Dr. Seuss, we thank you...

Just click here for this week's column!

Here is this week's column, an open letter to Dr. Seuss. (A note for all of you regular blog readers, this is a different from yesterday's post!)

After seeing all the news the past couple of days on the tornado devastations, this column is so appropriate.

As always, thank you for reading.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss....

Dear Dr. Seuss,

Happy Birthday! I know these wishes are being sent up like sky rockets and balloons today in blogs, on Facebook and in elementary schools where children are dressed in characters and eating green eggs and ham, but nonetheless, here are mine.

What can I say to you on your birthday that you haven't been told? I think the world is in a bit of a topsy turvy dilemma. You best know these politics, don't you? The Republicans and Democrats...the same old story. You would think we all would have learned by now.

Gas prices are higher, but then again, I am of the thought that it will help out small towns as we struggle to survive. My little town of Angola? Oh, thanks for asking. We have had a major revitalization project the past couple of years so things are looking good. Still much to worry about...our small theatres, vacated store fronts, and we still don't have bike racks. Hmmm...

The books you wrote? They are still on my library shelves, although they have moved houses with me a few times. They are a bit worn out from over use. Your books have passed through decades of children...my own children, grandchildren and all the children I taught in between.

Lots of schools have dress up day today? Did you ever think that would happen?
Oh, and the big news? Your book, The Lorax, is a motion picture and is in theatres everywhere starting today. I am going to see it tonight with my little grandsons. We are very excited.

We are striving to take care of the environment as you have shown us in your books, and we are trying to keep peace on earth, but wow, that seems to be always difficult.

So, thanks to you for dedicating your life to writing for children and adults around the world. We still love you. I'll check in again next year to let you know how things are going. Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Sadie Hawkins Day!

For more information on why we have Leap Year, click here!

This is Leap Year and today, to be more exact, is Sadie Hawkins Day.

In my high school, the girls could hardly wait for that day. That was the day that you could ask the boys to go to the dance or the movies or dance with you or even more!  We decorated our high school gym with hearts and crepe paper strung from basket to basket. Dan was my high school throb at the time, so he was the one to receive my affections (which weren't much!) It was exciting to ask him to the dance and to be brave enough to actually to that. (It is hard to believe, but I was a bit shy, really!)

Women now are much more independent so this day might go completely unnoticed as we carry on with our life today, but then again....

Happy Sadie Hawkins day, and be brave all my girl friends, just be brave!

Poetry Passage

Yesterday was a sweet warm day. I hung out laundry, filled the feeders, and longed to be out all day as I occasionally (OK, really a lot) looked out my studio window. However, with a big project on the table, I am enjoying this late winter from my windows.

Today's poetry is just a sample of the sounds I heard while being outside for the brief time yesterday. Sometimes a few minutes is enough if we listen with our heart.

Bird song

Church bells

Soft wind

Dogs barking

Rivulets of water slowly flowing

Laundry flapping

A simple moment



Art Out My Window

This week I am featuring art out of my college roommate's window! Sally Schenkel first posted these lovely photos on Facebook and I loved the view out her window in Huntington, Indiana. She appears to have a great camera as well (I won't mention the kind, although I can say it is not a Nikon D40!)

Sally was my roommie for two years at Ball State a few years ago, or as Matthew always says about my past...when the world was new.

My mom always wanted me to get a part time job, and I can only tell you that the stories surrounding my job searches (getting jobs and leaving jobs) are all woven into my stories. They are hilarious tales and most involve Sally as well!

I often tell the story of the time I tried out for Charlie the Cardinal. The deal was that Ball State would pay you an income and you would get to go to the games free!

All my friends went with me to the try-outs in one of the gyms. I was not the only "Charlie" to try out. I did notice, however, that every one else had a routine with music. I had not thought of a routine. I just thought I would walk out with the head on and get the job!

When it was my turn, I put the large and very heavy head on my shoulders and walked out into the gym. I couldn't even see, let alone find the try out area. Someone had to lead me out. When I got to the table of judges, they asked if I had music. Of course I did not. I really didn't know what to do so I just stood there for a moment trying to keep my balance and keep the Cardinal head on my head. Finally I began jumping up and down, flapping my arms as if they were wings and shouting through some small orifice in the head, "Eeeee--eeeee--owowowow---eeeeee-eeeeee-----owowowow." I think I did this for at least five minutes or so it seemed.

When I was finally done, I was sweating all over from wearing that giant, hot head and from jumping up and down. I couldn't find my friends at first, but I could hear them. They were laughing so hard they had fallen out of the bleachers and were on the floor balled up with laughter and tears.

Needless to say, I did not get the job as Charlie the Cardinal.

Here are Sally's photos for Art Out My Window...dedicated to years gone by and yet to come.

Thanks Sally!

The lovely female cardinal at Sally's feeder.

What a great photo this is of the male cardinal.

My weekend in the Twin Cities!

Click here for the story of my whirlwind visit!

As always, thank you for reading my blog! I appreciate you! Here are photos from the trip!

Here is the outside of the Fitzgerald. As you can see, it was  beautiful weekend!

This is the famous Mickey's dinner close by the Fitzgerald. It was featured in the Prairie Home Companion film a few years ago!

Our steady diet for the trip! Bottoms up!

This is just one of the ice sculptures in St. Paul. This particular artist was from Dallas, Texas!

Again,outside of the Fitzgerald.

I took this photo just minutes before the show started!
This is the set for the Prairie Home Companion.

Throwing my hat at the Mary Tyler Moore statue in Minneapolis!

Here is Kathy tossing her hat as well!

"Follow the Heron Home"

This is one of my favorite artists, Karine Polwart, singing "Follow the Heron Home." I first heard this sung on Ocracoke Island by singer Rick Lee, and I have loved it ever since. Rick set up his keyboard in the corner of Philip's small house. As the evening wore on, it appeared to be his turn to perform. With his eyes closed, and so much emotion in his voice, he sang this song. I cried all the way through it.

My guitar teacher has actually written it down for me to learn, but alas, we all know how the guitar playing seems to go.

So on this snowy Friday,  enjoy the music of Karine Polwart.



"The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien

This morning, while sitting in my studio watching the frost begin to melt and drop from the trees, I thought of this book, "The Things They Carried".

It is a wonderful compilation of stories by Tim O'Brien talking about men going to war and what they take with them. They carried love letters, photographs, and so much more.

This was our first county read here in Angola a few years ago. I was so in love with this book that I thought I would be discussing it while pumping gas or with strangers at a party or with, well anyone.

On this quiet, cold morning I am thinking of the things we all carry. What is important to us, what do we carry and where do we carry them?

Looking around my studio, it is easy to see for anyone to see what is important to me...sea glass in a little bottle from Adam and Tonya...jester book ends from my dad...a black and white photo of Aaron and Karen holding baby Jonah...Matthew and Jonah's Valentine bags still full of chocolate...puppets...hundreds of books...a family photograph of Abe and Kristin...my water bottle...bracelets...pens...paper...marbles...

Our space and our thoughts define us and take us where we need to be. My thoughts are not so easily seen as we all mask those on a daily basis. I do believe that writers and artists let these thoughts be know in their work.

I also carry a seashell and a rock in my pocket. They are lovely to hold onto when I need a bit of comfort.

So, what do you carry? Just some thoughts on this quiet Thursday morning. And, if you haven't read the book, I encourage you to do so and share your thoughts with me.

Still waiting...

We wait for the snow, those of us who live in the North. It has been a disappointing winter this year for the simple joys of the winter months.


Some will argue that the heating bills are lower, and that is a fact. But where are the bright cardinals against the snow on the feeders? Or the sound of the plow in the night? Or what about a city shut down for even just a day or so leaving families with books and games strewn across the dining room table with chocolate cookies in the oven? (I know I am a dreamer!)


I even took my bike out of the garage, polished it up a bit and decided I might as well start biking. However, yesterday's brief snowstorm blanketed my town, even though it was slight of hand. I took the above photo in while having a meeting a Rachael's coffee shop. It was a lovely morning.


So, winter, it is not too late. We are waiting, we welcome you.

Poetry Passage

Today's poetry passage features one of my favorite poets, Emily Dickinson. When I was teaching I had a theatre company named, The Emily Dickinson Players. After each rehearsal and before each show, I shared her poetry with the troupe.

A few years ago I visited her home in Amherst and was given a primo tour. I was able to lower the basket out of her bedroom window. Long ago she shared ginger cookies with the neighborhood children. They would reciprocate with a flower or some small token of thank you.

This reading is a bit eerie as it was, of course, never produced by Emily Dickinson. The reading is imposed upon her lips and face.

Enjoy today's passage!

Art Out My Window...

This past weekend Kathy and I traveled by rail from our neighboring town of Waterloo, Indiana to St. Paul, Minnesota.

It was a three day journey...one full day on the train traveling to, one day there, and one day traveling from.

Our destination was the Fitzgerald Theater to see a Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.

The weather was not the normal February weather which would have been twenty degrees below zero and three feet of snow.

These photos were taken from the train on the way home crossing the Mississippi River as well as Miller Brewing Company. Enjoy!

Sketch

The shadows of the ships

Rock on the crest

In the low blue lustre

Of the tardy and the soft inrolling tide.

A long brown bar at the dip of the sky

Puts an arm of sand in the span of salt.

The lucid and endless wrinkles

Draw in, lapse and withdraw.

Wavelets crumble and white spent bubbles

Wash on the floor of the beach.

Rocking on the crest

In the low blue lustre

Are the shadows of the ships.

Carl Sandburg



The moments of our lives..

The heavy grey rain falls out my studio window. The red satin curtains are pulled back letting me view this February scene.

It is a day of thinking and reflecting and, I guess, wondering about life in general.

Today my oldest son Adam (well three minutes older than his twin brother Aaron!) is celebrating his tenth wedding anniversary with his wife, Tonya. Oh, I remember that day so well. Tonya was a family friend and it was easy to just pull her into the daughter-in-law genre. She was my first daughter-in-law. I count on her whenever they visit from St. Pete to become the kitchen fairy! I congratulate them on this day.

Abe married Kristin next in Portland, Oregon. He met Kristin on 9/11 in Santa Barbara. Their two little girls are beautiful, but oh so far away. He is my youngest, and I often find myself calling Jonah by his name.

Aaron married Karen here in Angola on a cold night in January outside in the snow and cold. The reception was here at my house. I filled the house with roses and dinner for all involved. It was a happy night as well. They live close by with continual raids of my refrigerator.

I think of my children often. They are all college graduates and work in different fields. They are all successful with their work and their lives.

I am glad to be a participant in their lives in whatever way that I can.

Here are a few photos, not many, to celebrate this day of family.

Matthew, Jonah and I at our Valentine's Day supper.
Mengting took the photo.

Here is Abe with his two little sweethearts, Holly and Brianna.
Abe and Holly were dressed up for the Love Bug Dance.

This was Adam and Tonya's engagement photo taken ten years ago!

Art Out My Window....

This photo was taken early this morning as the sun was coming up in my hometown.The red lamp is a reflection out my window. It is definitely cold, but peaceful.

When the boys are with me, we have poetry at the breakfast table. This morning I pulled out a collection of poems written by Mary O'Neill, "Hailstones and Halibut Bones".

The poem I chose was "What Is Blue". Here are just a few lines from the poem:

"Blue is twilight,

Shadows on snow,

Blue is feeling

Way down low.

Cold is blue:

Flame show from a welding torch

Is, too:

Hot, wild screaming, blistering Blue-

And on winter mornings

The dawns are blue...."