Category: Family

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October…A Reminder of Change!

Autumn Leaves
Image by Tom Olliver via Flickr

So far this month has been one of many contrasts! The great autumn colors of the trees have seemed especially brilliant outside our windows this year. Some days have been wonderfully warm and sunny, perfect for time outdoors hiking on a mountain trail or raking the falling leaves. While on other days the temperatures have plunged below freezing, as if warning us to prepare for the coming winter!

Seasons
Image by *~Dawn~* via Flickr
Pumpkins, photographed in Canada.
Image via Wikipedia

The area farms display an abundance of pumpkins, gourds, and varieties of squashand apples to take home and find the recipes for fall dishes, such as traditional pumpkin pie, baked butternut squash, apple crisp, and pumpkin soup. It is an inspiration to the eyes of an artist, as well as to the resident chef.

As the month of October ends, I am reminded of how life just does not stay constant but is always changing and transitioning into new phases.

Sometimes I am ready, sometimes not,                                                                                                                     but nature just outside my window is always there…                                                                                                                                              quietly reminding me.

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Family Fridays–“Goals–Disappointment or Motivation?”

Pumpkin PatchThis week there was a theme on my blog-–goals. Earlier this week, I observed that as an artist failing to reach a goal can be disappointing and discouraging. In our families, especially as parents, we may experience a similar thing. Having goals and expectations, along with perhaps being perfectionistic with ourselves and our family members, may lead us to feel stressed if the end results are not always what we want. Can’t this actually present additional stress and add to problems rather than lessen them?

Instead of viewing goals as end results that must be achieved, perhaps goals can be set to use as a guide to help us move in the direction that we would like to go…an aid in seeing a vision of our families that we would like to encourage and strive toward. For example, instead of saying my child must make all A’s on their report card, a parent’s goal might be that their child will learn, develop, and gain confidence in their abilities as they grow as a person. Then, our goals become motivation with positive encouragement, regardless of the specific end results. In the end, this may lessen our disappointment and raise our confidence in meeting life’s challenges along the way.

I have not met all of my goals for the week, but I am working in the direction I’d like to go…How about you?

As the fall colors and warm days are here, enjoy the weekend!

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First Glimpse of Fall Colors…

First Fall Colors

The first day I notice a flash of red or yellow among the tones of green in the woods, it is always a surprise to realize that summer’s end is drawing near.

Soon the tawny colors of Autumn will paint the landscape…Nature will get our attention with a visual reminder that life will always include changes–transitions from one season to another.

This seasonal transition has also served as inspiration for many artists over the years. In a past fall season, after collecting some of the first colorful fall leaves, I traced and used their shapes to design these wall-hangings.

The same leaves were used in both but experimenting with different types of prints, color, and quilting lines resulted in two variations on the same theme.

First Colors of Autumn, #2.
First Colors of Autumn, #1. Fused appliqué, free-motion quilting on cotton, 22 x 20 1/4". © 2009 Joni Beach.
First Colors of Autumn, #2. © 2009 Joni Beach.
First Colors of Autumn, #2. Fused appliqué, free-motion quilting on cotton, 17 1/4×17″. © 2009 Joni Beach.

So in the coming days, I will continue to observe the change of colors in the fall landscape, marvel at the brilliant variety of colors…

along with the many transitions in life.

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*I realize not everyone experiences a fall season in the climate in which they live…I’d love to hear about which season or type of climate inspires you!?*

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