Sounds yummy doesn’t it. Tomorrow the light begins returning, the days get longer and although, where I live, the coldest part of the year has yet to come, we will be moving toward warmth. I like warmth!

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In the last few days, there has been a lot of snow in the high country. The river is running higher and faster than it has since Spring runoff, bringing down a lot of snowy slush. Ice is forming at the edges. Since we’ve been enjoying 45 degree afternoons, that changes as the day goes on. Yesterday, ms. Gracie was disconcerted by the sound of the “winter whispers” of the slush in motion and barked – not her usual puppy bark but a serious “I perceive a threat”, deep throated big dog bark. It made no impact on the river but amused me.

I will not be updating my galleries again until after this Holiday Season. In the meantime, prices on available work include shipping in the US (if you are outside the US, we’ll look at actual cost and work it out! If you want something and need to make  a 3 month payment arrangement, let me know and we’ll work it out! I’d much prefer my work to be out in the world than being stored here at home).

Until January 6, 2013, I will continue to donate 20% of all sales from my website to Relief for Hurricane Sandy victims, with the Red Cross and help for the critters being my top choices. If you’d prefer a different or specific agency, let me know.

***

Soapbox Alert!

With respect to the most recent shooting tragedy, I am stepping up my intentional random acts.

I encourage all of us, as humans, becoming, being and doing, to be a little kinder, more polite, a little more respectful, a lot more grateful, going into this new era. We might all go a little bit further to be aware of the needs in our neighborhoods and in our communities. Let us all work in small ways, daily, as we can, to make the world a better place. IMO, signing petitions is a great way of making our voices heard in DC, but does not have an immediate effect on any one person who might need a smile, or some concrete help. We do need to  advocate for better Gun Control legislation,  for better access to Health Care and especially Mental Health Care and support for patients and their families, but we also need to consider small daily actions as equally important.

It should not be just in the wake of tragedy that we put our best selves forward. We should do this every single day.

We should not feel the need to announce what we did (although doing so might speed up the ripple effect <G>).

The back story, more than you need to know <G>: when I was in the 4th through 6th grade, I lived just outside Philly. My mother could never keep track of photo days or days when school was closed, so I found myself at school on an election day. My school was integrated (not common then). I overheard a discussion of Civil Rights Activism between the mothers of two of my classmates. One thought the CR Activists were doing necessary work. The other put forth the opinion that “The most important thing any of us can do is raise our children with respect and to teach them to treat others with respect. The only control we really have is how we act in our immediate relationships.”

That statement made a huge impression on me then and has stuck with me for the 50 plus years since. I do not think the two points of view are mutually exclusive. My activism, however,  has always been in how I try to live my life. I am, have always been,  an artist, not a Community Organizer.

Some days are better than others.  Some days I am more able to be open and responsive, fully present and helpful. Other days I should crawl under a rock, stay in bed, turtle somehow.

If you are moved to do something to honor the families and the community of Newtown, CT, remember this: They have specifically asked that we not send stuff. Make a donation to a scholarship fund or to an animal shelter in the name of the families and community, but don’t burden them with stuff. They don’t need it. If you are in the area and the “church that shall not be named” indeed shows up, lend your body and your time to shield the mourners. That would be a good thing.

Here are 26 simple ideas, in no particular order,  to put in motion to help, where you are. (Some people are attaching notes to recipients as they do some of these things- that’s not a bad idea, but I am not.).

*Feed 26 parking meters where vehicles are already parked. If the space is empty, the next vehicle is less likely to use it, more likely to use a space with a meter that has time on it.

*Buy someone, where you are dining, a meal, just because.

*Send thank you notes to the schools in your community; they do their best with the resources and limitations they have to work with. If you have school aged children, go beyond a thank you note. Show up. Be present. Ask how you can help and then respect the response. Give what you can. Help in a classroom, in the Library. It is good for children to have adults, who are not their Teachers, in the schools they attend.

*Say thank you to the Crossing Guards, even if you do not have children. They make the world a safer place for all of us.

*Adopt a needy family. Consider doing this beyond the Holiday Season. The needs are year round. (There are local agencies everywhere that coordinate these efforts. Perhaps your Church or Synagogue or Temple has a private list, ask)

*Contribute 26 non-perishable items to your local food bank. Do this over the course of the year, as you are able. Again, the need is year round.

*If you eat out, double your usual tip. If you do not tip, Start now.

*Say thank you to every single person who helps you: the mail carrier, the grocery clerk, the gas station attendant, the mechanic who keeps your car in good order and does not take advantage of you. Anyone who provides a service to you deserves to be thanked. Each and every single time. Do this with total sincerity. It matters more than tipping. If you have a business that you are happy with, spread the word. If you have a business that you are unhappy with, go elsewhere but consider that your experience might  be the exception rather than the rule and do not spread the word.

*Show and express appreciation every chance you get. All too often people hear only the negative. Let them know you are pleased with their service.

*Clean up after someone else’s dog. Clean up after your own!

*If you are in public, turn your cellphone ringer off. That is basic courtesy. If you are an on-call professional or have school age or driving age children, a vibration will alert you to check incoming calls. For the sake of everyone’s sanity, turn the ringer off when you are in line.

*Do not text when driving.  If you must talk while driving, use a hands free device.

*Consider the “left turn lane people”. Yes, some of them are scam artists but some of them are desperate. Some of them are our brothers and sisters. Some of them are Veterans. Some of them have been marginalized by the Reagan Admin changes to Mental Health funding. How do we know the difference? Is it ours to judge? Many of US are a heartbeat or catastrophic illness away from being destitute.  Offer what you can. I’ve been giving out packets of hats, gloves, granola bars and a couple of dollars, etc., as I can. Do what feels right for you, where you are. (FWIW, shopping at the dollar store makes this financially easier.)

*Give the gift of time. Volunteer – either in the schools, a nursing home, your community or your neighborhood.

*Shovel your neighbor’s walk when you shovel your own. If you pay for this service, consider extending it to your neighbor. No need to announce it, just do it.

*or, rake and bag their leaves. Do this without being asked, do it just because.

*Take “orphaned” shopping carts to the cart corral, or better yet, into the store. Please do not walk past these carts and then get one in the store.

*Bake cookies or bread or make soup for someone not related or directly connected to you.

*Volunteer at the local animal shelter. If you are looking for a new 4 legged addition to your household, adopt or rescue!

*Donate old towels, blankets and toys to the local animal shelter. If you can, donate cat or dog food or dollars. Every time we clear our linen closets, the Animal Shelters should be tops on the list for towels and blankets.

*Let someone else help you if they offer and if you need the help. Accepting help is a gift to the giver.

*In that tone, if you need help, ask. Accepting help is a gift to the giver.

*Write thank you notes. On paper. If you can’t do that, call. E-mail is the third best choice in this mode of communication. OTOH, it’s better than nothing.

*Make peace with an estranged family member or friend.

*Put your excess into the loop: donate through your local Family Services or other Charitable Organization or list the stuff on your local Free-Cycle. Most of us have way more than we need or use. Lighten your load and brighten someone else’s life.

*Feed the birds. I mean this both literally and figuratively. A lot of things at my house go into the alley instead of the dumpster: the few aluminum cans that show up, used furniture and so forth. The useable/recyclable things are gone before trash pick up day. This tells me that, as suspected, someone else can benefit from my discards. There are people who scour the alleys and dumpsters for things they can sell or use. Help them, make it easier for them by not putting reusable items in the dumpster.

*As for the winged creatures, check the web info to see what feeding is appropriate in your area, for your bird populations.

*Donate to Habitat for Humanity Re-Stores, if you have extra tools and hardware.  Donate $$$$ to H for H in your community. They make a real difference in the lives of real families.

Okay, that’s more than 26, and a couple might be redundant. Please use my suggestions to spin off. Find ways to be generous, grateful and kind. This is the way we will collectively make the world a better place as we move forward.

If you have additional suggestions, please leave them in the comments.

Be well and be safe. If something bad happens, look for the helpers (thank them!). Better yet, be a helper, whenever and wherever you can.

Whatever Holiday you celebrate this season I send you good wishes.

detail – “fragments: evening shadows”

detail: “night garden”

detail: “Peeling Onions”

A percentage of all sales from my website will be donated to Hurricane Sandy Relief.

If you need to make payment arrangements, let me know.  thanks for visiting!

Our morning walks are beginning an hour later in the morning now, partly because daylight is slower to arrive, partly because the later it is, the fewer critters are out and about, tempting the dogs to run and chase. I’ve managed to find a walking route and routine that (for four days now) has kept Beau from collecting nasty burrs. This is important. He’s a wonderful companion but spending an hour and a half each day trying to comb him out gets frustrating. He doesn’t like it and it feels like a struggle. Saturday he had a serious grooming and “detailing”. That should help. Gracie has a smoother coat and is much easier to comb out.

A light snow, combined with heavy wind brought almost all the leaves down last weekend. What an interesting carpet texture.

Outside the studio door, the “Burning Bush” is in full glory. What astounding color. I hope it holds for a while.

***Most of my time the last two weeks has been directed to learning more about Social Media, rethinking the museletter and working with Coaching Clients. If you subscribe to the museletter, you can expect a new one in the next few days. (updated subscription information is not available yet. If you are not on the mailing list and would like to be, drop me a note and I will add you. You can opt out at any time).

I have room for two more Coaching Clients right now.

If you want more information, click here.

***

Of course, for the past several days, my thoughts have been with family and friends and everyone on the Eastern Seaboard who has been, and will be, dealing with the Storm and its aftermath. I am grateful that my nearest and dearest have come through, but heartbroken at the widespread devastation.

Here’s how to help:

http://t.news.msn.com/us/heres-how-to-help-sandys-victims

I hope you are well and safe and if the storm impacted you and yours, I wish a speedy return to “normal”.

all best, laura

]]> http://www.cater-woods.com/weblog/?feed=rss2&p=1742 0 http://www.cater-woods.com/weblog/?p=1737 http://www.cater-woods.com/weblog/?p=1737#comments Sat, 20 Oct 2012 18:33:35 +0000 Laura http://www.cater-woods.com/weblog/?p=1737 A day or so ago I made this comment on Facebook:

“I believe that in my office storage space, I have about a dozen unused white 2″ Avery Binders. I am willing to send these out to the first dozen people who commit to doing something “artful” about women and politics and roles or WHATEVER, before the election. Only a few Rules: you pay the postage, and agree to send me .jpegs of your artful interpretation before Nov 1 – yes, that’s a tight deadline.

If we are going to be in binders, eventually the men in our lives are as well.

Use humor, satire, make something fabulous. I’ll put it all on line, on my website, my museletter and one at a time on FB. If you have your own unused Binders, let me know if you would like to participate. If you dress for Halloween, males and females, consider “Binder” costumes.

Send me photos! I will put it all on line. Make a statement. I do not care (HAH) about your candidate of choice but some things are unacceptable. Let’s use art to say so.

*****

On further reflection I have a few changes to make:
*It’s less expensive for you to purchase or upcycle an existing binder, or even create a “binder” than it is for me to send you one, even if you pay for postage.

*Binders* can have a number of different meanings. Be creative.

*NO LIMIT on what or what you portray or target, how or what sort of statement you want to make or end up making. No size or materials limitation.

This participation is open to all, regardless of gender or preference. Everyone and anyone prompted to respond to this phrase is welcome.  IMO, the implications of this phrase have the potential to do grievous harm to equal rights for all of us. But maybe I’m over reacting.

Even if I disagree with your point of view as I see it in the imagery:

**I will post everything unless it condones or promotes violence, or is pornographic.**

Please send a short statement giving me permision to post your work and that it is copyrighted. if you do not want your name published, please let me know. (I’ll use initials.)

All imagery is due November 2 (this allows for performance pieces that might take place on Halloween. Please send at least two images of your work.  (images should be low res (72dpi) and no larger than 4×6 (aka 450 dpi wide or tall). That way I won’t have to spend a lot of time editing and my computer won’t crash <G>.

I want to start posting images ASAP before Election Day. I want this to be an event!

LMK if you plan to participate, so I can plan my time. Thanks.

You need not be a US citizen or resident to participate. IMO the implications of the sort of thinking the phrase reflects has the potential to affect things globally.

Facts count.

Our candidates are using words to tell us what they think. “Women in binders” is a loaded phrase.

Show us what it means or implies to you!

**p.s. this is the serious part:

No matter where you stand on any of the issues, it is important to consider them carefully.

If you are a US Citizen, please VOTE.

If you live in a state that is trying to intimidate voters, e.g. trying to disallow students who did not give their dorm room number, object! Stick up for your rights!

(FWIW, my state allows early absentee voting, so I have made my decisions and cast my ballot.)

The old trunks are among my favorite “found” forms.

The textures looking across the middle of the Island are wonderful. Color is not as intense as a week ago, but here we are, nearing the end of leaf season. With heavy wind storms the increasingly low temperatures will soon bring all the leaves down.

Right now there’s a wonderful contrast between the skeletal structures of weeds that have lost their seeds and leaves and the plants that are still hanging on.

If you look closely, you’ll see ms. Gracie, running, above, mid frame. She loves to go full tilt boogie.

Beginning my day like this with the dogs, the cycles of the seasons , keeps me focused and centered. It’s easier to come home and work, after a meditative walk.

from “At Age 69″, In Search of Small Gods
poems by Jim Harrison. ©2009
“There is this circle that I walk
That I have learned to love.
I hope one day to be a spiral
but to the birds I am a circle.”
-snip-
“At dawn I have birds
clearly divine messengers that I don’t understand
yet day by day feel the grace of their intentions.”

The dogs and I went to the tree house for the weekend.

This is the view of the “Bowl”, a volcanic formation. Michael situated the treehouse for this view.

If the weather holds, we will go up again at the end of the week. It’s the last opportunity for this year, IMO, and there is much to be done, having neglected the space all Summer.

Highlights: clean air, no smoke! A wild cat screeching one night. Absolute quiet aside from the local critters. Eight inches of snow, but drivable roads in, mud driving out. ick. Crystalline skies with all the stars and satellites – no ambient light from cities, towns, ranches, roads or neighbors.

The dogs had a wonderful time.

Downside: since I’d not been there all year, there is unfinished business plus chaos caused by visits from bears. Next year I must return to a regular schedule of being there.

Despite our long absence, the gray jays  were waiting for us and our handouts. The Stellars are more dramatic looking and  a wonderful blue but more shy. No pix this time, sorry.

Gracie, at 5 months, still does not know she is a puppy rather than a big dog. She runs hard and gets tired, but is always willing to keep up with Beau or whoever. She had a fabulous weekend.

Now it’s time to write a museletter and update a few other things.

I have space for two new coaching clients if you are interested.

hope you are enjoying this dramatic changing of seasons.

Here it is, Fall, and moving quickly toward October first (is that Monday?). Looking back it would be very easy to say “where did it go?”. Even though I have spent most of the past 16 months in a fog, I know exactly where the time went. The year was spent dealing with unfinished business, clearing out a tool shed,  de-cluttering the house (and there is so much left to put into the loop!) and getting much needed repairs handled.

Can anyone tell me why, when we get rid of a lot of STUFF, the remaining things expand to fill the available space? It’s a mystery to me. <G>.

Autumn has always been the beginning of the most productive time of year for me: gardens done for the season, school begun, time opening up, cooler weather making it easier to stay indoors, and so forth. This year, my rhythms seem reversed. It’s uncomfortable. My intention for the next week is to reverse that, to get myself back into studio mode and a daily routine that supports the creative work. Tomorrow the computer leaves the studio space, I will begin the patching of walls from water damage (now that the roof is replaced, there is no more leaking in the studio, Hooray!) and look at all my spaces with new eyes.

Questions include: what do I want to work on, what set up would be supportive, and so forth. I am determined to rid myself of more excess, thereby creating clarity and more space.

If you are in my area and want to come by to adopt stuff that is going away, email me. We’ll make a date.

for information on Private Coaching, click here.]

There is still an issue with the “opt out ” option but I will handle it manually if you contact me. Hopefully this will be resolved before the next museletter comes out.

As for the “tip jar”, that is fixed now.  Thanks and huge hugs of gratitude to those of you who are contributing to support his venture. It is important to me, and from the feedback, meaningful to some of the regular readers.

There are about 3 slots for Coaching Clients open now. Go to http://www. everyday-creatives.com for info and to register.

wishing you well. laura

Today is the Autumnal Equinox in North America. I had my week confused (imagine that!) and thought it was yesterday. Wrong. Here we are, shifting seasons. If I sent you an equinox greeting yesterday in private mail please just consider it an early greeting <G>.

The dogs and I began our day as usual, walking the Island. Gracie (above) , at 5 months, does not know she is a puppy. She acts like and thinks like the big dogs. Sometimes they have to put her in her place, but she spends a lot of energy trying to organize games and trying to keep the larger groups sorted out. It is a Border Collie’s job: herd the sheep, even if they are other dogs or cats, or whatever. It is a lot of fun having her in the household but a challenge as well. Unlike Beau (who adopted her immediately), Gracie has no “off button”. She will run and run, and then curl up on the car seat and whimper in exhaustion until we get home. Then it’s nap time – and then it’s time to play  – more- more- more.

We have our work cut out for us here. Fortunately, she’s super smart, affectionate and motivated to please – and Beau is setting limits, which is very good. Honestly, I had only intended to foster parent her, but she has won a spot in the heart of my other 4 legged housemates and in my heart as well. Who can control love?

In the gardens, the drought tolerant plants are showing off. Sunflowers, Sedum, Cosmos are all in wonderful color now. The non-native trees are shifting color, the native trees and super hardy shrubs (lilacs for example) are holding their green. We’ve managed to get through this horrid hot Summer with little damage in my yard/gardens. Although I have been extremely moderate in my use of  it, I am grateful to have well water instead of using city water to keep everything alive.

OTOH, the Winter of 2010-11, with the sustained sub zero temperatures,  did in a number of shrubs, including the grapevines. There is serious pruning/removal of dead shrubs to do in a month or so. It’s an opportunity, I suppose, to reconsider the landscaping, to reinforce my belief in  xeriscaping. In the last month or so, I have put in new shrubs to provide additional privacy since the French Door went in: bottom line – everything new must be drought tolerant and hardy to 40 below.

This is the “Silver Lace Vine” a polygonum, my “living fence”.  (it separates the front yard from the North yard and gardens, providing privacy as well as a limit for Beau who can breathe himself over the front picket fence if a  squirrel shows itself.)

This vine comes into its own in the early fall with cascades of vanilla scented flowers. In years past it has climbed up the roof, but took a serious hit a few years back when someone decided to eliminate its support, cut it way back and so forth. I’ve spent quite a bit of time this year trimming and training it, and hope that next year it will fill in some privacy spaces. Braiding, twining the sprigs provides an interesting Winter texture. We’ll see how that goes.

Otherwise, it has been a quiet day. A few wonderful conversations with people near and dear to my heart, a nap (imagine that! I never have been good at naps) and a lot of list making and reassessing.

As we move into the new season, I have to consider where my time and energy are best invested. There are decisions to make, resolutions to follow through on and so forth.

Wherever you are in your life right now, I send you wishes for renewal as we move into Autumn.

please check out the coaching page, feel free to subscribe to the museletter, and remember that there are information pages in the right hand column of the blog page.

all best, laura