Stackpole’s art is full of fun, and it’s obvious that much enjoyment was had while making these pieces.  The exhibit is called “Filters of Light and Color,” because when you first walk into the gallery, the first thing that you notice is the abundance of bright, happy colors that surround you.  As you look closer at individual panels, you start to notice things emerging from the colors — bits of ephemera, interesting quotes, and unexpected things like a beautiful life-sized, hand-built clay fish “swimming” in the encaustic surface of the canvas.  You start to see stained glass pieces, and a large, painted cloth panel, and canvases with layers and layers of interesting things right beside more traditional paintings of hers.  The variety of Stackpole’s art is perhaps the most exciting thing about this exhibit.  Once you think you understand what sort of artist she is, you find a piece that is completely different from the rest… and equally brilliant.

Stackpole’s art breaks all the rules.  In a cynical world, she creates art that is optimistic and comfortable.  She has a huge body of work that is so diverse that it can’t be classified — and yet, it all works well together in an exhibit.   This exhibit would be a great getaway during these last few chilly days before spring.  Stackpole’s Filters of  Light and Color will carry you comfortably through the end of winter and into the warmth of spring.

Quinci Day Shavers and her winning entry for the YWCA “A World Without Racism” juried art exhibit

What would a world without racism look like?  That question was posed to artists and students by the YWCA of Charleston in their recent “A World Without Racism” art contest.  Artists from kindergarten through adulthood were asked to visualize a world without racism and share their vision with the world through visual art.  Artworks ranged from pencil drawings to mixed-media pieces, paintings, and photographs, and were juried by age groups.

Young artist Quinci Day Shavers took top honors in the exhibit with her portrait of Newly-elected President Obama titled “And We Did.”   Her entry will be printed on the cover of the YWCA newsletter.

The winners of the exhibit by category are:
K-2   3rd  Hannah Gibson  “Everyone Welcome”
K-2   2nd Samantha Lawrence  “I Love All Colors”
K-2   1st  Olivia Burch  “We Are All Friends”
3-5  3rd  Oliver Bear  “Untitled”
3-5  2nd  Morgan Stalnaker  “A World Without Racism”
3-5  1st   Quinci Day Shavers  “And We Did”
6-8  3rd  Peyton Panger  “Love Your Neighbor”
6-8  2nd  Rebecca Kozak  “A World Without Racism”
6-8  1st  Mallory Burka  “A Chorus of Different Colors”
9-12  3rd  Michalene Crockett  “Equality”
9-12  2nd  Sarah Hopkins  “Change”
9-12  1st  Molly Bloom  “Hands to Bob”
Adult  3rd  Alex Morgado  “Diversity Brightens the World”
Adult  2nd  Rebecca Burch  “Skinscape”
Adult  1st  Dwayne Bevins  “A Simple Slushie Transcends Color”
Best in Show  Quinci Day Shavers  “And We Did”

Ah, the Art Deco-ness of it all!  I love Quarrier Street.  It looks like this photo was taken years ago, but it was actually taken recently.

photo copyright 2008
Rebecca Burch

     Humor aside, these visits can be true sources of stress during an otherwise joyful time of the year.  But they don’t have to be!  Here are ten tips to minimize discomfort so you can enjoy the winter holidays without a single meltdown:

1.       If you know family members are going to visit, arrange to meet at a restaurant or other neutral place.   This prevents the never-ending visit with Uncle Jack, who never leaves.  Plus, no pre-visit house preparations!  Score!

2.       If a neutral location is not an option, plan the visit before another event, so you have a definite ending time for the visit.  For instance, if you plan the visit right before Christmas Eve church service, you won’t look like a bad guy when you say, “I hate to run everybody off, but we’ve got to get to church early – little Johnny is playing Joseph in the Christmas play.” 

3.       Got a relative who likes to give you grief about really petty things?  Find a common enemy.  Chances are, they are really just insecure and like to exploit weaknesses in others to feel superior.  Bring up an actor, musician, or other public figure that your relative dislikes, and steer the conversation away from common pitfalls.  “Oh, wow… did you guys see Britney Spears’ new video?   Trash!!!”  Note – since it’s so close to the election, I would recommend avoiding all political talk.  It might shift the spotlight away from you, but it could start World War III in your living room.

4.       Serve a variety of finger foods instead of a large meal.  This way, everyone gets something they like (you hope!) and you don’t have to listen to Aunt Maggie whine in great detail about how she can’t eat your lasagna because cheese doesn’t agree with her digestive system.  You don’t even have to make all the food yourself – you can buy frozen appetizers and hors d’oeuvres that are just as good as those you get in a restaurant, or arrange to have your get-together catered. 

5.       While a little wine, beer, or mixed drinks can act as a “social lubricant” and make everyone a little more chill, too much alcohol can lessen inhibitions and let people’s ugly sides come out in full effect.  Plus, if they drink too much, they could wind up crashing at your place – or worse, into another driver.   Offer it only in moderation and don’t be afraid to cut crazy Cousin Jimmy off after a couple beers – or sooner, if he’s driving.  If you aren’t sure whether a little hooch will be a good or bad thing for your guests, serve soft drinks, instead.  It’s always better to err on the safe side.

6.       Give guests an opportunity to contribute – ask them (politely!) to perform a task.  By asking for help, you’re acknowledging that they are good at something.  It’s a compliment!  Everyone likes to know that others look up to them.  “Hey, Uncle Jim, I forgot to pick up some ice.  Would you mind going to the shop across the street and picking some up for me?”   “Oh, Aunt Nancy, I forget how to make your salad dressing.  Could you mix it up for me?”  Not only will this give your relative a little bit of an ego boost, it will keep them busy for a while so maybe they won’t remember to bring up that story – again —  about that time you got your head stuck in the banister at Grandma’s house.

7.       Avoid obvious attempts to find common ground.  For instance, if your source of discomfort between your family and you stems from your choice of partner, don’t make obvious attempts to find a connection between the two.  “Hey, Uncle Jack.  I know you’re a Marshall fan.  My husband, Bob, is also a Marshall fan.  Who knew, right?”   It will only highlight the fact that the two have little in common to begin with, and will probably make both people feel even more uncomfortable.  Instead, make sure both individuals know that you enjoy spending time with them.  It would also be a really good idea to thank your partner for their patience with your difficult relatives – after the relatives have left, of course.

8.       Watch out for traps!  Some relatives really enjoy creating drama by setting verbal traps for others to fall into, like bringing up a topic you know you’re going to disagree on, or hurling zingers that are carefully crafted to get under your skin.  As infuriating as this is, any participation in this drama is simply going to ensure that it continues and grows quickly.  Smile, chuckle, and say something neutral like, “Ha!  Ya got me!” and then change the subject.  (Note:  practice this scenario with a friend a few times, if you have to.)  But whatever you do, do not get angry, defend yourself, or otherwise allow the conversation to continue.  It will gather power like a snowball rolling downhill, and you can’t outrun it.  Step aside and let it go past. 

9.       Realize that the relatives who cause you so much discomfort and stress are probably uncomfortable and stressed-out about visiting you, too, and don’t know how to handle those feelings.  Leave whatever caused this discomfort for both of you in the past and offer them every opportunity to be comfortable.  Don’t be overly sweet, but do what you can to be a good host.   Keep their glass full (but limit the alcohol!), offer them the comfy chair, try to talk about things that make them happy, and always thank them for visiting.  

10.      Accept the fact that sometimes, people are difficult to get along with because they want to be, and that there is nothing you can do about it, except tolerate them.  Sometimes there is nothing you can do but suffer through the visit, smile a lot, and dodge a lot of snowballs.

Obesity is a serious problem in West Virginia.  According to the WV DHHR, West Virginia has the third highest obesity level in the nation.  While it’s important to understand that everyone has a different body style and ideal weight, it’s never a bad idea to shed a few extra pounds and develop a healthy lifestyle.  Here is a ten-step plan to lose weight, get fit, and feel great!

1.  Throw out all your old fad diet books and exercise gadgets.  They don’t work, and they never have.  Just looking at the clothes hanging on that old treadmill reinforces feelings of failure and frustration, and who needs that?  Sell them on Ebay and save the money for all the new clothes you’re going to want to buy to show off your new, hot body.

2.  Toss the diet pills.  They don’t work, either.  What –this is a surprise?  You’re kidding me, right?  Look, if it were possible to look like Angelina Jolie by just popping a pill every day, we would all be hotties.  Toss them, and move on.

3.  Find out how much you should be eating.  This isn’t as tricky as it sounds.  Visit this website to calculate the calories you need to lose weight.  Divide the number of calories by four.  This is how many calories you will need to eat at each meal.  Divide the remaining fourth into two, and this will allow you to have three meals and two snacks.  Don’t go crazy calculating calories from fat, calories from fiber, protein grams, etc…  as long as you stay within this range, you’re good to go.

4.  Bento!!!  I highly recommend getting a Japanese bento box for your lunch.  They’re small, and when you cram them full of tasty, healthy food, you will think you are eating a lot.  Plus, they’re just fun!  You can find them dirt-cheap at Ichiban Kan, or you can just use a small, reusable, divided container to bring your lunches to work.  Visit bento websites such as Lunch In A Box to find fun, healthy ideas for packing your bento.  If you think you don’t have time, you’re wrong – once you get in the habit of keeping healthier choices in your fridge, it’s as easy as grab, stuff, go!  You can also have a lot of fun with it, and build tricked-out works of art with your lunch as you will see other bento-enthusiasts having on most bento websites.  The point is to create healthy lunches with reasonable portions and to have fun with it, too.   Two extra bonuses are that you will save money by not eating out for lunch and the reusable container makes your lunch more Earth-friendly. 

5.  Make better choices.  Speaking of choices, eating out can be a diet disaster!  Some restaurant offerings are just plain ridiculous with the calorie- and fat- count.  Familiarize yourself with the nutritional information online or buy a pocket-sized guide, such as Calorie King’s bestselling Pocket Calculator Guide.  You can also subscribe to Hungry Girl’s email newsletter for free recipes, up-to-the-minute restaurant information, product reviews, and daily inspiration to stick with your plan.  (Guys, you can love Hungry Girl, too.  It’s not all chick-food.  She’s even got a section in her new cookbook for just “guy food.”)

6.  MOVE!  This is the hardest part, especially for me.  My schedule is chaotic, so I can never stick to a consistent gym-time.  Workout DVDs are the way to go!  To burn calories, tone muscle, and look great in the shortest amount of time, you need to find a workout that offers cardio, strength-training and something for your core (abs, obliques, etc…)  I have had a lot of luck with Jillian Michaels’ 30-Day Shred DVD, but I’m sure there are others that work, too.  Pick a time every day to do your workout – first thing in the morning is the best time, because this will speed up your metabolism and give you more energy throughout the day.  Wake up earlier if you have to –but do the workout at least 5 days a week.  I know this sounds crazy, but you will actually start to like it.  It feels good to move your body.  Trust me.

7.  Shake up your routine.  If you do the same workout over and over, your muscles will get bored and you’ll stop getting the same results you get when you are adjusting to a new workout.  Plus, changing your routine keeps you from getting bored and quitting.  Swap out your workout DVD with another activity once or twice a week.  Dancing, running, cycling, whatever… just move!  If you need inspiration, subscribe to the Indie Soup Runner podcast for high-energy mixes that are the perfect length for your workout.

8.  Cheat on your diet!  Don’t adjust your monitor –yes, I am telling you to eat junk food.   Allow yourself the occasional treat.  If you’re sticking to your diet and exercise routine, a little goodie once in a while will not wreck your diet and will keep you from feeling deprived of your favorite foods.  And, when you overindulge and feel gross, remind yourself how bad that feels when you want to pig out next time.  Learn to indulge in moderation and you will be able to diet without saying goodbye to your favorite foods for good.

9.  Set specific goals along the way and reward yourself.  For instance, “when I lose 10 pounds, I’m going to buy that outfit I really want at the mall.”  Or “when I lose 50 pounds, I will reward myself with a vacation trip.”

Place photos around your desk, kitchen, and other places where you will see them often to remind you of these goals and give you motivation when you feel like skipping a workout or eating those donuts in the office workroom.  (Who brings those things, anyway?)  Think about where you are and what you’re doing when you usually feel like snacking, and keep that in mind as you figure out ways to motivate yourself.  I usually snack out of boredom or when I am stressed out, so I try to find other things to distract myself with when I’m feeling that way. 

10.  Don’t get discouraged!  It’s not going to happen overnight.  In fact, if you’re doing it right, you will lose weight slowly and might even gain weight at times.  Keep in mind that you are building muscle and muscle weighs more than fat, so pay attention to other indicators of progress, like being able to zip up those jeans that haven’t fit for years.  Chances are, you’re losing more fat than you think you are.   Stick with your plan, even when you don’t think you are making progress, and you will see results!

At the time this article was written, Rebecca had lost 32 pounds in five months — half her weight loss goal.  She continues to count calories, work out every morning, and pack delicious and fun bento lunches for herself and her family.  She is astounded at how easy it was to lose weight with the correct approach and get into shape after years of trying countless fad diets and expensive-yet-inconvenient gym membership programs.

The 54th Annual Black Walnut Festival is set to kick off Thursday, October 9th, and will run until the evening of Sunday, October 12th in Spencer, West Virginia.  It’s always a good time.  Here are ten reasons you should go:

1.  The Kid’s Day Parade.  The Children’s day parade starts on Friday, the 10th, at noon.  Kids dress up in their Halloween costumes and march from the Wal-Mart parking lot, up Main Street, to the 33/14 junction at the Armacell plant.  Awards are given for many categories, and kids have a great time.  If your children would like to participate, they should arrive an hour early to register and line up for the parade.  Hundreds of people turn out to watch the parade, which is almost as much fun as being in it! The costumes are always adorable, and many are handmade!  There are also special activities for kids after the parade.

2.   The Art, Craft, and Photography exhibits.  Who knew there are so many great artists in the area? The art and photography exhibits showcase work by local artists and school groups with divisions for youth and adult artists.  The quilt show is always a favorite, and the intricate needlework by longtime quilters always impresses the crowds.  Be prepared to wait in line for this exhibit.  Awards are given in many categories.

3.   Old stuff.  The Antique Power Show, the Heritage Park Museum, the One Room Schoolhouse museum, and the Antique car show are always big hits at the Black Walnut Festival.  But don’t stop there – Spencer offers all kinds of opportunities to experience a bit of the past.  Take in a movie at the Robey Theater, which is the oldest continuously-operating movie theater in the United States.  You can also grab a bite to eat at the Queen Bee, which has been a local favorite eatery for years!  Or, to get away from the crowds, take a walk down Church Street, around Washington Park, or up “schoolhouse hill” (Chapman Ave.) and enjoy some of the beautiful old Victorian homes.  Or, fight the crowds and do some shopping at the Flea Market at the National Guard Armory, or the Antique Mall on Main Street.

4.  Agricultural and cooking exhibits.  Every country fair includes animal exhibits, homegrown goodness, and homemade food contests, and the Black Walnut Festival is no exception.   In fact, the fall harvest is usually the point of country fairs – the harvest of Spencer’s delicious Black Walnut crop being the focus of this fair.  This means that the bake-off will focus mainly on items that include black walnuts, although you will also find treasures from local gardens, livestock raised by children participating in 4-H, and delicious canned and preserved foods that you can’t find at the grocery store.

The author's husband, taking a ride on a Black Walnut Festival ferris wheel (as seen from the safety of the ground.)

5.  The carnival.  This is the real reason most people attend the Black Walnut Festival.  Carnival rides,

6.  Carnival food.  You know you love it, even if there isn’t a single dish that won’t blow your weekly calorie quota.  Each fair has a signature food, and there are several that I look for at the Black Walnut Festival. Along with the standard hot dogs, funnel cakes, corn dogs, and pizza, fair-goers enjoy the Oxtail Sandwiches (sold by the Roane Raider Football team during the Grand Parade) and Husky’s Black Walnut ice cream.  Many of the food vendors are local charities, so purchasing lunch from them will help support Spencer’s schools and community groups.

7.  Musical performances.  There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy music at the Black Walnut Festival.  The Coronation Ceremony kicks off the festival on Thursday night, ending with a concert by Adam Tucker and his band Custom Built.  During the next three days, you can hear everything from gospel groups to fiddler Jake Krack at the stage located near the courthouse.  The Grand Parade on Saturday at noon will feature marching bands from all over the state (and they are always impressive!)  Those bands will compete in a band and majorette competition at Roane Raiders Stadium at Roane County High School  immediately following the parade.

8.  Sporting Events – The Nut Run 5K, Fireman’s Competition, and Golf Scramble all take place on the Sunday of Black Walnut Festival Weekend and usually have a great turnout of both participants and spectators.  

9.  Miss Black Walnut Festival Pageant.  This pageant is a big deal in Spencer.  A really big deal.  Everyone in town is involved, from the princesses and their escorts to the little kids who serve as attendants. The coronation of the queen marks the official beginning of the Black Walnut Festival, and also the highlight of the Grand Parade on Saturday.  This year’s queen is Morgan Taylor Cottrell, of Spencer.  Previous queens have hailed from all over the state.

10.  The Grand Parade.  The parade starts at noon on Saturday, but you’d best bring a lawn chair and claim a spot on the sidewalk early in the morning if you want to sit through the parade.  Previous parade marshals have included Jessica Lynch and Major General Alan Tackett of the West Virginia Air National Guard. Creative floats, musical acts, marching bands, antique cars, and beauty queens are featured in the parade, although you never know when you’ll see a local celebrity in the mix. 

So, why not plan to bring your family to this year’s Black Walnut Festival?  It’s an hour north of Charleston, and you can reach it from Charleston by taking I-79 to Ripley, then US- 33 to Spencer.  For more information, to see photos from previous festivals, find lodging for the weekend, or to download entry forms for events, visit the Official Black Walnut Festival Website.