Poetry Passage

This week's poet is Aldo Leopold. Leopold was an essayist from Madison, Wisconsin. I first became aware of his writings and philosophies through Fred Wooley, our naturalist at Pokagon State Park. Fred refers to Leopold's writings often in his own talks.

This past winter, storyteller and friend, Jim Fitzer has developed a one man show on the life of Aldo Leopold. The show opens this month at the Chattanooga Theater Center in The Circle Theater in Chattanooga. The show dates are April 18, 19, 25, and 26. The show begins at 7:00 and the tickets are on sale for $10.00. If I lived closer to Jim, I would be first in line for a ticket! For more information on Jim and his work, please check him out at www.jimfitzer.com.

I chose to share with you a part of an essay Leopold wrote for the beginning of April, the piece is entitled, "Bur Oak".

Following the essay is a photograph I took at Pokagon State Park yesterday. It is what was the origin of today's blog.

"Have you ever wondered why a thick crust of corky bark covers the whole tree, even to the smallest twigs? This cork is armor. Bur oaks were the shock troops sent by the invading forest to storm the prairie; fire is what they had to fight. Each April, before the new grasses had covered the prairie with unburnable greenery, fires ran at will over the land, sparing only such old oaks as had grown bark too thick to scorch. Most of these groves of scattered veterans, known to the pioneers as 'oak openings,' consisted of bur oaks."

Aldo Leopold from his book "A Sand County Almanac".



Art Out My Window



This photo was taken from inside the evaporating room at Maple Wood Park in LaGrange, Indiana on March 18th.

Every year I visit Maple Wood Park to celebrate the beginning of spring at the sugar tapping festival. It is a wonderful weekend where folks can go out into the sugar groves on the wagons pulled by Draft horses. This year there was a wonderful marionette show by Scott Beam featuring his own puppets.

The Lions Club of LaGrange cooks pancakes and sausage for all who enter (for a few dollars). This is an all you can eat pancake breakfast with fresh maple syrup from the sugar camp.

For me, this is the ritual into spring. It is a wonderful way to begin the thawing of the earth and the blessings of the rising sun.

This festival is held the third weekend of the month of March every year. Mark your calendars now!

Click here for this week's column on the trip to Notre Dame with Mengting. Enjoy!

Mengting and I just spent the weekend at The University of Notre Dame. She is considering it for her PhD. I hope you enjoy the story! As always, thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. Here are a few photos I took on the Notre Dame Campus.

One of the first Saints, sorry I don't know his name!

Mengting dancing her away across the campus.

In front of the undergraduate building. This golden dome can be seen while flying over South Bend.
We went through it in the early evening whispering. It was built in 1892.

This is a statue of Jesus inviting all to come to him.

The redbud trees were magnificent.

A huge statue of Moses outside of the library. I believe he is saying, "Let my people go!"

This art is the symbol for peace in the world. It is stunning from all sides and very moving to the soul.

Step Gently Out by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder

I am so excited to share this new book with you. Helen Frost has been a friend of mine for a long time. She is gentle speaker, writer, and is always in touch with our environment.

She and Rick Lieder will be presenting their new book, Step Gently Out, on April 6 at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. The reception is from 6-8.

I love showcasing the work of artists on my blog, and I am delighted to showcase the work of Helen Frost. Come on out to the museum, you won't be disappointed in any way! I will be attending as well and getting my own autographed copy!

Congratulations to Helen and Rick.

Nuvo's review of my show, The Charley Creek Inn

Here is the Nuvo review for my show this past weekend. Yes, I am the first to  wish I had more than three stars. Alas, alas. I also received three stars last summer for my Virgin Nudist show. It is good to know there is alwayas work to do to make the shows better. Thanks to Rita at Nuvo. It was nice chatting to her afterwards.

http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/review-windows-over-wabash/Content?oid=2434502

Garden fever...

Here are just a few photos from the seed display at Rural King, my favorite store!

I love the colors of these garden flowers, someone at Rural King knows how to display in pure art!

There was no way I was not going to buy these seeds!

With the warm weather last week, the gardening bug has definitely hit northern Indiana. Every time I go into Rural King it is full of folks...buying seeds, looking at baby chicks, buying tillers. Maybe it is because it is spring and we all have the fever or is it possible that we are ready to take control of our own food. I would like to think it is a bit of both.

I am a careful shopper. In fact, my "grocery" shopping takes quite a while, especially in the summer. Fruits and vegetables I get from my local farmer's market, meat from the local butcher shop (when indeed I buy meat), eggs from my local farmer...well the list goes on...honey, maple syrup, etc. I also like growing my own vegetables in my garden as well as herbs and my beautiful raspberries that feed the neighborhood when I am gone!

When I am not out on the road, I divide my time between writing (and all that goes with that!), photography out and about, and working in my garden. Onion sets, potatoes, and peas are ready to go in the ground, and thank you for asking, but the turtle garden is growing beautifully.

Indeed my turtle gardening story is the tip of the day for any gardener. You can turn any old child's swimming pool or sandbox into a wonderful salad garden with very little work. (Check out my Turtle Story.)

Today I hope to also attach my new rain barrel, a gift from Kathy!

Tomorrow my secret for homemade whole wheat bread, and a new fairy tale!



Poetry Passage

This is a typical Saturday morning at my house...full of readers and writers. Matthew (right) and Jonah love my library full of books as well as tablets for writing.

Today's Poetry Passage features a poem by Jonah Homan. He is seven and in the first grade. This is the first time he has been published. Enjoy!

Armadilloes

Armadilloes every ware

I love Armadilloes, Armadilloe, Armadilloes

so much.

Armadilloes.

 I'll die if I don't get one.

My life will never be the same agin.

I hope I'll get one or I will be one because

I love

Armadilloes.

Jonah Homan