Artists Along for the Ride

About Brenda Ueland"s If You Want to Write...

One of my favorite books, one I keep open on my bedstand, is Brenda Ueland's If You Want to Write. A good friend recommended it to me, and then sent me a copy four or five years ago. Loved it from the start, and took it with me when I did a series of lectures and workshops at the University of Nebraska in Kearney. I stayed in a lovely bed and breakfast there, and evidently left the book when I returned home.  I figured I'd left it in the bed and breakfast for someone else to discover. Recently, while going through a box of books I had put in storage almost 10 years ago, I found my own pristine, never-read copy of If You Want to Write. Evidently, it was one of those books I had picked up with the intention to read, but hadn't.

Since finding it, it's been a source of inspiration for me, even though I'm already writing full time. Her ideas, like all good ideas, provide me with a constant stream of inspiration, support, and encouragement. Brenda Ueland, herself, found a steady stream of support and inspiration from other great artists and writers. Some of what I share with you includes some of the quotes she shared from artists she admired, and some she knew.

Brenda Ueland's name  is one of those that pops up  on the margins of other writers work.  Brenda was the author of 2 books, many articles,  and short stories.  She taught writing, and was knighted by the King of Norway.  In her lifetime she wrote over six million words (that is without a typewriter or computer). She also set a record for swimming 80-year-olds. She once wrote  that she walked at least 8 to 10 miles a day  to warm up for writing.   She lived to be 93.   Carl Sandburg called her book, “the best book ever written about how to write.”

 

Brenda Ueland had two rules  about writing.  The first rule is to always tell the truth.    Her second rule  is to never do anything you do not want to do. Brenda believed, and taught according to the following beliefs:   everyone is talented, everyone is original, and everyone has something important to say.   These were the rules for the road as both a writer and a teacher.

  Here are some of the words she used to inspire others and word she was inspired by.

   “Writing or painting is putting thoughts on paper.  Music is singing or playing ideas.  That is all there is to it.”

  “ Jones at Johns Hopkins, who knows more about heredity and  genes and chromosomes than any person in the world,  says that no individual is exactly like any other individual, that no two identical persons have ever existed.”   (This was before cloning.)   “Consequently, if you speak or write from yourself, you cannot help but be original.  But your words or your art must be from your true self.”

  “Work with all your intelligence and wealth.  Work freely and rollickingly  as though they [your words, your art, your students] were  friends who love you.  Mentally, (at least 3 or 4 times a day) thumb your nose at all those  know-it-alls, jeerers, critics and doubters.”    Sometimes those critics and tyrants are in your own head; the same rule applies double.

 " Creative power should be kept alive in all people for all their lives.”

 “William Blake used to say, when his energies were diverted from his drawing or writing, that he was 'being devoured by jackals and hyenas.'   God, Blake often called, the Poetic Genius, said of  Jesus and his disciples,   that they were all artists.

  “The more you use your joyful creative power, the more you have.”

 “Reason, which is really just caution, continually nips and punctures shrivels the imagination , the ardor, and the freedom and the passionate enthusiasm welling up in us [  Blake called this  the only enemy of God]”

 “No writing is a waste of time... with every sentence you write, you  have learned something.  He has done good.  You stretch your understanding."

 “Van Gogh, a great genius, was simply loving what he saw and then wanting to share it with others, not for the purpose of showing off, but out of generosity.”

"When discouraged, remember what Van Gogh said., 'If you hear a voice within you saying, You are no painter, then paint by all means lad, and that voice will be silenced, but only by working."

Written  about a time when she had been suffering an illness, Brenda Ueland said.,  “I need not hurry myself; there is no good in that-- but  I  must work on in full calmness and serenity,  as regularly and concentratedly  as possible,  as briefly and concisely as possible.”

  Definition of writing:   An impulse to share with other people of feeling or truth that I myself had. Not   to preach to them, but to give them, if they cared to hear it.  If they did not-- fine.  They did not need to listen.  That was all right too.  And I would never fall into the two extremes  (both  lies) of saying: I have nothing to say and I am of no importance and have no gift; or the public  does not want the good stuff.”

 Socrates and other Greek philosophers decided that a person's life should be devoted to the  “tenance of the Soul  (Soul  included intelligence, imagination, spirit, understanding, personality)” For the Soul  lived eternally in  all probability.” 

 “Inspiration comes very slowly and quietly.”

  “By truth, I do not mean a statement of fact.  Truth must come from your true self and not from  your theoretical self, from what you really think, love  You and believe, not from your hope to make an impression.”

 “Inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into us slowly and quietly and all the time,  though we must regularly and every day give a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude  and idleness."

  And here is the big news.  She understood this long  before our generations struggled to find an answer.   “And that is why I would say to the worn and hectored mothers in the class who long to write and could not find a minute for it: if you would shut your door against the children for an hour a day and say: mother is working on her 5-act tragedy in blank verse!  You would be surprised how they would respect you.  They would probably all become playwrights." She wrote a chapter entitled, "Why Women Who Do Too Much Housework Should Neglect if for Their Writing."  She would probably now have to add a chapter for all the other things we neglect ourselves and our art for.

They would look at me wistfully and know it is true.    But after all the centuries of belief that women should only be encouragers  and fosterers   of talent in others, and have none of their own (as though you can effectively  foster or encourage other people's talent unless you have a great deal of your own!)  it is hard to do.  I know that.  But if  women once learn to be something themselves, that the only way to teach this to be a fine and shining example, we will have a generation of remarkable and glorious children.”

 I leave you with these thoughts, as perhaps a little inspiration to sit down today at the table, the desk, the potter's wheel, the easel, worktable, or wherever you create,  and spend some time in your true self. Be a little more true to yourself today.

 

 

 

Autumn Changes: Diet, Rest, Self Care, and Preserving

As we begin Autumn, notice how your body is changing, how our thoughts are turning in new directions, and how our lives are moving into a new mode. Take time to rest, meditate, pray, be still, listen, and become more mindful of what our bodies are telling us. Move more slowly, breathe more deeply, and rest and restore. 

Here are some wonderful recipes for tonics for moving into fall. Often I find that as the seasons chnage, my tastes change as well.  That is our body reminding us that we need to adjust to the seasons, the foods that are coming into abundance, and the energy that our bodies now require.

A tonic is a nice way to start the day. My grandfather used to have hot water and lemon juice every morning. My daughter taught me to add honey and cayenne pepper to the hot water and lemon juice. Some people begin drinking a different kind of tea when seasons change. The following recipes come from Yoga Journal’s Fall Detox session.  I’m sharing them with you. Let me know which ones you like or tell us about other drinks you have tried.

Ginger-Turmeric Tea (For kapha dosha)

1 qt. of purified water
15 ¼-inch slices of fresh ginger root
1 ½ tsp. of dried turmeric powder
½ tsp. of raw honey added to each cup you drink (optional)

Place the herbs and water together in a pot and bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Strain. The tea will last for up to four days stored in the refrigerator. It is best to drink the tea hot or at room temperature. (Use the stove, not microwave, to reheat.) Add honey as needed.

Drink two to three cups of tea a day between meals.

Cumin, Fennel, Coriander Tea (For vata and pitta doshas)

1 qt. of purified water
1 tsp. cumin seed
1 tsp. fennel seed
1 tsp. coriander seed
½ tsp. of raw honey added to each cup you drink (optional)

Place the herbs and water together in a pot and bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Strain. The tea will last for up to four days stored in the refrigerator. It is best to drink the tea hot or at room temperature. (Use the stove, not microwave, to reheat.) Add honey as needed.

Drink two to three cups of tea a day between meals.


The way we eat changes, and the following recipes are good ways to begin forming a hardy, balanced, and delicious set of staple foods. I love soups, and usually make a large pot or two a week (some I eat right away; others I freeze). Experiment with the mixture, and share your fall recipes.

Fall Digestive Kitchari
Fall Digestive Kitchari This staple food of Ayurvedic medicine is designed to stoke the digestive fire and reduce ama, or internal toxicity. This basic recipe is good for vata dosha, and is the base recipe for both pitta and kapha doshas with the noted additions. 

Makes 3 cups 

1 c basmati rice 
½ c organic whole mung beans (don't use split mung beans), soaked for at least three hours before cooking
4 c purified water
2 T organic ghee 
1 tsp. black mustard seed
1 tsp. cumin seed
2 pinches hing (asafetida)
1 tsp. fresh grated ginger
1 stick of kombu or wakame 
½ tsp. sea salt
½ tsp. turmeric

for pitta dosha imbalance
½ tsp. dry fennel seed
sliced burdock root (appx 8 inches long) or 2 sliced carrots
1 ½ c fresh green beans
1 small zucchini, sliced

for kapha dosha imbalance
1 ½ tsp. coriander seed
1 ½ tsp. oregano
3 bay leaves
Two cups chopped vegetables, including zucchini, leafy greens, green beans


1. Rinse the rice and mung beans and soak for three hours or overnight. Drain. If using vegetables, cut into cubes. 

2. In a pot, warm the ghee over medium-high heat. Add the mustard and cumin seeds (and, if using, fennel and coriander seed) and sauté for 1-2 minutes or until aromatic. 

3. Add tumeric (and if using, other spices), mung beans, and rice. Then add water, kombu, and ginger. Bring to a boil then cover and simmer for 40 minutes. 

4. If using vegetables, add starchy ones (burdock or carrot) halfway through the cooking. Zucchini and beans should be added 10 minutes before the kitchari is done. Greens can be added in the last five minutes. If you need to add a more water, do so, but the kitchari should be the consistency of stew when done. 

5. Garnish with fresh cilantro chutney and add salt to taste. You can have avocado with a little salt and lemon or steamed vegetables (broccoli, carrots, beets, green beans, asparagus, fennel, and summer squashes) as a side dish. 

Eat enough to feel satisfied, about 1 to 1 1/2 cups, and then relax for at least 15 minutes to support good digestion. 


Fresh Coriander Chutney This tasty chutney is considered tridoshic, meaning it can be enjoyed by any dosha type. Add 1 teaspoon to your kitchari for some diversity.

1 bunch fresh coriander (cilantro or Chinese parsley)
¼ c fresh lemon juice
¼ c purified water
¼ c unsweetened dry coconut
2 T fresh ginger root, chopped
1 tsp. raw honey
1 tsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. fresh ground black pepper

1. Blend lemon juice, water, and fresh coriander until the coriander until the herb is coarsely chopped. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until it is the consistency of pesto.

2. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to one week.


Potassium Vegetable Broth This light mineralizing broth can help maintain your energy in the final days of the cleanse. Drink up to 3 cups each day. This recipe makes two days' worth of broth.

5-10 large organic potatoes, any kind, peeled
8-12 organic carrots, peeled
1 bunch organic celery, chopped
2 bunches of dark leafy greens
Enough purified water to cover the vegetables

1. Add the peels from the potatoes and carrots, and the chopped vegetables, to a pot and just cover with purified water.

2. Bring this to a boil and then simmer covered on low heat for 1 hour.

3. Strain and drink only the broth. The vegetables can be stored in the refrigerator until the cleanse is over and cooked and pureed into a soup.

Whether or not you know anything about doshas or not, these recipes provide some good bases for soups, stews, and side dishes for your menu.


We’re in the middle of the harvest season. Apples, pears, peaches, and many vegetables and squashes are being still being picked. Visit your local farmers markets, road side stands, or local farms and get some fresh produce.  Enjoy canning peaches, making jams, or coming up with your own special recipe for applesauce. Do it alone, or invite a friend over for a day of preserving foods.  It’s a great way to make special presents for the holidays, and a good thing to do to create a full pantry for winter.

Remember to get out in the garden and collect seeds and bulbs. It’s a great time to divide bulbs and share seeds with your friends.  Also time to get those bulbs in the ground for spring. Celebrate Autumn, and take good care of yourself (body, mind, and spirit), your family, friends, and neighbors.
 
Give it a Rest                                                                                              By Catherine Al-Meten

Astoria, 2011

Autumnal Equinox... transition, transformation, and movement.

Today in the Northern Hemisphere,  we mark equal parts of day and night.   We move from summer to autumn.   In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the Spring Equinox, and the movement is from spring to summer.   All the Earth  is  on the edge of change.   Watching the Earth's movement by observing the changing light of the sun and the movement in the skies, we witness the turning of the  cycles  and seasons.  The birds have begun their migrations, leaves have begun to change color and fall from the trees.  Our cycles have also changed.  Children are back in school.  Classes have begun.   Financial cycles and budget seasons have begun.  Snowbirds are getting ready to head south or are taking those cruises and off-season vacations.  We are increasing our desire to get out to walk, to run, to take a hike before the rainy season begins, or to leave the windows open as long as we can.

via catherinealmeten.typepad.com

Autumnal Equinox... transition, transformation, and movement.

Today in the Northern Hemisphere,  we mark equal parts of day and night.   We move from summer to autumn.   In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the Spring Equinox, and the movement is from spring to summer.   All the Earth  is  on the edge of change.   Watching the Earth's movement by
observing the changing light of the sun and the movement in the skies, we witness the turning of the  cycles  and seasons.  The birds have begun their migrations, leaves have begun to change color and fall from the trees.  Our cycles have also changed.  Children are back in school.  Classes have begun.   Financial cycles and budget seasons have begun.  Snowbirds are getting ready to head south or are taking those cruises and off-season vacations.  We are increasing our desire to get out to walk, to run, to take a hike before the rainy season begins, or to leave the windows open as long as we can.

I am finishing up a leisurely week of enjoying my granddaughter and daughter.  Totally immersing myself in their lives for just a week in San Francisco. Tonight  I will board a train, and take a long ride back North through the Central Valley, over the Cascades, and up through  Eugene, Springfield, Corvallis, and   into  the Willamette River Valley  to Portland.  For nearly a week,  I have done very little writing,  though I have done a lot of photography. I have  mulled,  pondered,    designed,  and planned.  My time has been spent reading children's stories, watching children play, walking around the city, riding buses, going for coffee, helping with dinner, rearranging and fixing up, brushing hair and picking out outfits, choosing photographs and framing pictures, waiting  for babies and celebrating their births, and  catching up on conversations between the busyness of the lives of my family.    I have been listening to my granddaughter explain  the social interaction of the playground and classroom.  Hearing about the visit to the art museum.  “What did you learn at the Museum?”    “I learned  'do not touch the artwork'.  'Do not touch the statues.'  'Do not touch anything.'” This is life! As she explained this to me, I recall touching a beautiful bronze statue by Rodin at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena. It was meant to be touched, and I wondered about the lessons we have learned in life.

I was reminded that even though there is a lot of joy and happiness and fun in school, there is also a lot of socialization.  It is where we can learn how not to be as much as we can learn how to be.  My prayer and dedication to my grandchild and my daughter is to keep alive the spark, the joy, the curiosity, the willingness to risk, the sense of goodness found in oneself even when all around are calling you Lady Gaga.  In order to be Lady Gaga,  it is important to recognize and to hold on dearly to the essence of being yourself.  Be gentle with yourself today.  Cultivate good and loving friendships.  Honor your True North.  Accept that some sadness is part of life but do not make it the center of your life.   Treat everyone with respect and kindness even when they do not seem to deserve it.  And know that you are loved.    To create, we must love and be loved, take risks and allow for mistakes (ours and those of others).  As the seasons change and we enter a new phase of life, let us live each day with courage, hope, and  joyful expectation. 

Laboring...giving birth to our ideas

The waxing moon, shown in this photograph taken last night, is building up to a Full Moon on September 12.  That which we create also builds; starting with the seed of an idea, the nudge  of inspiration,  or a demand to meet a deadline. While new moons are times to plant seeds, set intentions, and clear space on our desks, in our lives, and within our emotional and physical bodies to get to work, the waxing quarter moon signals a time to rest in place, notice how far we've come, restore before moving on, and enjoy the process.

How can we support ourselves as we labor? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Take time to rest. Take breaks, sleep in or go to bed early. Take a nap. Stop and just daydream. I know I got in trouble for this when I was in school, "She wastes too much time daydreaming." Daydreaming is something we need to allow our minds to assimilate ideas, to allow our minds and bodies to rest, and to alow ourselves to  center.

2. Find balance in at least one area of imbalance. For example,  for the last week I have been organizing my office and  home.    I have not gone out much at all.  Last night I accepted an invitation to a friend's birthday celebration.    Despite my  reservations about going out, I had a great time, found a new place to go and relax and have good food,  and took a break from my normal solitary lifestyle.   

This week I also joined an online group, Writers on the Move.    We do not talk to each other about writing, creative process, or anything like that.  We write about what we have done to get up off our behinds––to get some exercise and maintain our health.   

3.   Nourish your body, mind, and spirit.  Drink enough water  (8 glasses a day). Serve yourself elegantly  (the water in crystal glass with a slice of lime or lemon or strawberry).    It is summer so eat fresh fruits and produce.  Take a walk and pick some berries off of the vines  that are growing everywhere right now.    Dedicate 5 min. in the morning and 5 min. in the evening to a simple meditation or prayer.  Put on some music and dance around the kitchen or the house.    It does not have to be complicated; just do something. 

4.   Practice giving.  If you do not have a lot of money,  make some soup, salad, a cup of tea––nourish someone else.  If you are sorting through all the things you have, give some of it away.  Give something you really treasure away to someone who needs a lift.    Release some energy into the  world so that there is an interchange in flow between you and friends and family, the universe, natural flow of energy   Giving will  enhance your work and your life.  

 That is enough.  Just make it simple.  I am getting dressed now going for a cup of coffee.  It is one way I treat myself and get away from the computer and  my work.   It's a beautiful day, and I'm getting out by the water, going to see friends, and taking some time to celebrate the labors of love in my life. Have a relaxing Labor Day!

Writers on the move...seeking balance in body, mind, and spirit

Recently, I joined Writers  on the Move.   An online group dedicated to getting writers up off their behinds periodically.  Our goal is to get back activity and movement built into our practice of writing.  Like all arts, writing requires a certain physical stance.  The use  and potential overuse of certain parts of the body can lead to potential problems for all artists.   For writers it can be anything from back problems, neck problems, muscle soreness, and even nerve damage.

 

Additional problems from sitting too much or from maintaining an  isolated lifestyle has to do with the quality of our work.  Writer Brenda Ueland,   when she was well into her 80s, wrote  that she walked 8 miles a day.  I do not think I have ever walked 8 miles in any one day let alone every day.  But the challenge is there.  As I am a photographer  as well as a writer. Walks are part of my routine.  Moving out of my inner world of ideas, imagination, and reflection helps my writing as well as my health.  My emotional well-being improves when I am out walking and connecting with the world beyond my own home.

 

Movement is also a mental activity.   When I walk, I  pray,   meditate, do yoga, listen to music, or dream up songs and ideas.  I work out solutions to problems and unblock my thinking when I am stuck. I stimulate my brain, my imagination, my immune system, and my energetic body.  Using body, mind, and spirit together  improves everything I do––especially my writing.

Today take a little walk.  Move beyond the ordinary patterns and habits that you have fallen into or have carefully developed.   Especially those of you who are in very depressed or agitated––get up and do something.  Walk around the block or walk to the corner.  Walk up and down the stairs (take the trash out, recycle something, or walk the dog  while you take that walk).  Make a space in your home where you can stretch out on the floor.   Keep a yoga tape or two nearby.  Yesterday I  reorganized my office.  I cleared one whole space,  brought in a chair, set up a small altar with the candle and the book, and created a quiet rest  space for myself.  This space is right across the room from my desk. My intention  is to take regular breaks when I am working at the computer.  My doctor and physical therapist along with my daughter have shown me  a number of simple exercises  to do to avoid causing injury from  excessive work. My job is to do the exercises regularly to avoid problems as well as to help in healing from injuries or excess.

 

This morning I listened to an interview with my friend, Ani Kasper,  the author of Pelicans, Coconuts, and Butterflies.   Her work with compassionate healing methods  emphasizes the importance of the 2 main causes for dis-ease,  injury,  and exhaustion....excess and depletion. We work ourselves too hard, and/or we fail to give our body the nourishment and care it needs. How hard is it to notice where we are overdoing?  We know we going beyond our limits, but we make excuses or fail to make necessary adjustments until we cause ourselves harm or injury. Late in the  spring I began having a lot of pain in my writing hand.  Putting my teaching job ahead of my physical health resulted in my injuring my right hand. 

When our body signals “stop!”  it is important to listen. When we do not listen, we  cause ourselves damage from excess.  Something I noticed over  the last week when I was preparing photography for  an exhibit,  was my tendency to forget to eat.  This surprised me because in recent years I have focused on maintaining good and regular nutrition.   To find myself running around and working on a project without taking breaks or maintaining any nutrition reminded me I was in danger of reactivating an old pattern  from the days when I worked 3 jobs, maintained family and relationships, and nearly ran myself into the ground.   How quickly we fall back into old patterns almost without noticing. 

In this case, I was paying attention.   Because I love what I do––writing,  photography,   maintaining healthy and happy relationships, and   living  and working  a balanced and harmonious life here along the river––I seek to be present in each moment of my life.  I maintain  inner calm, intuitive awareness, spiritual alignment,  physical strength and awareness, and emotional freedom and peace.  Each moment of each day,  I seek to be receptive to grace,  open to love, and generous of spirit.

Grace for today: Move beyond the ordinary in body, mind, and spirit. Release emotions that drain, discourage, or depress; express gratitude, love, and happiness with your body, mind, and soul. Make peace and harmony both inner and outer goals. See today as a turning point to receive joy from the past, present, and future, and to set into motion, peace, harmony, love, and joy to expand ceaselessly into all directions.

Pieces falling into place...

Been preparing to hang and exhibit some photography, and realize in the process, it's been a while since I've been engaged in this part of the photography process. So much of my time is spent taking photographs, and using photography to complement other pieces of life and work. It is exhilerating to be engaged in the upcoming Coffee Girl Cafe's Baristas & Friends Art Show and Sale. The opening reception and art sale begins tomorrow, Saturday August 27 at 1:00, but today is the exciting and fun day for me. My car is packed with my supplies (cotton gloves, hammers, hardware) and photography (framed and some unframed), and I'm waiting until just a little closer to closing time at the cafe, to go and hang my pieces. Then tonight, I'm fixing dinner for my cousin and myself, then going to lose myself in a mystery and have a relaxing evening, knowing that everything is ready, in place, and set for tomorrow. 

I realized earlier in the week that this sale and show did not need to include every photograph I've ever taken, nor for that matter should it. That would be too much, but it was fun talking to my photographer friends and getting some sage advice on what to focus on. The last exhibit I did was a couple of years ago, and I learned a lot at that time, as I've learned a lot this time. For one thing, I've been reframing a few older pieces, and see that I've actually improved my technique. Secondly, I have discovered that it's better to keep your framed photography in good repair right along.

 

While I used to come to Oregon to visit family and friends and to find peace and calm, I now live, for the most part, a life of peace and calm. My photography reflects that. The older pieces are more serene and pastoral, while my newer work is more colorful and focused on daily life.  I'm charged up to work on getting some of my photography into thematic presentations...something I've been working on over the past 6 or 7 years, and now I can see that there are definite themes that continue to draw me...Just thought I'd share the excitement of one of those times when things seem to be falling into place.  It's about loving the work and forgetting about the periodic pay offs. Sometimes while working a job I loved, I'd forget I was doing it for money. That made payday even more enjoyable.  Getting my photography into form, developed, framed, and presentable, is a similar type of joy ride. Just had to say it, and now I'm off to hang some art.

Dipping into the vast ocean of possibilities; some days it just feel more possible than others.

Coffee Girl Cafe's 2nd Annual Baristas & Friends Art Show and Sale, Aug. 27, 2011

 

Feathered Friends, 2010                                                                                    Catherine Al-Meten

Coffee Girl Cafe's 2nd Annual

Baristas & Friends Art Show & Sale

 

When: Reception and Exhibit Opening, Saturday, August 27 at 1:00.

Where: Coffee Girl Cafe on Pier 39 in Astoria, Oregon

Come on down to the coast for the 2nd Annual Coffee Girl Cafe's Baristas & Friends Art Show/Sale. Entertainment by local singer and guitarist, Chris McNeary. Refreshments, performance art (in the river), and lots of fun.

To read more about the opening reception and one-day Meet the Artists and Art Sale, click on the following link to find out more about what is going on at Coffee Girl Cafe.

Coffee Girl Cafe's Art Show and Sale

I will be showing a number of pieces of photography (from 5" x 7" to "16" x 30" framed and unframed, limited edition prints) and will have a nice variety of fine art photography greeting cards. This is  a great opportunity to meet a number of the talented artists who call Astoria home and who are inspired by life along the sea and river.  Hope to see you there Saturday. The exhibit will run through the month of September, 2011.

This poem was written for and dedicated to my friend Norma who was working in Guatamala this summer. She is one who walks the walk without all the talk.                                         

 

 

                                        God Through You

With my hands, I seek to feel the face of God
in all whose hands I hold.

With my eyes, I look for God's hope in all that
lays before me.

With my ears, I listen for God's message from
the lips of those I meet.

With my feet, I follow you in every step I take.

With my back, I carry the burdens you place
in my life.

With my heart, I love freely those you bring to me and through me.

With my soul, I delight, I laugh, I sing, I dance, and I weep for the
joy of living life

On the path of love that you have charged my soul to walk.

Copyright@ 2011 by Catherine Al-Meten

Read Astoria Poet, Pat Stanton's poetry

Astoria Poet and Artist, Pat Stanton

Link to Noel Thomas' website: www.noelthomaspaints.com