The week in review...

The week has passed in a whirlwind as I packed up my life in Indiana and headed for Texas to be with my mom.

The lists were long every day as I would wake up and add a few more chores. I could never get as much done as possible as friends and neighbors continued to pop in for various reasons.

By 2:00 a.m. on Friday I knew I had it all done and headed to Fort Wayne. Jessie took me to the airport (lifted and carried my bag as well!) and off I went into the heart of Texas.

I found the heat to be quite extreme coming from the lush gardens and sweetness of cool northern Indiana, but continued to walk at night as I always do!

Mom and I have had (and are continuing to have) a wonderful weekend. Some of the time we sorted through dad's things in his library, other times we went out for margaritas and movies!

We have spent the afternoon packing up again as the two of us are going to Ocracoke tomorrow morning. She will be staying a week and there are so many events planned! I know she will have a great time, as will I.

I will post pictures all summer of Ocracoke activities.

So, for now, we made it through Father's Day and we are off for a girlfriend trip to my favorite place.

The above picture was taken at the Whistle Stop Tea Room in Tomball, Texas.


From left to right: me, my niece Kenna, my sister Leslie (Kenna's mom), and my mom. We had a great time visiting, and well, drinking tea! (Iced tea for the summer, by the way.)

 Until Ocracoke, happy Solstice.

Taking a stroll around town...

On Sunday afternoon I was on my way to a graduation party when I noticed a string of Model T Fords on West Maumee (the Main street) of my home town. Always having my camera with me, I quickly parked and went to get my photo.

This is JoAnn and Larry from Youngstown, Pennsylvania. They were with a group called VMCCA (Veteran Motor Car Club of America) and would be staying in our county for the week.

They had been shopping in Angola and having coffee while spreading their coffers into the community, of which we are grateful!

This particular car is a 1913 Ford Model T. We welcome them to town!!

Pickin' and Preservin'

My neighbor opened up her strawberry patch to me yesterday. I think she already 'picked the patch clean' a few times and was tired of strawberries! I brought friends over and we all got to work. (My P.T. gave me the OK!) Within a short time we all had strawberries to take home for supper. I served mine with ice cream and drizzled chocolate syrup last night. I save plenty back for a beautiful batch of strawberry jam. The house smelled heavenly and when I was finished eight lovely ruby-jeweled jars were set to pop. As I cleaned up the kitchen I listened for each one to pop...one at a time. When my boys were little, they used to sit around the kitchen table just listening for the sound which meant jam or pickles or kraut or peaches all winter long!

Kendallvillle Bluegrass Festival

Here is last week's column on the Kendallville Bluegrass Festival! Enjoy!

http://www.fwdailynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7968:Bluegrass-festival-is-as-pretty-as-a-picture&catid=96:lou-ann-homan-saylor&Itemid=136

Wagon Train Grave

Peg picked me up yesterday for a day long field trip to our neighboring town of Orland, Indiana. Peg Dilbone is our county historian and we became friends a few years ago. She often confesses that she wishes she had a cot in the library. If I ever need Peg, I just walk down to the library and there she is.
She has been telling me about the wagon train grave ever since I met her, so yesterday was the day to visit. We traveled the rural roads into Orland, turning and twisting here and there following the lush landscape on this June day.

Finally we were there, and it was as amazing as I knew it would be. The grave had been mowed and a bouquet of plastic tulips had been placed on the grave. There is controversy about the story, but no one exists to ask so we can only go by research (of which there is none), family records and folklore.
The story is that the child died on the trail and was buried by the road, probably so the family could come back and find the child. The grave stone was replaced in early 1900 giving the child the name of the nearby farm owners. Here is how it reads:

Fowler Elias

Son of

Albert and Lovina

Robinson

Died July 29, 1848

Age 1 year 2 months

22 days

I took some photographs and then we moved on to the Underground Railroad which was prominent in Orland in the 1840's and 50's. It was a wonderful day...full of history, friendship, and reverence.

Girls Pot Luck

It was a beautiful June evening as the Monday night pot luck ladies and I sat out under the old maple tree sharing dinner and stories.

I started this pot luck tradition a couple of years ago and am always delighted as to who shows up and what do they bring! Often new women approach the back door a little timidly until they are brought into the ring of friendship.

We laugh, drink wine, tell stories, share secrets and just enjoy each other's company. Last night was no exception although my neighbor and friend, Lee, was racing the clock to finish up a project in the kitchen. It was one of those disastrous projects that ended up back where we started, and now I am wondering if I should just leave well enough alone!

We sat outside as the sky grew dark and I had to haul out jackets and sweatshirts for the group. I love this June weather, so cool and lovely. As always, the evening came to an end and we all bid each other adieu as we won't meet again until September. Lots of stories will pass by then.

I closed up the house, added an extra quilt to the bed and slept into until the morning light.

Back to a little gardening and magical herbs...

I love gardening, everyone knows that. It has been difficult to not just bend down in the scented gardens pulling weeds, planting new herbs...just quietly working in the sweet shade of day.

However, my Dr. said a little light gardening would be acceptable. I realize it is very minimal, but I understand the consequences should I jump right into the work, so it has become quiet, gentle work for me. Sometimes I just direct others for the work.

I have set up a small potting area for my work! I also thought I would occasional share herbal lore with you. I decided everyone loves lavender in their gardens, so let's start there!

Lavender is a masculine plant ruled by the planet Mercury. The properties of lavender bring love, protection, sleep, chastity, peace and happiness.

It has long been used in love spells and sachets for dressers. During the Renaissance area it was used by women, along with rosemary, to preserve chastity!

So, whatever your wishes, plant lavender in your garden for love, for chastity, for sleep, or just for beauty.

Under the Maple tree....

My grandmother's quilt

Years ago I inherited quilts from my grandmother and my great-grandmother. They were tucked away in a trunk and had never been used. There were also lovely pillowcases with lavender and pale green French knots. I was told that my great-grandmother made these quilts with very poor vision.

I love and cherish these quilts, and I do use them. They are folded and tucked away at the end of the beds in this old house. Today I hung one out to just blow out the cobwebs and it looked so lovely under the Maple tree that I took a photo...for times gone by.

Maybe too much CNN

I know that we are immersed in this situation every moment. A friend of mine is even re-writing a John Prine song that I will print when he has it ready, but I cannot stop thinking about this problem. Someone put an end to this madness! If you have not seen the two articles below, then take a look at them now.

http://www.comcast.net/video/pics-oil-slick-affects-wildlife/1513272482

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.comcast.net%2Fvideo%2Fpics-oil-slick-affects-wildlife%2F1513272482&h=ed61e

Oil from gulf could reach N.C. before July - Nation - NewsObserver.com

Oil from gulf could reach N.C. before July - Nation - NewsObserver.com

Memorial Weekend in my Small Town...

Kathy and I with the King of Bluegrass, Greg Cahill

I know Memorial Day is a big event for everyone...parades, cookouts, services to name a few. I, however, wanted to show you how we celebrated the week end in my small town. The days were filled with lemonade stands, garage sales, a bluegrass festival, gardening, and, of course, a service on our town's center mound.

Jonah planting his sunflower seeds.  Avrie and Matthew selling lemonade!

The Mound

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!