It’s hard to believe its been a year since the first Shrinking Violets – Ladies Who Lunch. Since then, many amazing events and activities have been born – Book Club , Wine and Music Night, clothing swaps, arts/craft nights, just to name a few!!

This last lunch was a testament to the organic momentum that this group has gained. Looking around I only recognized half of the attendees and it was a biggest attendance to date – nearly 40 gals (and guys)!

Keep up the good work ladies!

Watch for next month’s flier to be done by the talented Jessica LaPrade. She is a local artist with some amazing work. Check it out!

See you next month Ladies!

Dawn

We are now accepting table applications for our first Shrinking Violet Society annual event! The purpose of this gathering is to celebrate the growth and success of our organization over the past year, and create a one of a kind social atmosphere that integrates the good work of our local business partners.

So mark your calendars for February 27th and tell your entrepreneurial friends about this unique marketing opportunity. Do you know a masseuse? A socially responsible local insurance company? How about a jewelry maker or a seamstress? Let them know about our event and we will see you there!

Interested in helping out with the party? Email: shrinkingvioletsociety[at]gmail[dot]com with how you would like to be involved. This is going to be a happening like downtown Spokane has never seen.

Not ten minutes past downtown Spokane, there are goats. Goats and a farm full of possibility.

Eden Brightspirit Hendrix addresses a circle of attentive farmers, families, and rag-tag twenty-somethings. The vision she describes brings the frost-bitten landscape to life.

“We’re in the orchard. Just past those horses, we’ll have a mobile chicken coop that travels around the property, providing valuable nutrients to rotating crops. As the hens lay, fresh eggs will be gathered and sold. Some of the birds will be raised for meat. In that field you’ll find a set of beds for garden greens and starts. The compost heap just past that fence will turn additional animal, vegetable, and residential green-waste into fertilizer. Right now you’re looking at six truckloads of fall leaves gathered from homes on the South Hill.”

The winter wind blows and steam from the boiling pot tempts the crowd to seek warmth. Chattering teeth emit murmurs of awe and excitement. A small voice, “Can we see the goats?”

Enthusiasm mounts as the group shuffles into a massive barn. It’s silent and empty… Almost empty.

“Those stalls were once home to 24 thoroughbred horses. Now we have 2 goat pens, three farmhand apprentice apartments, and a plan to add an industrial kitchen, a creamery, a butchery and additional livestock. We also have Chrys Ostrander. His 30 years of experience will stay on-site over the next few years as we transform this space into a working farm. Chrys, will you please introduce the goats?”

At Chrys’ signal, a cute girl in sturdy boots leads a pair of goats into the barn. The silents erupts into a cloud of tails, and giggles. Some people watch, some explore…

When the dust settles, Brightspirit takes the tour back outside, describing the future as she walks.

“We’ve partnered with a number of programs and organizations to get this project off the ground. The list includes: DOC, Career Path Services, Nextgen at Worksource, Spokane Regional Health District, YMCA, VOICES, YES, Conservation District, Spokane County Extension, Pioneering a Healthy Spokane and Second Harvest Food Bank. By 2010 we’ll be ready to approach the community with apprenticeship opportunities and regular weekend workshops… Today, we commemorate our commitment to this venture by planting the very first tree with you. It’s a P.E.A.C.H tree.”

Small hands lift big shovels and firm ground relents. Brightspirit steps back and addresses the group once more.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s important work. We have to find a way to make local, organic, sustainable foods affordable and accessible for ALL the people of Spokane. This is the first step.”

—

The P.E.A.C.H. Community Farm will bring their first harvest to market this coming summer. Visit http://peachlocal.blogspot.com for information and updates.

Last Friday night a good number of Violets came together to play, converse, eat and sleep. We then woke up to eat some more before getting down to the business of creating our Mission and planning for the celebration of our first year together. Violet member Jane Silver offered up a cozy place for us to stay. We gathered around the fireplace taking turns indulging in one of the two massage chairs, snacked on pizza, played a silly picture game, laughed, chatted and finished the evening up with a hot tub followed by a sauna.  After a surprisingly good sleep (in true slumber party style most of us slept on the floor) we created a full spread of breakfast delights including pumpkin waffles, fresh fruits, cheeses and more.

All that socializing proved to be great inspiration for our Mission-statement-brainstorming-session because we ended up crafting a statement that we all were excited about in less than an hour! With only a few more hours before we would tie things up we decided to focus our attention on planning for our First Annual Event where we plan to celebrate our first year together and vote in our newly proposed Mission Statement. We pulled together the main details and timeline of our event and assigned roles to those present. Other items we had originally wanted to discuss like better ways to streamline our communications or what other events we might host in 2010 were put on hold as we decided it made more sense to do this after our annual event so that new members could be included.

Please take a look at the notes from our retreat  (click on link in page) and please, please don’t feel shy about letting us know if you would like to participate in any way. We will be meeting at Atticus Coffee House at 10:00am tomorrow morning before Ladies Who Lunch to discuss merchandise and the party; we would love to have more people join us.

I’ll end by sharing the Mission Statement we created and will be presenting for a vote at our Annual Event:

 
The Shrinking Violet Society is a Dynamic Social Co-Op of Fresh-Minded Individuals Sustaining Creative Endeavors.
 
A Saucy Social Co-Op!
 
We are dedicated to:

• Promoting Localism
• Building Intentional Friendships
• Affirming Sass & Independence
• Nurturing Artistic Abundance
• And Circulating Our Passion

If you ask someone a question about the MAC here in town, the person might have no idea what you’re talking about. The NW Museum of Arts and Culture, otherwise known as the “MAC”, has been around Spokane a very long time, but nestled away in its Browne’s Addition location it goes, more often than not, virtually unnoticed by much of the Spokane community. Those that do contribute and commit to the MAC tend to be quite past the tender stage of graying, (with obvious exceptions). The museum is trying to change that with a 5 event series called BeGin.

The idea is to get the young, civic-minded 20-30 somethings of Spokane out to the MAC in full force and realize what an amazing public space it truly is. What a better way to do it then to throw a raucous after-work party with booze, music, and food, each of which supports local business and sustainability, (the event will feature recyclable cups, plates, napkins, etc.). The first event will be this Friday December 11 from 6-8pm. The event is free to museum members and for the rest of us it’s only $7 which includes one free drink and drinking there will be. Wine will be supplied by Spokane’s own Arbor Crest. The beer will be from Golden Hills, the new brewery out in Airway Heights. Those looking for something a little stronger can taste a unique concoction made with what else other than the infamous “gin” itself. Hungry? This event will be catered by Luna from the South Hill. Throw in local music from Six-Foot Swing and two exhibit openings anyone attending is welcome to peruse, including “Art and People: Spokane Art Center and the Great Depression” and “Jumpin’ with the Big Bands”, both of which are fantastic additions to the MAC gallery space. Really, the whole event is a complete win-win situation for anyone who can brave the cold and come out. Most of all it’s a chance to bring awareness to the Spokane community that places like the MAC must be supported, especially in times like these. So please come out, drink, eat, dance and support the arts!

What: Eat, Drink, Dance, Art!

When: Friday 12/11 @ 6pm

Where: The MAC 2316 W. First Ave

Cost: $7, or FREE with MAC membership

This post was written by Liz Jackson, an intern at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture and published by Crystal Clark. Inquiries about this event series should be directed to Liz Jackson via email at lizj [at] northwestmuseum [dot] org.

The holidays can be a stressful time with all the hustle and bustle going on. There are so many parties and other celebrations to attend, all the shopping and worrying about money, and in our region we often have to contend with the weather as well. It’s important to take a little time for yourself during these busy weeks and just relax. This is such an exciting season, but if you’re too stressed out, you won’t be able to truly enjoy this festive time with family and friends. That’s where the 12 Days of Happiness come in. For the twelve days leading up to Christmas, set aside a little time each day to do an activity that is either relaxing or just makes you feel good. Avoid activities that require too much involvement. Remember, this should be stress free.  You can make yourself a calendar in the spirit of an advent calendar, make a paper chain with activities written on each link, or simply schedule some time for activities in your planner or personal calendar. Here are some activity ideas to get you started:

Cookie exchange – You’re probably already planning on doing some baking this month, so whip up an extra batch of your favorite cookies and plan an exchange with your friends or co-workers. You’ll get some new recipes, a little bit of girl time and a nice sugar rush.

Movie night – Pour yourself a glass of wine, grab a blanket and sit down with a good movie. Maybe your favorite holiday flick?

Walk – Bundle up and go for a walk. Physical activity is great for reducing stress, and after a 20 minute walk, you won’t feel so bad about eating that extra cookie.

Hot Chocolate – Make some hot chocolate on a stick. Keep some for yourself and give some away as gifts. These would be great to keep around for any last-minute gift giving.

Dinner by candlelight – Even if your dinner came out of a box, eating by candlelight just makes you feel better. The soft flicker of a candle is so relaxing after a long day in the office under florescent lights.

Share the love – Take some time to call your friends and family just to tell them how much you love and appreciate them. Skip the email and pick up the phone. A phone call is much more personal and will mean more. You’ll feel better just knowing you have so many people who love you.

Volunteer – Devote an hour or two to a local charity. Help cook lunch at One World, or look here for other volunteer opportunities. This is a great way to give a gift with out spending any money and you’ll feel energized knowing you helped your community.

Clean your closets – Gather up your gently used coats, sweaters and blankets and donate them to a local women’s shelter. You’ll have more space in your closet and you’ll feel good knowing someone in need is a little bit warmer this winter.

Reach out to a neighbor – Have some extra holiday goodies laying around? Put a plate together and offer it as a gift to a neighbor you don’t know very well. You’ll have someone you can call on for a cup of sugar and you’ll make their day a little bit brighter.

Night at the movies – Treat yourself to a movie at the Magic Lantern (all shows are just $5) or the Garland Theater (all shows $3.50). You’ll be supporting a local business and taking a much needed break. Invite some friends and make it a girl’s night out.

Happy hour – Meet a friend or two for a drink after work. We all need to decompress every now and then and good martini or pint is just the thing to help with that. Check out HappySpokane.com for happy hour specials around town.

Take a nap – Getting enough sleep is vital for keeping stress levels down. With cold and flu season in full swing, minimizing stress and maximizing rest is the key to staying healthy. Plus it’s fun – taking a nap in the afternoon always feels like you’ve gotten away with something sneaky.

Left: Elizabeth, Amy & Leah baking for the SpoVegan Bake Sale. Right: Crystal's son, Ben & Becky at the KYRS Bake Sale.

Shrinking Violets members, Crystal Clark and Leah Preston organize a local group called the Spokane Vegans. You may have seen the Spokane Vegans around town this past summer selling baked goods to benefit various causes.  Besides, Leah and Crystal, there are always a few other Violets in attendance at their events. The great thing about this group, just like the Violets, is that it is not exclusive. Anyone and everyone is welcome at their events, regardless of food philosophies.

Although the Spokane Vegans are well-known for their baked goods, they’re taking things in a more savory direction this fall. On November 16th they are bringing best-selling cookbook author, Sarah Kramer to Spokane. The Spokane Vegans have organized a seasonal four course vegan meal to benefit the Violets’ favorite organic cafe, One World Spokane and Sarah Kramer will be there to sign books and talk a little about veganism. The night is set to be filled with good food and lots of fun. Flip through any one of Kramer’s books or take a peak at her website, govegan.net and you’ll see what we mean. This Canadian vegan is all about fun and good food (and maybe shoes). In fact, we’re sure that if Sarah Kramer lived in Spokane, she’d already be a Violet.

Poster design by Hairline Media

***

***

***

An Evening with Sarah Kramer: A Benefit for One World Spokane

Presented by the Spokane Vegans

Monday Nov 16th 5:30pm

Tickets: $20 ($30 at the door) and $15 (children 10 and under)

order online at www.spokanevegans.wordpress.com/benefit

Happy November Violets! The invite for the November “Ladies Who Lunch” is finally up on our FB page. Just a reminder that the November planning party will be held at One World following the lunch. A few of the things on the agenda include: creating a mission statement (makin’ things more official), ideas for a retreat in December to hash out the mission statement as well as planning for an annual event in January to celebrate our one year anniversary! My, my how time flies! Can you believe it’s been a year?

Looking forward to seeing some familiar and new faces on Nov. 14th.

See you there!

After our last meeting on August 11th, the Shrinking Violets met again on October 24th to review existing projects and brainstorm around our ability to take on new ones. Having a planning party every other month seems to be working out well so far. Mariah has been initiating these meetings to date (thanks Dawn for hosting and for the cider and cookies!) but anyone who is interested in taking on this logistical responsibility is encouraged to volunteer.

Ongoing groups and events review: Book group is logistically solid, but attendance has dimmed down a bit in recent months. Hilary will work with Crystal to pull out a book group email list from the master list to encourage more involvement. Each meeting will now also have a discussion facilitator to keep the dialogue lively, Jane volunteered to be the first one. Let the book group coordinators know if you’d like to volunteer (contact info in other book group posts). Ladies Who Lunch has gotten to a point of stability where Mariah didn’t have to do much promo to get a good turnout. Dawn will be the new Ladies Who Lunch Coordinator. Hooray!!! Wine and Music nights are going steady, and the Writing Group will now be lead by Hannah Dutt Elder.

Communications and logistics: Some of the weaknesses in our contact list are being address by new Violet Gaia Borgias Brown.  This will help to prevent over-reliance on Facebook for promoting events. Mariah is documenting all the resources available and some of the process for putting on a Shrinking Violets event in an effort to cut down on the time it takes to conduct one-on-one event training and integration. This will be made available electronically to everyone. Crystal, Taylor and Gaia are working on a members survey to help gauge interest in various activities so people know who to approach when they want to work with people on something. All members are encouraged to organize events that would be of benefit to SVS, and co-hosting/promoting is an easy way to make things happen.

The group decided to create a planning meeting in mid-November to do a retreat in December where we hash out our mission statement for finalization by the larger membership at an annual gathering in January. We’re getting pretty sophisticated in our old age, aren’t we? If you’d like to be involved in this string of development efforts, please let us know by sending a message to shrinkingvioletsociety@gmail.com. It will be rewarding and we are a great group to work with!

We covered a lot of ground in this meeting without a formal agenda and we ended exactly on time. Please fell free to share your feedback in the comments below. We would just like to reiterate that membership is always open and new members are encouraged to join. Right now, “membership” just means that you are on the mailing list. To get on the mailing list, just send your name, phone, address and neighborhood (plus a personal introduction if you’re feeling ambitious) to the group email address.

We love meeting new people and making new friends!

On October 17th a dozen or so Violets met at Andrea’s house for the almost-monthly Wine & Music Social. We had several bottles of wine to choose from while we listened to music and shared stories. We also had an array of tasty snacks to munch on, including Crystal’s vegan cheez ball. OK, it doesn’t really taste like cheese, but that’s not the point. It tastes good and you can eat it on crackers – that’s the point.

The recipe is pretty easy and the strangest ingredient required is smoked tofu, which can be found at a handful of local grocers, including Huckleberry’s. This low fat and cholesterol free appetizer is a great healthy alternative to your standard processed cheese product. As we know, the holiday season is right around the corner, bringing with it a veritable cornucopia of calorie-laden treats. So keep this tasty and healthy recipe in mind as you gear up for the numerous parties you’re sure to be invited to this season.

(Makes two small (baseball size) balls, or one large ball)

You’ll Need:

1 package smoked tofu, roughly chopped

3/4 raw cashews, soaked overnight

1 T plus 1 1/2 t soy sauce

2 T olive oil

1/2 t lemon juice

1/4 t paprika

1 T water

1 C almond slivers, toasted*

Method:

Soak cashews with 1 1/2 t soy sauce with water to cover in the refrigerator overnight. Blend drained cashews with olive oil, water, soy sauce, lemon juice and paprika in food processor or blender until smooth, scrapping down the side as needed. Add tofu and blend until smooth with no remaining lumps. Add additional oil 1/4 t at time if necessary to achieve consistent texture. Mixture will start to ball up and will be sticky. Once mixture is is blended, line a small bowl with plastic wrap. Divide mixture in half. Spoon onto plastic, wrap and form into a loose ball. Repeat with remaining half. Refrigerate for two hours. After balls have chilled, remove plastic and using wet hands, form into tight balls. Spread almond slivers onto a shallow dish and rolls balls in almonds to coat, pressing slightly to make sure they stick. Wrap finished balls in plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve.

*To toast almonds, heat cast iron or non-stick skillet on medium. Add almonds and toast until just starting to turn golden. Remove from heat and allow to cool before using.

For more vegan recipes from Crystal, visit spovegan.blogspot.com.