Susan Waughtal's blog

Crossings at Carnegie, the intrepid little art center in nearby Zumbrota, is currently exhibiting figures drawn (and painted) from life. As one of the participating artists, I cordially invite you to attend the opening reception this Saturday, January 12th. [As a proud mom, I also have to note that my daughter, Cadence, also has several works in the show and one of her drawings was selected for the publicity postcard.]

Here is the press release from Crossings with complete details:

Every year I am astonished by the fabulous exuberance of some people's holiday lighting decorations --but I cringe at the thought of how much energy they are burning. I wish the Post Bulletin would give a special award in its holiday-lighting contest for spectacular-but-energy-efficient holiday displays!

Although I am making a concerted effort to significantly reduce my energy consumption, I am still reluctant to give up my holiday lights. Days are so short during our Minnesota winters and all those colorful lights in December really boost my spirits. So, this winter I took the plunge and purchased energy-efficient LED (light emitting diode) holiday lights.

Labor Day weekend was absolutely perfect for a bike ride. Rog and I hopped on our bikes on Sunday; our destination was Northern Hills Prairie where we had been told that Monarch butterflies congregate before their long fall migration south to Mexico.

The prairie was blazing with goldenrod, sunflowers, asters and coneflowers. We found the rather overgrown path and hiked toward the woods. Yep, there were Monarch butterflies all right - dozens floated lazily overhead. But as we came to the edge of the woods, we realized that the trees, whose leaves appeared to be starting to change color already, were actually covered with hundreds of resting orange butterflies!

When I was a kid, my favorite town was Lake George, a small village in northern Minnesota my family drove through on our way to Itasca State Park. There, for a full block, stretched a magical place --a yard ornament business, jam-packed with colorful concrete scupltures of garden gnomes,little boys fishing, bear cubs, dalmations wearing fire hats, romantic little arched bridges, miniature wishing wells, giant mushrooms, fierce lions, white-tailed deer, jockeys holding a metal ring, little Dutch boys and girls leaning toward each other kissing...all jumbled together in chaotic joy.

On a hot sunny morning the enormous cottonwood tree at the Saturday Downtown Farmers market provided enough shade for the musicians who played beneath it, the audience, and perhaps a dozen vendors. Every week, my husband and I have looked worriedly at the notice tacked to this wonderful tree - "This tree condemned for the following reason - a high-risk tree."

We knew that it was inevitable that the tree would be removed, but we were hoping it might survive the entire Farmers Market season. No such luck. This morning on our walk to work we were saddened to find it lying prostrate on the ground, its branches being sawn off and run through the chipper. Half a dozen vehicles(trucks, loaders, chippers, a bobcat) and a crew of urban lumberjacks were busy clearing the parking lot now covered by the tree. Amazing how big a tree looks when it is lying on the ground. Amazing how quickly such a huge tree can be reduced to a big, flat stump.

Have you ever noticed how identifiable communities of people inevitably form wherever people gather regularly--the dog park, yoga class, kids' soccer games, the coffee shop? This year, I have become part of the "first-thing-in-the-morning-Salvation-Army-thrift-store" community.

My daily dog-walking routine includes an irresistable stop at the Salvation Army on 9th St SE. I arrive at 8 a.m. when it first opens, tie my pooches to the column, and take a quick swing through to see if there are any new treasures I can't live without. I also get to exchange greetings with the Salvation Army Store regulars.

I cordially invite you all to an exhibition of my paintings and a lively opening celebration this Saturday evening.

The show is called "Silence Into Light." It is my first show - actually my first new work - in twelve years. Since moving to Rochester, my artist self has been set aside while I focused on other things, but now it is coming out into the light for everyone to see. Scary! But very exciting.

Most of these paintings are figures, very closely cropped. They are colorful and often whimsical. My goal in facing the canvas again was to rediscover the joy of painting - I hope the joy comes through in the work.

On this morning's walk, we took a slight detour to the corner of Broadway and 2nd Street SW, where volunteers with MPR (incuding Rochester station manager Chris Cross, Mayor Ardell Brede, and former Diversity Council Exec Director George Thonmpson) were handing out cups of hot coffee and fancily-decorated ginger cookies to celebrate Minnesota Public Radio's 40th anniversary. Wearing vivid orange safety vests, they car-hopped the treats right up to drivers as they pulled up. (I wonder if they also noted how many cars were tuned to MPR?) They treated us walkers, too, and the hot coffee warmed me all the way home.

In my book, the 3 R's are "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle." (As a kid it always bugged me that they called Writing an "R.") Well, today is America Recycles Day--and as an avid recycler, I decided to share with you my favorite recycling opportunities in Rochester.

The Best of RECYCLING/REUSE in Rochester
(places to both acquire recycled items and recycle things in good shape but that you no longer need.

1. Thrift Stores - You can purchase great stuff for a fraction of what it would cost new, and your purchase supports important community services.
* Salvation Army - in their new location next to KMart. Great place for office furniture.