Life, Studio and Gallery: Women Who Care

How are you doing?  There is so much to read, to do, and be concerned about in the world.  Does the internet add to my life or is it putting too much information in front of me all day long?  I love the internet and the connection it gives me to family, friends, and the bigger world.  For me, today, it is just so very loud. I am tired of the noise.

I just returned from a fun family birthday weekend.  We celebrated my son’s 40th birthday and his dog’s 5th.  How am I old enough to have a son that is now a grown man?  I am so very proud of who he is as a person – a good person.  I took the Car Ferry that crosses Lake Michigan.  It was a gorgeous day. The lake was like glass.  Returning 5 days later, another beautiful Fall day.  I love being on water watching the water movement, sky, birds and our shorelines.  I feel very fortunate to live on the Great Lakes.  They account for one-fifth of the world’s fresh water.  I digress.  Since coming home, I feel tired.  I am moving slowly through my days.  Not really sure for the reason.  I thought I was getting a cold, then concerned it was Covid.  It isn’t.  I guess I am just tired.  Studio time.  Unpacking.  Yard Work.  Walk Leo.  Bookkeeping.  Reading the News.  Working out and Pickleball.  I was telling a friend this week that when my children were young, I would make dinner, manage homework details and sports, and get them to bed.  Then, I would head into the studio for several hours of quiet clay time.  It was lovely. Repeating these days for weeks.  Now, after about 8pm, I am done working.  Shhh.  Maybe, I am getting older.

$1,400,000 Donated Locally

Have you heard of “Women Who Care”?  We have a local chapter.  It’s an alliance of women who meet quarterly.  I love what we have accomplished in the last 13 years.  Each quarter, our group meets. Non-profit organizations are written on slips of paper and thrown into a hat.  Three names are pulled out.  A member must be prepared to talk about the reasons why the local non-profit needs our support.  At the end of one hour, we vote.  We each write a check for $100.  Our chapter has approximately 300 women.  This means that we give $30,000 to a local non-profit each quarter.  This is “real” money for small organizations.  It gives me goosebumps thinking how we are truly helping our neighbors.  If we look around, there is lots of positive things happening in our communities.  I am trying to focus on the good.

We end our meeting with a quote, message, or poem.

This Talmud reading is a challenge for us for the years to come—It’s perfect!

“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. 

Do justly now, 

love mercy now, 

walk humbly now. 

You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”

Some new recipes:

I am laughing at myself as I look at this list.  I visited our local farmer’s market this weekend.  I returned home with lots of tomatoes and zucchini in my bags.  I plan to try most of these recipes.

Grilled Zucchini with Chickpeas, Tomatoes, and Goat Cheese Salad

Whipped Feta

Greek Chickpea Salad

Easy Tomato Salad

Ratatioulle’s Ratatioulle

Loaded Smashed Potatoes

On my way back to Michigan, I visited the Art Preserve in Kohler Wisconsin.  It’s a museum of artist-built environments.  Several of the instillations have me thinking about them again and again.  One in particular has my attention. It is of Lenore Tawney’s NYC loft.  She merges life and art.  I am thinking about downsizing.  The re-staging of her loft has me thinking about my collections.  How can I re-organize them to create interesting vignettes? What brings me joy?

Wow!!!  Chelsea Berry and Livingston Taylor.  Google their names.  I was fortunate to hear them perform at Seven Steps Up this weekend.  Livingston’s storytelling and lyric writing was mesmorizing.  Chelsea just made me smile.  She glowed on stage loving singing and sharing her talent with us.  If you need a smile and lightness in your day, consider having a listen.

Studio:

I am getting into the studio making new work for the Art in the Yard Show at Baker Lumber.  I will have new work online soon, too.  Stay tuned.  If you need a gift, please have a look on the Shop page.  I appreciate it.

Take care, Cyndi

P.S.  I am getting more than 10,000 steps a day, walking Leo, pickle ball, meditation, and more.  This Apple Watch is creating a crazy woman!  Just sayin’.