Category Archives: Audio Books

Nature’s Spectrums

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I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in. ~George Washington Carver

God sure swished one big paintbrush filled with a spectrum of colors when he waved it over the plant life put on this earth. Walking inside and outside the National Botanic Gardens I was awestruck by the range of botanical treasures which come from our land and places across the globe.

Enjoy this journey through visual images that I captured with my camera when I visited The National Botanic Garden’s last weekend. Some of these plants seem like “freaks of nature,” they are such exquisite masterpieces.

Nature has all kinds of gifts to share with people all over the Universe. Take every opportunity you can to be outdoors to enjoy it. It is good for the heart and soul.

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Goodbye for now from me and my gal pal, my twin sister, from the National Botanic Gardens in Washington, DC.

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IMG_20141007_093258_933This blog is brought to you by the award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard. For more information on her book

Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected available in audio, paperback and e-book,  please visit this link.http://amzn.to/1xTvPwQ

Squeezing In Reading Time

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“Eyes see only light, ears hear only sound, but a listening heart perceives meaning.”  David Steindl-Rast, A Listening Heart

We live in a busy world. I often hear people say “I never get to read anymore.” Enter audio books! They are geared for multi-tasking.  A term our society has gotten all too familiar with.

Audio books are the perfect solution for people who like to use their time to their best advantage. And they bring a whole new dimension to reading. After all, says author Sue Batton Leonard about her award-winning audio book Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, “the treasure is in the voice.”

According to this article there are health benefits to reading books, and that is a good thing! http://huff.to/1gbsyAD. Although, listening to audio books is a different kind of reading experience,according to  an article in Forbes,  37% of the population listens to audio books.http://onforb.es/1rGVLH8.

Audible.com has provided a way to publish audio books on many different digital platforms – computers, cellphones, i-pads. Pick your preference and pick the time that is best for you to listen in. Audio books are a gift to people who say  “I can’t find time to read.”

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earphones while travelingThis blog brought to you by the award-winning author, Sue Batton Leonard. Her book Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected is available in audio, paperback and e-book and can be ordered through this link. http://amzn.to/1xTvPwQ

 

Appreciate the Season

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good health and sense“You continue to amaze me,” my cardiologist whom I have been seeing annually for twenty-five years said to me last week as he spoke with me after my yearly check-up and echocardiogram.

“Thank you, “ I said. “I am very fortunate, and hope to keep up a great bill of health.”

“Keep on doing what you are doing!” He said.

“I will. I promise.” I said.

Every time a day comes around that I don’t really want to go out and walk because it is snowing, raining, too windy or cold, I think about the alternative – declining health or being sickly, and it spurs me out the door every time.

But it’s not just the physical benefits. Walking two or three miles daily lifts me up in other ways. There is no doubt in my mind about the connection between living with positive spirit and good health. There are 15 ways to naturally lift the spirit mentioned in this article. Check it out http://bit.ly/1vA9h0J.

Experiencing change in one’s life every so often is a good way to refresh and renew the spirit. Right now I am on an East Coast book tour and enjoying a change of scenery. It’s good for the “heart health.” Last Friday I was a guest on Salley Gibney’s show “Let’s Talk.” The topic of discussion was “Write your Story.”  In the interview we talked a little about my own personal history which is recounted in the memoir “Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.” In the coming weeks the footage from GNAT-TV in Vermont will be posted on All Things Fulfilling.

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Photo from the Steamboat Pilot, Steamboat Springs Colorado

October 1, 2014

Have a great day everyone. October has arrived and it has already snowed in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It’s a beautiful month to get outside. Take a walk -check out the autumn bounty- the colorful leaves, apples being harvested, pumpkins and gourds at farm stands, the fall scents of foods made with cinnamon and cloves. Woodstove smoke, which indicates cooler temperatures, will soon be lingering in the air.

This blog is brought to you by the award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard, writing from the State of my native roots, Maryland.

Naively Speaking

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“It is well for the heart to be naive, and the mind not to be.” ~ Anatole France

tonsils removedI remember feeling slighted. It seemed like all the kids in the neighborhood had their tonsils and adenoids removed except me.  As a child, it didn’t matter to me that I had lived through pioneering heart surgery, I still wished I could get my tonsils out like many of my buddies.

Apparently, according to this article, twice as many tonsillectomies were performed in the 1950s and 1960s as today. http://seattletimes.com/html/health/2015264059_med10.html.

To a kid, getting tonsils and adenoids removed  meant eating ice cream! And lots of it! Ice cream was one of the few foods that I really adored when I was growing up. And to go to the soda fountain counter at S.S. Kresges or Reads Drugstore for a scoop in an ice cold silver dish with a doily between the dish and a small saucer was a special treat.

Remember the litttle plastic cups of ice cream with the wooden spoons? They reminded me of tongue depressors the doctors used. And then there were the ice-cream pop-ups.

 

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In my memoir I share both a child’s perspective of my “operation” at Johns Hopkins and  my adult insight into why perhaps I fared so well.

This blog brought to you by author Sue Batton Leonard. Her memoir, “an anthology of short stories,” is a  two-time award winner in the Colorado Independent Publishers Association EVVY Book Awards. For information and ordering, please follow this link.

Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected is available in audio book (that holds the real treasure), paperback and e-book.

 

Garbage Disposals, Houdini and Bulldozers

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“…goats is just like a bulldozer.” ~ Christine Genevier

goats on picnic tables 2Goats! What is it about their need to be atop sheds, dog houses, tables, cars, and everything else they are not supposed to be on? I don’t quite get it.

And talk about garbage disposals! We never had garbage disposals in any of  the kitchens of our three childhood homes even though my Dad’s company built custom homes with fancy features. We didn’t need them!

Our infamous goat, Hanratty, ate everything and anything in sight. Tin cans, fishing gear, toys, all the other animal’s food in our menagerie, whole turkey carcasses and more, in what seemed like one fell swoop! Everything went through that animal’s intestines including plastics but, the animal never needed a vets attention.

Every time you turned around, he was out of the pen and into something. Didn’t matter that we had just secured the pen, he found his way out.

If you are a baby boomer, you’ll remember the TV star in this minute or two video clip and you’ll know this catchy tune. Come on, sing along!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dny_JDlwGFM

This weeks blogs may be rather varied, without any particular theme. I’ll been using my stream of consciousness literary style once again. Wondering what that is? Here is a link to an article that you might find interesting if you are trying to find your own literary style.http://bit.ly/1nO4Bz2. Although I may be jumping from subject to subject most of this weeks blogs will be coming from childhood memories that keep cropping up. I’ll see what else I can dig up that you’ll enjoy from the days of what many describe as the “golden era.”

This blog brought to you by author Sue Batton Leonard. For more information on the award-winning book  Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, visit this link http://amzn.to/1rNoUTm.  The book is available in audio, paperback and e-book for your reading pleasure!

 

 

Fire is Lit, Ribbon in the Hair

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To My Dear Husband ~~~~

I am sorry that according to this 1955 article, I have failed you miserably. I have not always lived up to the Girl Scout creed of  “I promise to do my duty…..” and to The Good Wife Guide…..

The Good Wife

…I mean, sometimes, I let you cook breakfast. You changed dirty diapers, and too many times I told you about my day first. Then there is the matter of the fire, I didn’t always make it happen….well, I apologize.

And then there is the issue of our son. Ok, I’ll admit it. He often greeted you with a dirty face and hands. And his hair…what can I say…let’s just hope it never happens again now that he is an adult. I’m sure it won’t, after all he is a visual effects artist.  I’ll speak with him later about that matter. At least he is playing  the part well of the treasure that he is. That should make you feel better. It does, doesn’t it?

I’ll  see what I can do to mend my ways and not be such a modern day woman.  We are 34 years into this union. I hope you can forgive me if I start taking your shoes off. I know, I ruined many an evening when I didn’t have you   “lean back and relax in your chair…..” Well, I pledge from now on to remember…I’ll say it. I promise. No… really, I will. Yes, I am serious. Truly… I’m not kidding.

I hope you’ll agree to continue on this journey through life that we started. Happy Anniversary!

Much Love, hon ~ Sue

P.S. And by the way, the last item on the list – don’t worry! I do know my place. I belong beside you with a ribbon in my hair.

This blog brought to you by award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard and her award-winning publication “Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.” http://amzn.to/1ulyFYs.

Creative Memory

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A memoir takes some particular threads, some incidents, some experience form a person’s life and gives an account of it. ~ Richard Hell

Yesterday’s blog was all about using images, songs, adages, movies to elicit memories of times gone-by to help write life stories.They  all serve as great writing prompts.

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When I saw the image of this widely-used household item from my childhood it triggered powerful memories. Below are the words that I associated with this picture. The words became basis for writing the preface to my memoir.

Once I recorded my thoughts it was easy to compose the preface to the book. Then my words became complete sentences and a little organizing to make sure the writing became a well- developed composition that conveyed what I wanted to share with my readers.

Here are the free association words that immediately came to mind when I saw the image:

 

  • First day of school
  • lunchbox
  • socks with wrinkles
  • foreign speaking doctor
  • bus stop
  • saddle shoes
  • odd odor
  • six years old
  • my mother
  • fear and anxiety

If you want to write your life story but are stumped and having a hard time getting started, dig out some old pictures from the past and see what happens. Here is a great article about the power of creative memory. http://huff.to/1pNAOvL

If you are interested in this thing called “independent publishing” there are many, many blog writings on All Things Fulfilling about the subject. Basically, I recorded my journey as I went through my own publishing process. On the right-hand side of this page, you can search by category – enter words such as independent publishing, writing, memoir, marketing independent publications, e-book publishing, writers, creativity.

That is all I’ve got for today! This blog brought to you by the award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard. For -information on her  book Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected which won 2 EVVY book awards, please visit this link. http://amzn.to/1rOmKUp.

Stories Filled with Heart

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“The greatest treasures are invisible to the eye but found by the heart.” ~ Unknown
Today’s blog will put a good end to this week’s theme which has focused mostly on medicine and the miracle of life.
If you like the Ben Carson story, http://www.biography.com/people/ben-carson-475422#synopsis, a Detroit boy who went from marginal beginnings to world class surgeon, you will enjoy these other success stories of people who have made a huge differences in our world because of their dedication to saving lives through “pioneering” medicine and research.
All of these titles can be purchased through the posted links:

Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story http://amzn.to/1unzEGE

heart - ben carson story

King of Hearts: The True Story of Open Heart Surgery http://amzn.to/1lAcs7v

heart - King of heart

Something the Lord Made http://amzn.to/1vOWWZ0

heart - Something the Lord Made

Partners of the Heart http://amzn.to/1qd8Jgs

heart - Partners of the Heart

100,000 Hearts http://amzn.to/1xcoLw5

heart - 100,000 hearts

 

Have a great weekend everybody! See you on All Things Fulfilling on Monday!

This blog is brought to you by award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard. For information on her EVVY  book  awards for Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, follow this link. http://amzn.to/1nXZjkc

Influential People

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“A leader is someone who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” ~ John C. Maxwell

Have you ever known that someone was influential to your life story yet, you have never met them before?

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These two people pictured impacted my life, I do know that. Without the lessons they taught others in the medical field, I probably would not be here today.Here is a book which features top early medical research doctors from the past. The woman pictured in the blog today, Helen Taussig, is among them http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Illustrated-History-Medical-Pioneers/dp/1579127789

Sometimes there are certain facts that are absorbed through the growing-up process that we recognize that without a doubt, has significance to our outcome in life. Such is the case of my life story.

Taussig_HelenAs far as I understand it, The work of these two “pioneering” physicians had an  important impact on my life due to their contributions to medical research and development.

I am eternally grateful for their leadership in the medical world. They helped save my life and the lives of many others.

Helen-Taussig-2This blog brought to you by the EVVY award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard and her memoir “Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.”

Between Spaces and Relationships

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“Irish blessing – May the memories that you hold be your precious true pot of gold.” ~ Tom Baker

My dad was a custom home builder, as was my grandfather, my great grandfather and now my two brothers and my nephew.

When I came across these vintage home pictures from the 1950s and 1960s, they stirred nostalgic feelings of an era past. The images reminded me of all the times my Dad came home with a new set of blueprints, and unrolled them on the kitchen and dining room table and explained the layout of the different styles of houses to us kids. I was always interested in seeing them and tried to envision the houses when completely constructed.

I came to know what markings were used to show where the doors and windows would be placed and whether they’d swing in or out. Other sets of plans showed where the beams and the roof trusses ran, and kitchen layouts. It makes me happy that my Dad took time to explain all that, because now I have a basic understanding of what I am seeing when I  look at a set of building renderings.

Back when I was a child then there were no CAD (computer assisted designs) or drawings. Each set of blueprints were painstakingly hand sketched using drafting tools such as protractors, rulers, t-squares, tracing paper and more. Trying to make changes to features in rooms and design was so tedious.

The reason I am sharing this information today is because many baby boomers might find fulfillment in seeing these home designs of the 1950s and 1960s.You or a neighbor may have lived in a house just like them!

Enjoy, and do return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow. We often dig into the archives and find things to talk about that stir fulfilling memories for other people. Whether your childhood was spent in a big home or a little home – what unites happy families are the relationships that exist between the spaces.

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vintage house2vintage house1vintage house 7This blog brought to you by award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard. For more information on her memoir Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, please visit this link. http://amzn.to/1vFJw1u