Back home again in Indiana....

This week's column arriving back home again in Indiana..

Hi Folks,

Here I am back home again with many thoughts, images and blogs that are far overdue.

Enjoy the story!!

Lou Ann

Art Out My Window

Last week was my field trip week with the boys. I attended the zoo with Jonah, Sauders Museum with Matthew and the Tin Caps baseball game in Fort Wayne. It was a wonderful experience to be able to have the time to attend these events and share in them. It was nice to quietly watch them interact with their peers and see the possibilities of one day being grown up men.

In the meantime, let childhood rule their young lives. Innocence and sweetness still is their game.

The top two photos were taken through the bus window as we traveled. Yes, they are good photos, and no, I did not take them. Matthew borrowed my camera for the trip. I think he may one day be an excellent photographer.

The bottom photo was taken at the one room schoolhouse after our lesson!

Wise words from Wendell Berry

The Peace of Wild Things




When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.





— Wendell Berry





This was sent to me by a friend. Perfect for a day where it seems as if so many things have gone wrong, yet here we are. Enjoy.

This week's column...

Click here for this week's column!!


Here is the link for this week's column...sports writing is really not for me!!

Enjoy, and as always, thanks for reading!

Mothers Day in my small town...

I am a person who gets up early, however on this Sunday morning no alarm was set. Actually the clock was even missing as the boy's had borrowed it, but then again I usually don't need the clock.

Perhaps it was because a bunch of us went to the 9:30 showing of Dark Shadows last night at our local downtown theatre. It was fun as we were all together enjoying the late night show, but honestly the movie should be rated no higher than a three!

As we left the theatre almost at the midnight hour, Carolyn's car did not start so we had to jump it there on the square. Luckily we had driven down and I carry jumper cables all the time. So, there we were with shadows lurking, the town clock looming toward the midnight hour pushing her car out to the middle of the parking lot and starting it back up.

I slept with the balcony doors wide open as this late spring air is permeated with the scent of my French lilacs when I was awakened by the voice of Aaron, Matthew and Jonah hollering up at my window. Because I never sleep in, I believe they thought I was dead, but alas, I wasn't.

I jumped up and went out to the balcony where they all shouted, "Happy Mother's Day." In a flash I was dressed and downstairs. Aaron presented me with a bouquet of poppies from his garden and Matthew had written me a lovely letter. We all went to breakfast then as well.

It was a great way to start the morning. My table is adorned with cards and a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Abe and Kristin. Life is definitely very sweet.

To all you moms out there, Happy Mothers Day...enjoy this day, and well every day!

Bringing together Bayh and Sendak...

Click here for this week's story.

I hope you enjoy this week's article. It definitely is a heartwarming story of the school I have loved over the years.

A special pet funeral....

Last week's column...

Hi Everyone, here is last week's column. My friend Kathy lived with her dog, Eddy, for 14 years. The column is about the funeral and feelings about life. We can never have enough of those feelings.

Thanks again for reading!

Great Sendak cartoon...

The New Yorker and Sendak

Here is where I stand on this day...

Mengting graduated with honors.

We spent all week celebrating with nary a free moment.

The Chinese Moon Festival was spectacular.

She is now back in China missing her American family.

We miss her too.

Jonah had his first little league game and was 3/3.

I saw the first hit and just about came off the bleachers.

Aaron is in Phoenix with Abe and Kristin.

Karen is getting ready to leave for Atlanta for her little sister's Prom.

My children come and go like the spring flowers.

I finished my volunteer job, ABC Literacy in the Hendry Park Kindergartens.

Between all of this, I have stories on the road and back home again.

Maurice Sendak died leaving us with memories, stories, dusty books on the shelves and a deep sadness in our hearts.

Dick Lugar lost the election in Indiana. It was time for him to go. I wish he would have left on his own at the beginning of his last term so he could go out with honor.

My garden blooms beautifully.

Mengting's room is clean.

I am once again writing.

This book reads like poetry, Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland

I heard of this book from my eye Doctor's nurse, Jean. As soon as I walked into the office, she said, "Do I have a book for you." She wrote it down on a post-it, and I slipped it into my catch all along with a hundred other slips of paper.

Three weeks ago the paper slipped out. I went right to the library and found the book, Clara and Mr. Tiffany. It was my read to Arizona and back and a bit in between.

It is a fascinating read, and those who are interested in historical fiction, information, and a great story, please go get it from your library. I have bragged about it to everyone I know in person, now it is time to share with you! Let me know how you like it!

Here is a link to Susan's website about the book:

http://www.svreeland.com/tiff.html

Art Out My Window

Once again it is Monday and time for art out my window. This is a view from the window at Sutton's Deli in downtown Angola.

The Deli is my favorite place for lunch, especially on Friday. If I am not working or traveling, I always find a companion to share lunch with on Friday.

This week my son, Aaron, invited me for lunch on Friday. We took a table by the window. It was a beautiful day here in town with lots of folks lunching as we were.

What I love is that I know most of the folks coming in as well. It is nice to chat. You never know what is going to happen on Friday lunches. This week I signed up for harp lessons and was invited to speak at a Mother/Daughter banquet. Not bad for a Friday lunch.

The photo was taken out the window looking out over the square and the downtown circle.

Arbor Day Celebration in my Hometown

Click here for this week's column!

Here are a few photos from the tree planting in my yard. Thanks again to all the young ladies in Shawn Snyder's sixth grade science class at the Angola Middle School!

Blackberry Winter

Dear Friends,

In my part of the world and in my small town, slight hail and a few snowflakes have graced this Saturday. We also have a warning of a heavy freeze tonight.

My garden plants (including the turtle garden) are easily covered, and my raspberries have not bloomed yet!

I do think about my friend, Gary Stroh, who has the best strawberry, apple, pear, and peach orchards in our area. Gary stays open until mid-March with his apples of all varieties and opens back up as soon as the strawberries are ripe.

He also has pumpkins in the fall and Christmas trees in the winter. Gary is one of those old-fashioned self sufficient farmers that we all support in my small town.

Today's cold weather and tonight's heavy frost is often known as Blackberry Winter. It usually appears the first week in May (and we are very close to that!)

Traditionally is comes when blackberries are blooming and the snow drops onto the white flowers.

I don't know when this names first started, but I do know that folks like myself often use the term.

Once Blackberry Winter is over, there are no more cold nights! So, onto the planting which we will discuss a bit later!

So tonight cover those plants, build a fire if you are so inclined, get out that good book and snuggle in for Blackberry Winter. After tonight you will be too busy gardening to do much reading!

Lou Ann