As you have probably noticed from the television news (I would imagine) we have been surrounded with rain since Sunday evening. A tropical storm has meandered up the coast line leaving us all using our bright yellow rain apparall and boots.
It doesn't stop our activities, however!
Yesterday morning, Susan Sullie, a writer and photographer spent her day on Ocracoke looking for a charming, quaint cottage to put in her new book of Southern Coastal Cottages. The moment she walked into Philip's, she knew that she would choose his. Well, it is wonderful, old quaint, charming, full of history. (See this week's passage on the Sunday Passage site.) She and her husband, Tom, are photographing there all day today.
We invited them to join us in a celebatory pot luck supper for a local woman who just received her PhD. It was to be held out on the lawn, but because of the weather, we all trekked over to the Community Center. As we spread out the food boasting of everything from pasta salads to Ocracoke fig cake (Philip made that!) we all held hands and each, in turn, gave thanks for blessings in our lives.
Following the pot luck we meandered back through puddles and humidity to the house where we gave our ghost and history walk....indoors. We told the stories together with just candle light and the light gusting of the wind through the trees. It was a magical evening. Susan and Tom joined us there as well.
Oh, we are working in the shop as well!
Tonight Philip and I are performing together at the Opry...we are doing an old time radio show using the news of Ocracoke in the 40's.
Tomorrow we are off to Norfolk for the day!
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
A Day Off
Thursday is our official day off (OK, we have a couple of other days too!!)...but it is the day we try to plan nothing!
We began the day by having breakfast with author, Audrey Penn and her friend, Pierre! The talk ranged from book editing to a body's electrical system. Several hours later, we found ourselves on the front pizer sizzling in the summer sun and wondering how to spend that lovely afternoon. Philip appeared to be coming down with a cold so he chose napping in the hammock on the back porch. I, feeling quite well and energetic, took to the beach for several miles of sand walking. I soon left the life guard beach and had miles of sand and water all to myself.
By dusk we were both revived and cooked out late in the back yard. A friend stopped over, shared dinner with us, a bottle of wine and lovely conversation.
It was a wonderful day off.
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
We began the day by having breakfast with author, Audrey Penn and her friend, Pierre! The talk ranged from book editing to a body's electrical system. Several hours later, we found ourselves on the front pizer sizzling in the summer sun and wondering how to spend that lovely afternoon. Philip appeared to be coming down with a cold so he chose napping in the hammock on the back porch. I, feeling quite well and energetic, took to the beach for several miles of sand walking. I soon left the life guard beach and had miles of sand and water all to myself.
By dusk we were both revived and cooked out late in the back yard. A friend stopped over, shared dinner with us, a bottle of wine and lovely conversation.
It was a wonderful day off.
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
First Day of Summer
If the calendar didn't boast the first day of summer, I would have known it anyway. We awoke to deep, heavy muggy skies and temperature. But...still we resist the air conditioning. We have had cool northern breezes all summer and the windows wide open during the night time.
The night time skies are filled with soft scented cedar and the occasional rustle of tree boughs.
I think that might be come to an end this evening as the hum of cool air will make sleeping a possibility.
Tonight Philip tells stories at the Opry and I take tickets.
Afterwards we are heading to the beach for a late night (11:00) walk to celebrate the Solstice.
When my children were home with me, we always had wonderful celebrations on the farm with fairy princesses (and princes)...stories...rose petals...and candles afloat on the pond.
Wherever you are light a candle...a sparkler...sing a song...dance by the light of the moon..or walk hand in hand on the beach.
Happy Solstice
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
The night time skies are filled with soft scented cedar and the occasional rustle of tree boughs.
I think that might be come to an end this evening as the hum of cool air will make sleeping a possibility.
Tonight Philip tells stories at the Opry and I take tickets.
Afterwards we are heading to the beach for a late night (11:00) walk to celebrate the Solstice.
When my children were home with me, we always had wonderful celebrations on the farm with fairy princesses (and princes)...stories...rose petals...and candles afloat on the pond.
Wherever you are light a candle...a sparkler...sing a song...dance by the light of the moon..or walk hand in hand on the beach.
Happy Solstice
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
A Promise Is a Promise is a Promise....
Solstice resolutionss (Yes, I know it starts tomorrow, not today, but be prepared is my first resolution!
1. Be prepared.
2. Take yoga class (twice a week!)
3. Swim or walk every day
4. Write a thousand words a day
5. Write my blog every day
There is more, but that is all I intend to make public!! I'll let you know my Solstice plans later...although it looks like Philip and I will be making a late night trek to the beach to watch the stars and planets on my favorite day of the year.
The Solstice begins at 8:29 tomorrow morning...take a moment to make your own resolutions or just bask in the glory of life.
Lou Ann
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
1. Be prepared.
2. Take yoga class (twice a week!)
3. Swim or walk every day
4. Write a thousand words a day
5. Write my blog every day
There is more, but that is all I intend to make public!! I'll let you know my Solstice plans later...although it looks like Philip and I will be making a late night trek to the beach to watch the stars and planets on my favorite day of the year.
The Solstice begins at 8:29 tomorrow morning...take a moment to make your own resolutions or just bask in the glory of life.
Lou Ann
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
Friday, May 05, 2006
Four boys and a trimmer...
My old trimmer is broken. I tried to fix it...I tried to find a part to replace the broken part...but parts are impossible to find. So, a new trimmer came home with me tonight...after school, even on time. (Well, I did have to coach a skit for a 4-H club skit......)
I was so excited to have my new trimmer. I changed into my work clothes...got my tool box ready, but just could not put it together. (There was only one small screw!) My new neighbor boys (of which there are 4) sent the middle child over. (He is 13) and he knew just how to fix it! A miracle, I said, truly a child wonder.
I mowed and trimmed...took down the protest sign put up by all of my neighbors. OK, just kidding there, but I could see all the binoculars in the other houses on West Street watching me work. Who says a girl can't run her own house????
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
I was so excited to have my new trimmer. I changed into my work clothes...got my tool box ready, but just could not put it together. (There was only one small screw!) My new neighbor boys (of which there are 4) sent the middle child over. (He is 13) and he knew just how to fix it! A miracle, I said, truly a child wonder.
I mowed and trimmed...took down the protest sign put up by all of my neighbors. OK, just kidding there, but I could see all the binoculars in the other houses on West Street watching me work. Who says a girl can't run her own house????
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Fifth grade boys and interpretative dance????
This is my first year in teaching theatre as a requirment. Oh, it has been a great year...fraught with delight and,other thoughts of you've got to be kidding floating in my head!
So, to end this school year and huge Sonnet-a-thon has been planned by my fourth graders. You know, community leaders coming in to the school to read sonnets (even our state representative), reception, and a very ceremonious literary day. I love days like that. This one is, like all others, student directed (by the fourth graders) with a little help from their teacher/director!! Of course, the reception is out of my hands...we may have cookies, but no napkins...punch and no cups or vice versa!!! Teaching them hand shaking is another gift lots of children are void of.....a whole class on hand shaking???
I thought how fun (&^%$$#) to involve the fifth grade students in interpretive dance to Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. By now, (you knew this was coming) I am about to re-evaluate all of my teaching and directing methods. I vetoed socks after yesterday's rehearsal as the boys (notice I said the boys) slid across the gym floor and bounced off the gym floors...allst the while the lovely young ladies are flitting and dancing and freezing on cue. "Stomping," I say is not dancing. "I do not want to hear body parts slapping the floor."
All right, there is still a week to go. How many sick days do I have left?????
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
So, to end this school year and huge Sonnet-a-thon has been planned by my fourth graders. You know, community leaders coming in to the school to read sonnets (even our state representative), reception, and a very ceremonious literary day. I love days like that. This one is, like all others, student directed (by the fourth graders) with a little help from their teacher/director!! Of course, the reception is out of my hands...we may have cookies, but no napkins...punch and no cups or vice versa!!! Teaching them hand shaking is another gift lots of children are void of.....a whole class on hand shaking???
I thought how fun (&^%$$#) to involve the fifth grade students in interpretive dance to Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. By now, (you knew this was coming) I am about to re-evaluate all of my teaching and directing methods. I vetoed socks after yesterday's rehearsal as the boys (notice I said the boys) slid across the gym floor and bounced off the gym floors...allst the while the lovely young ladies are flitting and dancing and freezing on cue. "Stomping," I say is not dancing. "I do not want to hear body parts slapping the floor."
All right, there is still a week to go. How many sick days do I have left?????
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Pearl Drops of Spring
Tonight sitting out on the old stoop of my lovely old house I was surrounded by a canopy of pale pink petals from my crabapple trees.
We had severe rain all day and tonight by dusk, the clouds parted and streams of sunlight lit up the tangled masses of damp grass. As the wind picked up the petals fell cascaded on my hair, on my shoulders...on my soul.
Aaron and Jonah stopped over on their nightly stroll for some "bubbles" as Jonah says. We pulled out the container and as I blew the bubbles mixed with the pearl drops of spring.
Ahh...joy and wonder.
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
We had severe rain all day and tonight by dusk, the clouds parted and streams of sunlight lit up the tangled masses of damp grass. As the wind picked up the petals fell cascaded on my hair, on my shoulders...on my soul.
Aaron and Jonah stopped over on their nightly stroll for some "bubbles" as Jonah says. We pulled out the container and as I blew the bubbles mixed with the pearl drops of spring.
Ahh...joy and wonder.
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Smell of chalk dust and fresh grass...
It is late afternoon in my classroom. My room is in disarray with costumes and props and scripts as varied as Little Red Riding Hood and Hamlet all tossed into the cacophony of the echoes of a day's work.
The night custodian is locking up other classrooms, tidying up hallsway and bathrooms. With my windows wide open on this April afternoon, I can smell the newly cut grass and it blends in with my chalk dust. I should go home, but I just sit here thinking.
Sometimes I wonder how it ends? Will my students attend the Philharmonic when they are grown...get library cards...study Degas's dancers...read to their own children with passion?
All a teacher can do is try...my Dad once said to me if I reach one child it will all be worth it....
Tonight I speak at a banquet to other teachers...telling them how wonderful they are...how important they are.
Yes, I believe it, we are important.
The night custodian is locking up other classrooms, tidying up hallsway and bathrooms. With my windows wide open on this April afternoon, I can smell the newly cut grass and it blends in with my chalk dust. I should go home, but I just sit here thinking.
Sometimes I wonder how it ends? Will my students attend the Philharmonic when they are grown...get library cards...study Degas's dancers...read to their own children with passion?
All a teacher can do is try...my Dad once said to me if I reach one child it will all be worth it....
Tonight I speak at a banquet to other teachers...telling them how wonderful they are...how important they are.
Yes, I believe it, we are important.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Sixth annual Diabetes walk...
Today our county walked for diabetes...and what a beautiful day for a five mile stroll (or the few that were running!) The high school was filled with vendors promoting the local newspaper, various booths giving out free information and pencils...and, of course, diabetes testing along with blood pressure.
By 10:15 we gathered out back of the high school, a prayer was said, the ribbon cut and we were on our way. The day was stunning...we walked five miles in the most scenic of areas..farm fields, ponds, small lakes...the sky was an amazing blue. It was so warm that no one even thought of taking jackets.
We were rewarded with the Lion's Club famous chicken and potato salad when we were finished.
Best of all, we raised a good bit of cash and brought diabetes awareness one step closer to our small town.
In case you are wondering, I finished in the top ten percent!!
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
By 10:15 we gathered out back of the high school, a prayer was said, the ribbon cut and we were on our way. The day was stunning...we walked five miles in the most scenic of areas..farm fields, ponds, small lakes...the sky was an amazing blue. It was so warm that no one even thought of taking jackets.
We were rewarded with the Lion's Club famous chicken and potato salad when we were finished.
Best of all, we raised a good bit of cash and brought diabetes awareness one step closer to our small town.
In case you are wondering, I finished in the top ten percent!!
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
Thursday, April 13, 2006
All in a week....
Last night was one of those great neighborhood evenings in Angola. It was such a beautiful day and everyone was out milling around...biking...walking. Aaron and Jonah came over, and we all just sat out on the stoop for the longest time. Everyone stopped by to chat as we sat there...puppies, babies, old folks, young'uns (as Philip would say!). Jonah loved them all!
As we sat the full moon began to rise in the East..shrouded with bare treetops and wispy clouds, it was a stunning moment.
As darkness fell, the streets became quiet as we all attended our own households...supper on the table...homework to be done...stories to be read.
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
As we sat the full moon began to rise in the East..shrouded with bare treetops and wispy clouds, it was a stunning moment.
As darkness fell, the streets became quiet as we all attended our own households...supper on the table...homework to be done...stories to be read.
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Steuben County Artists
Tonight the artists of Steuben County join forces to establish a long-awaited and long-needed artist guild. Several of us have been struggling with the Second Sunday Artists but have decided to put our ideas together.
Hopefully there will be a great turn out tonight at the library as we begin to see our purpose and place in Steuben County and set as our mission statement to be more visible.
In other news, Jonah and his parents have arrived home (but it was late last night!) so I haven't seen them yet. I understand from emails that Jonah has had a wonderful time the past couple of weeks of Florida...swimming, running on the beach, learning to march (from my Uncle Dean)...has been charming and full of his usual charisma. I'll stop by tonight on my way to the guild meeting to get an overdue "Nannie" hug.
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
Hopefully there will be a great turn out tonight at the library as we begin to see our purpose and place in Steuben County and set as our mission statement to be more visible.
In other news, Jonah and his parents have arrived home (but it was late last night!) so I haven't seen them yet. I understand from emails that Jonah has had a wonderful time the past couple of weeks of Florida...swimming, running on the beach, learning to march (from my Uncle Dean)...has been charming and full of his usual charisma. I'll stop by tonight on my way to the guild meeting to get an overdue "Nannie" hug.
Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com
Monday, April 10, 2006
Daffodils and paint choices...
Arriving home from school by 5:30, I was greeted with splendid sunshine and waving daffodils...neighbors were out walking dogs..riding bikes...painting basketball backboards.
I spent the last hour looking at paint samples for this old house of mine. There are so many choices...my house is white...just white...so I am thinking maybe I should jazz it up a bit...purple...brown..rose...anyone have any ideas for an old house?
I also got the bike out of the garage, wiped down the winter's dirt, and tonight I take it for a spin...
Ahhhh...spring.
I spent the last hour looking at paint samples for this old house of mine. There are so many choices...my house is white...just white...so I am thinking maybe I should jazz it up a bit...purple...brown..rose...anyone have any ideas for an old house?
I also got the bike out of the garage, wiped down the winter's dirt, and tonight I take it for a spin...
Ahhhh...spring.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Signing off for a few days...
Just a note for my faithful blog readers...I will be traveling to Portland, Oregon to spend time with Abe and Kristin. Philip also will be joining us on Monday evening...so I'll close out the blog for a bit. Lots new stories when I return!
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