Tag Archives: author Sue Batton Leonard

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.

 

A View of My Writer’s Nest

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Today’s post is not quite as short as a tweet, but its about a sweet little thing that I am very grateful for!

I have a cool new summertime writing space, which gives me a bird’s eye view and I couldn’t be more pleased with it.  So, how I view life and the nature of people who exist in it is coming to you from a new vantage point. One day I might even be led by the spirit to go out on a limb and write about something existentially profound. 

It is a good day to settle in and ponder what that even means!

 

Painters on the Portico

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More than fifteen visual artists stopped by the weekly gathering yesterday on May Day, to say, “Hey, take a look at my new painting!” It was a great day to be outside. The sun was shining and there was a gentle, moderately warm breeze which swept across the lawns and portico at the historic Palladian Mansion, “The Liriodendron.”

The art talk was as interesting as always, with creatives sharing their methodology and their visions about what they brought to various surfaces. The exchange of questions led to insight about their individual style preferences, favored art supplies and so much more, such as when their paintings will make their debuts in future local, statewide and regional shows or beyond. Thus, I restrain from posting photos of individual works of art, most of which were very colorful.

It was so good to be among these artists once again. The only disappointment was although the wisteria overhead was still dripping with flowers, their purple shades of color have faded to mostly shades of gray to white. Then watch out! It is known to become wild, carefree and unruly. The new shoots of green will quickly wind and twine along along anything they can grab onto and hug.

It was a fabulous May Day with some of the many talented Harford County artists at the historic home and estate of Dr. Howard Atwood Kelly and his wife Letitia.

The Spring Outing

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Today, I’d like to share a piece of my writing, which has never been published, titled The Spring Outing! May you feel refreshed, renewed and encouraged by every new dawn during the Eastertide Season.

The Spring Outing

©Sue Batton Leonard 2004

*************

Winter’s chill has passed

I shall no longer shiver

Today, I am off to the river.

I’ll scamper

along with my hamper.

Go to the weeping willow

where there will be a soft pillow.

A mound of moss,

for my clean linen cloth.

 

Before me I’ve strewn,

A canteen of steeped tea

a silver fork, knife and spoon.

A spring onion tart

with ‘shrooms and cheese,

and a tasty salad of caprese.

A square of dark chocolate

is in the pocket.

I’ll save one cup

for after I’ve supped,

while watching spring erupt.

 

With the yellow forsythia branches

I’ll weave in tender pussy willows

dotted with long stemmed violets.

A crown to place on my head

before I lay on my makeshift bed.

 

Amidst snowdrops, 

little bunny hops,

and silly daffodillies,

I’ll  nap and dream

of summer’s August.

When aside the garden

I’ll sit in the long grass

Among the wildflowers mass

drinking chilled sassafras.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nostalgic Images

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Above: Havre de Grace Amtrack train track by artist Pamela Wilde

Ahhh…the golden age of train travel. It was an era when travel etiquette was expected. Some of the first few paintings I encountered yesterday when I walked into Monkton Mill Station/Gallery exhibit depicted the romantic side of train travel, rather than the trade and commerce aspect of what railroad transportation brought to our country.

If nostalgic feelings come to you, like me, with seeing the rust and gears of an old steam engine, a view looking out a train window hung with a curtain of lace, the graphics on train cars or the sight of a train crossing sign, then there were romantic images presented by all the participants. You can take in all of this and more from the works of the participating artists – Don James,  Heather Shreve, Henry Coe, Don James, Douglas Lake, Dora Patin, Raymond Burns and Janet Little Jeffers.

The exhibit included oil paintings, photographs and other archival artifacts such as the formal uniform of a conductor and old tickets sold by the cashier in the booth. The entire exhibit relates to the train industry. There was even a beautifully constructed model of a train car which enhanced the overall experience of the show. Indeed, it was a journey through a time which was central to western expansion, when family names like the Vanderbilts, Edward Harriman, Andrew Carnegie and other industrial pioneers and railroad tycoons were tossed around like baggage being moved from train to train.

Stop in and see the show, which will be at Manor Mill Station/Gallery until April 21, 2024. And there will be a train day at Manor Mill Gallery on March 30, 2024. Get your kids or grandkids aboard by registering!

Hallowed Halls of Johns Hopkins

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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.

 

Forever Grateful for Art Education

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“To live a life fulfilled, reflect on the things you have with gratitude.” ~ Jaren Davis

Last weekend I sat in on a plein air painting workshop held at Ladew Topiary Gardens. It is truly an extraordinary,  top-notch venue for artists who enjoy getting out of the studio to paint a garden landscape scene right in front of them in natural light.

Instructors and husband and wife team, Mike Bare and Joanne Bare are completing their one year Artists-in-Residence at Ladew Topiary Gardens. As I listened to the artists talk, I couldn’t help but feel gratitude for a few chapters of my life that I would not have wanted to skip for anything – the opportunity to work at two different art galleries. More recently, Wild Horse Gallery in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and some years ago at West Wind Fine Art, LLC in Manchester, Vermont. That is when I handled the order fulfillment of art books and videos published by representational painter Richard Schmid‘s publishing house, Stove Prairie Press, LLC.  What an opportunity it was to learn so much about painting. My appreciation of art grew exponentially with those life experiences.

So, when artist Mike Bare spoke about differences in painting styles between loose vs. tight , and terminology such as warm vs cool colors, opposites on a color wheel, soft and hard edges, painting shadows (dark) vs light and negative spaces, I understood what he was talking about. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about other technical aspects of painting before the artists went out into the gardens to sketch and practice what their instructor so capably preached.

( Above photo: Mike Bare at Barn Gallery at Ladew Topiary Gardens)

Some of what Bare spoke about can be applied to writing. Do come back to my next post on October 10, 2019. I’ll explain what the artist said that also relates to a fulfilling writers life.

(Above Photo: Mike Bare’s sketchbook and paintings at Ladew Topiary Gardens)