nature’s offerings of the self- contained. ACORNS, walnuts, chestnuts, drying corn on the cob.  Or the dried seeds left ready to be scattered for next year across fields or left to fall in the soil beneath where they grew. Needed are substantial vessels to hold large seed-filled heads of sun-flowers indoors.

When winter arrives, a birdhouse for wintering feathered friends, tree cavities and nest boxes for nuthatches, titmice, and downy woodpeckers.

Hard at work are the birds who know their craft of building of new nests to contain their fragile shells of spring.

Containers all, we are we human beings who feel for the blessing of nature of each season.

Artists change out their palettes of colors to reflect the colors before them, of autumn.  

Art From the Soldier – Update

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Art from the Soldier by Pamela Wilde has such a beautiful mission behind it that I’d like to give you an update of a previous post . The time is nearing and here are more details about it’s September 2024 Opening Exhibition.

Date: September 20, 2024 5:00pm to 8pm

Place of Show: Ophelia’s Making Agency, At the corner of Career and Creativity

280 W Market Street YORK PA

Don’t miss it!

 

 

 

In Our Thirst

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A friend recently stated, “the world is hungry for beauty.” I do believe she is right!  I take refuge in what I value and most appreciate. It’s been said we are products of what we surround ourselves with.

Many of the negative things that are happening in our midst, we can do little about but we can do something about our own personal environment in which we live. When you thirst, draw from your well or reservoir of what lifts your spirit and the spirit of others.