Book Signing and Poet Laureate....

I love book signings. OK, I really only have one book, and I share it with other storytellers, but still...

Last week end was spent at a festival in Indianapolis where I was proud and happy to spend the day signing away my book. I have to admit that I wasn't real busy, but I wrote such long narratives in the front that it seemed as if I always had someone!

Sharing my table for the afternoon was the Poet Laureate of Indiana. Norbert Krapf. I was, of course, thrilled to be sharing time with him. We chatted about our work. He is a native of Indiana, moved away for a while and now is back writing full time. Within a few short hours, I decided that I wanted to be poet laureate as well. I do believe it takes more than wishing, however.

I bought one of his books, The Country I Came From, and read it cover to cover when I got home. I loved it. I have already shared it with my students, my friends, my book club members and have corresponded with Norbert hoping that some of his brilliance may rub off on me.

The book is a treasure as are all the others.

Here is a short excerpt from the book:

Queen Anne's Lace

Against a galaxy
of dark greens

this constellation
of whites

within which
tiny stars

pulse the color
of an old

rusty fence
beside which

we stand
and gaze.

Norbert's books and mine are available through the Indiana History Center.

Or you can buy Scenic Routes direct from me. I can guarantee you will love them all.

Lou Ann

The Strand Theatre

Last night I went walking at Dusk. My favorite time. The full moon was rising and I decided to go towards the town as opposed to walking by the University. The two small theatres were lit up with their marquee's and there were a few folks strolling in town. I stopped in at The Strand Theatre to check on the time of the movie, The Women, as several of us are going tonight. The ownerr was there, as he always is, and we started talking about the town politics. I felt like a politician as well as a writer as I listened to his complaints and thoughts. I was in tears at one point thinking about the possibilities. The County Council Members walked by as we were talking.

As for my articles? He loves them, but they aren't enough, he said, they aren't enough.

So how do we save small towns in Indiana? I like to think my weekly column makes a bit of a difference, but maybe he is right. Maybe it is not enough.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan is a storyteller, teacher, writer, and dreamer of dreams. She can be found writing late into the night under the light of her red fringed lamp in Angola, Indiana.

Hurrican Ike and Rain in Indiana

My family is in the midst of Hurricane Ike with my parents an hour north of Houston and Leslie and Jack, brother and sister, in Houston. I can't even begin to know where the clean up should begin as I have been watching the news, as I am sure you have as well. Mom and Dad are without electricity, and I wish they would come north to Indiana. They could have stay in my lovely old house or in Fort Wayne with my sister, even if she is in Greece!!

We had six inches of rain ourselves and the above is a lull in the rain as Jonah and Matthew were out with their umbrellas! They did, indeed, find every puddle!!

I can only send thoughts of recovery and patience to my family and others who will have weeks of work ahead of them.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan is a storyteller, teacher, writer, and dreamer of dreams. She can be found writing late into the night under the light of her red scarlet lamp in Indiana or in the wee small cottage on Ocracoke Island.

Adam and Tonya

The past five days have been filled with family, friends and a bursting house. Adam and Tonya flew up for a five day week end from St. Petersburg to enjoy Indiana in the late summer. They were not disappointed with the warm days and cool nights...nights cool enough to toss on a quilt or two.

I am always so happy to have my children sleeping under my roof. I love hearing their voices and just spending time with them. Aaron and Karen and the boys spent time here with meals as well.

Tonya and I spent time choosing house colors for the old house restoration and colors for the inside as well. Adam and I set up a movie screen for my out door movie theatre which began last Saturday evening with all the children in the neighborhood! We sat out under the stars eating popcorn and watching an old Don Knotts movie. Neighbors kept strolling over to enjoy the movie as well. I think it will become a regular here in the neighborhood.

So, tonight it is quiet with house chores and my column to keep me occupied.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan is a storyteller, teacher, writer, and dreamer of dreams. She can be found writing late into the night under the light of her red scarlet lamp in Indiana or in the wee small cottage on Ocracoke Island.

Pop's Weiner Shop and Wax Lips

On Friday afternoon Jonah and I took a field trip down into our small town...it was fun to be back visiting the shops and my friends after my summer on the Island.



We had 'coffee' at Rachael's, bought candles at Tracy's, and just strolled the walks visiting. We were, of course, curious about the new shop, Pop's Weiner Stand. The store is just wonderful. We strolled in and enjoyed all the art work from the 50's including Betty Boop and 57 Chevy's! The floor is a great linoleum from the 50's as well with black and white checks. We sat on the stools and swirled around while visiting with Greg, the new shop keeper.



We ordered coney dogs and Orange crush off the menu! It was a great lunch and very inexpensive. After lunch Jonah used his pocket money to buy penny candy, that is now a nickel, and I bought the red wax lips. I had to lift him up to the mirror so he could see how he looked!



We bid farewell to Greg and visited several other shops in which Jonah would not take off the lips! He was the town entertainer for the afternoon. By the time we got home, they were soggy and he just chewed them up!



Lou Ann Homan

Lou Ann Homan is a storyteller, teacher, writer, and dreamer of dreams. She can be found writing late into the night under the light of her red scarlet lamp in Indiana or in the wee small cottage on Ocracoke Island.

IndyFringe

Friday night at 5:00, I drove to spend the week end in Indianapolis with Ellen and a few other friends to attend the Fringe Festival.

I was not disappointed.

We started out Friday night watching All About Eve, an old black and white movie (filmed sometime in the 50's). We sat outside on the canal in downtown Indy with a large screen on the lawn. We drank wine, ate popcorn, and spent a lovely evening watching a movie and the sky grow dark with evening stars.

By Saturday morning, Ellen and I were downtown for a fairy tale workshop and perusing the schedule for the Fringe Festival. We parked the car for the day, and walked up and down Massachusetts Avenue watching shows, having lunch (and dinner as well.) We were still enjoying the evening and attended the 10:30 show by storyteller friends of ours from Minneapolis. It was a great way to end the evening, although we did find a late night bar to rehash the show and more stories..always stories.

Sunday we were back at the Fringe and enjoying all of the events.

I drove back late Sunday afternoon and was greeted by a bat which had just been waiting for me!

If you get the chance, the fringe is still going on through Sunday...maybe next year I will have my own show there!

Lou Ann Homan

Happy Anniversary!

This week end was just wonderful as my sisters and brothers surprised our parents with our visits and with a lovely anniversary party! The airport was busy with our arrivals and it was so fun to watch Mom and Dad's reactions as we one by one settled into their Texan home!
The party was full of friends and laughter, and we ended this week end with tears and airport runs. It is difficult to have families spread all over the globe, but when we are together, time stands still. My Dad summed it up beautifully when he came into the kitchen on Sunday morning. He said, "How wonderful to wake up to hear my daughters laughing in the kitchen."

Getting ready to say good bye!

Just like it was 60 years ago!

The food and cake were delicious!

Three proud and happy daughters!

Happy Birthday Adam and Aaron...

Today is the birthday of my twin sons.

I cannot believe they are grown up and well, kind of old! I so remember the day they were born, every moment of that day that they were born. First of all, I didn't know twins were coming, or should I say no one else believed me, I knew it all along! Didn't know they were boys either!

It was the happiest day of my entire life with only the birth of Abe to match it. I loved those days. I look back over their childhood as my happiest, sweetest days. There are times I would like to go back and visit those days...to read to them, watch the stars come out with them, tuck them in at night. Life is so short..enjoy each moment.

Happy Birthday my sons!

Indiana...

I drove through the Blue Ridge Mountains on the Parkway, going out of my way to enjoy this absolutely breathtaking ride. At one point I stopped, pulled out my guitar and played Country Roads by John Denver. I have always wanted to do that!!

I drove into Gatlinburg and found my way to the cabin that I shared with four other storytelling buddies. The cabin had a wonderful huge screened in porch that became the late night storytelling location. Our conversation was accompanied each evening by the late night frogs that sang in great harmony!

The workshop went well, three hours goes by quickly when you have a lot to say, and I did!!

We said our good byes late Saturday night, as I was up before sunrise on Sunday making my journey back to Indiana. It was beautiful watching the sun rise in the mountains as I drove North. The day was spectacular with cool weather and bright blue skies.

I arrived home by 5:30 to the waiting arms of Matthew and Jonah. I was so happy to see them. Karen had dinner waiting..fresh blueberry pie, homemade mashed potatoes, chicken on the grill..it was so delicious.

Have finished the clothes part of unpacking, I think the other 'stuff' will take longer.

The trees are green and refreshing after sand and salt. It will take a while, but I will soon become a Hoosier once again.

Lou Ann

Leaving...

I left Philip at 6 a.m. yesterday morning. My car was/is packed to the brim with summer clothes, my guitar, books, camera, laptop...salt, sand, memories. Philip had also put a pink rose (from his birthday bouquet) into a jar and placed it in the cup holder. It was all I could do to pull away and leave him standing in the early morning mist.

The good news is that the Jeep is actually running after it's long hiatus. The bad news? It sat all summer under a shady tree and the branches were stuck in my windows and the cascading oleander flowers left imprints all over the car. Not really a big deal, the Jeep is old. I really meant to fix the air conditioning, but somehow between all the activities and love of the summer, I just didn't do it. (Yesterday central North Carolina broke the heat record!!)

I read across on the almost three hour ferry ride, then drove through small towns and farmland until I hit the main highway. It was an easy drive, but stopped just short of Asheville for the night. I found a lovely Holiday Inn in Hickory, North Carolina complete with an attached YMCA. I did work out and then had dinner. I made sure I was busy so I wouldn't dwell all night on the fact that I wasn't taking tickets or working in the Opry wuth Philip. We always do our radio show on Wednesday evening!

Today my drive takes me through the Blue Ridge Parkway and then to Gatlinburg. Ellen and I are presenting our standards workshop at the National Storytelling Conference. We should have a lot of fun sharing our work (from two years ago!) with teachers from all over. We have a cabin in the mountains, and the weather sounds delightful there! I will cherish some cool air after a hot summer!

So, I am a long way from home, wherever that is...Indiana...Ocracoke...sigh.

There is always something to miss.

Love to all,
Lou Ann

Going Home...

It doesn't seem possible that my summer visit at Ocracoke is over. It seems as if I just got here and had all these lovely sun drenched days ahead of me. But my Jeep is packed and I have been saying good bye even though I have been trying to lead a normal life with regular activities this past week.

The Women's Opry show was a huge success on Saturday night with a sold out house. The women were phenomenal and I will never forget the magic of that evening.

It was also Philip and Lachlan's birthday and a visit from Uncle Buddy.

The days just fill up here with events.

It has been wonderful golden summer. I know that it will be so difficult to pull onto that ferry early in the morning. I will miss Philip so much, I can't imagine living without him in the next few months.

My travels will be taking me to Gatlinburg and then on home to Indiana. So, farewell for now...

Lou ann

Rumgager Show!

Today I took the time to visit three friends of mine in their local production of The Rumgagers! These three are definitely Ocracoke Pirates who have put together a grand show. It is full of audience participation and songs and stories from the sea. There are pirate jokes and skits, and well, I had a great time!

If you are visiting Ocracoke, stop in on Thursday afternoon at 1:00 for their show at the Deep Water Theatre.

Speaking of shows, the Woman of Ocracoke are working hard each day for our production on Saturday night. We want the men to come to the show, but women only are on the stage! That starts at 8:00 p.m., also at Deep Water Theatre. This Island is just full of talented people.

As for me, I am off to my own rehearsal for my stories for the evening!!

Lou Ann

Haints and Hauntings...

Last night was double duty on the ghost tales...cottage ghost tales and a tour!

I love these cottage ghost tales, because, for the most part, I just wear my pirate dress including black shawl and seashells strung around my neck and head out on my bike.

Last night I was invited by a family who had three boys. We went up to the cozy living room of their rental cottage, lit all the candles (they had purchased some in the day for this event!), chatted a bit (I told them about my three boys and their families!), and then, as darkness prevailed ,told stories. They had asked for some of my scariest stuff, so that is just what I delivered.

I did keep a close tab on the time, though, as I had to whisk away by 9:20 to meet my ghost tour back on Howard Street by 9:30. Philip was taking care of the money and paperwork, and was also was the warm up act for the tour! The folks were delightful with six of them from Ohio!

We strolled the village until the bewitching hour when I left them at the cemetery as I slid into the darkness and went home. Philip and I drank cool ginger ale and just talked over the day before turning out the lights.

Just another wonderful day on Ocracoke.

Lou Ann