Tag: In the Meadows: Las Vegas

5 Reasons you are important

Posted in essay

Volunteers Wanted

When I go to meetings, I often see the same faces. These are dedicated folks who believe in making a difference, and who believe there is a difference to be made. They Will Rogerssometimes suffer criticism instead of praise for their efforts, but this does not deter them. They show up, give their opinions, lend their support, stand up for the promise of a better tomorrow, and forge ahead. They volunteer for business groups, animal welfare activities, social justice causes, civic improvement organizations, and anything else you can think of that will make your life and mine a little better. They don’t get paid, and most go unrecognized. These engines for change are the lifeblood of a vibrant community. If you aren’t currently working for the betterment of the community as a volunteer, here are a five reasons you might want to come to the next meeting of interest to you, and sit down at the table.

Ideas

Ideas are the seeds of change. Without ideas, there would be no iPad, iPhone, or iMac. There would be no interactive notebook that responds to a touch. There would be no music, no art, no books, no invention of any kind. It all begins with an idea. If you think your ideas aren’t important, think again. You can and will make a difference, but only if you are at the table.

Perspective

I’ve been at the table many times, perhaps too many times, some might say. My perspective comes from my frame of reference. I still believe my perspective has value, but so does yours. When decisions are being made your thoughts count. If you aren’t present, those thoughts won’t be heard, not because your perspective is being ignored, but because you aren’t there to present it.

Kick the lid off the box

It is an unfortunate fact of organizations that sometimes leaders become mired in procedure and process and forget their primary purpose, whatever that may be. The board and membership ages. Individual members become complacent or overburdened. In either case the lid must be kicked off the box so new energy, new leaders, new members can come pouring in. Leadership development is as critical as new ideas. Your presence and participation as a new volunteer can make that happen. You can learn from and be mentored by seasoned volunteers.

Your Experience

Nobody brings to the table what you bring. Your experience at every level will help inform and define the organization you become involved in. You will get out of it exactly what you put into it. Your experience will make the organization better and stronger for your participation.

Self-development

Getting acquainted with people you don’t ordinarily encounter is an excellent way to expand your horizons. Their energy, their ideas, their dedication will energize you, inspire you, and broaden your creativity. Studies have shown that people who are more involved and engaged in life are happier. Volunteering is good for you. So, come to the table. Be a part of making your community great. Just as seeds need water and sun to grow, organizations need your fresh ideas, perspective, and experience. They need you to kick the lid off the box and pour in your creativity and energy. And isn’t it encouraging to know you will benefit from the experience?

Thank you for being a reader/subscriber. It is my goal to present informative, interesting and creative content on this site. Your likes, shares and comments are welcomed and hugely appreciated.

Follow Sharon at:
www.vandermeerbooks.com
https://www.facebook.com/vandermeerbooks
Amazon Author Central

Homage to Las Vegas Historic Homes

Posted in Arts, Life, Poetry

Painted Ladies

PAINTED LADIES

Bedraggled and empty,
her worn gables sagging
like an old woman’s wig,
askew and tatty.

Behind a scarred oak door
a dull wooden staircase,
marred wainscoting,
wallpaper stained and torn.

Oh, but the memories
that sing through her halls
telling of family history
full of laughter and joy.

Now restored, rainbow hues
dabbed on lintel, column,
dormer, cornice, pediment
and wraparound porch.

Oak door burnished to a shine,
beveled glass winking with light,
floors polished and golden,
the lady comes to life.

History begins anew
in the painted lady,
Victorian character and charm
dancing with memories made.

______________________

Thank you for being a reader/subscriber. It is my goal to present informative, interesting and creative content on this site. Your likes, shares and comments are welcomed and hugely appreciated.

Follow Sharon at:
www.vandermeerbooks.com
https://www.facebook.com/vandermeerbooks
Amazon Author Central

 

Lively Las Vegas

Posted in Book Reviews
Thanks to the Las Vegas Arts Council, we are kept up to date on exhibits, performances, cultural activities, and much more. Their calendar of events is posted online and readily available for review. If you have an event you would like to schedule, call 425-0185 or e-mail a request for guidelines to lvac@lasvegasartscouncil.org. The Arts Council Board of Directors is dedicated to continuing a legacy of making the arts come alive. I thank them for their focus and planning.

One Roof PublishingIf you would like to post a more in depth article about your event, or other topic, in One Roof Publishing for FREE, please contact me at fsharon@msn.com. Click on the image at left for a brief overview.

I want to clarify that One Roof Publishing has a mission of promoting activities and events around Las Vegas.

  • ORP promotes arts and cultural activities. This is an opportunity to talk about upcoming events so patrons will be well informed.
  • ORP will recognize the exceptionally talented people doing extraordinary work, by showcasing them and the unique creativity they bring to the intricate tapestry of our community.
  • ORP is a creative expression site. Please send your essay on subjects that interest you. Are you a history buff? A motorcycle restorer? A gardener? Would you like to share your travel story and photos? Are you an artist who would like to share your bio and photos of your work to a new audience? ORP is open to helping you promote you, your work, your passion, and links to your online presence. Send your information to fsharon@msn.com.
  • ORP is FREE. The only thing I ask is for you to subscribe to One Roof Publishing at no charge to you. You are not required to subscribe to submit a guest post.

In summary, you can write about something that’s important or interesting to you, and send it in for consideration as a guest article. If accepted the article will be placed in the appropriate category, along with your bio and contact information.

Disclaimer: One Roof Publishing is the book sales site for Sharon Vander Meer.

Regular posts include Joy in the Morning/Inspiration, In the Meadows: Las Vegas, NM (all things Las Vegas, well, maybe not ALL), Writer’s Block (reviews and writing news), travel tips and trips, A Musing (quotes that make you smile and make you think), and other interesting topics. To access articles click on a title in the Recent Posts section, or click on Category to view a list of related articles.

If you want to receive One Roof Publishing please Subscribe by clicking on Follow to receive e-mail notifications about current articles. You may manage how often you receive notifications when you sign up, and you can stop following at any time.

6 Terrific Gardening Sites

Posted in Inspiration1 Comment

Farmer’s Almanac 2015:

This is a respected guide book chock full of information. The gardening calendar stretches from spring through fall Farmer's Almanacplanting and tells you when to sow indoors, plant in the ground, and when to harvest. It is customized by location based on the nearest weather station. Click this link for Las Vegas, NM.

Giant Veggie Gardener:

Jannine Cabossel calls herself an artisan farmer because she likes to create beauty in her gardens combining art, flowers, and vegetables, and because her gardens are not big enough to be called a farm, but too large to be an urban garden. Her garden is in Santa Fe, NM. Her tips and advice are  applicable to growers in the central and northern highlands of New Mexico, but can be applied elsewhere. She blogs about growing specific vegetables and about a variety of other gardening questions for the avid grower. Click this link for more tips, calendar of classes, and garden tours.

20 Perennials

Blanket FlowerWhen it comes to flowers, I love to plant once and have beauty come back year after year. This link is a slide presentation from Better Homes and Gardens that shows and tells you about 20 fabulous perennial choices, most of which are drought resistant. Since I haven’t had the courage to put anything in the ground yet – it is April in Northern New Mexico after all – I’m going to be looking for some of these for the little bit of area I will be cultivating, mostly in pots.

 Perennials vs Annuals

And wouldn’t it be nice to know which flowers will be back year after year and which will be in bloom for a season and then gone? This HGTV post is all about perennials and annuals. The site is a good resource overall for gardeners.

 Home Vegetable Gardening in New Mexico

VegetablesThis guide is available online and can be downloaded as a PDF.  Home Vegetable Gardening in New Mexico provides general information for growing vegetables. Use this publication with its companion, Circular 457-B, Growing Zones, Recommended Crop Varieties, and Planting and Harvesting Information for Home Vegetable Gardens in New Mexico. Circular 457-B includes a map showing New Mexico growing zones, as well as a table providing crop variety recommendations, recommended planting dates, days to harvest, planting instructions, and yield information.

Container Gardening

Container GardenSeveral sites on the web focus on container gardening. This link takes you to a High Country Garden blog about the care of pots as well as the plants inside them. Worth a read if you are into patio container gardening.

There are a number of show gardens in Las Vegas. A late summer tour organized by the Citizens’ Committee for Historic Preservation showcases several of them. With help from these sites, and a lot of hard work, your garden could be on the 2015 tour.

___________

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5 Reasons you are important

Posted in Uncategorized

Volunteers Wanted

When I go to meetings, I often see the same faces. These are dedicated folks who believe in making a difference, and who believe there is a difference to be made. They Will Rogerssometimes suffer criticism instead of praise for their efforts, but this does not deter them. They show up, give their opinions, lend their support, stand up for the promise of a better tomorrow, and forge ahead. They volunteer for business groups, animal welfare activities, social justice causes, civic improvement organizations, and anything else you can think of that will make your life and mine a little better. They don’t get paid, and most go unrecognized. These engines for change are the lifeblood of a vibrant community. If you aren’t currently working for the betterment of the community as a volunteer, here are a five reasons you might want to come to the next meeting of interest to you, and sit down at the table.

Ideas

Ideas are the seeds of change. Without ideas, there would be no iPad, iPhone, or iMac. There would be no interactive notebook that responds to a touch. There would be no music, no art, no books, no invention of any kind. It all begins with an idea. If you think your ideas aren’t important, think again. You can and will make a difference, but only if you are at the table.

Perspective

I’ve been at the table many times, perhaps too many times, some might say. My perspective comes from my frame of reference. I still believe my perspective has value, but so does yours. When decisions are being made your thoughts count. If you aren’t present, those thoughts won’t be heard, not because your perspective is being ignored, but because you aren’t there to represent it.

Kick the lid off the box

It is an unfortunate fact of organizations that sometimes leaders become mired in procedure and process and forget their primary purpose, whatever that may be. The board and membership ages. Individual members become complacent or overburdened. In either case the lid must be kicked off the box so new energy, new leaders, new members can come pouring in. Leadership development is as critical as new ideas. Your presence and participation as a new volunteer can make that happen. You can learn from and be mentored by seasoned volunteers.

Your Experience

Nobody brings to the table what you bring. Your experience at every level will help inform and define the organization you become involved in. You will get out of it exactly what you put into it. Your experience will make the organization better and stronger for your participation.

Self-development

Getting acquainted with people you don’t ordinarily encounter is an excellent way to expand your horizons. Their energy, their ideas, their dedication will energize you, inspire you, and broaden your creativity. Studies have shown that people who are more involved and engaged in life are happier. Volunteering is good for you. So, come to the table. Be a part of making your community great. Just as seeds need water and sun to grow, organizations need your fresh ideas, perspective, and experience. They need you to kick the lid off the box and pour in your creativity and energy. And isn’t it encouraging to know you will benefit from the experience?

Guest Post: Kayt C. Peck

Posted in Uncategorized1 Comment

Sheltered Women:  A Fruitful Journey

Sheltered Women Cast
During a lighter moment after a show, the cast of “Sheltered Women” (L to R): Lisa Cisneros, Justina Rivas, Joan Krohn, Sandra Nepstad and (front) Victor Ramirez.

There was joy among “Sheltered Women” cast members, director, other supporters and, yes, me, the playwright, when Gene Irby, co-chairman of the 2015 New Mexico AACTFest, announced that our play would be one of two to represent the state at Region VI competitions.  It was a fruitful end to a long journey.  Added celebration came with announcement that we were honored also for Best Costumes and three of our players – Lisa Cisneros, Justina Rivas, and Sandra Nepstad – were named to the all-star cast.

When I first wrote the play in 2011, it was an act of love, trying to keep alive the stories of Iraqi women suffering under the heavy hand of radical Islamic rule.  In the end it will always be their story and those of us involved in the play are simply the tools for telling that story.

As one adjudicator said when giving us our comments, when she read the script she thought, this could be either really good or really bad.  It will take some incredible actresses to pull this off.

“You did it,” she said, and she was right.

The cast, crew, and director of “Sheltered Women” became a family during the process of bringing an important story to life.  It is a family I will always value.

By Kayt C. Peck, Playwright and actor

More than NM True: The Real Las Vegas, 5 Cool Things

Posted in Las Vegas, New Mexico5 Comments

I love New Mexico, from its mountains in the north to its deserts in the south. I love the mix of cultures and variety of recreational and cultural activities. My favorite place is Las Vegas, in the rural county of San Miguel. Things are happening here. Walk down Bridge Street, and you feel the vibrancy and energy. Take a peek inside the Plaza Hotel, a graceful reminder of days gone by yet full of modern amenities.

Check out Charlie’s Bakery and Cafe on Douglas Avenue and see just about everyone you know. Take a trip down 7th going toward Storrie Lake, and you will see new construction popping up. Don’t forget to give the Railroad district a once over. You will be back. The railroad era Castenada hotel and Fred Harvey dining room is under restoration. You might even get a glimpse of a Harvey Girl giving tours or making a stop at events around town, or around the state. Here are just five of many reasons to love this Northern New Mexico town.

Las Vegas City Museum and Rough Rider Memorial
Room in the city museum

The City of Las Vegas Museum and Rough Rider Memorial Collection opened in 1961 as a unit of the City of Las Vegas. The Museum is housed in the historic Municipal Building, a 1940 Works Progress Administration project. The museum collection includes more than 7,000 items relating to the heritage of the Las Vegas area. Many items may be viewed through an on-line collection catalog. The Museum offers educational opportunities through classroom visits and activities. Entertaining and informative programs for all ages are offered throughout the year. (From Museum website.)

Citizens’ Committee for Historic Preservation: “The Citizens Committee for Historic Preservation was formed in 1977 to encourage the preservation and appreciation of Las Vegas and San Miguel County historic resources. Established by land grant in 1835, Las Vegas was originally called Nuestra Senora de Los Delores de Las Vegas Grandes (Our Lady of the Sorrows of the Great Meadows). The history of Las Vegas is influenced not only by many different cultures, but also by two major forms of transportation. As a major trading point on the Santa Fe Trail, Las Vegas became a prosperous Spanish town with a wide variety of adobe structures. As trade on the trail increased, so did the variety of settlers and architecture in the town. The arrival of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad saw a further increase of new residents many of whom built Victorian houses reminiscent of their homes in the East. While the Victorian residents are quite a surprise to visitors, used to the Pueblo revival of Santa Fe, it is the combination of the indigenous adobe architecture and the variety of Victorian architecture that makes Las Vegas unique.” (From the CCHP website)

fiesta dancers
Fiesta Dancers in Las Vegas, NM

Annually in August CCHP puts on a Places With a Past tour that features six to ten properties more than 100 years old, many of which have been restored and are currently occupied. A favorite on the tour is the Montezuma Castle, now part of the United World College. CCHP also conducts other historic events throughout the year. For details contact CCHP at 505 425-8803. Also see the site’s photo tours to get an idea of what PWAP tours might consist of.

Fiestas is a 4th of July celebration combined with Hispanic cultural events. This year it kicks off on Friday, July 3. The parade on Saturday highlights a day filled with music and dancing at the Plaza. Food vendors, presentations and down home fun for the entire family. Events and music continue throughout the day on the 5th. There are 5 and 10 K races and events for children. It’s not too early to think about summer fun.

Nuestra Senora de los Dolores
Nuestra Senora de los Dolores by Margarito Mondragon

Artists and their work. I am amazed at the degree of talent we have in Northern New Mexico. Is it because the clear skies and beautiful landscapes are irresistible magnets for creative spirits? Is it because we have so many galleries? Does Highlands’s art department contribute by providing exhibit space at the Ray Drew Gallery, in Burris Hall and at other sites around campus? Perhaps it is the town and it’s eclectic character. Whatever it is, Las Vegas and San Miguel County rival any other “arts” community in the state with the number of outstanding artists and craftspeople working in a variety of media. Public art is popping up, folk art and sculptures and murals, all depicting some aspect of life in all its complexity.

And then there are the wonderful, kind and hospitable folks who live here. Jim Terr, a creative fireball, recorded this at Charlie’s Bakery and Cafe on Douglas Avenue. Goodness Knows, Goodness Shows.These are only five wonderful reasons I love my town. There are many more. Add yours to the comments section. And if you agree with me, share this post.

Goodness Knows, Goodness Shows