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Susan Niemann's avatar

“I shan't come! I'm planting iris and they will be flowering long after he is dead.”

How perfect is that! I’m looking out on all the snow, imagining dirty hands and garden boots! Gardening is amazing therapy.

Tom Cox is someone special! As are you. Keep spreading positivity and your talent. 💙

(Thanks for the mention… that meat loaf is now gone, thanks to leftovers!😂)

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Thank you so much for your kind comment!! And yes - hurray for garden therapy even when it's imaginary due to the current winter weather!! Delightful to hear your meatloaf was so good - I enjoy a good leftover meatloaf sandwich myself 😋😋💚💚💚💚

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Daniela Mühlheim's avatar

Such a wonderful post, Sue, in a week that feels extra heavy for a lot of us, around the world. Nature and a garden and butterflies are such special metaphors. You radiate hope with all you shared in this and in all you do and are. Thank you so much. Also for mentioning and showing those books. Nature‘s palettes is a must for me and Keep going sounds like such a good plan! Thinking of you and your loved ones. Big hug from Italy 💚🤍❤️.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Thank you so very much for the hug!!!! I appreciate it and your kind words so much!!! Yes, I think you'd really enjoy Nature's Palette too - it's a wonderful way to think deeply about all of the color and beauty surrounding us!!! Hugs to you and your loved ones too!!!! 🤗🤗💙💚💙💚💙💚💙

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Daniela Mühlheim's avatar

My heartfelt pleasure. Thank you 🌺.

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Lorene Edwards Forkner's avatar

Today’s newsletter was a delicious melding of some of my favorite makers. That line about the “consolation of color” hit me in the very best way. Thank you.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

I'm so delighted that you enjoyed all of my post today!! Thank you for telling me!!! And I hope you have some good consolations of color today too!!!! 💚💙💚💙

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Sandy S's avatar

Lorene, just have to say that you have taught me so much about nature's colors!!! Your way of seeing has been quite an eye opener for me. Love seeing you here on Sue's Substack!!!

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Sue Clancy's avatar

I love Lorene's work too!!! I'm honored to see her here too!!! 💙💙💙💙💙💙

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Sandy S's avatar

Sue did you see that Lorene is going to be at the Seattle Flower and Garden Show in February!!! :-) Check out her most recent post for the details of when and where.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Ooooh!!! Thanks for the heads up!!!!!

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Anne Belov's avatar

We are all gathered round a metaphorical table eating cookies and sipping tea and spit laughing when someone says something especially funny, while my mouth is full of tea.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Yes!!!! Absolutely!!!!!!!!

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Gloria Horton-Young's avatar

This article is nothing short of joy.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

I'm glad and honored to give you a moment of joy!! We're in this together!!! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🥰🥰☕️☕️

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Mary R's avatar

More kitties please. And other whimsical creatures cavorting just to … cavort.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

You got it!!!!! More critters cavorting coming in all future newsletters and notes!!!! Thank you so much for the encouragement to keep going!!!!!

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Sharon Hudson's avatar

What a beautiful, thoughtful post, Sue! Tom Cox's book quote is so perfect for what we are all feeling. We sure have had some doozies to try and cope with. It's people like you, that lighten the load.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Yes, we have had some doozies... and are likely in for more of them. I'm honored to hear that I help lighten the load a bit - comments like yours help me keep going too!!!! Thank you!!!! 💚💙💚💙

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Beth T (BethOfAus)'s avatar

I love the ‘art from a different angle’ image. A good reminder to look around and see the beauty in everything around us. Another lovely post. Thanks so much. Sending heaps of hugs and best wishes.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Thank you so very much!!! Your hugs and wishes are appreciated!!! 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

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Anne Belov's avatar

So much needed good and inspiration in today's post. I need to be reminded (too much, apparently) that what we as artists and writers and all creative people do is so important right now. A world without color and delicious food and inspiring sound and movement means nothing. also cats, dogs and pandas, but that's another post.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Yes!! I've been thinking that it's crucial that we artists remember and practice our ability to focus on life - flagrant, defiantly, joyfully!!! Please keep creating!!!! 💙💙💙💙

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Anne Belov's avatar

I don‘t know what else I’d do with my time. :-) Plus I am completely unemployable at anything else.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Me too.

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Grimalkin's avatar

Beautiful wake up post. Hope Tom Cox sees this. 🐈‍⬛

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Thank you so much!!!! BTW I know Tom saw my sketchbook page- he liked and restacked 😁🤗💚💚💚💚💚

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Sheila's avatar

Oh Wowzer I love that painting!!!! The texture with the water colour is delightful!

Also, had a weird sense of ‘I want to visit that toilet’ when I heard your choice of books 📚 haha 🤣 And I’m not usually a read in the toilet kind!

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Lol! I laughed and enjoyed it that you wanted to visit my bathroom shelf!!!!📚 🤣😆 Thank you! And I'm delighted that you liked my painting!!! 💚💚💚

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Sheila's avatar

I’ve been thinking about that painting and wonder in how you did it, it’s watercolour you said right?

Haha I love the idea of you having your bathroom as a tourist attraction 😆

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Sue Clancy's avatar

So kind of you!!!! Thank you!!! I use both watercolors and gouache (a more opaque kind of watercolor). I like gouache best because not as much water is needed to make them flow so I can use a Pentel water-brush with my gouache paint and eat my breakfast too. 😁😆 Thank you again!!

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Sheila's avatar

My friend told me about gouache only this summer in an exhibition we went to. I’d not heard of it before then. I have one of those brushes, albeit I had to Google the name as I didn’t actually know what they were called. I use them just with watercolours I have but it’s good to know they work better with gouache! 💚

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Gouache is more forgiving of mistakes than watercolor is - which is part of why I like it. 💙💙💙💙💙

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Becky's avatar

Such great ideas to brighten a bleak week.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Thank you!!!! Hang in there with me please 🙏 we're in this together. 💚💙

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Sandy S's avatar

Sue, isn't Tom Cox a keeper?!! The guy just keeps on giving!!! Thanks for what you shared today! You have that deep well of the good stuff, too!!! Your The Quiet Revolution' notes are well worth keeping at hand as needed when the spirit flags!! I hope on the days when you seek and find 'a mossy burrow under an ancient immovable boulder' you have your sketch book, colored pens and paints! And at least one kitty, for good measure! :-)

BTW - I want a t-shirt that says, "I shan't come, I am planting iris ..' !!!! Would be nice if it had some of your blue iris!!! Make that it would be quite Swell! if it had some of your blue iris!!!! :-)

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Sue Clancy's avatar

Yes! Tom Cox is definitely a keeper!!! And thank you so much for your many kind words about my own work!! I appreciate you so much!!!💙💙💙💙 Regarding you T-shirt idea....hmmm... 🤔🤔🤔

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Celia Lewis's avatar

I'm keen on copyright regulations, and am wondering if you requested permission to post publicly one of his writings-? I love his writings, find them insightful and very intriguing. Asking for permission in this instance would be the correct thing to do.

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Sue Clancy's avatar

As an artist myself I'm keen on copyright too. I fully attributed everything including links to their websites. Yes, Tom knew of my sketchbook page etc.

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Celia Lewis's avatar

Great!! 🥰

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Liz Gauffreau's avatar

Thank you for the pick-me-up, Sue! That Toni Morrison quote is very, very welcome today! The Tom Cox quote also spoke directly to me, as did your Quiet Revolution list. Thank you again!!

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Sue Clancy's avatar

You're so very very welcome!!! It was all so very helpful to me this week and I'm glad to share its goodness with you!!! Hugs!!!! 💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙

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Liz Gauffreau's avatar

🥰

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Elizabeth's avatar

Thank you for this. It brightened my day in the very best way. *Love* the recommended books. All the best~ 🥰🙏❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🙏🤗

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Sue Clancy's avatar

I'm glad it all brightens your day!!!! Thank you so much for your kind comment - it brightens my day too!! All the best ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🙏🥰🙏☕️☕️☕️☕️

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

This post has soothed my soul. I haven't been around much, and I've missed you. Thank you for reminding me about Tom Cox! The Notebook has been on my list for ages - I'm going to take the plunge. Sending smiles! ❤️

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