Textures, Textures, Textures

September, the end of Summer the beginning of Autumn – CELEBRATE! the change of seasons by taking an art stroll on Thursday, September 10th at Walnut Beach in Milford, Connecticut. It's the best time to start thinking about that special, unique gift for the upcoming Season(s) of Giving....Shop at Home for the Holidays!

Firehouse Gallery, 81 Naugatuck Avenue, is hosting an exhibit featuring “Textures.” At 6:00 pm join the artists and artisans and learn about their work. After the juried show and the chance to vote for the “Peoples Choice Award,” follow the melodious sound to Urban Antique Radio & Vintage Hi-Fi, 56 Naugatuck Avenue, to see a technological world of the past. You can’t miss them! Just look for the Hidden Mural on the side of the building. After you have listened to that sound of the past, visit Walnut Beach Café, 37 Naugatuck Avenue, and view the work of watercolorist, Kimberly Meuse. Her control of watercolors is mystifying! A Fine Affair may just have that gourmet kitchen gadget, one perhaps to give as a gift during this Season of Giving.

As you make your way onto Broadway, look up to the right over Lazy Lobster and see the Hidden Mural! To savor the taste of the sea you must stop by Lazy Lobster at 6 Broadway. Collected Stories, 16 Broadway, has that book you most likely couldn’t find elsewhere. If not, you will be inspired to buy a book that would be perfect to curl up with a glass of wine in front of a fireplace!

Look across the street to SoBoBo Art Gallery, 17 Broadway, where over 40 artists are now featured. Textures galore reverberate! Everything from altered books and acrylics, to beading and collages, to fabrics and faux leather, to metal and oils, to sculptures & terra-cottas. A place so intriguing, you are lured back again and again. Truly, a place where unique meets sublime! Speaking of unique you must visit Walnut Beach Creamery, 19 Broadway, to taste their homemade ice cream! A new flavor is MOO! - Strawberry ice cream with Oreo cookies! A cookies and cream with a twist!

Shop at Home for the Holidays!
Hope to see you there!!!

First Day of School - The Hallelujah! Holiday

School days. School days. Reading, Writing, Rule Days. . .

The Hallelujah! Holiday has begun! ...

(click on the link) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFsTPx5UrbA.

Parents are giving new clothes, new school supplies to the children before they go to school. The parents' gift?. . .6 hours of freedom a day. The freedom might not be actual for some because of work, but there is definitely a worry free feeling of wondering where your child is or what he/she is doing.

Happy First Day of School!!!

Labor Day Hours

Labor Day Weekend Hours for SoBoBo will be as follows:


Thursday, September 3rd
OPEN 5:30pm - 9:30pm

Friday, September 4th
OPEN 5:30pm - 9:30pm

Saturday, September 5th
OPEN 12pm - 7pm

Sunday, September 6th
CLOSED

Monday, September 7th
(Labor Day)
No Appointments Scheduled

Wishing everyone a wonderful & safe Labor Day weekend!


"The Gap Theory"
Oils on Canvas
Charles Bell

A Season of Giving. . . Anticipation Begins. . .

August 22nd is just another day for most of us. It's Saturday. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous - spending a day at the beach, bringing a picnic basket, feeling the sand between our toes, enjoying the balmy breezes is perhaps what many of us will be doing because the end of summer is near. Some may be shopping at the Mall to get the tax break as we purchase new clothes for school. The movies become an intricate part of the weekend, especially if rain is to come by the end of the day. Rental movies might even be the way to go, you see more movies for the price of two people who go to the movies. Grocery shopping is another way we spend the day. Visiting friends and family at picnics, enjoying their company. . .

(Some of the following information was quoted from http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/story.htm)

. . .However, for some the celebration of the Fast of Ramadan will begin. Let us extend the long-arm-of-tolerance and begin to understand. . .Ramadan is celebrated in the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. It is a month long celebration of fasting and connecting with God. It is believed that the Holy Quran was sent from Heaven as "guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of "Salvation.""(http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/story.htm)


Muslims become more aware of their Faith than their daily lives like all of us live trying to blend traditions, practices of faith, and cultural beliefs into normalcy. The balancing at times can become overwhelming and taking the time to breathe to become more aware of ones Faith actually can be very enlightening. Ramadan is just that, it is a time of contemplation and worship. To achieve this, fasting is a very integral part of the celebration. Cleansing of body and mind.


"During the Fast of Ramadan strict restraints are practiced during the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden. At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. In the evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning.


The Holy Quran states that "One may eat and drink at any time during the night "until you can plainly distinguish a white thread from a black thread by the daylight: then keep the fast until night"" (http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/story.htm)


The good that is acquired through the fast can be destroyed by five things that are most offensive during the Fast of Ramadan, though they are considered offensive at all times. They are, basically, the Golden Rules as other religions follow the Ten Commandments. What the five things are can also be deemed as common courtesy. They are "the telling of a lie; slander; denouncing someone behind his back; a false oath; and greed or covetousness." (http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/story.htm)

As most of us attend a church or a synagogue, Muslims attend the Masjid or Mosque and spend several hours praying and studying the Holy Quran. In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan, Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer or Night Prayer. The length of this prayer is usually 2-3 times as long as the daily prayers. Some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.

Anticipation. . .On the evening of the 27th day of the month, Muslims celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr or the Night of Power. It is believed that on this night Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran and when God determines the course of the world for the following year.

Anticipation. . .The first day of the month of Shawwal is when the fast ends. It is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Id-al-Fitr or the Feast of Fast Breaking.


ANTICIPATION. . .Gifts are exchanged. Friends and family gather to pray in congregation and for large meals. In some cities fairs are held to celebrate the end of the Fast of Ramadan.


Now that there is an understanding of the celebration of Ramadan, can't you feel the anticipation from the beginning? The fasting may be compared to other holidays some of us celebrate, such as Easter and Passover. But the anticipation of knowing that during this time of fasting one will only attain a healthier body and mind. And of course the anticipation that at the end of the fasting a celebration with family and friends takes place!


It has culminated into A Season of Giving. . .

Enjoy! the weekend as Anticipation Begins. . . . .

(Some of the information for this piece was quoted from http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/story.htm)

Anticipation, It's Making You Wait...

Do you remember when you were a child how you wished you could be a grown up? You wanted to be an adult so you could do certain things? Or you wished for the weekend to come fast, or you wished for the last day of school to arrive quickly? And of course our parents always snuffed our anticipation for these wishes to come true by telling us, "Don't wish your life away!" "Stay a child as long as you can!"

Well, whether we want to believe it or not...the Holiday Season is fast approaching us! Don't wish it to be upon us so quickly so it can be done and over with for "it is the most wonderful time of the year" to make this Season one of ANTICIPATION for everyone, including yourself!

In every culture there is a Season of Giving.

Each person can sense the anticipation,

feeling the excitement in the air.

It is, perhaps, the only time age-old traditions are still followed

and new traditions are formed.

"Seven Principles of Kwanzaa"

Beliefs become restored. Senses become more in tune,

sharper than before. . .anticipation. . .

"Ramadan - EID - Celebration of Ending the Fast"


. . .The Biblical stories, legends, and myths all become real

Chanukah

for that one moment in time. . .anticipation. . .

. . .Magic comes alive. . .anticipation. . .

(A list of countries and the name they use for Santa Clause)

United States of America and Canada - Santa Claus; Brazil - Shengdan Laoren; Chile - Viejo Pascuero; Dutch - Sinter Klaas; England - Father Christmas; Europe - Saint Nicholas; Finland - Joulupukki; France - Pere Noel; Germany - Saint Nikolaus; Hawaii - Kanakaloka; Holland - De Kerstman; Hungary - Tel-apo/Mikulas/ Winter Grandfather; India - Santa Claus, Baba ; Italy - Babbo Natale; Japan - Hoteiosho; Lithuania - Kaledu Senelis; Morocco - Black Peter; Netherlands - Kerstman; Norway - Julenissen; Peru - Papa Noel; Poland - Swiety Mikolaj; Russia - Ded Moroz; Scandinavia - Julenisse; Spain - El Nino Jesus; Sweden - Tomten/Jultomten

. . .Everyone's heart opens to give and to receive kindness and love;

the want of sharing the abundance by extending

one's long-arm-of-tolerance across the boundaries

Celebration of Jesus' Birth

- accepting each other for whom they are

and what is believed in becomes real.

A brief, yet poignant, moment that does last a lifetime,

if and when it is allowed.

We can even consider the first day of school after summer vacation a holiday to celebrate! School will be starting in about three weeks, oh! the anticipation parents must be feeling right now about the freedom they will have once the kids are back at school. The best way to explain the anticipation parents feel is to watch it...(click on the link) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFsTPx5UrbA We mustn't forget the anticipation the kids are feeling about seeing their friends, about playing football, basketball, and soccer, and about school activities.

"Trick Or Treat' is what we say as we begin to count the days until October 31st, Halloween - Oh! and the excitement of dressing up as something scary, something pretty, or someone famous! Heck with the plastic pumpkins to collect the treats! Use a large shopping bag, you can get more! Actually, the shopping bag will break. Better yet - use the re-usable shopping bags! They won't break and they will hold a lot!!

The anticipation as we wait for the door bells to ring - no one is there when we answer, the toilet paper draping over tree branches, and the dreaded eggs on your car or house (we pray "please, let them use silly string!)

. . .Anticipation begins to overwhelm us as we 'Give Thanks' on Thanksgiving Day. We make sure we use the same traditions handed down from generation to generation - "Don't forget Great Grandma's cornbread & sausage stuffing for the turkey!" "Mom's pumpkin pie will definitely be the perfect dessert!" Everyone is coming to our house this year, we need more chairs, we need a bigger table, we do have enough tableware...and anticipation continues to build. . .

. . .And the Holiday Rush for some of us begins! The Day After Thanksgiving, "Black Friday" for the retailers; for the average person, we need to get all the deals - must be at this store at 4:00 am to make sure to be in the store first to be one of the first 50 to get the iPod at a whopping discount. And it seems it's the beginning of the end...RUSH, RUSH, RUSH.

I wonder?!?!?. . .what it would be like if we, as is done in other countries, start celebrating the holiday season about two months before. Just imagine how ANTICIPATION would build when it is realized that the perfect gift could be found at one's leisure; that there is time to stop and enjoy friends and family; that attending all of the open houses you are invited to would actually happen!

Back to reality, RUSH - RUSH - RUSH, ANTICIPATION!

...Anticipation...Picture in your mind's eye how your children, nieces, nephews, cousins, parents, brothers & sisters, friends and that person you are a "secret friend" to at work - will react to that special unique yet sublime gift you took the time to choose for them. Think about what they want and that you fulfilled their wishes. Feel in the pit of your stomach the excitement as you envision each reaction. Can't you just feel the ANTICIPATION as each gift is opened? It's almost like going over a hill fast in your car and your stomach flip flops - a roller coaster ride.

Enjoy the happiness you brought to them as you practice the gift of giving!

Anticipation. . . A new year approaches. Celebration begins! . . . anticipation. . .as the ball drops at Time Square. Another year of milestones made - births, weddings, graduations as well as the sadder side - job loss, foreclosure, extreme budgeting to make sure survival wins - has passed. We look to the future with hope, happiness and harmony pushing fear aside.

A new beginning! A better tomorrow!

Change will happen, bringing us closer!

May all be blessed with the anticipation of knowing -

- the best is yet to come!

Anticipation...Is Making You Wait. . .It's keeping you guessing!

Many Blessings!