Happy Valentine's Day...

This photo was taken in England last winter at my mom's wedding.

Happy Valentine's Day to my friends. I also want to wish Philip a Happy Valentine's Day even though he is on the road back home.

We have had a wonderful unexpected month together this winter here in Indiana. I told him it was almost worth breaking my ankle just to spend this time with him.

I know he is anxious to get back to his family and his island, but I loved him being here. Happy Valentine's Day.

Also, to all of you, I hope your day is great...maybe a surprise here or there.

I did find a card and chocolate in my studio this morning after he left. Those are the best kinds of gifts.

This photo was taken at my mom's wedding last year in England. It was such a happy day for all of us.

Until tomorrow,

Lou Ann

One Little Cottage on Ocracoke

Philip's Cottage on Ocracoke

Salutations friends,

 

 

By now everyone knows about the snow on Ocracoke. It is always quite spectacular to have snow where it does not usually fall.

 

This is a photo of Philip's cottage on the island. His cousin, Dallie Turner, took this photo for me. I love how quiet and quaint it looks hidden away from the ocean's lashing tongue and winds howling off the water.

 

By the time Philip arrives back home it is sure to be melted and spring be on its way, but until then...

 

Lou Ann

 



Winter's Art

Salutations!

A few years ago I was attending one of my book club meetings. It was spring, and my good friend, Bert, was showing me her bowling ball garden. She had several balls on re-rod stacks holding up assorted bowling balls. I immediately loved the idea. I already had a blue bottle garden so why not add bowling balls?

I remembered that I had my own bowling bar in the attic of my house so I promptly found it and with some re-rod began my own garden. I, however, only have one work of art in my garden. I decorated it with lovely glitter and all kinds of art and glued all on with a hot glue gun.

This winter my bowling ball has been just as beautiful gleaming in the sunshine and letting the snow add a cap of art!

Hope you enjoy my winter's art. I would love to see what is "blooming" in your garden this winter!

Until tomorrow,

Lou Ann

Maurice McClue

Photo with permission by Sally Schenkel

Dear Friends,

Every once in while I like to pull Maurice McClue's journal off my shelf. It is a lovely hard cover book that I received as a gift from Aaron and Karen. It is a compilation of 38 years of bird watching and nature in Angola. Terri Gorney did the transcribing.

Maurice kept detailed notes of nature including poetry and thoughts of wisdom for almost forty years. I guess he would be the Aldo Leopold of northern Indiana.

In 1991 eighty acres of his land was dedicated as a State Dedicated Nature Preserve by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

This land is open for hiking, writing, dreaming, picture taking, or just wandering about. 

I would love to quote from his journal entry of February 4, 1936:

"This winter up to this time has been one of the most severe I have any memory of, and it would seem that the birds had a premonition it was coming in that very few could be seen during the last few months. Cardinals that have been in town every winter for several years are not here this winter. Food supply largely determines whether birds stay in a country through a winter or not. The winter of 1911 and 1912 was a very long cold winter with much zero weather and yet robins, cardinals and other birds were here all winter..."

I have noticed only a couple of cardinals at my feeders this winter as well, although the sparrows eat all day long. Woodpeckers have also charmed me this winter!

I know there is a copy of this journal at the Angola Carnegie Library as well as in my library. Stop by some day and I will be happy to share it with you.

Until tomorrow,

Lou Ann

The Beatles!!

When I found out my son, Adam, would be in New York this week end, I asked him to take a stroll over to CBS studios and take this photo for me.

During this 50 year anniversary week of The Beatles, CBS redid the marquee to look just like it did 50 years ago.

I was thrilled when Adam sent the photo! 

Some of us remember where we were when we first heard The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. I was with my family in our downstairs family room. We always watched the Ed Sullivan show on television!

How exciting it will be to watch them tonight as they redo the show on CBS.

So, where were you?

Til tomorrow,

Lou Ann

Ray and Rosa together again on Beech Mountain...

Here is a photo of my Mountain Dulcimer. I bought this from Stanley Hicks
when I spent the day at Ray and Rosa's.

Ray and Rosa together again on Beech Mountain...

 Dear Friends,

This week's column features a story on Ray and Rosa Hicks. It is my love story with them. I hope you enjoy it. Please click on the above link for the story first published in KPC today. 

As always, thank you for reading. 

Lou Ann

In the story I talk about Ray rolling his cigarettes on the porch
while we sat outside under his apple trees listening to his tales.
My friend, John Philips, sent me this photo this morning from his
mother's garden. Thanks John!

Mixed Vegetables and the Crescent Moon...

Compliments of EarthSky/Nasa

It is Friday afternoon, sunny and cold in Northern Indiana. On most Fridays I celebrate the weekend or I pack up to work at a festival or some wonderful event.

Today I sit with a bag of mixed frozen vegetables on my ankle while writing away with the sun dropping beams of sunlight upon my portable writing table. 

I still have four weeks to keep my ankle up and off my feet, and I must admit to a bit of fretting. And then...I find this lovely photo from Nasa. It puts things in perspective. 

Each day is like the next for me in this recuperating state. I am not sure of the day or even the month. I am most grateful for folks stopping by bringing conversation or dinner. But each day is different as well as the moon takes us back to full light and the sun will bring warmth in its pathway.

Until tomorrow,

Lou Ann