Saturday, November 18, 2006

The Page Turners

The deluge of rain on Wednesday did not keep any members of the Pate Turners away from our monthly book talk. One by one we ran up the drive way through the rain, and without knocking or ringing the bell, we opened the door and were met by hearth and home.

Shaking the rain off of our raincoats and umbrellas we greeted each other with the usual barrage of conversation.

Once we entered the dining room, we declared our spot, and stayed for the duration of the evening.

We decided to have dinner first as we were chilled and most were hungry. We dined on chicken and wild rice accompanied by pumpkin muffins. By the time coffee and pumpkin pie were served, we were mellow and ready to begin our book talk.
Our book, Mrs. Mike by Benedict Freedman, was our monthly read.

Mrs. Mike is the story, set in the beginning of the twentieth century, of Katherine Mary O'Fallon, a sixteen-year-old girl from Boston, who is sent to her uncle in Calgary, Alberta, because she suffers from pleurisy. Soon, she falls in love with Mike Flannigan, a tall and handsome man from the Mounted Police, marries him and follows him North, into the great wilderness. The trip, first by train and then as part of a dog-sled caravan, is almost too much for Katherine and her lungs. But as she decides to follow Mike no matter what, she also begins a relationship of love and hate with a pitiless and beautiful country...

At first glance and possibly at first read, the book seems to be an enchanting love story, but it is more. It is about adventure and passion. It is about building a life even though extenuating circumstances make it seem, at times, impossible. Drawing these themes into our own lives is the essence of our book club. Our own adventures, passions, choices, and conflict.

The discussion was bit more lackadaisical than most. We awarded the book three pages out of five.

By the time the fire had burned low and the pumpkin pie was reduced to crumbs, it was time to bid our farewells. We have chosen Chocolat by Joanna Harris for next month. Why not read along with us?

Maggie Mae for the Page Turners

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor lives in Angola, Indiana which is nestled in the hills of Northern Indiana. When she is home at the White Picket Gardens you can find her gardening or writing late into the night under the light of her frayed scarlet lamp. She is a storyteller, a teacher, a writer, an actress and a collector of front porch stories.

Classical Guitars and Serenading...

Last night seventy folks or more gathered at Wells Theatre at Tri-State University for a concert of classical guitar. The musicians were students in Fort Wayne all minoring in classical guitar. The staging and performance was professional in every way as the students were decked in suits and ties with bowing before and after each piece as the protocal.

Following the concert Liat Peters of Caruso's shared a reception of 17th century food. The crowd gathered around the syllabub table (whipped cream, sherry, and beaten egg whites poured, or rather ladeled into wine glasses) with much interest!
There was also lavender cakes, lemon curd, fig preserves, pumpkin bread and spinach cookies! It was elegant and lovely.

I told one of the performers, Matt Lovell, that he could play outside my window any night he would choose.

When the last of the syllabub was gone, I put my black cape about my shoulders and walked back home to The House at White Picket Gardens. It was an enchanting evening.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor lives in Angola, Indiana which is nestled in the hills of Northern Indiana. When she is home at the White Picket Gardens you can find her gardening or writing late into the night under the light of her frayed scarlet lamp. She is a storyteller, a teacher, a writer, an actress and a collector of front porch stories.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Dark Clouds of November...

I drove down to Indy yesterday for elementary storytelling shows...always my favorite. Finishing up the shows, I drove to Ellen's for the week end as Kathryn Windham arrived last night to share her stories this week end also. Kathryn is an icon in the storytelling world from Selma, Alabama. My children all met her when they were in their young teens. She promptly fell in love with them and bought them moon pies. I think that is their favorite memory of her. We had dinner with friends, and it was good to share stories over meatloaf and a light red wine.

Today I shared my love of stories with teachers at a luncheon and off again tonight to another dinner party. I know it will be more of the same...howling November winds, spitting snow...and stories...always stories.

Happy Birthday to my Dad yesterday! He was going out with "the boys" when I talked with him!

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor lives in Angola, Indiana which is nestled in the hills of Northern Indiana. When she is home at the White Picket Gardens you can find her gardening or writing late into the night under the light of her frayed scarlet lamp. She is a storyteller, a teacher, a writer, an actress and a collector of front porch stories.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

After the fact...

We voted well yesterday in Steuben County...the stats show that the voters were out and turn out was higher than usual. Well, that is a good thing. Yes, it can always be better, but the day was accompanied by cold, dreary rain. It was the kind of day that I like to curl up with a good book by a warm fire. (The good book I have..now if I just had a fireplace!)

I want to commend the folks who worked the polls yesterday. It was late afternoon before I could vote....but the mood was still cheery and quite festive. Of course, in a small town you know everyone...you chat going in..you chat up to the MOMENT of voting...and then you chat again. It was strange to show my driver's license to someone who has known me for over twenty years!

I noticed many cold cups of coffee....half eated pizza slices...and Krispy Kreme doughnut boxes. (I didn't check to see if they were empty or not!)

I guess I am even old enough to like listening to the election coverage on NPR.

Anyway, thanks to all who voted and worked the day!


Lou Ann


Lou Ann Homan-Saylor lives in Angola, Indiana which is nestled in the hills of Northern Indiana. When she is home at the White Picket Gardens you can find her gardening or writing late into the night under the light of her frayed scarlet lamp. She is a storyteller, a teacher, a writer, an actress and a collector of front porch stories.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Saturday afternoon...

I love Saturday afternoons...after spending the morning at the gym (so the cardio is done!), I can cozy up with my new book, The Last Season by Eric Blehm, take a walk down to the town to have coffee and chat with Rachael, rake leaves, take a nap, and listen to NPR.

With no evening plans as well(!) I can settle down with my book, let the last of the leaves swirl past my darkened window and drink hot chocolate.

Yes, there is something lovely about a late fall day with nothing on the schedule!

Ahhhhhhhh.

Lou Ann


Lou Ann Homan-Saylor lives in Angola, Indiana which is nestled in the hills of Northern Indiana. When she is home at the White Picket Gardens you can find her gardening or writing late into the night under the light of her frayed scarlet lamp. She is a storyteller, a teacher, a writer, an actress and a collector of front porch stories.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Closing out of October...

Halloween night was the perfect night here in Northern Indiana. A cool front came in late morning ending the rain and bringing brisk cold air. By the time the trick or treaters were wandering the streets, darkness prevailed and the sky was marbled with black clouds covering the three-quarters moon.

I had bags and bags of candy which was all given out to ghosts and pirates and vampires and such. I dressed as Pippi Longstocking. The neighbors are always curious to see what I come up with!

Later in the evening Karen and Aaron brought the little guys over..Matthew was Jack Sparrow and Jonah was a large candy corn. (He was supposed to be a dinosaur, but wouldn't put th costume on!) We had cookies and cocoa and chocolate, of course.

November came in with snow..the ground is covered this morning. It is cold at The House at White Picket Gardens. I am trying to keep the heat at 65 degrees, but at night, I send it down to 60.

Welcome November.

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor lives in Angola, Indiana which is nestled in the hills of Northern Indiana. When she is home at the White Picket Gardens you can find her gardening or writing late into the night under the light of her frayed scarlet lamp. She is a storyteller, a teacher, a writer, an actress and a collector of front porch stories.

Spring break in St. Pete...

  Adam and his pups! The late-night flight is full. Everyone is heading out for spring break. Students and teachers, moms and dads, kids and...