This was an inspiring and interesting experience over eight CDs.  It impressed me how far we have come in the arena of human rights in the United States in my lifetime and reminded me of how far we have yet to go.

Beyond the obvious, I was struck how a man with limited primary education (due to segregation) was able to go on to college and graduate school and achieve a level of knowledge of world history and literary prowess that few Americans today achieve or even desire to achieve.  In his public addresses, Dr. King never spoke down to his audience, rather it seems that he was able to lift his listeners up in a way seldom heard today.

I encourage you to download, purchase or borrow a copy of this from your local library.

May it inspire and encourage you as well.

Teri Leigh

“Years ago a friend of mine challenged me to give the new year a ‘one word theme or a short phrase’. He said, ‘pick one word or a short phrase and apply that to everything you do for the entire year’…….So, every year I pick a new word or phrase…This year, I would like to pass this challenge along to you. What “one word” or “short phrase” are you going to apply to everything you do this year?”

The very first word that came to my mind was “Creativity”.

With this, I have decided that every day in 2012, I will have some activity in the creative realm.  I believe this conscious effort will create more joy.  I know some days will be easier than others.  A few weeks back, I watched a show on PBS about a family of artists.  The husband said that for many years he has gone to work in his studio every day.  Some days he really does not want to go in there as he feels he has no creative ideas.  On those days, he sharpens pencils.  He said that when you sharpen enough pencils, you get an idea.

I will keep you apprised as the year progresses on my creative progress.

This and I would like to learn Tai Chi.

Happy New Year!

Teri Leigh

The first part I updated was my resume page.  I have been laid off since the 18th of November.  Not that I have necessarily minded the break, mind you.  I knew Smiling Sun is for the most part a seasonal business and I will be recalled at some point in the Spring.  In any event, I am on the lookout for full-time, year-round permanent employment, and if I am not asking for too much in this recession, perhaps some medical benefits and paid holidays.  You can see on my resume page that I have a lot of skills to offer and am looking for a nice environment that I can call my work home for the next 25 years or so.  Your consideration/referrals are appreciated.

Michael has been kept busy over at Maschino’s.  He is in the showroom sometimes, sometimes he is working with a contractor on a construction site, and sometimes he is out servicing an existing fireplace.  Nice folks over at Maschino’s.  If you have a need, give Michael a call.

What have I been up to with this spare time?  Fighting a website today (grrr).  Working on a new quilt.  Funny, we have been in this house for a year and a half and this is the first quilt I have started here.  I have worked on my 20 year hand pieced quilt in fits and starts (thus why it will take me 20 years). 

This is one of the blocks.  It is a pattern from Buggy Barn called “Blossom”.

I am using a fabric collection from Moda named “Whimsy” that I won on Facebook.

Here is a picture of the fabrics in the collection.

I plan for this quilt to go on the bed in the little guest room.  The orange is the exact orange of the accent paint in the room and the yellow is the exact yellow of the other walls.

While I have been working on this quilt, I have been enjoying a terrific book on tape The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. read by LeVar Burton with excerpts from the historical record.  Truly a work to be savored and reflected.

We have also been busy with Missouri Master Naturalist, Springfield Plateau chapter.  I will write about that another day.

Michael just arrived home from work.  More later, with your indulgence.

Teri Leigh

Our House in the Snow

We are so very fortunate in this “Blizzard 2011″!

Here in Springfield, MO we received freezing rain followed by sleet that left 1/10″ of ice then 10″ of snow.

What makes us very happy is that we retained power throughout.  We are snug as a bug in a rug.

We have not attempted to dig out the driveway or anything like that yet.  The high temperature today is to be 12 degrees with a below zero wind chill.  The roads are still poor, most businesses are closed and we have all we need here.

Mainly, we simply wanted to share that all is well here and our house is pretty in the snow.  Trust you are also well and happy!

We have been working toward sustainability in our own way.

We moved from Nixa into an 81 year old home in Springfield in April.

Isn’t it a beauty!  We are really excited about this next chapter as it lends itself to our growing sustainability!

Needless to say, this old house needs some care and feeding, so that is what we have been up to all summer and seemingly for the rest of our lives.  This is not a statement of complaint, rather a statement of opportunity!

Over time, we will post the before and afters as we restore and regain this home’s sustainable nature.

Here is tip #1.  Friends do not let friends plant ivy on a stone house!  See the ivy overtaking the chimney in the picture?  This took Teri Leigh 4 days to kill at the base and remove up the first 5 feet.  Once the ivy was cut down to the ground – it had two base stems 4″ in diameter each – Teri Leigh poured five pounds of pure salt on the roots to get rid of it!

Last week, people filled The Moxie in Springfield, MO to see the new film Food, Inc. People were so moved by the shocking truths revealed in the documentary they are now seeking sources of safe food to feed their families.

I received a number of calls and e-mails asking where they could purchase organically grown produce, grass fed beef, free range chicken, fresh eggs, etc.

The answer is at your local farmers market!

I told the people how we are vendors at several area farmers markets with our wares (locally produced wind turbines, solar systems & certified organic products for the lawn & garden) and we do a good part of our grocery shopping at these markets while we are there.

A question arose from several of the callers that I did not anticipate. “How, exactly, does one shop at a farmers market?” These fine folks had never been to a farmers market and had no idea how the whole adventure works. They are accustomed to shopping at the ubiquitous big box store and do not know how to go about doing business with local producers.

Since I know that for every person who asks the question, there are ten who are wondering in the background, here is how exactly to do business at a farmers market.

1. Find a farmers market. Farmers markets come in all shapes and sizes from four vendors to over 100 vendors and vary from one time to the next as you will see some vendors every time and others occasionally. For a list of farmers markets in Missouri visit http://agebb.missouri.edu/fmktdir/index.htm. If you are outside of Missouri, simply Google “farmers market, city, state”.

2. Bring your own basket. Some vendors have recycled plastic shopping bags, but you will be eco-friendlier if you bring your own market basket or tote bags. You will also receive friendlier service as when a vendor sees someone with their own bag or basket, that signals to the vendor the person is a serious shopper.

3. Bring cash. Most vendors only accept cash. Some will take checks and fewer still will accept credit cards. Small bills are most appreciated. While every vendor hopes every customer has $100 in their pocket to spend, it is difficult for the vendors to break a hundred and have enough change for their other customers. At the same time, if you only have a large bill in your pocket, the vendor will do all he or she can to make change for you.

4. Talk with the vendors and ask questions. Do ask about the vendor’s merchandise. Ask how it may be used or prepared. Ask how long it keeps fresh. If it is a quiet market, feel free to engage the vendor in conversation. At the same time, please remember the farmers market is the vendor’s temporary store and as such please allow the vendor to conduct transactions with other customers.

5. If you are shopping for produce it is perfectly appropriate to ask if the vendor grew it themselves (some do, some don’t). Also ask how it was grown (fertilizing methods, pest control products). You will seldom, if ever, find a farmers market vendor with certified organic produce. This is because the certification itself costs over $5000. That does not mean it was not organically grown – that is why you may ask about fertilizers and pest controls. Your sensitivities may be different than mine and as such different than the grower. Personally, I prefer my produce to be fertilized and pest controlled with vegan methods (no animal fertilizers or chemicals). Please do not try to “educate” the vendor by telling them how to grow their crops. It is not the time or the place. Simply tell the vendor “Thank you” and move on to the next vendor. If enough people vote with their pocketbooks, there will be more organically grown produce to choose from in the future.

6. Yes, you will even find vendors with meat, eggs & even raw milk at a farmers market. Again, talk with the vendors and make the right choices for you and your family.

7. Back to money, please bring enough cash with you as if you were grocery shopping (because you are). Some grocery trips are only a few dollars and others are a couple of hundred. Please plan accordingly as vendors hear every time at least one person who says “Oh, I want this, but I already spent all of my cash. Will you be here next time?”

8. Beyond money is price and value. You will be pleasantly surprised by the more than reasonable price of most farmers market products. Just last Thursday evening at the Ozark Farmers Market, I purchased a very large bag of veggies for only $7! This was from a grower who uses vegan practices – delicious! Think about how much you pay per pound for green beans that have been trucked an average of 1500 miles to your local big box grocery and you will see the value in the green beans that were lovingly picked that very day for you!

9. What else can you find at a farmers market? Coffee, fruit, produce, plants, kitchen items, breads, gift items, baked goods, baby farm animals, music, eco-products….pretty much anything! You never know what you will find, so keep an open mind and a flexible menu plan!

10. Above all else, remember by supporting your local farmers market, you are not only putting good food on your family’s table, you are also helping our local economy.