When 6 of the 8 tiles I had painstakingly carved cracked in the bisque kiln, I was somewhat disappointed. I had expected to have them ready for the holidays. The patterns were wonderful; yet the cracks were certain to migrate through the pieces. I left them on my work table, wondering what to do.
An artist friend came into the studio, and we talked about the pieces that were less than perfect. What is it, I wondered, that makes an item a “second.” Could I embrace the crack as the nature of that particular piece?.
I began to think about the whole concept of perfection. We look at ourselves and question our hair, or our eyes or our body types. We look at our homes or our jobs or our families and compare them with what the dominant culture tells us is perfect.
Nature does not determine that an oak tree or a rock or a lake is less than perfect. Why do we as humans tend to put conditions on our environments, our relationships, our lives?
When Amish women make a quilt they intentionally make a mistake; mid-Eastern rug makers do the same. Only the gods are perfect. A finger mark or tiny crack on a hand-crafted piece is really the mark of the craftsman. It lets us know that the piece was made by a human, with all our imperfections, rather that a machine.
The mark of the craftsman does not detract from the beauty of the piece; rather, it enhances it, I think. And it is the challenges and experiences in life that give our lives texture and richness.
It is, I believe, time to let go of our notions of perfection, and embrace that which makes us human. Keeping that in mind, I wish us all an imperfect holiday.
These skilled hands wish you kind, happy, healthy, loving and peaceful days.
If you are so inclined, please consider visiting the Cups of Kindness website for holiday gifts. The Foodbank is able to purchase $7 worth of food and grocery items with every dollar raised. We the People can make a difference in the lives of our friends and neighbors.
The Village of Peninsula, Ohio, is home to several beautiful churches and chapels. Here is a look at the steeples of Peninsula:
Members of the Peninsula United Methodist Church worked long and hard to raise the money to restore the steeple of the historic church. Here is what it looked like prior to the restoration:
The steeple was removed for restoration:
Check back for a look at the beautifully restored steeple.
If you are so inclined, please consider visiting the Cups of Kindness website for holiday gifts. The Foodbank is able to purchase $7 worth of food and grocery items with every dollar raised. We the People can make a difference in the lives of our friends and neighbors.
One. Cup. At. A. Time.
**************
Visit My Town Monday for a look at places near and far. Join us! And share cool things about your neck of the woods
As always feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve stopped by.
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 Foodbank uses its resources well: each dollar that is donated purchases $7 worth of food and grocery products to those in need. 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.
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is located in Akron, Ohio. It serves 8 Ohio counties: Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne. It distributes food to more than 400 member agencies that provide food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters and other emergency hunger-relief programs.
The statistics are mind boggling:
the Foodbank serves over 163,000 people annually.
*1 out of every 3 are children under age 18
*1 out of every 10 is a senior citizen
*One in eight Ohioans lives in poverty
*Ohio ranks third in childhood food insecurity for children under 5 — hungry or at risk for hunger
*One in eight Ohioans use the Food Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps)
*Every $1 donated to the Foodbank provides $7 worth of food and grocery products for people in need.
*There has been a 23% increase for food requests for food at food pantries over the requests in 2008.
*In 2008, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank distributed 16 million pounds of food.
*In 2009, the Foodbank is on pace to distribute 17.5 million pounds of food.
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.
Local, national and regional artists — over 70, have raised a cup of kindness by donating over 125 pieces of artwork; the proceeds from the sale of the work will benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
If you are in our neck of the woods on Saturday, December 5, from 10-2, join us for light refreshments at our opening reception. The show will run until January 10, 2010.
Take a look at our website to see some of the beautiful pieces of art that have been donated. Items will be available for purchase online on the evening of Sunday, December 6.
We the People have proved the Power. Of. One. — over and over again. We have shown that we can, with our hands and hearts, help our friends and neighbors in a time of need. As Margaret Mead said, “A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
What does 1 train + a great story + a crew of dedicated staff and volunteers equal? Take a look at a very special train, when the Village of Peninsula is transformed into the North Pole. All aboard for the Polar Express!
Last year 76 artists and authors, and assorted web designers, sign makers, muffin bakers, photographers and patrons raised a Cup of Kindness as they donated over 150 pieces of work and countless other services to benefit friends and neighbors in need. Through the generosity of these fine folks and people all over the country, we have raised enough money for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to provide around 28,000 meals. That is an astounding figure: twenty-eight thousand meals. That is enough to feed each of the 601 people in the Village of Peninsula 46.6 times.
Artwork is coming in and is being cataloged and packed to go to be photographed for this year’s show, which will open on Saturday, December 5th, from 10:00am-2:00pm, at our Elements Gallery and at the Peninsula Art Academy across the street, and will continue through January 10, 2010. Check back for more details about online purchases and other ways to help.
We the people have demonstrated the Power of One. And one more. And one more. This is how we make a difference in the world. One. Cup. At. A. Time.
Wednesday morning was an icy one, with the roads covered with a glaze of ice. Cars stood on the pavement, unable to move. The 4 wheel drive on our Toyota helped us navigate the frozen ground, and we proceeded to the studio.
The day was a good one, with people picking up orders and just stopping by to say hello. There is something special about being in a place for a while—and we have been in Peninsula for 20 years. Folks know us, they ask about our family, and we ask about theirs.
At the end of the day, we stopped at a friend’s to have a glass of wine and some cheese and fruit. Then off to the grocery store–we got there 10 minutes before they closed—to get a few things.
Christmas morning was cold and dry. The ground was frozen so there was no mud. We are beyond the days where we had to tell our children that they couldn’t wake us until it was light outside. We were up and on our second cup of coffee well before our daughters emerged from their rooms. The magic of Christmas morning is different from the way it was in years past, but it is still magic.
#2 daughter and I made pita bread for the first time. She made falafel and a delicious cucumber yogurt sauce to take over the stream and through the woods to Grandma’s house. We shared sandwiches, veggies, and other munchies. A pot of coffee graced the table. Grandma had made her fruitcakes, strudel, mince pies and peanut butter pie for #2.
Home for the evening, quietly enjoying the time together. Grazing, watching a move, and my fingers tappity tapping the keys. A good day.
**as of a couple of weeks ago, the Foodbank had distributed over 1,000,000 pounds more food than they distributed for the entire year in 2007.
**so far this year, there has been a 29% increase of families with children who need the Foodbank’s services.
**each dollar ($1) donated provides 7 nutritious meals.
Right here in these United States. The people who are in need are our friends and neighbors; folks just like you and like me. Folks who have to decide between medical care and food; between heat and electricity or food.
We the people can make a difference. Over 60 artists from points near and far have donated small scale works of art to help us help the Foodbank. Cups of Kindness is a show and sale of these pieces. All proceeds from the sale of these works will benefit the Foodbank. Please take a look at our website, http://www.cupsofkindness.net. Help us raise a cup of kindness for auld lang syne.
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