Memoirs: Annals of History

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Posted on October 14, 2014

“Memoirs are the backstairs of history.” ~ George Meredith

Last weekend I had lunch with my sister and her husband at the National Gallery of Art Pavilion Café. It was a gorgeous day – sunny and warm. We sat on the patio so we could take in the sculpture garden which surrounded the greenhouse-like structure that held the café.

From where we sat, the National Archives Museum was also visible. http://www.archives.gov/museum/

Below is a photo of it in the distance.

Below: One of the bigger-than-life sculptures on the grounds of the Café took me back to my childhood. How long has it been since you have seen one of these? Do you know what it is?

All sorts of nostalgic thoughts of vintage school supplies were set off by seeing this unexpected sculpture. If you are a baby boomer, you will also remember having to buy these items at the start of the school year:

Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane. We will be visiting the National Portrait Gallery tomorrow. That’s all for now from our nation’s beautiful Capitol City -Washington, D.C. Note the work they are doing on the Capitol dome to insure that it will be standing for many more generations!

My award-winning memoir is not in the National Archive Gallery but it is registered with the Library of Congress 2014933053.

This blog brought to you by the award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard. For information on her memoir Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected please visit this link http://amzn.to/1vQ6Lob.

Indie Bookstore Feature: Ukazoo Books

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Posted on October 13, 2014

Sometimes it is hard to fathom that I went from someone who had only written a few college term papers decades ago to writing a memoir that won two EVVY book awards all within four years time. Talk about a gift of a lifetime and finding fulfilling things in the unexpected! Astonishing myself has been reward enough!

There have also been some new developments since last Friday. I found out that my memoir is finalist in two categories (non-fiction and young adult) in the 2014 Harvest Book Competition.http://bit.ly/1vbWwfb.

How about dem apples?

I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw this image. Perhaps it explains in all.

As writers, believing in ourselves and slaying the dragons is our biggest challenge!

Today, I would like to thank Ukazoo Books and everyone who came to my book signing in Towson, Maryland over the weekend. I couldn’t have been more pleased at the turnout. GIFT OF A LIFETIME:FINDING FULFILLING THINGS IN THE UNEXPECTED IS NOW AVAILABLE AT UKAZOO BOOKS IN TOWSON, MARYLAND. phone#410-832-2665. OR IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA, STOP BY THE STORE @ 730 DULANEY VALLEY ROAD. Website: http://www.ukazoo.com.

To Edward, the store owner – it was a pleasure to meet you several days before the event. I enjoyed our exchange of conversation about the industry of independent publishing. And your staff is wonderful -Ben, Tim and all the others at Ukazoo were so helpful.

My Dad & Mom arriving for the book signing. They are my source of inspiration –

88 and 85 yrs old, respectively, and going strong! What a gift to have them around this long.

Thanks, Ukazoo Books, http://www.ukazoo.com for hosting my book talk and book signing! I enjoyed browsing your store. Loved the books of regional history. I can’t wait to delve into the book I bought called Towson: Now and Then by Melissa Schenhlein. There are so many places featured in it that I remember from my childhood that are now only found in the archives.

In a few days from now I will have more pictures from this fun weekend, all brought about because of independently publishing Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Expected. For more information on award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard, browse this website.

See you tomorrow!

Fondness for Frederick

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Posted on October 10, 2014

“You have to know the past to understand the present.” Dr. Carl Sagan
I’ve taken the opportunity to blog about the town of Frederick, Maryland on quite a number of occasions. I have great affection for many Fredericks that have been in my life. You will understand why if you read my memoir, Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.
My affection for the town of Frederick comes for what has been salvaged out of what was once a run-down, ramshackle place during my childhood. Now, it is a place to be proud of! Art, architecture, history, tourism are all the things it has going for it!
To read other articles on All Things Fulfilling about the revitalization of Frederick, Maryland, visit these links.

Landscapes, Seascapes & Tablescapes https://allthingsfulfilling.com/2011/10/28/landscapes-seascapes-and-tablescapes/
Roots of American History https://allthingsfulfilling.com/2011/10/01/routes-and-roots-of-american-history/
American Spirit Brings Change https://allthingsfulfilling.com/2011/09/30/5734/
Along the Pathway of American History https://allthingsfulfilling.com/2011/09/29/along-the-pathway-of-american-history/
Artfully Restoring America https://allthingsfulfilling.com/2011/09/26/artfully-restoring-america/

Today on All Things Fulfilling, enjoy just a few more pictures from the Harvest Fair that I went to last weekend in Frederick.

Hope to see you tomorrow, Saturday October 11th at Ukazoo Books in Towson, Maryland where I will be doing a book signing from 1pm to 4pm. A short author talk will begin at 2pm.

Two photos below are from: Smokestack Studio – great place. Loved it. http://www.smokestackstudios.com/

Do return to All Things Fulfilling on Monday! More sites and scenes from Washington, DC will be featured!

This blog brought to you by the EVVY award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard on an East Coast book tour! For information on her memoir Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, please visit this link.http://amzn.to/1y21igm.

Capitalizing on Historical Aspects

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Posted on October 9, 2014

History is the interpretation of the significance that the past has for us. ~Johan Huizinga

“More cities and towns ought to do this!” I stated to my sister as we walked the streets of Frederick, Maryland on Friday evening during their Harvest Fair.

“Do what?” she asked.
“Capitalize on the assets they already have – you know, put new energy into historic cities and towns rather building new. Our country’s heritage is something our citizens should to be proud of. I think this town has the right idea.” I said. “I’ve seen some interesting historical aspects that presented in a history book, I wouldn’t dream of reading about. But being immersed in it as a tourist I am drawn into it. Even that Museum of Civil War Medicine, is neat. Seeing the artifacts is better than trying to read about it.” http://www.civilwarmed.org/.

“I agree but what else do you like so much about the town?” my sister inquired.
“The architectural details of these historic buildings, the vintage clothing shops, the retro furniture in these antique shops…..the town seems to be emphasizing all that. And obviously people are interested. I mean, look at all the people. Years ago, you could have never have convinced me to stop here.”
Over the past three or so years, I have visited this town willingly and each visit only gets better. People from the greater Baltimore/Washington D.C. area seem to be flocking to this town. The streets, shops and restaurants were busy! Each time I’ve stopped, the town’s identity seems to be more clearly established as a historical landmark, thanks to grants for Main Street historic revitalization efforts. Frederick Maryland has been “deemed a masterpiece in Maryland” by the New York Times.

If you are a Civil War buff, traveling to Gettysburg or Antietam battlegrounds, make a point to stop here. And don’t miss the canal area of the city. There are special things to be found especially during the spring, summer and fall.

Enjoy these pictures from the streets of Frederick, Maryland. Tomorrow I will share a few more images!

Do return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow. I look forward to sharing a few more things that I found of interest.

This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected. The award winning book is available in audio, paperback and e-book through this link. http://amzn.to/1y21igm

Nature’s Spectrums

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Posted on October 8, 2014

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.

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

This 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

Connections to First Chapter

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Posted on October 7, 2014

“In the first chapter of Genesis it is written that God placed mankind in the Garden of Eden. God knew from the very beginning that this perfect environment would be the key source for mankind’s healing and health.” ~ Dr. David Stewart author of Healing: God’s Forgotten Gift http://bit.ly/1rTR4LR.

An hour or two in the National Botanic Gardens in Washington, DC is enough to uplift anyone’s spirit. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing horticultural wonders from all over the world inside and outside this beautiful structure last weekend.

Many of the plants I saw have healing properties that have been known for centuries. Others are yet to be discovered. http://www.deborahkingcenter.com/blog/2014/02/25/the-healing-powers-of-plants/

For instance, digitalis is a plant that for centuries has been used for heart ailments. However, today it is synthetically produced for many reasons. One is the ease of regulation of dosage. http://science.jrank.org/pages/2088/Digitalis.html.

Why has our world relied on so many synthetically produced drugs when much of what we need to heal is already at our dispose? I must ask. Some medicinal plants are not indigenous to areas where large populations of people roam. So, I suppose harvesting them to use in the healing arts industry may be too costly.

I ponder that in other cases a choice between harvesting beautiful plants for pharmaceuticals and risking that they will become endangered, and no longer available for visual enjoyment and soulful pleasures may be a consideration.

Today I’d like to share some images from the medicinal horticultural section of the National Botanical Gardens. Additional photos will be shared over the next few weeks of flowers from a spectrum of colors, as well as some wonderful architecture and art from our National Portrait Gallery.

Stay tuned to this site – I have all kinds of more fulfilling things to share with you of things I discovered in Washington, DC over the weekend.

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

What a gorgeous building and grounds at the National Botanical Gardens

Plenty inside the National Botanical Gardens to keep this avid gardener interested and uplifted!

Below: Aromatherapy – pots of spices from around the world – I indulged myself frequently at the “smelling pots”

To read an article on the manufacturing of digitalis, a drug that so many heart patients rely on visit this link.http://science.jrank.org/pages/2088/Digitalis.html.

Water is a magical substance. The health of all life is irrevocably connected with water. Find yourself around it, immerse yourself in it, and drink it with gratitude. ~ Unknown

For a great resource about healing plants, please visit this site http://m.steamboattoday.com/news/2014/sep/14/local-herbalist-releases-first-ebook-series/

All Photos were taken by Sue Batton Leonard inside the National Botanic Gardens. Please read copyright statement on this site on the right hand side of the page.

Squeezing In Reading Time

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Posted on October 6, 2014

“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.”

This 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

The Gift of Opportunity

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Posted on October 5, 2014

“The freedom to move forward to new opportunities and produce results comes from living in the present and not the past.” ~ Brian Koslow

Boxes tied up with pretty ribbons and bows immediately come to mind when someone mentions presents. However, one of the most valuable favors one can be given in life is the gift of opportunity.

This Saturday, on October 11^th, I will be given an appreciated gift of opportunity. A chance to share my award-winning memoir with book enthusiasts in my native place of residence – Towson, Maryland. A book signing and author presentation at Ukazoo Books in Dulaney Plaza from 1pm to 4pm is scheduled. Some people who will be coming to this public event I have not seen for decades.

At 2pm I’ll discuss my reasons for penning a memoir and how the independent publishing industry has paved the way for ordinary people to tell their extraordinary stories and publish them.

I look forward to the event. I hope you, the readers of All Things Fulfilling will help me broadcast the good news that the author talk is taking place. It will provide an opportunity for others to learn something about why storytelling is so important and why people should share stories through independent publishing.

Pass the word and hope to see you at Ukazoo Books on October 11^th!

This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of the EVVY award-winning book “Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.”

Weekend of Exploration

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Posted on October 4, 2014

“Where a man’s heart is, there is his treasure also.” ~ Saint Ambrose

It’s going to be a fun weekend! A chance to do some exploring of things that hold my interest in Washington, DC. I’ll be with my sister and her husband.

On our list for Sunday is the National Botanic Gardens and the National Portrait Museum. Two of the few museums in the District of Columbia I have never visited throughout my lifetime. The botanic gardens is a museum quite different than many others in our nation’s Capital. The treasures within the walls are living plants – many of which are not indigenous species to the United States. It gives our citizens an opportunity to see plant life from places all over the world that we may not ever get a chance to travel to. Specimens from the jungle, desert, mountains and plains, both rare and endangered have been assembled and are growing in eco-systems that mirror their natural environments.

Being an art enthusiast , it is surprising that the National Portrait Gallery is also one of the few federal buildings of importance I have never been to in Washington, DC. After reading the blog www.castlesandcoffeehouses.com called Edith Warton “The Age of Innocence” http://bit.ly/1vzQ927 about a painting in the collection at the National Portrait Museum, I vowed that on my next trip to the East Coast I would visit it. It is a Washington, DC museum I didn’t get to as a child and haven’t yet in my adult years. Well, here I am, ready to enjoy it tomorrow.

I’m sure I will be taking photos throughout the day to share on a future blog for those don’t get a chance to travel to the East Coast.

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

This blog brought to you by www.allthingsfulfilling.com and award-winning author of the anthology Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected. http://amzn.to/1vCTf7k. Don’t miss out on the audio version, it holds the treasure and also won 2nd prize in the EVVY book awards!

Simple Gifts of Life

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Posted on October 2, 2014

Have you ever made a list of things that truly make you happy? When you get right down to it I’m a cheap date. I don’t need wining and dining out in fancy restaurants, riding around in fancy cars, a McMansion to live in, high-valued gems and jewels to decorate me. Those things really don’t hold much weight of importance in my book.

In fact, my “toys” include few things – some knitting needles, books, some pretty home decorating items that are meaningful to me, and some attractive artwork that appeals to my idea of beauty. Originals are nice but not required.

My idea of the best kind of plaything to acquire is a sweet, loyal and friendly dog who walks with me and is low maintenance except when it comes to cuddle time.

As I have “aged” I have an increasing appreciation for just being on this earth to witness the goodness and gifts that each day brings.

Here are seven things that in recent years I have learned bring me personal fulfillment. They are invaluable to my sense of personal happiness but hard to measure in dollars.

Allowing myself all the time I need to browse library shelves for a good read.
Warm, sunny days when I don’t have to wrap myself in layers.
Impressing myself with my own creativity, motivation and resilience.
Down time to do something or nothing of my own choosing.
Hearing a voice that opens with that ever sunny “Hi, Mom!”
The luxury of sitting in a pew and listening to a hymn that is familiar from my childhood.
Connecting with others who have similar life values.
Space enough not to feel restricted and a place that reflects my tastes and personality.

How about you – what do you highly value in your life that you would put at the top of your “must have” list?

This blog brought to you by the award-winning author, Sue Batton Leonard. For information on her memoir Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, please visit this link. http://amzn.to/1rA6fdU

All Things Fulfilling

Writing Focused on Fine Art & The Humanities

Category Archives: Books

Memoirs: Annals of History

Indie Bookstore Feature: Ukazoo Books

Fondness for Frederick

Capitalizing on Historical Aspects

Nature’s Spectrums

Connections to First Chapter

Squeezing In Reading Time

The Gift of Opportunity

Weekend of Exploration