We had people in our little apartment...

Yes, it happened. Was fun, sort of a hushed art museum type vibe without the high ceilings or guards in burgundy uniforms... and outside are the mountains!

The Meaningful Gifts on a Budget Dillemma Continued

My general approach to the Meaningful Gifts on a Budget problem has been to create something: cards, art, write a song, etc. I've gotten better at creatively dealing with this annual dilemma myself, but until this year I never thought that others might be dealing with the same thing - until I googled it.

I struggle with the sell, sell, buy, buy, thing that happens during the holidays. It can be depressing. So it's easier to judge and bemoan the state of the materialistic west (or try to ignore it) than think of making a difference somehow. Besides how important is giving gifts anyway?

Creative Meaningful Gifts

More on meaningful gifts: some of my favorite gifts are things my family or friends made for me -- a drawing, a hat, or handmade card to me is worth far more than the time put into it.

Not everyone has time or interest in making things, however. Another idea: give something someone else made. Etsy has some great and affordable art.

Christa and I put together three art and music specials this year made up of paintings, writings and music we created before starting our sabbatical.


If you'd like to give a gift of art and music from the Reuels, here is a chance to do it on a budget.

Specials run until Dec 7.

Watershed Reflections

Watershed Reflections by Jonathan and Christa Reuel | Make Your Own Book

The second book is finished and available. All you kickstarter people, it's coming -- we ordered a copy to make sure everything is good, and then we'll order and ship yours out. The rest of you, take a look. Hope you like it. Photos of the art, lyrics and photos of the process. Fun stuff.

New Years Eve Concert and Art

Did my first full concert in quite some time in Ohio the last day of December. It was great to try out new songs and play some old ones with a great band made up of super vocalist Kimberly Glick, bassist virtuoso Toby Hazlett and the drummer I've known longest (from my very first band) Joel Geiser. I played three sets, and enjoyed sets by Kimberly Glick, Annie Yoder and Carrie Yoder. Great evening, great to be playing again, fun to have parts of it recorded, and good to see art incorporated into the evening as well.

We had a contest -- people drew pictures during the concert and a small, non-biased panel chose the winner who received a free years membership to my Community Supported Music group.

I'l post more art and some music from the concert soon. The piece included here is by an unknown artist created at the concert.