July 3, 2012 In appreciation, communication, design, graphic design, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #58: Potato

proactively punctuating life with the plausible, powerful possibilities of positive thought presented through a plethora of “P’s”.

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A moment of quiet reflection, please, in honor of the Potato ~ a humble, understated vegetable of enormous natural value.

Glamour evades the Potato; it isn’t particularly pretty and doesn’t dress-up for attention very often ~ but oh! the versatile delight it possesses! And so, I pay tribute and celebrate this near divine offering from the Good Earth.

It’s hard to imagine a life without potatoes. This is especially true if you’re Irish, I suppose, but we all enjoy their many variations. Red potatoes, golden ones, brown ones, white ones, sweet ones. Mashed potatoes (lumps or no lumps?), baked potatoes, scalloped potatoes, roasted, fried, french-fried, sautéed, grilled, boiled (I even like a raw slice now and then), and of course, potato soup, potato salad and potato pie.

Potatoes go with almost any meal (except maybe ice cream), and as if it couldn’t get any better, aside from their yumminess they’re jam-packed with nutrients.

Some spud facts: Potatoes contain no fat or cholesterol and minimal sodium. What they do have is natural fiber in the skins, vitamins and minerals and great flavor. A six-ounce potato contains 2 grams of highly digestible protein, almost as much as half a glass of milk, making it a great foundation for a whole meal. One potato has more potassium than a banana, and is a great source of both vitamin’s B and C. And, as a nutritious carbohydrate, your muscles and your brain will thank you for fueling them, saving your heart and other vital organs from trying to do that extra work.

Viva La Potato!

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July 1, 2012 In art, books, branding, creativity, imagination, inspiration, life and the universe By Patricia Saxton

“where in the world is peace?” … oceanside!

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Where to next?

(ps:  you can see all “where in the world is peace?” images compiled on our special “where in the world is peace?” page. Our book is on Amazon, our totes, mugs and things are available here. Send your own pictures to 52weeksofpeace@gmail.com and we’ll also post them on our FaceBook page. Let’s see where peace goes!)

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June 27, 2012 In art, books & stuff, creativity, design, graphic design, imagination, inspiration, life and the universe By Patricia Saxton

52 Weeks of Peace [squared] / Week #69

June’s been a rough month. Think I’ll grab a handful of these. Because after all, as Charles M. Schulz so eloquently said, “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” :  )

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June 24, 2012 In appreciation, art, color, inspiration, photography By Patricia Saxton

More Evidence of Purple’s Fabulousness

When I first started in the industry, I took some teasing about my love for purple. “New design, Pat? Is it purple?”

No, not everything was purple, but it’s an awesome color when used well ~ and nobody does it like Mother Nature. Here’s more evidence of its fabulousness:

hyacinth

iris

iris

iris

iris

can’t remember what this is called

petunia

How can you not love purple?

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June 15, 2012 In art, books, branding, creativity, imagination, inspiration, life and the universe By Patricia Saxton

“where in the world is peace?” … from canada to south africa, an ohio porch and a new york graduation.

Peace has been traveling far and wide! Thank you for sharing these fabulous images of “52 Weeks of Peace” from around the world!

“Graduation Peace, Love and Happiness”, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Peace graces a spring garden in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Cheers! ~ in Johannesburg, South Africa

Antananarivo, Madagascar

“Peace Out” for the summer from an Athens, Ohio house that holds a treasure chest of memories for 9 college guys.

Where to next?

(ps:  you can see all “where in the world is peace?” images compiled on our special “where in the world is peace?” page. Our book is on Amazon, our totes, mugs and things are available here. Send your own pictures to 52weeksofpeace@gmail.com or post them on our FaceBook page. Let’s see where peace goes!)

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June 13, 2012 In appreciation, communication, inspiration, intelligence, life and the universe, presentation, words and language, work and play By Patricia Saxton

Wise Words

“Dream big. Work hard. Think for yourself. And love everything you love, and every one you love, with all your might.”
~  David McCullough, Jr., English teacher, from his Wellesley High School Commencement Speech

Wise words. Inspiring words. Yet apparently McCullough’s speech to the 2012 graduating class of High School seniors caused a fuss ~ because, in the speech, he told the students that they were “nothing special.” But if you listen (and I recommend that you do), many of you, like I did, will wonder what the controversy was all about.

Are we so coddled and inattentive that we get sidetracked by dissecting the minutia of a few phrases without hearing the full context of truth and wisdom?

Maybe the shame here is that it took the raising of eyebrows to make it to a broader audience. It’s outstanding. Bravo, well done!

If you want more on this, there’s a great editorial write-up about this video here.

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June 7, 2012 In art, books & stuff, creativity, design, graphic design, imagination, inspiration, life and the universe By Patricia Saxton

52 Weeks of Peace [squared] / Week #68

“Love is nothing in tennis, but in life it’s everything.”
~Author Unknown

Give it your all. Play hard. Slam that ball right down the line, ace the serve, feel the exhilaration from getting the impossible shot, the satisfaction of a great rally with a well-matched opponent.

The trick, of course, is to stay steady. It’s not always the lowest, hardest, fastest shot, (which is, perhaps unfortunately, the way I like to play!), but the ability to consistently direct that fuzzy little yellow ball at your command …. and to do that, you gotta have not only practice, heart and energy, but a strong psyche. Just like off the court, you don’t want to get thrown off your game by a self-defeating attitude, right? Where’s the peace in that?

I won’t deny, winning feels great ~ but, playing your best, regardless of the guy across the net, brings a level of peace you just can’t beat. And that’s a good personal Match Point for anything you do.

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June 5, 2012 In appreciation, communication, design, graphic design, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #57: Purple

proactively punctuating life with the plausible, powerful possibilities of positive thought presented through a plethora of “P’s”.

– ♥ –

Because purple is fabulous.The color of royalty, the color supreme for little girls, the essence of spirituality. It’s sublime and grand and bright and fun and radiant and plush and proud and deep and mysterious and joyful and lavish and luscious and lovely. We should all have some purple in our world.

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