Category: Food

Yep… I have a bit of a soup pot fetish going on! Not the creepy kind!

The kind where an inanimate object is honored for its supposed magical powers. And it’s been with me for for quite a long time, in ways both literal and legendary.

Let’s start with the literal kind. The kind where bones and water and heat and time make healing magic. I think it began for me when my son, who was about two at the time, had repeated cases of strep throat-tonsillitis and was allergic to lots of the standard meds.

One of his docs – the enlightened kind – suggested soup. Not the kind in the red & white can. Bone broth. This was great for so many reasons… including the fact that it was cheap!

I loved my soup pot even more in the years when I had pneumonia way too many times. It felt good and helped me breathe.

Fast forward to my first #Legend painting, early in 2018. Much to my surprise, a soup pot appeared on my canvas and – a couple of days later – a phoenix appeared in my dreams, rising from that soup pot!

Perhaps because it’s about to be #Legend time again, or because fall is great weather for soup, the phoenix has appeared in my dreams again.

It’s likely, though, that the phoenix and the soup pot also have to do with what’s going on in the world around us, what’s becoming inside of me, and the presence of anxiety on my path.

Typically, for me, I noticed the words in my dream, first.

Anxiety is not a character fault. It’s not a diagnosis of doing “it” wrong. Instead, it’s a sign that something matters! What???

And that, dear friend, seems like a really, really good question in this moment!

I’d love to hear what this brings up for you… You can scroll down and leave a comment, or email me. suesvoice@gmail.com

Here’s one of the things that happened since I dreamed that dream…

And, no… it’s really not supposed to look like much, just yet. It did get me pretty close to something that might be called dancing with the brush… which could be something that matters to my currently cranky body.

My physical therapist might even call it exercise! (It’s a 48 inch square canvas…)

What I can tell you for sure is that the process is something that matters. Curious about #Legend??? Click here for all the info!

pps… here’s something else that matters! A way to help our Littles feel included in the story of being. Complete with original art, some tips for the Bigs who are reading aloud, and the very most treasured thing I know! The holidays are coming… just click here to get your copies!

According to the Legendary Husband, Rocky & Bullwinkle were quite comfortable with needing two titles for an episode, so here goes…

There’s a Moose in My Lotus Pond – and – Dish and Bars! Stick with us, please!

As you’ve no doubt guessed, we’ll start with the moose! This is what happened when my #exoticlandscape painting, which I began in early June, started listening to the news about three weeks ago.

Somewhere along the line, Shiloh Sophia McCloud was demonstrating simple one-line heart drawings and several of those appeared on my canvas. A bit later, we went on to wildly imaginary, exotic flowers. And I knew that there were lily pads ahead.

And, because I try to do almost everything with awareness of context, those lilies insisted on becoming lotus flowers, because lilies and lotuses are members of the same family and Kamala Harris’s name means lotus! And lotus flowers symbolize strength, resilience, and rebirth. (I’m just sayin’!)

The Moose came later. She’s still deciding on her name. And, yes, the antlers are more commonly associate with bull moose, but this is art! It’s also symbolism. And a moose is a strong, majestic force, symbolizing power, grace, and resilience. It could be a reflection of your… inner strength and ability to handle life’s challenges.

I’m guessing you’re with me!

Then, just yesterday, while I was still painting, the next right thing happened and, suddenly, I was channeling my Minnesota roots!

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D, MN) was on MSNBC sharing her excitement about our new VP pick and she told a story about her family and the Walz family having long connections. Apparently, when Tim and Gwen Walz were celebrating the birth of their daughter, Hope, Amy’s mom took them dinner which I recognized immediately as Dish & Bars!

You know… a casserole and bar cookies. Likely brownies or chocolate chip.

All of which transports us to the 14 containers of Marry Me Dressing the Legendary Husband and I put in our freezer this weekend! Translation.. our version of my Granny’s favorite Dish!

It’s nutritious, full of the Minnesota delicacy, wild rice, flexible for the family you have, not hard to do, and great for friends who could use a bit of loving help with dinner. So… here’s a link to the philosophy/recipe. Our gift to you. Love to hear what you do about Bars!

Somehow, the world feels more hopeful, already. Thanks for being you!!!

ps… it’s Graduation Day in Intentional Creativity® land! To celebrate, the elves have created a discount at FierceArtWithHeart! Save 15% off anything in the Wearable Art (Clothing) collection! Leggings, tank tops, a dress, even a new T-shirt! Sizes from 2T to 6X!!! Just use the magic code BackToSchool at checkout. And, if you’re ready to stock up, there’s an option to pay over time. (Special offer expires on Aug 12, 2024 @ 11:59pm EDT.)

So, as I suspect you’ve noticed, life is crazy on a number of levels.

Therefore, I went rogue and decided to fish in the archives for something to share with you because my day got out of hand.

Hang with me, please… you may be as surprised as I was!!!

Here’s what I found, in my blog dated July 3, 2022.

…Originally, the plan involved comfort and abundance. Specifically, the local, sustainably raised turkey napping in our freezer since Thanksgiving fell apart last fall! Bill loves turkey. It’s a great example of cook once – eat a whole lot of times! It has welcome side effects of gravy and bone broth. And, it makes the house smell really, really good…

For this moment, though, my filters are in some massive transition mode as I continue to cope with the news. Some of those filters – which work hard to keep us from being utterly swamped by input from our senses and the world – have to do with history and language and beliefs and strategies.

As you probably know, one of my self-soothing strategies is The West Wing. Last night I was watching an episode having to do with the tragic, traumatic fall of a democracy in Africa.

Then, frankly, I got gobsmacked, as it were, by a lightbulb in my head. Here’s what I wrote on my perpetually present index card:

Rape is wrong because it takes away bodily sovereignty and civil rights. So is overturning Roe… and even flirting with the notion of limiting access to contraception.

Which suggests, at least to me, that most of the Supreme Court justices have lost all notion of justice. Or, and I find this more likely, that justice was never their purpose in sitting on that bench. Then, today… and this was even more traumatic than my West Wing revelation… I was watching a re-run of the recent Westminster Kennel Club dog show as I painted.

The commentators and handlers were chatting, as they do. And I was hearing familiar things like this, with new ears.

She throws gorgeous puppies, already strengthening the breed.

She’s a stunning girl who’s doing so much for me in this sport.

Now, I’ve belonged to a variety of kennel clubs in my day. I’ve handled. And entered. I helped my kid learn Junior Showmanship. And there are still a few active judges and breeders and handlers that I knew back in the day.

For the last 20 years, or so, it’s been rescue dogs at our house. That’s Sarah, in the photo. Not at all likely to have won any hardware in a breed ring, but well-intentioned in an utterly unique sort of way. And one of my biggest teachers. This morning, though, I heard with new ears.

The conversation at Westminster has a whole lot in common with what the Supreme Court is saying – in barely veiled language – about the role of women and girls.

And, just in case you hadn’t guessed… I DISSENT!

My girls are not trophies designed to make their “handlers” feel powerful and important. They’re not brood animals created to carry on superior lines of the way we’ve always done it.

And neither are any of our girls. Or women. Or humans of any sort.

This mess isn’t just bad law. It’s really, really bad theology and philosophy.

This is a glimpse of what it looks like to celebrate self and choice…

It’s not a prize to be won. It’s what it means to be human. And we ALL deserve that!

Now… fast forward to today! July 3, 2024.

There is, indeed, a turkey dry-brining in our fridge. I’m painting, between meetings. And the news is all about SCOTUS, again. And, yes… it’s worse.

The music from the play, 1776 is running through my head, thanks to a wise 8th grade English teacher who probably never imagined today. At the same time, a lot of what I’ve learned of history as I’ve researched my ancestry is spinning with the music.

Here’s the short version of my understanding in this moment:

Much of the history of the world has been about those with enough power, wanting more land and money and influence, justifying taking it from others and making them set aside their own ways and beliefs, in favor of the conquerors’.

I do, indeed, dissent.

Which brings us to a different – but related – sort of memory. Just after I finished my Intentional Creativity® teacher training in 2018, I learned a new story.

My great aunts, Mary and Alice, were hanged as witches in 1692. In Salem. They were sisters.

I was deep in the IC® journey we used to call Motherboard when I learned this part of my story. And it got harder when I dug deeper and discovered the likelihood that my aunts were sentenced by other relatives of mine.

One evening, I showed up for a group call with the amazing #JulieSteelman and she and I were the only ones present. We talked through ways to process my saddness, horror, shock, and anger. Then Julie said the thing that is with me still… and the reason this story insisted on being included here, now.

Grieve for both sides!

It helped. It still helps. And I’m grateful.

It also feels ironically timely. And I’m trying. Now. Grieving for both sides. And voting blue!

I have 2 grand-teens trying very hard to grow up in this world!

ps… hoping our Sarah, and her 4-footed siblings, are hanging out with Mary and Alice in the place beyond politics.

pps… the turkey was excellent. Way to go, Legendary Husband!

You guessed it!

Not a creature was stirring… not even a mouse. (Blessed be!)

Instead there is paint drying, which is always a hopeful sign. In this case, a dove, needing quite a bit of adjustment. One layer at a time!

There is broth bubbling on the stove and a veggie experiment waiting in the wings. We are, however, without baskets and bunnies, though there is really dark chocolate!

Our kids have made it safely home from Spring Break in Columbia. The country… not the Seminary! (Hallelujah!!!)

In the way-back days, I used to think Easter meant Mom making dresses and insisting that jelly beans – especially the black ones – were utterly essential. Yuck! (Which I wasn’t allowed to say…)

Then, I learned a lot more stuff, and Easter felt more like a Divine gift for having survived Lent and Palm Sunday and Holy Week and an extra service or two for the big day… all in shoes that hurt. And, ironically, it often seemed like the story of that first Easter got lost in all the hullaballoo.

Lately, I’ve learned some more stuff… much of it having to do with realizing that the “point” of any story has a great deal to do with the vested interest of the particular tellers of the story, through the ages.

Then, on Friday evening, I heard a version of the Easter story I’d never heard before, thanks to my enlightened Canadian buddy, Natalie Moyes. I’m so hoping you’ll listen deep!

Early on the first day of the week, Strong Tears (Mary) from Tower of Creator’s High Lodge (Magdala) came to the burial cave early in the morning while it was still dark.  When she saw the stone had been removed from the burial cave, she ran to find Stands on the Rock (Peter) and He Shows Goodwill (John), the much-loved followers of Creator Sets Free (Jesus).
               -John 20:1-2, FNV

Time out for tissues and one of my favorite bits of wisdom from Frederick Buechner:

That sudden flash of tears is the surest sign of truth we get!

And, yes, wise reader… it’s a filter thing!

To make space for the notion that an unaccustomed voice might shine new light on an old story…

A voice aiming to make the circle bigger, rather than smaller. To be open to new language and names and possibilities…

Which, when you get right down to it, seems a lot like the point!

In a moment, I’ll add the info Natalie sent me about the FNV or First Nations Version in case you’re curious.

For now, though, a question:

How do we BE wonder and hope and good news in this world, now???

Here’s one of the ways I’m working on exactly that!

She’s not quite finished yet, but agreed to show up… complete with the dove who landed on her knee, right after Natalie read me the words from the FNV Easter Story. (Really!)

Officially, she’s the alchemical being arising from the journey I’m leading, known as …

Oh, I See… Consciously! The path from “If only…” to “I am!”

We’re about to conclude this first adventure and I’m already shaking the calendar for the next right time. You can read all about it here!

Think of it as some very cool learning, and help creating your very own Alchemical SuperPower Self Portrait to guide you on your path.

ps… if you just can’t wait for the next group to begin, I have space for 3 brave individual adventurers! (suesvoice@gmail.com)

pps… here’s more of the story on the FNV reading…

In 2021, a group of Indigenous clergy, scholars, church leaders and members, published a new translation of the New Testament, called the FNV or First Nations Version. The group consists of individuals from a range of denominations and Indigenous nations in both Canada and the United States. As the quotation above from the Gospel of John reveals, the FNV is not a literal translation of the New Testament but a “thought-for thought translation, sometimes referred to as dynamic equivalence” [1] as the Indigenous group explains in an introduction to the text. They make an effort to write with a story-telling cadence, familiar to Indigenous readers. Throughout the translation, insertions may be found that help elucidate the text (such as by the bracketed inclusion of more familiar Biblical names) but also to provide contextualized information for Indigenous readers, such as may be found in other Bible translations that employ headings, footnotes, and marginal notes to aid the reader. There’s even a very brief summary of the Old Testament written in similar style to the main translation which is included as a prologue. Importantly, the authors emphasize that the FNV is not only commended to the use of Indigenous Christians but to all members of the Christian community who they hope will find the FNV insightful and enlightening in their own study of holy scripture.