From Skilled Hands

“Light One Candle.” Olive, boxwood, bloodwood. Hand turned by George Raeder.

“It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” Chinese Proverb

I have always had faith in the goodness and generosity of us all. Cups of Kindness has been a testament to this; a testament to the Power if One.

So far, we the people have raised almost $1300 for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. That means that we have purchased almost 9100 meals. Many hands and hearts are working together to make this happen.

Please join us as we raise a Cup of Kindness. Remember that each dollar raised provides 7 nutritious meals. When you purchase an item from the website or from our galleries as a gift, you are giving many times.

And if you’re in our neck of the woods, stop by the Village of Peninsula, have a cup of coffee (you can even purchase your own cup), and explore our beautiful Cuyahoga Valley. Ride the train, see Santa and the lights as the Polar Express rolls into town. We’d love to visit with you.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

I had fully intended to write about Cups of Kindness and Christmas in Peninsula. And my Wordless Wednesday was just that: wordless.

We’ve been working hard preparing for Cups of Kindness. I am very excited about it—-when I’m not terrified. I have envisioned this for a very long time, and seeing it to fruition when the need is so great is an amazing thing. Kindness is all around us—we just need to take the time to open our hearts to receive it.

The generosity of our community is a wonderful thing. The cyber-community has opened its hearts and spread the word. Amy at Knit Think sent a lovely donation of a cup, some hot chocolate and 2 beautiful cloths with a cup in the middle of each that she knitted. (I apologize for the quality of the photo.)

Judy Merrill Larsen emailed me and offered to send a a couple of signed copies of her beautiful book, All the Numbers. My incredible community of bloggers has helped spread the word. I was trying to list everyone and link to their blogs, but I am too tired—-you know who you are and you have my gratitude and my love.

We now have 74 artists who have donated 164 pieces of artwork to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

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Yesterday, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad ran a special train of their popular Polar Express. Their passengers were kids with a variety of special needs. Volunteers elves and others came to greet the train and wave to the children as they entered the North Pole.

We constantly prove the Power of One. Keep your eyes open. You’ll see it all around you. And you can pass it forward.

Remember: every dollar raised provides 7 nutritious meals.


Friends and neighbors helping each other.

Five days until the opening of Cups of Kindness. Most of the work has been photographed, and I am working on getting it on the site. More work is still coming in.

I am donating these 3 little pieces, part of a series of wee tiles I have called Sage Trios. They are porcelain tiles, that have been hand carved, bisqued, inlaid with colorants, and the glaze applied over them. Carolyn Birchenall has donated the framing.

Sage Trio III

Sage Trio IV

Sage Trio V

Visit our website: http://www.CupsOfKindness.net to see more work that fellow artists have donated to help our community. It is a great way to celebrate the generosity of 60 artists, purchase artwork for gifts, or for yourself, and to support the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

And if you’re in our neck of the woods, stop by for a visit. You’ll enjoy the Village of Peninsula (population 602), and help an important agency do its fine work

Remember—-each dollar donated provides 7 nutritious meals.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

The Village of Peninsula, Ohio, population 602, is a small town with a very big heart. People help each other. People come here and know they’re home. It’s just like that.

So a year ago, when we first started talking about Cups of Kindness, people said they’d lend a hand.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.
People from all over this big beautiful planet. Artists donated artwork. Just like that. No hesitation. Same with the website, the logo and the photography. Other bloggers said they’d post about it. And they did. Just like that. One member of the Peninsula Police Department brought in a large can of coffee and a package of stirrers for the opening celebration. Her kids are going to bake cookies and help us at the reception. Others are going to play music. And others have dropped change in our Help Us Help the Foodbank jar. It’s just like that here.

So if you’re in the Cuyahoga Valley in Northeast Ohio next Saturday, stop in and see us. You can have a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, listen to music and check out the wonderful artwork at Cups of Kindness. Then wander through the Village and enjoy Christmas in Peninsula. We’d be happy to see you.

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My Town Monday is the vision of the incomparable Travis Erwin, a guy who has a lot to say. He links to other blogs by folks all over Planet Earth. You won’t regret it.
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And the winner of last week’s drawing for Peninsula goodies is OldOldLady of the Hills. She’ll be receiving a package soon.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Cups of Kindness,our show and sale of small scale artwork. All proceeds from the sale of the artwork will go to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

Hunger does not discriminate; it affects people without regard to background or social status. In our land of plenty, people are hungry every day; they have to decide between paying rent or eating, between medication or food, between staying warm and buying groceries. Of this I am certain: having enough to eat is a right rather than a privilege.

So far, over 50 artists are donating artwork to benefit the Foodbank. The Cups of Kindness website has been donated by Carrick Enterprises; a professional photographer, Ron Wayton, is donating his services so that we have photos of the work on our site. The logo was donated by Teri Schott. Food for the opening is being donated by companies and by individuals who have offered to bake for us. People have walked into our gallery to ask if they can help.

Once again we demonstrate the Power of One. We the people who reach out to our friends and neighbors in a time of need.

If you live in the area, come on down for our opening celebration, Saturday, December 6, from 10-2, at our gallery, Elements Gallery, 1619 W.Mill Street, and at the Peninsula Art Academy across the street.

Enjoy light refreshments, music, and Christmas in Peninsula. You’ll be a part of a very important event. If you’re not close to our neck of the woods, you will be able to purchase artwork online on December 8th. The show will run through January 11, 2009.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

This week’s My Town Monday has two parts, so scroll down to the next after you have read this one.

MTM: Part the First: The Week that Was

It’s been quite a week in my town, the Village of Peninsula, population 602. We had our first real winter storm, complete with the ever-popular wintry mix and white out conditions. The Village is located in the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley. That means the only way in is down, and the only way out is up. Not so much fun on icy roads.

Folks are gearing up for the holidays in my town. Judy, from Terry Lumber and Supply, orders greenery and bows. The Garden Club decorates the bridge and the Village Hall, and merchants decorate their buildings. I’ll show you photos of this year’s Christmas in Peninsula next week.

Here is a look at a Christmas in Peninsula in another time.

The Village of Peninsula, Ohio, gently resisting change since 1837.

MTM: Part the Second: the Spirit of Thanks
This is Thanksgiving week, a time, for me, at least, of reflection. Our lives are comprised of a series of “moments,” that, in the blink of an eye, can change our experience in ways we could never have imagined.

Blessings come in all sorts of packages, some quite clear and others shrouded in confusion and mystery. It’s been a year of change, of challenge, of transition for all of us. One thing is clear: we are all one. We all live together in our towns on this beautiful blue planet, in this Universe.

I give thanks. I am grateful for the incredible beauty of this amazing planet, for the warmth of family and friends, and for the wisdom of the experiences of those whose lives have touched mine.

**Post a comment and I’ll enter you in another high tech drawing (where I draw a name from a hat) for some Peninsula goodies.

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And, once again, if you are so inclined, please visit Cups of Kindness, our art show and sale to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. Over 50 artists have joined us in lending a hand to our neighbors and friends in a time of need..
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As always, My Town Monday comes to us via Travis Erwin, who understands what is important in life. Check out his site, read what he has to say, and follow links to other writers all over this fine planet.

VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*VOTE*

For over 100 years, the Peninsula United Methodist Church has held an Election Day dinner. Traditionally, local farmers who were members of the Church donated and prepared the food. The chickens were “so fresh that they had been scratching in the yard the day before”; and the turnips, potatoes, coleslaw, and vegetables had been recently harvested. The women prepared the food and baked pies for the event.

Although the food isn’t all locally produced any more, not much has changed over the years: the food is still prepared and served by volunteers; and all proceeds benefit the Church. The menu is, as always, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, turnips, green beans, coleslaw, cranberry sauce, bread and butter, homemade pie, and coffee, milk or ice water. It’s a bargain at $10/adult and $8 for carryout.

So if you’re in our neck of the woods on Tuesday, stop at the Methodist Church. Have a seat at one of the long tables, chat with folks about politics, the weather, or whatever suits you. You’ll enjoy a great meal, have fun, and support the Church. If you’d like to make a monetary donation to the Church, please send it to the Peninsula United Methodist Church, 1575 Main Street, Peninsula, OH 44264.

The Village of Peninsula, population 602, gently resisting change since 1834.
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My Town Monday comes to us all via Travis Erwin. Take a trip over there and check out the links from bloggers who share this beautiful blue planet.
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And if you’re so inclined, please visit Cups of Kindness, our art show to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

We all really do live in the same town; it is called Planet Earth. We share the same air, drink the same water and look at the same blue sky. All of us gaze up at the same stars and are amazed by the same full moon.

We the people can solve problems that governments have caused; we the people can share our resources with our friends and neighbors—even those whom we do not know. We the people.

In this time where CHANGE is the buzzword of the day, we the people live it and do it. We are the change we wish to see in the world. Quietly, without the acrimony of politics. In our everyday life. One cup at a time.

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My Town Monday is the product of Amarillo’s own Travis Erwin’s fine mind. Take a trip over to his site and check out the links to the other bloggers who live in our town.

Hunger does not discriminate; it affects people without regard to background or social status. In our land of plenty, people are hungry every day; they have to decide between paying rent or eating, between medication or food, between staying warm and buying groceries. Of this I am certain: having enough to eat is a right rather than a privilege.

The mission of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is simple: Ending Hunger.

We believe that no one should have to go hungry in our “land of plenty.” Children shouldn’t have to go to bed hungry; families shouldn’t have to decide between buying food and paying rent; and seniors shouldn’t have to choose between paying for medication and having a warm meal to eat.

Ending hunger is more than just our mission; it’s something we strive to do everyday. It’s a pledge we have made to our community to end hunger in Summit, Stark, Portage, Medina, Wayne, Holmes, Tuscarawas and Carroll counties. In 1982, based on a commitment by community leaders to help the increasing number of families requesting food assistance, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was formed. In 2007, the Foodbank distributed over 12 million pounds of food and provided meals for over 163,000 people in need in Northeast Ohio.

The Foodbank uses its resources well: each dollar that is donated purchases 7 nutritious meals. Meals that provide sustenance to people who are already stressed. No questions asked. When I recently toured the facility, I was amazed by the quantity of food that was ready to distribute to agencies large and small. The facility was immaculate; the people, both volunteers and paid staff, passionate about their purpose.

We are reaching out to others by giving hope. There is, I think, joy and intrinsic satisfaction in helping people who will never know who we are. As members of a world community, we have a moral and ethical responsibility to share our resources and to preserve dignity.

Cups of Kindness has been on my mind for a long time. This year, we are pleased to join with the Peninsula Art Academy, the Peninsula Area Chamber of Commerce, local. regional and national artists and a group of dedicated volunteers to support the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

This show and sale of small scale art will showcase artists’ interpretations of a Cup of Kindness, and will include both 2 and 3 dimensional artwork. All proceeds from the show will benefit the Foodbank. For information about this event, please go to http://www.cupsofkindness.net. If you would like to donate directly to the Akron- Canton Regional Foodbank, please click here.