Lady Winter
©Sue Batton Leonard
Once warm, her clothing she shorn.
Now, she turns to reflection
On this season’s perfection.
Even with frigid face
She’s full of grace.
Lady Winter is no fool
Now wrapped in lambs wool.
Barren branches, sugar hills
And in her thrills
In her own beauty, she kisses
her blooming amaryllis.
This beautiful painting “A Village Street in Winter” ” by artist Alfred Sisley (1893) represents the anthesis of what happens in today’s world at Christmas. In villages and towns in America and in many other countries, the hustle and bustle is frenzied.
I am going to take my annual holiday break from posting on All Things Fulfilling.com until after the first of the year. Have a blessed Christmas season. And see you back here after the first of the year! Thank you to those who follow my blogs all year long and purchase my books. Look forward to 2024!
When the mind is clear of all noise and self talk, this is when solutions are revealed, artists are inspired, paradigms are shifted.~ Stephen J. Kochan
Have you ever really paused and thought deeply about the miracle of life? During December it is a good time to reflect on what all the fuss of Christmas is really all about.
Many people think of artists as being eccentric people, however, the preconceived notion comes simply because creatives think outside the box and come up with some profound and inspirational ideas, words, images, sounds and tactile objects.
Pablo Casals once said, “A child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn’t been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.”
This quote could not be more appropriate during the Christmas holidays and it reminds us to celebrate individuality and the creative spirit that each one of us is given by our Creator.
“When eating fruit, always remember the one who planted the tree.” ~ Vietnamese Proverb
Today, I became a little melancholy as I joined in singing some of the most well-known songs of the season. They are hymns of thanksgiving. Scores of children may never know the beautiful lyrics of Come, Ye Thankful People Come, For the Beauty of the Earth, We Gather Together and Now we Thank Our God. In today’s culture, saying thanks to our Creator is no longer permitted in schools and even extolling the basic principles of our Founding Fathers is sometimes controversial. Fewer families attend churches where these traditional songs are sung.
To my way of thinking, the best thing to have in abundance is gratefulness and appreciation for all we do have in this country. It is good for the well-being of our society and our future generations.
On Monday after Thanksgiving, I will share with you more thoughts that came to me today along this thread of integrating old traditions with new ideas.
Photo Above: The illustration is from the History Hustle. Pictured is John Chapman, the real “Johnny Appleseed.”
“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Last weekend it was showery. But it was filled with the harvests of intentional living bringing a mix of fulfilling things to do beginning on Thursday at a lecture and slide show given by Adrienne Stein and Quang Ho at the fabulous Ladew Topiary Gardens.
On Friday evening, The Maryland Center for the Arts provided a second opportunity to see the exhibit of the 2023 Harford County Plein Air Painters. Local art, painted outdoors at many cultural and familiar sites around the county in which I live. The talented artists who participated provided plenty of visual pleasure for me – one who is drawn to representational paintings at it’s finest.
I self-created my own seasonal blessings on Saturday by spending the morning listening to George Winston’s Autumn selections while I cooked. Winston is well-known for solo piano compositions which are said to be, “melodic, warm, pastoral music.”
So what did I cook? Seasonal favorites, of course! Butternut squash muffins filled with warm spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, a dash of clove and ginger, made even better topped with apple butter. And green split pea soup – flavors enhanced with hearty chunks of ham and a hint of thyme. A gastronomical melding of autumn flavors. A little sweet and savory.
At the end of the day, through a simple choice I made about what I value for this website, I attended an event that brought more coziness to my heart and soul. I went to a small village where the people who settled it in the 1800’s shared many of the cultural values I also try to embrace in my every day living.
Won’t you join me? Come on back in four days hence, on the 16th of October, and we will revisit a time in our nation’s history when life was very different.
Literary enthusiasts were not forgotten in the All Arts Week which is still happening throughout the weekend in Harford County, MD. On Wednesday night, there was a living history performance of poet/writer Mary Oliver presented by storyteller Colleen Webster at the Armory, where the night before it was the venue for ballroom dance lessons as part of the All Arts Festival..
Webster, whom I have seen several times previously playing the parts of Freda Kahlo and Georgia O’Keefe was convincing playing the role well of a shy poet, Mary Oliver, who did not particularly like to share her private life but was full of words when it came to the natural world around her. Besides her many books of poetry which were published, her claim to fame was a National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for her writing. Read more about this poet who was greatly influenced by Edna Vincent Millay through the Poetry Foundation.
Mary Oliver lived most of her life in Provincetown, Massachusetts and she left three points of wisdom for all of us – #1 Pay Attention, #2 Be Astonished, #3 Tell About It! On a daily basis, she followed her own advice as she found ideas for the basis of her writing while spending time in nature.
Thanks Colleen Webster for another wonderful performance and to the Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission and other sponsors for including this event in the weeks line-up.
This poem called Praying is By Mary Oliver. (September 10, 1935 – January 17, 2019)
“We are the creative force of our life, and through our own decisions rather than through our conditions, if we carefully learn to do certain things, we accomplish goals.” ~ Stephen Covey
It’s the season of Thanksgiving. Ten years ago I had limited knowledge about independent publishing and I had never written anything. But I had a strong interest! If it hadn’t been for the fruits of my labors over a span of the last decade, there is no way a project that will soon come to fruition would have landed in my lap! A year ago I became entrusted to write someone else’s story. I am honored and thankful! The publication is going to be outstanding.
Truly, it takes just as much action as it does words when it comes to becoming a writer and independent publisher. Nixing fear and doubt and replacing it with unwavering faith and the words “I AM WRITING AND PUBLISHING A BOOK” (rather than I am trying to) makes a big difference in ones determination and motivation to get the job done, project after project.
The opportunity came on the heels of taking a break from any serious writing time because for a season in my life I became full-time caretaker to two terminally ill parents and it reinforced my belief in the power of writing to heal from loss and bring personal fulfillment.
The narrative was so much fun to write! I know the artist is looking forward to revealing his new publication and it will soon be hot off the press! Keep your eye out on this website, soon more information will be posted.
The path of spiritual growth is a path of lifelong learning. ~ M. Scott Peck, author of Gifts of the Journey, In Search of Stones and The Road Less Traveled
Happy Halloween, everyone. On October 3rd, my cousin Meg Heisse and I witnessed a little hocus-pocus when we attended An Evening of Victorian Magic at Evergreen Mansion and Library, which is a Johns Hopkins University Museum. Since my cousin is a member, we attended a pre-performance reception held in the Asian red room among Chinese and Japanese collectibles. The bartenders stirred up Victorian libations and we saw up close magic tricks by David London. Mind reader indeed, out of a 52 card deck, the magician asked me to select one card and show it to others. No slight of hand involved, through telepathic transmission he correctly identified the card I had picked. But that was just the start of the delightful evening. The magician had many more magic tricks up his sleeve once the show started and he came to the stage.
There was no need to build a stage for the evening because there is already a Victorian era theatre in the Evergreen Museum. And although there were no upper level seats for celestials to sit as in many Victorian theatres, we were told apparitions are in or about the rooms of the mansion. The theatre, painted by Russian Artist Leon Bakst, was used regularly to entertain the three Garrett boys, who at one time lived there.
The Evergreen Museum and Library was built in 1850 and became home to railroad magnate, John Garrett and his family. He was President of Baltimore and Ohio “B & O” Railroad. A little over one hundred years later, in 1952, the Italianate home from the Guilded Era was donated to Johns Hopkins University and it is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Also in the mansion is a 30,000 volume library with much of which is English Renaissance literature. Paintings by Picasso, Degas, Modigliani and stained glass by Tiffany, a 23 karat gold plated bathroom all are housed in the structure. In the Asian red room I spied several pieces of Chinoiserie furniture and as I snooped around in the museum gift shop at Evergreen, I saw several beautiful publications about stained glass.
Today, my Halloween treat to our readers is a recipe for soul cakes which traditionally was the offering to others on All Hallows Eve. And here are a few pictures of our evening at Evergreen Museum and Library, too. Look carefully you might see things that fool the eye!
Some time soon I do look forward to returning to the historic Evergreen Museum to take the full tour. This wonderful landmark is only one of the institutions of the Sheridan Libraries of Johns Hopkins. Check out the others on their website.
Thank you Meg for inviting me to accompany you for the evening.
This blog is brought to you by award-winning author, Sue Batton Leonard.
“Go to the people and the places that set a spark in your soul.” ~ Unknown
Above Photo: Indoor Labyrinth – Spiritual Center, United Methodist Church, Steamboat Springs, CO
Above photo: Interior of Spiritual Center, Steamboat Springs, CO
When the light shines through the window pane of your soul, it’s a beautiful thing. The first time I stepped through the doors of the United Methodist Church in 2008, I never felt more connected to a place of worship since the church of my childhood. That church, the Maryland Presbyterian, is a church that my father and his company built.
The pastor of the church I attend now, The United Methodist in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in my opinion, is a rock star who offers inspiring words people come to hear in churches in this day and age. Nearly every Sunday, even in a resort community where people come and go with the seasons, the pews are filled to capacity. The connectedness and fellowship in the church is something very special.
My church life and the community of writers have been the best part of living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Not even to mention the magnificent landscapes. Others like me who have found a special connectedness here have had an etched brick with their family names or special sentiments placed in the courtyard of the new Spiritual Center. That’s where it will permanently stay.
I captured these photos of the new Spiritual Center at the United Methodist Church early one morning when I was with a group of women preparing for the annual 4th of July fundraiser. The street party held after the parade is hosted by The Tread of Pioneer Museum, the United Methodist and the Episcopal Church, all located within a block. Respectively, the three organizations sell “Routt” beer floats, strawberry sundaes and hot dogs in huge quantities! A seventeen piece band adds to the festivities.
Today is the dedication for this building which will bring much connection, light and life to many people in the years ahead.
Above Photo: The new Spiritual Center at the United Methodist Church in Steamboat Springs, CO
“Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.” ~ Edward deBono
Abraham Maslow, founder of humanistic psychology said that “creativity is a characteristic given to all human beings at birth.” How many of us tap into our innate gift of creativity as we go about our daily life? For those who work in careers involving the Arts, using one’s own God-given creativity is naturally incorporated into every day life. For others, it takes consciously finding ways to live life inspired. All of us have a different interpretation of what living an inspired life means.
In essence, Maslow’s theory says that once our psychological needs for safety, love and affection and esteem are satisfied, then we as human beings are freed to travel down the path of toward self-actualization. We can begin fulfilling our need to create and do what it is we were born to do, if our basic needs have been met. For more information on the Maslow theory.
If you are a person whose career does not involve the Arts, March is Crafting Month, and it is the perfect time to explore new ways of incorporating more creativity into your life for personal fulfillment. Craft a unique and creative piece of art through the written word. Writing poetry, essays, old-fashioned love letters, short stories, haiku or full length books will get your imagination and your brain working in innovative ways. There is no cost to that and anyone in this age of independent publishing can be a published author! Join a local writing group, to enjoy the camaraderie of others whose spirits also soar when putting pen to paper.
It’s always a good time to build your a creative life for yourself. Find a new hobby and live a life inspired. It will provide you with hours of entertainment and personal satisfaction, too.
This blog is brought to you by award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard.
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