Brookside Mansion

Brookside Mansion, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Today I want to introduce you to the Brookside Mansion in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The first cottage was built in 1889 but was destroyed in a fire. It was  replaced in 1903 by this mansion.

It was built by John Henry Bass (1835-1922), a native of Salem, Kentucky.

In 1944 The Sisters of Saint Francis of Perpetual Adoration bought the home and 65 acres from the Bass family. 

It is now listed as the John H. Bass Mansion with the National Register of Historic Places.

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to have a private tour of the home. Needless to say I was in awe and respect. 

This beautiful piece of history was recognized by Indiana Landmarks and received the coveted Cook Cup in April.

There will be more on this later, but for now, I just wanted to introduce you to  the Brookside Mansion. 

Peony in Bloom

Peonies in bloom in my garden.

One garden at a time comes alive at the White Picket Gardens. In the last two days my peonies have opened in full bloom. They join my Iris garden and my French lilacs. With all my windows open, the scent from these gardens waft through all the rooms in this old house.

I remember peonies in my grandmother's garden. They are perennial and, once established, they bloom for decades. In China these lovely flowers are as important as the plum blossoms.

The peony is the state flower of Indiana. This was decided by the Indiana General Assembly in 1957. It replaced the zinnia. Although I must say, I still love zinnias in my garden.

What is blooming in your garden?

Apology

Dear Friends,

I understand that yesterday's blog did not pay reference to the right column! Please go back and read the story. It was a delightful time traveling to St. Pete to have lunch with my son!

Lou Ann

Salvador Dali, St. Petersburg and my son Adam!

A couple of weeks ago I traveled to St. Pete to have lunch with my son Adam. Yes, it is a long way to go to have lunch, but moms must keep tabs on their kids!

We had a great time visiting, having lunch, walking the town at dinner with late night bistro dinners and his dog, Zoby, of course. Please sit back and enjoy this column and the video at the Dali Museum!

Click here for the story of my travels to St. Petersburg!

Memorial Day

We are truly blessed to live in the heartland - KPC Media Group: Kpcnews

I want to wish each one of you a peaceful and reflective Memorial Day. I also want to thank my grandfather, Walter F. Rhoads, and my uncle, D. Dean Rhoads. Thank you men and all the others for my freedoms.


The above is the link to this week's column. As always, thank you for reading.

The courthouse is my hometown.

Jupiter, Venus and Mercury now within a 5-degree circle | Space | EarthSky

Jupiter, Venus and Mercury now within a 5-degree circle | Space | EarthSky


This is going to be spectacular tonight...don't miss it!!

And the correct answer is......

Hi Everyone! Thank you for your guesses last week on my photo. Yes, indeed, it does look like the Milky Way. I would be really happy if my camera could actually catch that beauty! It is not Arizona from the sky, but great answer as well. 

So here is the answer...they are left over cupcake sprinkles on Abe and Kristin's black kitchen table.

I simply changed the photo to black and white. Amazing how our minds work, isn't it?

Holly and Brianna did the decorating, of course!

Indiana says good night..

Last night I took a bike ride around my neighborhood with Aaron and Jonah. We made a special trip to a hidden little glen which Jonah calls "Roxaboxen."

He chose that name from one of our favorite books by the same name written by Barbara Cooney. The story tells of a group of children long ago who claimed a place in the desert all their own. This was away from adults and full of imagination.

Jonah and his friends have claimed this place as well, although I won't reveal the location!

I stayed a little longer to take a short "Out and About" video. I have had trouble the past couple of months putting these videos on my blog, but I think I have it fixed now!

The video is a bit shaky and you can hear the mosquitoes in the background as well. Enjoy saying good night in Indiana in the spring.

Hope

"I said to my soul be still and wait...

so the darkness shall be the light, and the 

stillness the dancing."

T.S. Elliot

My iris garden this morning.

Singing under the Arizona sky...

Dear Friends and Family,

As always thank you for following my blog, my life story, and my oftentimes fairy tale existence. This has been a week for all of the above.

Here is the link to this week's column. Enjoy!


Click here for this week's column!!

As for the real star in the night sky, here she is before her dance recital!

Brianna before her recital.
Kristin Homan, her mother, was the photographer!

Can you guess?

As you know I am in Arizona this week. I took this photo myself and would love to hear your guesses.

Looking forward to your creative answers!!

Lou Ann

I took this photo with my Nikon D3100

My son Abe, an avid Arizona gardener...

My son Abe moved his family to Arizona a couple of years ago. They considered many southern choices such as North Carolina, Texas, and several others. Abe's main purpose was for the brilliant sunshine and deep blue evening skies and gardening.

Abe grew up to be a tinkerer and that has followed him into adult life. He successfully is the CEO of his own company with his office in his house. (Once in a while he does have to come out and ask the girls to hold down the noise when he is on the phone!)

In the early mornings as well as noon and after five he is the caretaker of his home, his wife, and his children.

I am spending a week in Arizona as a house guest, a Nannie, a mom, and an admirer of his work.

Abe believes in 'walking the earth' with his bare feet every day. It reminds me of one of my favorite bloggers, http://iwalkthisearth.blogspot.com/,  by Cirrus Woods.

I met Cirrus a couple of years ago as he walked across America. 

Here are a few photos I took last night from my son's garden.

As always, enjoy, and thank you!

Dessert in the garden, carrots from the patch. Look who gets the smallest carrot?

Bougainvillea

Morning hibiscus

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day

Here is the link to this week's column. I loved writing this Mother's Day column and hope you enjoy it as well!

Click here for this week's Mother's Day column!

My sister Jessie is in the blue, my brother Scott is the baby, and I am in the pink dress.