Sunday, September 28, 2008

Fall Fest in my Home Town

It was the once a year event in Angola, Indiana where the streets are blocked off and folks meander through town walking or on bikes as we celebrate the coming of Autumn.

There were two stages this year...the Main stage and the children's stage as well as roving artists.

I was up early on Saturday to participate in the 5K run...although I walked the run. It was beautiful with a hint of fall in the air as we walked around town early in the morning. By the time the awards were given, the sun was high and the chill was off and folks were perusing the crafts booths and the music was starting.

I looked at the old quilts at the church as the sun slanted in through the stained glass windows, bought homemade candles, listened to music, visited with friends and told stories on the new children's stage. It was great to have friends and neighbors come to my performance!

The day ended with a hoe down at Pokagon State Park. I have been attending this hoe down for at least 25 years! Prairie Fire String Band provided the music as we dance squares and rounds until late in the evening. The parking lot was full of dancers and lookers as some sat in chairs in enjoyed the music from the sidelines. The boy scouts sold coffee and cider and hot dogs to keep us going through the night. The sky was full of stars and the bonfire was enough to keep the chill away.

Today was more of the same music and crafts. I was downtown at 6 when the tearing down began...always sad to have another festival over, but it was a perfect week end.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan is a storyteller, teacher, writer, and dreamer of dreams. She can be found writing late into the night under the light of her red fringed lamp in Angola, Indiana.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Johnny Appleseed Festival, 2008

It was a great week end at the Johnny Appleseed Festival in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We had two absolutely gorgeous days with highs in the 70's and a slight breeze to keep away all the yellow jackets!

The food was phenomenal from apple dumplings to corn fritters...with everything in between. All the crafts were exceptional and built using the tools of the 1770's. Canons, fife and drum participants, cloggers, dulcimer players and bagpipers were around every bend in the old road.

And, of course, there was storytelling. I had full crowds for my shows and loved sharing my homespun tales. The highlight is always Johnny Appleseed, aka, my friend, Scott Mertz!

By the end of the week end, my shoes were covered with dust and straw was still clinging to the back of my old dress, but oh, Indiana in the Autumn is like no other place!

Lou Ann

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Book Signing and Poet Laureate....

I love book signings. OK, I really only have one book, and I share it with other storytellers, but still...

Last week end was spent at a festival in Indianapolis where I was proud and happy to spend the day signing away my book. I have to admit that I wasn't real busy, but I wrote such long narratives in the front that it seemed as if I always had someone!

Sharing my table for the afternoon was the Poet Laureate of Indiana. Norbert Krapf. I was, of course, thrilled to be sharing time with him. We chatted about our work. He is a native of Indiana, moved away for a while and now is back writing full time. Within a few short hours, I decided that I wanted to be poet laureate as well. I do believe it takes more than wishing, however.

I bought one of his books, The Country I Came From, and read it cover to cover when I got home. I loved it. I have already shared it with my students, my friends, my book club members and have corresponded with Norbert hoping that some of his brilliance may rub off on me.

The book is a treasure as are all the others.

Here is a short excerpt from the book:

Queen Anne's Lace

Against a galaxy
of dark greens

this constellation
of whites

within which
tiny stars

pulse the color
of an old

rusty fence
beside which

we stand
and gaze.


Norbert's books and mine are available through the Indiana History Center.

Or you can buy Scenic Routes direct from me. I can guarantee you will love them all.

Lou Ann



Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The Strand Theatre

Last night I went walking at Dusk. My favorite time. The full moon was rising and I decided to go towards the town as opposed to walking by the University. The two small theatres were lit up with their marquee's and there were a few folks strolling in town. I stopped in at The Strand Theatre to check on the time of the movie, The Women, as several of us are going tonight. The ownerr was there, as he always is, and we started talking about the town politics. I felt like a politician as well as a writer as I listened to his complaints and thoughts. I was in tears at one point thinking about the possibilities. The County Council Members walked by as we were talking.

As for my articles? He loves them, but they aren't enough, he said, they aren't enough.

So how do we save small towns in Indiana? I like to think my weekly column makes a bit of a difference, but maybe he is right. Maybe it is not enough.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan is a storyteller, teacher, writer, and dreamer of dreams. She can be found writing late into the night under the light of her red fringed lamp in Angola, Indiana.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Hurrican Ike and Rain in Indiana


My family is in the midst of Hurricane Ike with my parents an hour north of Houston and Leslie and Jack, brother and sister, in Houston. I can't even begin to know where the clean up should begin as I have been watching the news, as I am sure you have as well. Mom and Dad are without electricity, and I wish they would come north to Indiana. They could have stay in my lovely old house or in Fort Wayne with my sister, even if she is in Greece!!

We had six inches of rain ourselves and the above is a lull in the rain as Jonah and Matthew were out with their umbrellas! They did, indeed, find every puddle!!

I can only send thoughts of recovery and patience to my family and others who will have weeks of work ahead of them.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan is a storyteller, teacher, writer, and dreamer of dreams. She can be found writing late into the night under the light of her red scarlet lamp in Indiana or in the wee small cottage on Ocracoke Island.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Adam and Tonya

The past five days have been filled with family, friends and a bursting house. Adam and Tonya flew up for a five day week end from St. Petersburg to enjoy Indiana in the late summer. They were not disappointed with the warm days and cool nights...nights cool enough to toss on a quilt or two.

I am always so happy to have my children sleeping under my roof. I love hearing their voices and just spending time with them. Aaron and Karen and the boys spent time here with meals as well.

Tonya and I spent time choosing house colors for the old house restoration and colors for the inside as well. Adam and I set up a movie screen for my out door movie theatre which began last Saturday evening with all the children in the neighborhood! We sat out under the stars eating popcorn and watching an old Don Knotts movie. Neighbors kept strolling over to enjoy the movie as well. I think it will become a regular here in the neighborhood.

So, tonight it is quiet with house chores and my column to keep me occupied.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan is a storyteller, teacher, writer, and dreamer of dreams. She can be found writing late into the night under the light of her red scarlet lamp in Indiana or in the wee small cottage on Ocracoke Island.

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...