Shaken, Not Stirred – The Art of a Great Party

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Laurie Buchanan

Saturday night was a beautiful evening for the Tinkler’s barn party in Woodstock, Illinois—and what a party it was!

Appearing seamless to the casual observer, there’s lots of pre-planning, elbow grease, and behind-the-scenes work that goes into this annual event. I don’t know their full recipe for success, but some of the ingredients include:

Start with a fun loving host family

Mix in their century-old barn

Whisk in a hearty portion of guests—adults and children alike

Liberally add tables laden with delicious food

Sprinkle with tents for people who’ve travelled far

Add a generous dollop of cheerful flowers

Gently fold in good friends

Baste with plenty of arm-waving, booty-shaking, get-down music

Shake, don’t stir.

If you follow this recipe, you’re sure to have one heckofa good time!

What was the last party you went to?

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

www.HolEssence.com and our Facebook page

Birds of a Feather

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Laurie Buchanan

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Our friend and avid cyclist, Nan, told us about another gorgeous bike trail that she and her husband, Dave, found. The trailhead is in a tiny little town in northern Illinois called Hebron.

On Monday we, too, rode the trail and discovered that it was flanked on one side by breathtakingly beautiful wetlands. And just out of view for a good camera shot without a zoom lens, but well within earshot, there were hundreds of Great Blue Heron and wild turkey. They were singing. We couldn’t tell if it was a combined effort of both types of birds, or if it was one, or the other. Regardless, it was startlingly magnificent to be serenaded in the crisp morning air.

A little further down the trail, we came to the sporadic placement of several manmade nesting boxes. We’re not sure what type of waterfowl they’re for, but we’re fairly confident they’re not meant for the Great Blue Heron or the wild turkey as neither of them could possibly fit into the small circular entrances.

On the return ride, we were gifted to see the same birds, but this time there wasn’t a sound—not a single peep. It was hauntingly quiet. Either they were all asleep, or choir practice was over! Regardless, it was again done in unison.

We hadn’t known until Monday morning that Great Blue Heron hang out with wild turkey. If it’s true that “birds of a feather flock together,” what type of “birds” do you hang out with?

On Gossamer Wings

Posted on September 2, 2010 by Laurie Buchanan

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Throughout the day I have the privilege of meeting with a wide brushstroke of wonderful people at HolEssence—women, men, and children alike. Without exception, they use the door on the right side of the photograph to enter the office of Laurie Buchanan.

But as evening falls, and the last client has left for the day, a subtle shift
occurs …… the big door slowly swings itself shut and the rest of the evening’s visitors enter through the special door—the wee one on the left side of the photograph—to see Paden Plume.

On gossamer wings they quietly slip through the door and make themselves at home in their colorful garb. If anyone were to spy through a window, they’d see Paden smiling and listening attentively as they share about the events of their day.

There’s Willow, Sage, Awen, and Paden Faerieleaf—good friends, to be sure.

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
– Laurie Buchanan

www.HolEssence.com
Copyright © 2010 Laurie Buchanan — All Rights Reserved.

The Naked Cowboy and Clint Eastwood

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Laurie Buchanan

You know her as Bethsheba Celebration Goddess, I’ve known her for many years as Beth, Saturday evening she was Calamity Beth. No matter what name she’s using, she’s the best theme party-planner-chef on the planet (and an amazing gardener, botanical whiz-kid, to boot!).

Calamity Beth and Doc Buchanan

Saturday evening was Calamity Beth’s annual hoedown. This year the theme was Cowboys — Shoot Out at the BJ Corral. One year in advance she announces what the next theme is going to be so there’s no excuse for not wearing the proper attire. However, in this case, the temperature was 92 degrees before the heat index was figured in, hence …

The Naked Cowboy

The Naked Cowboy

Saucy Cindy cops a feel!

Saucy Cindy Copped a Feel

Then before things could get Good, Bad, or Ugly — Clint Eastwood arrived, packin’ heat!

Clint Eastwood from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Calamity Beth had Wanted Posters of each and every outlaw guest.

Calamity Beth had Wanted Posters of Each and Every Guest

No details were spared …

Down to the Last Detail

We ate delicious chili out of tin cans …

We ate Chili out of Tin Cans

A great time was had by all!

A Great Time Was Had By All

Len and I had to leave early because of a rise-and-shine bike ride, but rumor has it that next year’s theme is Elvis!

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
– Laurie Buchanan

Friendship

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Laurie Buchanan

Friendship by Laurie Buchanan

A true friend is someone you’re transparent with because they accept you for who you are. They tell you the truth, even at the risk of hurting your feelings. Their influence is positive, uplifting, constructive, and healing. True friendship is something we actively maintain and invest ourselves in.

It is my perspective that a true friend is someone who encourages you to grow. They will not walk in front of you. They will not walk behind you. They will not carry you. They will, however, walk beside you. True friendship is all of these things returned.

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
– Laurie Buchanan

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

Posted on March 27, 2010 by Laurie Buchanan

Inner Gardening by Laurie Buchanan

My friend Sandi is a Master Gardener. Not strange then, that last week we were talking about gardening. But not your typical gardening. We were talking about woe-is-me gardening; the type that some people cultivate in their inner landscape that yields a bumper crop of weeds including self-pity, short-sightedness, fear, lack, low self-esteem and complacency.

That same week I shared with Terrill of Creative Potager, a quote by Frank Lloyd Wright, the father of organic architecture. He said,

“The reality of a building is the space within. And what you put into that space will affect how you live in it and what you become. Don’t clutter the place with stuff that does not ennoble it.”

His point is that it’s the details that express the whole. I believe this is equally true of our inner landscape; our inner garden. If we want to live a life that’s positive, uplifting, constructive and healing, it’s here that we need to cultivate a bumper crop of emotions, feelings and values such as peace of mind, compassion, joy, courage, gratitude and humor.

So tell me, how does your garden grow?

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
~ Laurie Buchanan

Tuesdays with Laurie

"Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing." —Laurie Buchanan

Tag Archives: friends

Shaken, Not Stirred – The Art of a Great Party

Birds of a Feather

On Gossamer Wings

The Naked Cowboy and Clint Eastwood

Friendship

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary