Susan Palmer's Exquisite Now

Stuff gets done here

recent posts

  • Living in art

    This is a clip from a Stephanie Barrow painting, and if you want a feast for the eyes, visit her website.

    I confess I am biased, but I can’t help loving her art. A friend, I have watched her work evolve over the decades we have known each other.

    If I were to create a video of Stephanie, everywhere she walked rainbow colors would flare out and away from her, and gardens, too, curling tendrily vines, bright flowers, verdant ferns emerging, rising wherever she wanders.

    Wherever she lives, the space becomes a 3-dimensional painting. And she doesn’t keep it to herself. She shares with others. Her motto: art and gardens everywhere.

    If you are a little blue, if you need a bit of brightener in the winter, visit Stephanie virtually. And if you want to know more about her, the blog is a fine and honest expression. I love her wisdom about the value of a daily practice.

  • Bright music in January

    In Oregon in January there’s mostly just rain and varying layers of clouds. But at the end of the month Florence Oregon will flood with musical sunshine. Bluegrass music is coming to town.

    Bluegrass music will break out all around Florence next week as resurrected Winter Music Festival lights up town

  • Renaissance woman

    My good friend Liz Engstrom has a way with words. An author, an educator, she also has a way with yarn. She made me this felt bowl last year in what seemed like no time at all, and I keep hats, gloves, neck gator, etc. in it close to the front door. Every time I see it, I both smile and marvel.

    Some people seem to come pre-loaded with talent. But even as I write this, I know that Liz is all about the work. She puts in the effort at whatever she does. And because she seems to have a propensity for organization, many many things get accomplished. Her garden, for example. Beautiful, lush, productive.

    She’s written multiple novels, mostly in the horror genre. If you want to lay awake at night twitching at every odd house-settling sound, read Black Ambrosia. One of her novels Candyland, was made into a movie so she also has a listing on IMDB.

    She’s taught many writing courses in many venues over the course of her career and threads that tricky needle of providing useful feedback while not dimming the hopes and aspirations of neophyte writers.

    You could also consider Liz an itinerant minister, not connected with a specific faith tradition but deeply spiritual. Her master’s degree in applied theology and certificate in pastoral care from Marylhurst University inform her approach to the day. Love and mercy. So, yes, a complicated soul. Great laugh, generous heart. I’m honored to call her my friend.

    Why am I writing about her today? It’s my new year commitment to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary people in my life.