| *** Scroll down for new 'Along The Way', Online Shop, Yulefest and Feedback updates *** WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF RICK RUTHERFORD'S COUNTRY
'Badger House' ... Lawson Parent Gallery (left). Leura Concept Store (right)
Rick Rutherford's Country - The Australian Country Collections Shoppe boasts two stores in the NSW Blue Mountains ... (both now open seven days a week) For full details click on the Stores button above. ********** JUST LAUNCHED! OUR ALL NEW ON-LINE STORE After weeks and weeks of planning and stocking, we're thrilled to announce the new On-Line Store is now ready and open for business. Go to the On-Line Store Button above and have a look!
********** Stay tuned ... next week there's a brand new Home Tour and Along The Way column coming!
********** (New column loaded June 11th 2010)
ALONG THE WAY ...
The Paradox Of Our Days
After an eternity of seeking the sudden threshold of seeing and finding leaves one filled with a strange paradox of ecstasy and grief. (Joy Page 1924 - )
One of the most significant revelations I remember gleaning from these dynamic days of learning and questioning is the fact that life is a paradox. Within the midst of permanence there is always change. The more we get the less it often means to us. The understanding and acceptance of such things can often be sobering, and can bring us back to a place where we can take stock and focus on what is really important within our lives, and let go of the superfluous. It helps to make us realise once more who and what is significant and to be able to graciously accept so many aspects and attributes of our daily existence. I really began to ponder the paradoxes of life in recent days as a consequence of a deep, thought-provoking message I was sent by one of my supporters … a message entitled ‘Paradoxes of Our Times’. I delight in sharing the text with you here, in the hope that it will promote deep thought and have a positive, life-impacting effect for each of us … to stop and refocus on the simple and significant, paying so much less attention to those things that are beyond our realm, beyond our grasp, beyond our ability and essentially not important in the first place! At the very least, may it cause each and every one to take stock and think! As the message states “Today we have bigger houses and smaller families. More conveniences and yet less time. We have more degrees but less common sense. More knowledge, but less judgement. We have more experts, but more problems. More medicine, but less wellness. “We spend too recklessly; laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, read too little, watch TV too much and pray too seldom! “We’ve multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too little and lie too often. We’ve learned how to make a living but not a life. We’ve added years to life, but not life to our years.
“We write more, learn less. Plan more but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush but not to wait. We have higher incomes but lower morals. We build more computers to hold more information but have less communications. We are long on quantity but short on quality. “These are times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men and short characters. More leisure and less fun; more kinds of foods but less nutrition. Two incomes but more divorces. Fancier houses but broken homes.” Having drawn to attention such glaring paradoxes regarding the way in which we live a modern life, the writer then proffers a course of action in direct contrast to such things … “That’s why I propose that, as of today, you don’t keep anything for special occasions. Search for knowledge. Read more. Sit on your front porch and admire the view without paying attention to your needs. Spend more time with your family and friends. Eat your favourite foods and visit the places you love. “Life is a chain of moments of enjoyment, not only about survival. So use your crystal goblets. Don’t save your best perfume … use it every time you feel you want it. Remove from your vocabulary phrases like ‘one of these days’ and ‘someday’. Write that letter you have thought about writing. Tell your family and friends how much you love them. Don’t delay anything that adds laughter and joy to your life. “Every day, every hour, and every minute is special. You don’t know if it will be your last.” Sobered by the essential sentiments of this powerful piece, I believe that there is a point of relevance for each and every one of us within its resonating message. I’ll confess right here that the part about making a living but not a life really hit home! If knowledge is power may we each embrace the significant revelations we each find within the midst of these modern-day paradoxes and use them to find happiness, wellness and love … for as Mother Teresa believed, love is the greatest paradox of all. As she once said “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” Until next time
Rick
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What they're all saying! The latest feedback and thoughts from RRC readers ... From Jeanette
I used to read Australian Country Collections for hours and days on end over and over, I just loved them and when you left it I tried to get into the new one but it just wasn’t the same without you. I then got into your new magazine and also missed it when it went. The other day I was in an op shop and picked up two old copies that I wasn’t sure I had read them before but got them anyway, I have spent nearly a week picking them up and always there is something to read or admire over and over. I never tire of them. Today I picked up my computer which I haven’t had very long so I am a little bit of a novice. I decided to look you up only to discover your magazine is on line. It’s like a breath of fresh air to have it in my life again. You are the most interesting and talented writer I know. Thank you ... Jeanette O’Donnell
From Deb: Dear Rick, Fourteen years ago my first husband, who was only 39 years old, died from a brain haemorrhage whilst at work. I had only just said to him a few days before what a great year it was going to be. We were going to finally own our home. Then we could start doing things with our two children whereas before we could not afford to take them places ... not even picture shows and holidays because money was so tight. When he died it knocked the bottom out of our world. Anyway, what I wanted to say to you was that a few weeks after he died, and the kids were at school, I was in the newsagent, just wandering around to keep my mind off things, when I spotted a pretty cover on a book, so I picked it up and started flicking through it. It was Australian County Collections. Needless to say, I was totally hooked. I started buying the magazine as the words and thoughts you put into each issue lifted my spirits like you wouldn't believe. Even today when I get a bit down I still just reach for one of your books and re-read it. I have also used them to get my ideas for making furniture. Things have been too expensive to buy so I started making country style furniture myself. People who have seen the things I have made continually want to know where I have bought them. They can't believe that I have made them using your books as a guide ... not until I show them something in an issue that is the same. Where some things were made using timber panels I leadlighted them instead, which I feel enhances their look. I always stain the timber I use either a golden teak or mix the stains until I get the right colour. I love the warmth of timber. When you stopped producing Rick Rutherfords Country it was like I had lost a friend. Amazingly, my son and his wife bought me a computer for Christmas this year,and when I learnt the basics, one of the first things I did was type in your name. Now, thanks to the website, I feel I have my old friend back. What an amazing person you are. You have been gifted with a way with words that only a few people will have. (I am not one of them, I'm afraid). Whatever you do in life, and wherever life takes you, you are an angel and an inspiration to many people. For years I have wanted to write and thank you for keeping me sane but I have never had the courage (or spelling abilities). So THANK YOU and God bless you. Regards, Deb. From Wendy: Dear Rick, How are you? I pop into your website every now and then to catch up on your news ... I love collecting quotes and wanted to share some quotes with you that are very inspiring to me. Here they go: FRIENDS: Surround yourself with people who believe you can (Dan Zadra)
SUCCESS: Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming
Love & Best Wishes Wendy From Beck: Hi there. I was just looking at your fab site and saw you are after original prose or poetry. Well, it's not much but this came out of my mouth today when I was chatting to a friend about home decorating:
If you don't decorate your home with what you love then you won't love being there and it will never be HOME!!
From Karen: Hey there Rick, I was going through my journals the other day and came across this verse that I would like to share: The Difference I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day; I had so much to accomplish that I didn't have time to pray; Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task. "Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered. He answered: "You didn't ask?" I wanted to see joy and beauty,but the day toiled on grey and bleak. I wondered why God didn't show me. He said: "But you didn't seek?" I tried to come into God's prescence; I used all my keys at the lock. God gently and lovingly chided ... "My child, you didn't knock." I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day. I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.
From The Hall Family: Hi there, This was written by our ten-year-old son Calum - we thought you and your readers might enjoy it. It's all about Christmas decorating:
Oh no! It’s Christmas time. That means Mum’s Decorating the house With Santas and stockings And Rudolphs too, Snowglobes and holly Nutcrackers and elves To name a few. There’s the mistletoe Above the hall (I need to remember to avoid that). Hand-stitched quilts and cushions Appear in every corner. Snowmen and snowflakes Seem so out of place. And lucky last The Christmas tree or Should I say trees The house is like a forest. My favourite is the The great bushy Christmas tree In the lounge Covered in ornaments Such as baubles and Candy canes With the flashing star On top. Every room has something Christmassy inside it Not even the bathroom Is safe. Where will it all end? Then there’s the food Like puddings and gingerbread men Roast turkey, smoked chicken and The Darryl Lee chocolates It never seems to end ... Christmas isn’t just one day In my house It’s a whole month of traditions Like the advent calendar Mum made us a few years ago Music and carols fill the house Bing, Frank and Dean Croon away However, if I hear “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” Once more I will pull my hair out! Really there is no end! My Mum’s mad about Christmas And I mean really nuts But I actually like it I really have no other choice
If you would like to contribute comments, Feedback or quotes as the readers above have done, all you need to do it send us an email at rickrutherford@iprimus.com.au We look forward to hearing from you.
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Come Join The Party
There’s a party going on … somewhere! To be precise, it’s being staged at the Blue Mountain’s beautiful heritage country gallery Rick Rutherford’s Country, and the guests are being feasted to more than just a glass of vino or two! During the course of midyear Yulefest celebrations, this year Rick Rutherford’s Country saw huge numbers of new customers flood through the door who were drawn by the breathtaking displays and wonderful atmosphere of this unique mountain’s attraction. And many of them asked if they can ‘stay and party’, so the gallery has responded with an invitation to all to come and do just that! Due to so many requests from customers interested in visiting the store after hours - in the company of a group of their own friends so that they can all enjoy the hugest selection of wares the country store has to offer - an exclusive party plan concept has been launched. It’s so simple. A customer organises a group of 20 or more of their friends and relations who want a great night out and they then book the date. We supply wine for the gathering and the hostess supplies the nibbles. All guests receive 10% off everything in the store, plus the hostess is entitled to an extra gift of a $100 shopping voucher to be spent either on the night or at any other time within a year! It’s a wonderful opportunity to explore the gallery and shop in the company of your closest friends and like-minded country fans, as well as having the chance to view and purchase – ahead of other customers – many of the new lines that come into stock. And, on top of it all, it’s the promise of a great social activity combined with the prospect of being able to purchase some great homewares, quilts, exclusive handmade treasures, loads of Christmas items and unique gifts at better-than bargain prices. If you would like to ‘come join in the party’ all you need to do is gather up 20 friends and call us … we’ll organise the rest.
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Back in the days when I first attended University, I discovered a whole world of thought and perception which extended far beyond my hitherto limited parent-determined views. There were people – particularly teachers and lecturers – who were preoccupied with questioning just about everything that went on in the world … examining, dissecting, contradicting, exploring. These were great days of learning where my thought processes were challenged to the extreme. It was during these times that I probably learnt my greatest lessons in tolerance and acceptance of those who may hold alternate or even contrary views to my own. I also learned the very valuable lesson centred around the fact that there are always many sides to a situation – as we each bring our own perceptions, history and prejudices to any given topic or scenario – and thus there are many ways of seeing. 
“We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers. Wider freeways but narrower viewpoints. We spend more but we have less. We buy more but enjoy it less. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet our neighbours. We’ve conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve split the atom but not our prejudice. 
