Monday, October 30, 2006

Halloween Eve...

It is the perfect evening to prepare for goblins and haints. The day was warm and sunny, but by the time I arrived home from school, dark thick clouds had rolled in and the north wind had picked up. It was eerie, enough so that I looked over my shoulder onece, twice before carrying my briefcase and such into the garden gate.

My voice mail was full of young voices looking for extra pieces to costumes for tomorrow night...I think I must be known as the costume lady for the neighborhood.

Last night was our town celebration of Steuben County Read. Julia Meek, NIPR radio personality, was our guest speaker. She shared Haitian folkloric traditions as well as stories. I, of course, spent the evening sharing stories with her as we enjoyed the Haitian dinner provided by the Read committee. Our book is Mountain Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder.

It was a wonderful evening. I love living in town so that I can walk to enjoy these programs. When the evening came to a close, I gathered up my black cape and made my way home enjoying the Halloween sights and sounds in the neighborhood.

Tomorrow night I will come home to light pumpkins and be ready for greeting the trick or treaters that will permeate the darkened streets of Angola.

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor lives in Angola, Indiana which is nestled in the hills of Northern Indiana. When she is home at the White Picket Gardens you can find her gardening or writing late into the night under the light of her frayed scarlet lamp. She is a storyteller, a teacher, a writer, an actress and a collector of front porch stories.

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Haunting tales

I love the week prior to Halloween, although my car and microphone do get their work out! I often think of myself as the Queen of Haunting tales..I guess I have lots of reasons for that..my Mom was born on Halloween (oh, why wasn't I)...I was born on a full moon in July (wasn't I, Mom?)..and I love capes.

I often rehearse my stories in the quiet of The House At White Picket Gardens. I have also been known to rehearse my stories in cemeteries and the like...

Today I have three shows to finish out the season. It is a haunting day...windy and cold. Leaves are twirling and spilling around my cozy house. But alas, alas, time to gather the cape (I'll leave the broomstick behind for this one!) and head out to Ohio.

Tonight is my 15th year show at Pokagon State Park with my friend, Steve Etheridge. We share one show together each year, and this is it. It promises to be another spooky, bat flying evening.

And a haunted Halloween week end to you and yours.

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor lives in Angola, Indiana which is nestled in the hills of Northern Indiana. When she is home at the White Picket Gardens you can find her gardening or writing late into the night under the light of her frayed scarlet lamp. She is a storyteller, a teacher, a writer, an actress and a collector of front porch stories.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Masquerade Ball!!

Last night Roy, our phys ed teacher, and I hosted a Masquerade Ball...actually it was sponsored by the Student Council, but we are in charge of the student council!!

It was a great evening for all...by 3:00 the gym had been transformed into a replica of a haunted house...lights, pumpkins, a blow up spider (a parent brought that in!), cobwebs, balloons, and my DJ stand decorated for announcements and music.

The food was ready as well...the typical fare..hot dogs, cider, candy, pop...we were ready just in time as ghost and goblins, actually pirates and witches and soda fountain gals and twin Scarlet O'Hare's descended upon us with their dollar.

We danced, played wrap the mummy, judged costumes, and let them be fifth and sixth graders away from state standards and guided reading...

They had a wonderful time..so did we. After we bid them farewell, we picked up the pieces, decided it was a good time, and then scrubbed the tables.

Today will be back to normal...but last night was their Masquerade Ball, and mine too!!

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor lives in Angola, Indiana which is nestled in the hills of Northern Indiana. When she is home at the White Picket Gardens you can find her gardening or writing late into the night under the light of her frayed scarlet lamp. She is a storyteller, a teacher, a writer, an actress and a collector of front porch stories.

Sunday, October 22, 2006

October's Book Club

With a chill in the air and an extra sweater draped over our shoulders, our book club shared a warm campfire on Snow Lake. All nine of us were present as we pulled our chairs closer to the fire as the sun set in a sapphire blue sky over the water.

We had intended to eat dinner in the house and then follow the path to the campfire, but the day's end was too lovely, and we all knew that snow and winter will soon be upon us. We balanced books and a delicious white bean chili with homemade crusted bread and steaming cups of hot cider as we first told the stories and the events of the past months. (With nine women, there are many stories and events!)

Alas, alas, we finally were on to the book, The Color Purple, by Alice Walker. The book was published in 1982 with Ms. Walker receiving a Pulitzer Prize for her work. The book was a controversial piece of literature of 1982, especially for a woman writer. We tried to imagine reading it for the first time and yet no one could remember the movie, although we knew there was one. Several of the members found the book blandly written without the flowery language we all adore, but we took an in depth look into the history of the book and the author and realized, of course, the reasons for this type of writing. When it came time to give the book (five pages being the top score), the vote settled on four. I gave it a perfect five, but was out voted!

Our conversation turned towards other books we had read during the month and book events taking place within out county.

The inky black sky brought our breathes in wisps as we toasted marshmallows for s'mores and again resumed our idle conversation. It was late when we pulled our chairs back up to the patio and warmed our hands once more by the campfire knowing that it would be the last for many months.

Next month our read is Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman, why not join us?

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

A Storyteller's Mecca

It is late, and I am still at school finishing up for my short week. I love the quiet hours of school when everyone is gone, and I can work quietly. My day was long starting with 7:00 spell bowl and ending with after school arts, but now I sip tea and watch the sun set on the corn field out my window.

After I close down my room with lights and pumpkins all off and umplugged, I will journey down to Ellen's as we get ready to leave for Tennessee early in the morning for the National Storytelling Festival.

It is a mecca, a journey, a quest, a place to renew stories and soul and friendships.

I missed last year, and I so I am anxious to smell the mountain air...walk the old streets of Jonesboro...move from tent to tent listening to the best of the best storytellers...and renew friendships.

So, until next Monday, let the stories be told!!

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor lives in Angola, Indiana which is nestled in the hills of Northern Indiana. When she is home at the White Picket Gardens you can find her gardening or writing late into the night under the light of her frayed scarlet lamp. She is a storyteller, a teacher, a writer, an actress and a collector of front porch stories

Monday, October 02, 2006

Welcome October!

October Haiku

laboring cricket
tucked behind kitchen cupboard
Autumn's lullaby

drifting russet leaves
canopy on shadows
tears of Autumn's dusk

traveling spinners
swirl towards their destiny
solitude once more

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor lives in Angola, Indiana which is nestled in the hills of Northern Indiana. When she is home at the White Picket Gardens you can find her gardening or writing late into the night under the light of her frayed scarlet lamp. She is a storyteller, a teacher, a writer, an actress and a collector of front porch stories.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Lap tops and things in the back seat...

With an ailing laptop I tried to get this blog out until it absolutely refused to give me one more piece of writing....but really I just can't complain. My laptop was 8 years old, and had given me more service than I had ever expected. That old laptop has traveled with me everywhere I have journeyed to...and more!!

When I delivered it to Staples and purchased my new one....it was like leaving a member of my family in the hospital or something like that. Of course, I retrieved it along with the new one as I left a week later after all my files had been transferred.Yes, I so love my old laptop..I mean, when we were kids we used to lock ourselves in the car when my parents tried to sell it...but I must confess. I brought the new one in and was immediately hooked on it.

The old one? Still in the back seat of my car...OK, I'll get it tomorrow.So, we are back in business.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor lives in Angola, Indiana which is nestled in the hills of Northern Indiana. When she is home at the White Picket Gardens you can find her gardening or writing late into the night under the light of her frayed scarlet lamp. She is a storyteller, a teacher, a writer, an actress and a collector of front porch stories.

Spring break in St. Pete...

  Adam and his pups! The late-night flight is full. Everyone is heading out for spring break. Students and teachers, moms and dads, kids and...