I saw Emily Gold today freezing in a former school auditorium at the Bennington Winter’s Farmer’s Market, she was selling her scones, cakes, pastries, and quite wonderful collage pieces.

It’s never easy, but on an unheated concrete floor, it’s a challenge.

I’ve begun sending Emily’s “You Are Appreciated” gift cards to donors when I have them, and some of the donors have loved them so much they’ve contacted Emily and asked to buy some cards for themselves.

That is a lovely thing to hear.

Others have signed up for her increasingly popular virtual collage classes, and others have bought her collage and other artworks on her website.  I think she is being artistically adopted by the wonderful people who read the blog.

We got some Emily-basked cakes and desserts for our own Christmas celebration at the farm next week.  And of course, a couple of four-packs for me to send out.

My surgery is Monday, and Wednesday, all things permitting, we’re heading out to Vermont for a two-day rest at a beautiful inn – two nights this time, a chance for Maria to rest and me to recuperate.

We will be back on the farm on Christmas morning. We want to spend it here, with one another and the animals.

It’s always a treat to see what Emily is up to, she is always up to something.

I admire Emily greatly, and we seem to really get one another. I understand why she and Maria have become such close and valuable friends to one another, the kind of friendship I have not been lucky enough to have yet.

Both of these gifted artists are strong-willed, intensely creative, fiendishly hard-working, and determined to practice their art and send it out into the world.

There aren’t many people like either one of them, and I am happy they found each other. I am lucky to have found Maria, especially in a tiny upstate New York village with more cows than people.

A lot of people talk about being creative, even fantasize about it. Some people just do it, rather than talk about doing it, and will not be discouraged or pushed aside.

To me, they are the heroes of creativity, they are simply unstoppable.  And they never stop growing, experimenting, learning, and creating.

I married one of them, and another has become one of her closest friends.

And both are belly dancers. There aren’t too many of them, and they are all extraordinary people.

(Appreciation card by Emily Gold)

I’ve asked Emily to crank out some more appreciation cards, I send them out at random or if the donors stand out in some way. Sometimes I just chose people at random.

But I don’t want to spend a lot of money that could go to food cards or other needs for the Mansion residents or Bishop Maginn kids, so I can’t send them to everyone.

The response has been wonderful and I love sending them to the people who make the Army Of Good possible. It is important to be encouraged and appreciated.

Check out Emily’s blog: you can buy her very unique collage cards – they make everyone smile, they are so filled with personality – sign up for lessons – or see some of her other very original and wonderful art.

In the parade of gift cards at this time of year, these pop out.

Emily is the real deal, I’m fortunate to know her.