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November Free Calendar Desktop and iPhone Wallpaper

November 1, 2016/1 Comment/in Art, Desktop Backgrounds, Downloads, Monthly Themes, Online /by Betony Coons

Happy November 1st! Hope you all had a grand time last night.  Here are our three little spooks –

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And here is some new artwork for your screens!

For the desktop, click on the image below to view the large size image.

For the iphone wallpaper, navigate to this page on your phone and then click and hold on the iphone images. Select ‘Save image to camera roll’. Then from your camera roll set your home screen/lock screen.

High Resolution Desktop Wallpaper:

november-2016-desktop_v2

iPhone Wallpaper:

iphone_november-2016_v2 iphone_november-2016

https://i0.wp.com/giantsandpilgrims.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/NOVEMBER-2016-desktop_v2.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&ssl=1 1440 2560 Betony Coons https://s28969.p27.sites.pressdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gianstandpilgrimslogov2-1024x196.png Betony Coons2016-11-01 19:30:412016-11-01 19:30:41November Free Calendar Desktop and iPhone Wallpaper

January Practice and Process: “Clearing”

January 8, 2016/1 Comment/in Bellwether, Family, Lists, Monthly Themes, Online /by Betony Coons

In creating our new project Bellwether we’ve decided to share what we’re doing each month before it’s released at the end of the year.
We’re calling these posts “practice and process“.

They will detail the spiritual/life practice we’re doing,
give a look at our in-process art that we’re creating in response,
and then include a whole host of resources and activities! (like the new desktop wallpaper, book/music/movie lists, recipes, explorations for kids, etc. This is so as a entire family we can engage in this year’s exploration of “belief” we’re calling Bellwether. 

JANUARY Theme: Clearing

To me January is about resetting, starting fresh. It is the metaphor of a clear desk space – putting away all old projects and supplies, shining the surface, pulling up a stool, and opening up a new blank sketchbook, and beginning.

Practice:

As a family this month, we plan on doing two main things.

  1. Clearing out our house of it’s excesses – stripping down to the objects that give us joy and clearing room for creativity to breath.

    After a book has been recommended to me by 3 different people independent of each other, I figure it is time to read it. While we were home for Christmas, Tim and I both read this book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

    Marie Kondo is quirky. She personifies objects and houses. I particularly loved how she talked about socks.
    (“The socks and stockings stored in your drawer are essentially on holiday.”
    I can’t say I have ever really thought twice about how hard my socks work.) Here are the basic ideas in the book –

    • Start by discarding. Then organize your space, thoroughly, completely, in one go.
    • Discard by category – not by location (first clothing, then books, etc…)
    • A dramatic reorganization of the home causes correspondingly dramatic changes in lifestyle and perspective. It is life transforming. Then everything has its right place and tidying becomes easier.
    • when you put your house in order, you put your affairs and your past in order, too.
    • Surround yourself only by the things you love

    “Letting go is even more important than adding” – Marie Kondo

    What I have discovered by going through this process, at least so far, is that through discarding, I begin discern more clearly what is most important to me!

2. For our second spiritual/life practice we’re setting up a table altar. When the meal is finished and the table is cleared and cleaned ring the bell and say this prayer together: Lord God and King we thank you for your sustaining love.

Process:

Artistically, January is a month of exploration for me. I have some initial ideas for Bellwether, but mostly I am letting things steep. I will be drawing in my sketchbook a lot. And working through several boxes of beautiful old books to be used as collage material donated to me by the Greeley History Museum. I’m resetting and clearing my studio space to begin a new year of creating – I can’t hardly bear to post this picture of my studio right now. It is in SUCH a sad shape of disaster (this is what happens when the year ends with 3 major art shows). But, by sharing it here, it is just even more motivation to get it to where I want it to be.

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Tim is working on recording a song around the ideas of subtraction and clearing. Hopefully for use in a really cool upcoming project.
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(by the way if you haven’t checked out the new January calendar and desktop you definitely should)

Resources for “Clearing”:

JANUARY Dates to Take Note of:

January 11th – Winners of the major Children’s book awards are announced
January 18th – Martin Luther King Day – listen to this playlist or this one

Local: Greeley, CO events:

January 9th – Missoula Children’s Theater Rapunzel @UCCC
Starting January 18th – Centennial branch library is hosting a “Discover Nasa” exhibit
January 29-30th -The Annual Father Daughter Dance – tim takes the girls each year, and they all just love it.
(Here are the pictures from last year, we still giggle at how much these two shots capture the girls’ personalities)
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Let me know if you have other fun Greeley events I should add to this calendar!

READING:

I am reading a lot of parenting and “how kids learn” kind of books, because we are thinking about shifting up how we teach our kiddos next year.

I have been really digging into Michelle Garrels new blog/resources at her site The New Domestic.
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I want to listen to this podcast interview of her.
Her resource lists are particularly wonderful for learners of all ages.

Tim has been reading The Crowd, the Critic, and the Muse by M. Gungor
Every snippet he has read to me has been just wonderful. I can’t wait to pick it up too.
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I have seen some powerful reviews of When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
I am very interested to read his story.

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Here are some of the books I have on hold at the library for the kids this month:
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We are also planning on rereading the financial classic Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (if I can get past the Cheese factor). It is a proven system of money managing that has worked wonders for us in the past.

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LISTEN TO: 

Chvrches – Every Open Eye (my current favorite track is Clearest Blue – it makes me want to go running)
chvrches_everyopeneye_sq-252b652c5690f074c210cbe166dfb7edfc26028e-s800-c15

This liturgists podcast called “Vapor”
vapor+cover

 

WATCH:

Selma

url

 

SCIENCE EXPLORATIONS:

Since the theme is “Clear”ing, I would love to do this vinegar egg experiment with the kids
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Since it is ridiculously cold here right now, I think this would be a beautiful little science experiment to try as well.
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FOOD:

We are in the midst of the Bon Appetit food lover’s cleanse for 2016. A practice we have done for the last 3 years. For our family it is a lovely reset. I do simplify and rearrange the menus for the sake of our grocery budget. So far our absolute new favorite is the Oven Roasted Chicken with Grapes.

ART:

Read and be inspired by this children’s book and experiment with our own scratch art.
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Because one of our sub-themes is subtraction, we want to play around with Soap Carving with the girlies. Also seem like they would be fun for the bath if we made little boats.
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POETRY to READ:

A New Years Blessing by Joel Mckerrow

The Journey by Mary Oliver

https://i0.wp.com/giantsandpilgrims.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/IMG_0377.jpg?fit=3264%2C2448&ssl=1 2448 3264 Betony Coons https://s28969.p27.sites.pressdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gianstandpilgrimslogov2-1024x196.png Betony Coons2016-01-08 10:58:422016-06-21 16:05:20January Practice and Process: "Clearing"

Printable Placemat

November 25, 2014/0 Comments/in Almanac, Downloads /by Betony Coons

 

Someone actually gave us some artfully done paper-placemats that we’ve used on occasion (with the way our kids can destroy a table, a paper-placemat isn’t a bad idea once in a great while…)

So Betony Coons designed a printable placemat for this season’s holiday meals.  Enjoy this “one-last-thing” to worry about!

 

Click here to view as an 11X17 printable pdf –>
Almanac_placemat

https://i0.wp.com/giantsandpilgrims.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/placemat_small.jpg?fit=2100%2C1359&ssl=1 1359 2100 Betony Coons https://s28969.p27.sites.pressdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gianstandpilgrimslogov2-1024x196.png Betony Coons2014-11-25 03:28:012014-11-25 04:00:15Printable Placemat

Table Altar for Thanks: The Tree of Life

November 17, 2014/1 Comment/in Almanac, Almanac Adventure Days /by Betony Coons

Artist and “space creator” Gregg Nordin was commissioned for our Almanac this month to provide directions on making a “Thanksgiving altar”!

IMG_1858

Thankfulness is a tricky one. Often we wait for moments of joy in order to have something to be thankful for. When things work in our favor, or when we get something we have been longing for. Some promotion, some purchase. We experience a momentary spike in joy and we are grateful. But all to soon the feeling can fade.

The truth is, gratitude and the practice of thanksgiving is what produces joy. Not the other way around. Thankfulness acts like new glasses that allow us to see the joy that is currently in our lives. Especially gratitude in the small things, the details; “Golden light of the morning sun,” “The feel of new socks.” “Warm Cookies”, “Harmony of birdsong outside my window.’

Thanksgiving slows us down and enables us to see. And when we can see… we no longer try to hustle for what we already have.

Purpose

The purpose of this interactive centerpiece is to provide a single gathering place for all the amazing things that bring our life to life. This exercise will not only remind us of the best parts of our existence but also allow us to share them with those around us.

Items needed

  • Colored Paper (preferably heavier weight like card stock)
  • Sticks / Branches 
  • Markers
  • Box or vase for base (fill with rocks or gravel for stability)
  • Small paper clips or clothes pins   

(You may want to assemble this interactive centerpiece early on in the month so you can daily add to it in preparation for Thanksgiving.)

The first part of assembly will require a short walk amongst some trees. Search for some fell branches that will work well with your table size and bring them home. Next you will need a base for the branches to rest in. Fill with rocks or sand to provide stability. Next take the your colored paper and with scissors cut out pieces shaped like leaves. Cut enough that everyone participating can use at least 2-3 per day. 

Every day take a moment or two to pause and think of the things you are grateful for. Everything from the big things like family and health. To the small things like the pools of melted butter on hot pancakes. Take those things and write them on a leaf. Give the leaf a small fold down the middle and then attach it to the tree. 

IMG_1850 IMG_1848

Watch over the coming days as the centerpiece of dead branches comes to life. You may just notice a similar change in yourself as you become aware of all the things that fill you with joy.  Gratitude brings things to life.

IMG_1794 - Version 3 IMG_1845 IMG_1827

Gregg Nordin

Life_Spaces@icloud.com

https://i0.wp.com/giantsandpilgrims.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/IMG_1794-Version-2.jpg?fit=1024%2C856&ssl=1 856 1024 Betony Coons https://s28969.p27.sites.pressdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gianstandpilgrimslogov2-1024x196.png Betony Coons2014-11-17 23:26:092014-11-17 23:26:09Table Altar for Thanks: The Tree of Life

November Theme: Table

November 12, 2014/0 Comments/in Almanac, Poetry, Writing /by Betony Coons

November is a set table

Harvest is here
and the fruits of our labor,
the results of our efforts,
the long months of digging in the dirt,
all produces great fruit

worth celebrating

Friends, families, and neighbors
gather around with smiles
while words like thankfulness and gratitude
are kept present on our tongues

We break bread and pour the cup
We taste, we eat

And our bodies and hearts together
are full

https://i0.wp.com/giantsandpilgrims.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSC_0118.jpg?fit=2000%2C3008&ssl=1 3008 2000 Betony Coons https://s28969.p27.sites.pressdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gianstandpilgrimslogov2-1024x196.png Betony Coons2014-11-12 19:17:352014-11-12 19:17:35November Theme: Table

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