Friday, March 31, 2017

Poetry returns to the square in Angola...

I can't believe it is almost April which means poetry on the square is returning. I loved reading Shakespeare on the square last year even though, on occasion, I was alone in my reading. I should clarify; those were the days of sleet and snow.

This year I am sharing my love of 20 poets and more. I have chosen major poets we should all love and mixing the blend with a few obscure ones as well. Please know you are welcome to bring an original poem of your own or something you love. All poets and poems are welcome.

The event runs Monday through Friday during April at 4:00 on the square in front of the Brokaw. I hope to see you there!!



Last day of reading Shakespeare on the square!




Sunday, March 26, 2017

You can’t put a price on living the dream...



You can’t put a price on living the dream: With the coffee mugs filled, a bundle of jackets stuffed into a bag and a boat attached to the truck, we head out in the early morning darkness to Fort Desota Park in St. Petersburg, Florida, for a day of fishing. We arrive to an empty beach giving us our choice of docks and parking! I am not much help — not any help — to the captain on this morning. The sky takes all my attention.


Captains Adam and Tara pose for me after a long day of fishing!


Here is the link to this week's column on my fishing trip is Florida. Don't worry if you aren't crazy about fishing, it is more about family! Just click on the above link or the title. As always, thank you for reading. You are much appreciated!




It was such a beautiful day when we headed out into the Gulf.
Yes, this is a shark!
And, yes, Captain Adam took out the hook and set the shark free.
I can't believe I really caught a fish...actually three!

This lovely white heron and pelicans hung around for the free hand out.








Friday, March 24, 2017

Welcome back, my little garden!

Oh, my little garden, I have been waiting for you!



A Girl's Garden


A neighbor of mine in the village
Likes to tell how one spring
When she was a girl on the farm, she did
A childlike thing.

One day she asked her father
To give her a garden plot
To plant and tend and reap herself,
And he said, "Why not?"

In casting about for a corner
He thought of an idle bit
Of walled-off ground where a shop had stood,
And he said, "Just it."

And he said, "That ought to make you
An ideal one-girl farm,
And give you a chance to put some strength
On your slim-jim arm."

It was not enough of a garden
Her father said, to plow;
So she had to work it all by hand,
But she don't mind now.

She wheeled the dung in a wheelbarrow
Along a stretch of road;
But she always ran away and left
Her not-nice load,

And hid from anyone passing.
And then she begged the seed.
She says she thinks she planted one
Of all things but weed.

A hill each of potatoes,
Radishes, lettuce, peas,
Tomatoes, beets, beans, pumpkins, corn,
And even fruit trees.

And yes, she has long mistrusted
That a cider-apple
In bearing there today is hers,
Or at least may be.

Her crop was a miscellany
When all was said and done,
A little bit of everything,
A great deal of none.

Now when she sees in the village
How village things go,
Just when it seems to come in right,
She says, "I know!

"It's as when I was a farmer..."
Oh never by way of advice!
And she never sins by telling the tale
To the same person twice.
 
Robert Frost

Monday, March 20, 2017

Labyrinth helps find center of one’s own soul...

Labyrinth helps find center of one’s own soul: I sit cozily in the middle of the labyrinth. To be clear, a labyrinth consists of a single, circular pathway to the center and back again. As there are no benches to mark the center, I take a seat on the ground. There is an unexpected coolness in the Florida air for this time of year, but protected by the wind, it is warm and sunny.


 
Here I am sitting in the center of the labyrinth thinking!











Here is the link to this week's column on the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. I had a wonderful time, and I always visit the museum. This time I decided to do some writing in the center of the labyrinth...with paper and pencil!! Just click on the above link or the title and there is the story. Be sure to visit this marvelous museum when you go to St. Petersburg. I have included a visual tour at the end of this blog so enjoy!


Tara and I visited Frieda's garden while we were there.







 
I always make a wish and hang a ribbon on the ribbon tree!














Sunday, March 12, 2017

Poetry on the Square making a return engagement!

Poetry on the Square making a return engagement!: One visit to my old house and you know how much I love poetry. My library is full of poetry books, including my dad’s collection, and my kitchen cupboards are covered in poems taped up for easy viewing. Sometimes guests just spend hours reading the poems in the kitchen! Perhaps loving poetry so much is a curse as well as a blessing. My conversations are dotted with such lines as, “Well, you know what Emily Dickinson once said,” or “It is such a Poe night, isn’t it?” Luckily my friends either know when to respond or when to ignore my lust for poetry.



Jonah reading Shakespeare!


This was the last day of reading on the square!!



Last year during the sonnet-a-thon on the square!




Here is the link to this week's column. Yes, there will be poetry on the square again in April. Just click on the above link for the full story! 

See you on the square for our first reading on April 3rd!

Tuesday, March 07, 2017

Belated posts...

Hi Everyone,

I really do love my blog; I have been writing on it for years. I realize I am behind about three weeks! This winter I have the worst cold/flu illness of my life. Luckily I only missed one day of classes, but I had to cancel all storytelling gigs and other shows. I did what I had to do and spent the rest of my time trying to recover.

Yes, it has been a long process. I believe there are many reasons for this extended illness, but I think I have "turned the corner" and will be back in full swing by next week.

Thanks for checking into my blog and wondering where I have been. Thank you for the personal notes some of you have sent. No, not dead yet!!

See you soon.

Lou Ann

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...