SEBASTIAN'S CHRISTENING

US Journal

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Sebastian’s Christening

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What a special treat to be in our church at St. Catherine’s when our little friend Sebastian, Kelly and Camilla’s son, was christened! It was a special service in a lot of ways. Because it was a “social media” service, in which everyone was encouraged to take pictures and use Facebook, it was no big deal when I took pictures of the christening part of the service.

I heard Kelly telling Sebastian (1 ½ years old) before the service about what was going to happen in the service. She told him that Mommy and Daddy would be there with him and that Father Jim would hold him and put some of the water from the font bowl on his head and bless him. He looked up at his mom amazed and said emphatically, “WOW!” It was so cute.

We also enjoyed the place in the service when Father Jim asked if everyone would now join Sebastian in the next part in the service. Sebastian immediately said loudy, “NOOOO!” The congregation laughed, and Sebastian looked around like he thought we were crazy!

It was a special day and a special service for a very special little boy. Congratulations, Sebastian! We love you!

Colleen and Peter

Fathers Day,Monica&Jen, Docent Training, Arabia Mtn. hike

US Journal

June 22, 2014

Father’s Day/Monica&Jen/Dayle’s Docent Training

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Thanks for the wonderful Father’s Day Supper, Kyle, Victoria, Jill, Devin and Nick! It sure did look like he enjoyed his cards and coffee making machines, too!

What a sweet surprise for Father’s Day! Peter received this wonderful apron from H2, Cati and Arne! He was so pleased with it that he now wears it every time he cooks! Thanks so much, all of you Johnsons! (That’s fun to write!)

Looks like Jill and Kyle had fun with their dad’s Father’s Day present, too. He’s had lots of fun with his picture of you two as small children, combined with the picture of you two in the same pose now! Great idea, Jill and Kyle!

Dayle’s Docent Training this week made the docents’ number up to 13! I have another training this Tuesday, June 24^th, and 6 more will be trained then. All of them are doing so very well. I’m truly proud of them. Great job, all of you!

Monica and Jen had a great time cooking an Indian meal yesterday, while we were out having dinner with our friends Kate and Rob! When we came home, the whole house was full of wonderful spicy smells. They reported that their dinner was fabulous. And, our potluck with Kate and Rob was truly tasty, too. We had such a good time getting to know them better, and they only live ½ mile from our house. It’s an easy walk…without the lightening and thunder!

This morning, we attended a mountain hike and potluck with some chefs. It was such a pleasant trip to Arabia Mountain in Lithonia, and we learned a lot from Ranger Robbie! I never knew Arabia Mountain existed! How can that be!? Thanks, Steven, for sending us an invitation. We had such fun!

Colleen

Road Trip to Charlotte!

US Journal

June 14, 2014

Road Trip to Charlotte!

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Last weekend, Nick and I took our first road trip together…just us two. I was the designated driver so he could rest and be prepared to present his poster at a Physical Therapy Conference in Charlotte, NC. It was a treat to spend so much time in the car with him.

While he was in his conference, I went shopping…well, no, I didn’t go shopping. I intended to going shopping, but there are no shops in the center of Charlotte, so I went to have breakfast overlooking a beautiful park with fountains and children’s statues. Later, I found the Visitor’s Center, and I ended up having a lovely conversation with Betsy, who was the director there. She was very interested in our being Curators of the Lexicon of Sustainability…you didn’t really think I wouldn’t mention that, did you? Evidently, Charlotte is quite the city focused on sustainable issues! Yay, Charlotte!

I spent most of my time at The Green, a literature park where statues were huge stacked books, the fountain was made with magnificent tremendous fish spouting water and directional signs showed us how far and what direction it was to your favorite authors’ birthplace! A bride and groom were there taking pictures in preparation for their wedding soon. It was the park for all occasions.

By the time Nick finished with his conference, I had called AAA to come and unlock my trunk, which held the key that fell out of my backpack when I opened the trunk to get a book to read at The Green park. God bless AAA!

We had a great time together, and that’s really all that mattered to either of us.

Thanks for the invitation, Nick. I had a wonderful time with you, and you surely did look scrumptious for your conference presentation!

Love you lots, Mom

Decatur FM/Global Growers

US Journal

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Decatur Saturday Morning Farmers Market

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Decatur, GA residents enjoy their Farmers Markets. Today’s Saturday morning market was on the downtown N. McDonough St., near the Decatur High School. The Lexicon of Sustainability Pop Up Show was a highlight this June 14^th, 2014, as the Food and Farming agricultural images were scattered through a natural setting among trees and sales tents. More than 100 people attended the market, and many of those spent long periods of time engaging in the images. They seemed to want to understand each one individually before moving to the next one. It was very satisfying to watch their expressions as they embraced the informational artwork and responded to each one’s message.

Tuesday, June 16, 2014

Global Growers’ Dinner at an Indian Restaurant

It was just plain delightful to attend a fundraising dinner for Global Growers at one of the popular Indian restaurants nearby! We sat with friends that we seem to meet everywhere we go, and we always end up talking about Slow Food and Lexicon of Sustainability at some point! We hope to host the founders of Lexicon of Sustainability in the next few months. Douglas Gayeton, one of the founders, has just published his fabulous 2^nd book…Local…, and we learned from our friend Ted that Douglas could come to Decatur’s Book Festival on Labor Day weekend and have access to 80,000 people who love to see/buy/get signed their new books. We’re hopeful this will work out.

Colleen

ICE CREAM SOCIAL 2014

USJournal

Saturday, June 7, 2014

ICE CREAM SOCIAL 2014

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The indoor parish hall of St. Philip’s Cathedral on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, was a great venue for the Ice Cream Social on Saturday, June 7, 2014. It was sponsored by Slow Food Atlanta and the Peachtree St. Farmers Market, with the Lexicon of Sustainability Pop Up Show taking center stage. The images were right in the middle of the room, so they had a captive audience.  Most of the 300 visitors were walking around as they tasted their ice cream. There were quite a few visitors who stopped to look at the images, and there were interesting conversations coming from all directions.

The image that seemed to be the most intriguing to the visitors was the Native American forager.  He has an otherworldly appearance that just draws people in.  It was good to see people lingering at all the images, not just that one. They were studying them and really taking them to heart.  I noticed them discussing the images with each other. One of the interesting comments I heard was that they wished they could read upside down so they could read all the text!

Wish you all could have been there. The theme was making ice cream with seasonal vegetables.

Colleen

Decatur Arts Alliance Grand Opening!

US Journal

Thursday, May 5, 2014

DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE’S GRAND OPENING FOR SLOW FOOD ATLANTA’S LEXICON OF SUSTAINABILITY POP UP SHOW!

Colleen and Peter Morich

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The Decatur Visitors Center at 113 Clairemont Ave., Decatur, GA, was full with 90 inhabitants of all ages enjoying Slow Food Atlanta’s Lexicon of Sustainability Pop Up Show. These instructional artworks drew people to stare and study. Sharing their thoughts about the sustainability messages inscribed on each image seemed to be a  highlight of the evening, along with delectable food and beverages that were provided by local restaurants, Cakes & Ale, Chai Pani, Farm Burger and Leon’s Full Service.

This GRAND OPENING, sponsored by the Decatur Arts Alliance, for Slow Food Atlanta’s Lexicon of Sustainability Pop Up Show, curated by Slow Food Board Members Colleen and Peter Morich, was the kickoff for Pop Up Shows at the Decatur Arts Alliance Gallery at the Visitors’ Center and the 4 fine Decatur restaurants during the month of June. In addition, the 4 participating restaurants, Cakes & Ale, Chai Pani, Farm Burger and Leon’s Full Service are giving free treats every Tuesday in June to anyone with a Lexicon punch card from the Decatur Arts Alliance or any of those restaurants. They hope people in the community will delight in the Lexicon of Sustainability images and messages about sustainability topics while they enjoy their free treat on Tuesdays in June.

More fascinating information about Slow Food Atlanta, the Lexicon of Sustainability and the Decatur Arts Alliance can be found at www.slowfoodatlanta.org , www.lexiconofsustainability.com and www.decaturartsalliance.org .

Enjoy!

Colleen

Preparing Cakes and Ale for the Lexicon

US JOURNAL 

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

PREPARING CAKES AND ALE FOR ITS LEXICON VISITORS!

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The excitement at Cakes and Ale last week was infectious! Billy, the owner and chef, was smiling from ear to ear. Emily, his secretary and organizer of all four of the participating downtown Decatur restaurants (Cakes and Ale, Chai Pani, Farm Burger and Leon’s Full Service) was so pleased that it was looking just as perfect as she hoped it would. The other chefs came in, just to make sure it was going well and to appreciate these instructional artworks.

Peter climbed on the bench next to the wall where the images would be hung and started to work. The rest of us were there to “help” him with suggestions and directions. “Move the blue one over next to the brown one.” “Wait, down on the right side an inch! There! That’s perfect!” “Let’s put the informational poster on this wall by itself so all the images can be highlighted!” The bantering went on and on. It was great fun, and the proof was in the final result! They all look striking in that wonderful location, where sustainability is already a priority! The Lexicon of Sustainability Pop Up Show is ready for viewing!

We’re looking forward to Tuesdays in Decatur! Get your punch cards at any of the participating restaurants: Cakes and Ale, Chai Pani, Farm Burger or Leon’s Full Service. They all will have this instructional artwork on their walls, where you can enjoy them while you have a free tasty treat on Tuesdays… with your punch card. The Arts Alliance Gallery also has the Lexicon images and the restaurants’ punch cards!

See you in Decatur on Tuesdays!

Colleen

LES DAMES HOSTS LEXICON OF SUSTAINABILITY POP UP SHOW

US Journal

Monday, May 19, 2014

Les Dames Hosts Lexicon of Sustainabilty

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Slow Food Atlanta, as part of its educational outreach, introduced The Lexicon of Sustainability Pop Up Show, curated by Dr. Colleen and Peter Morich, to the Les Dames d’Escoffier International-Atlanta meeting on Monday, May 19, 2014. With over 80 members and visitors in attendance, the Lexicon images enhanced the highlighted Georgia agricultural programs, products and farming practices theme of the evening.

Guy T. Gunter and Associates shared their wonderful sales space with Les Dames d’ Escoffier last night at the dinner meeting with wonderful chefs. Then, Les Dames invited Peter and me as Curators to bring our Slow Food Atlanta Lexicon of Sustainability Pop Up Show to share with their 80 attending members and visitors. This meeting was ideal for our Informational Pop Up Show. There were speakers about the Georgia Agriculture Department’s Georgia Grown Initiative, about making oil out of Georgia pecans and olives, Our Lexicon of Sustainability fit right in as the educational component of an event filled with local, organic food, relevant speakers and farmers who “got it” when it came to how important it is to live, eat and farm sustainably. Thank you, Les Dames, for inviting us to share our Lexicon Project with you in such an informative atmosphere.

Colleen and Peter