Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day

I would love to share with you a touching story of my grandparents for this Memorial Day.

Just click on the site: 

http://www.fwdailynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7916:A-little-piece-of-history-from-May-30,-1937&catid=96:lou-ann-homan-saylor&Itemid=136

Stories and photos from my small town will be entered later today!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Fairy Night

The full moon is May was so full of beauty. She, the  May moon, is known as the flower moon or the corn planting moon. By now all the crops should be in the ground and with the sun and moon adorning our hemisphere, you should be able to hear them growing in the night. Our weather has given way to a strong planting season with lots of rain and beautiful sunshine.

I decided on the full moon night to host a small fairy party in my backyard. It was short notice, but sometimes I just like to make fun creative choices at the last minute!

I made a couple of phone calls and decided it would be just fine if I had to call in the fairies myself. As it was, there were six of us including Matthew and Jonah.
They are used to my antics now so they just show up not knowing what to expect, but knowing it will be fun.

I dressed in my Renaissance dress and crown, lit candles all over the yard, prepared the poetry by Shakespeare and waited with a basket full of peony petals.  When my guests arrived, we shared the poetry, tossed petals onto the yard and asked the fairies to come and the banshees to flee! We sang White Coral Bells in a round and called it a night due to the mosquitoes!

It was a lovely way to spend a late spring evening under the light of the full moon!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Pippa Passes

I woke up to an absolute beautiful day, a perfect Midwestern spring morning. The flood waters are receding in the backyard, geraniums grace the front porch, and a house full of family. (The boys are all cooking the breakfast as well!)

Tonya and I sat out drinking coffee on the front porch after her early morning run and I happened to mention the poem Pippa Passes. I had to learn that in school, but she had never heard of it. So, for those of you who do not know of the poem, it was written by Robert Browning in 1841.

The year's at the spring,

And day's at the morn;

Morning's at seven;

The hill-side's dew-pearled;

The lark's on the wing;

The snail's on the thorn;

God's in his Heaven -

All's right with the world!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Late Night Dinner Table Talk

The rain deluge came as a great surprise. I know rain had been forecast, but not in the torrents that developed last night. With Matthew and Jonah as my guests, we watched on the summer porch as rain burst from the sky covering everything. In just an hour we had over two inches of rain.

Meanwhile, at the Fort Wayne airport, Adam and Tonya were arriving to spend the week end with me, visiting and gardening. They landed between the storms and stepped into the House at the White Picket Gardens as twilight and fog settled upon our area.

With the windows open, candles burning, and a late dinner on the table, we sat at the table long into the evening sharing stories. Matthew and Jonah sat and visited sharing stories as well with their auntie and uncle. They love them so much and always enjoy their visit!

As we talked, the candles burned low, the night sounds permeated the dining room with softness and late spring Indiana sweetness.

I pulled out my copy of "The Country I Come From" to read from our poet laureate, Robert Krafp.

It was a good evening for all of us and we all fell asleep to the gentle rain.
Now, just what to do with my garden?

Monday, May 17, 2010

Mengting's Going Away Party

All the girls assembled on my front stoop!

Girls pot luck is such a fun way to spend a Monday evening! Once a month I open up the doors of this old house to any girl (any age) who wants to celebrate an evening of great food, gossip, and stories!

I never know who will walk over the threshold of my kitchen, sometimes we have never met, but all are invited. What I really love about this group of women is that every decade (through the 60's) is represented on these evenings!

Mengting has been a member of this group for the past two years. This past Monday we celebrated her second year at Trine as we wished her farewell and sent her back to China for the summer. I wanted to send her back with a bouquet of flowers, but, of course, she could not carry the lovely bouquet with her, so we all presented her with packets of seeds to grow her own garden in China.

This year she told me she was actually ready to spend the summer here with all of us and enjoy the beauty of an Indiana summer. I will bet next summer she will be here for sure.

So, farewell to Mengting, come back to us soon!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Physical Therapy and Stories

I have physical therapy twice a week. I really look forward to it as I think it is just one step in getting back into my old life.

I chose to go to the local hospital for therapy because it was close, and I could walk if I wanted to. Most of the time I walk, have the therapy, stop at the local coffee shop, and then walk home. It is great! Karen put money on my coffee account so it is almost like a 'free meal.' Well, coffee anyway. Karen also took my picture in front of the hospital on my first day as well as she told me to do really well in school!

My therapist is Robert who is from Poland, as is his wife. Robert is very studious, follows the programs, even when I ask him to give me more 'homework.' I am also a good student following all his workouts and advice.

Today was different at therapy. After we got the heart rate up and settled down to the exercises, he said to me, "Do you want to hear a good story?"

Ah-hah, I thought. He is on to me and knows my love and gift for story. I know my head shot up and my eyes popped out. How could I refuse a great story? He spent the rest of the time (as we did all the workouts) telling me about the history of Kosciusko County. I had no idea, the stories flowed and soon the time was up.

I am thrilled, now I get double for my money...therapy and stories!

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Concert on the green...sort of!

Last night our town of Angola began the first of the summer concerts on the green to celebrate our revitalization project. These concerts are scheduled to be on the green behind the courthouse. I love this idea and was so excited to support this concert series, and although the weather turned quite volitile, the concert went on.

Our local coffee shop, Cahoots, opened its door to the band and the attendees. It was a great evening with doors wide open, rain pelting down and rumbling thunder, to sit with friends drinking coffee and enjoying music to wind down the week.

Next week another concert on the green behind the courthouse, or back at Cahoots, either way, come on down! The music begins at 5:00 so bring a lawn chair and enjoy another evening in our small town.

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Three Pennies

The other night two of my school friends brought pizza (and beer) over for supper! It was great to see them, catch up  and hear all the school gossip that I am missing!

We sat in the dining room eating as the candles dripped down and the lovely day began to fade into twilight.

I still had one more walk to do for the day so I invited them to go with me. We blew out the candles, left the dishes and headed out into my neighborhood. I felt as if I was giving a tour as we meandered up one block and down another. They all live in the country so this was a bit of a different outing.

As we were walking we found three pennies, in different locations. They were all heads up and, of course, we picked them up to make wishes and put them in our pockets.

I was reminded of an event on Ocracoke a couple of summers ago. Several of us were sitting on the Community Store porch when a teen age girl came out of the store with a bag of groceries. She was putting her change away in her purse when she spilled several coins onto the ground. She looked at the coins, looked at us, looked at the coins and then shrugged and went on her way.

I couldn't believe she left her change on the ground. Didn't her grandma always tell her, "A penny saved is a penny earned?" Well, my grandma did.

I also always quote: Find a penny, pick it up all the day you'll have good luck. Find a penny, let it lie, you'll have trouble by and by.

So, I guess my friends and I are in for good luck.

Monday, May 03, 2010

May gardening and waiting to heal...

This May morning is the epitome of all Mays that I can remember. I woke up as the sun was streaming in my Eastern window with a promise of a beautiful day. 

I took the traditional early morning walk around my garden, only this spring is different as I cannot pull a weed or set a seed. My hands are literally itching to work the garden soil, bring in the compost, till up the new garden, gather more herbs, split bulbs and, at the end of the day, put away the gloves and hoe, and let the sun set on a sweet garden inside the white picket fence.

Until I am given the OK to work the land, I dream on in books of gardens. The books are piled high on a table. Some are practical, most are whimsical in content. I love them both.

So on this beautiful May morning, here are a few tidbits for you:

the full moon in May is known as the Corn Planting Moon,
other folks know it as the Flower Moon,
cold spells often occur in mid-May known as Blackberry Winter,
avoid planting on the first day of the new moon,
leaf vegetables should be planted on the waxing moon,
and
plant the rest of the garden during the second quarter.

These are just a few tidbits to help your gardening, especially in the northern gardens. Enjoy!
 

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...