Our Lady, Columbia

I was biking through town this afternoon trying to avoid the rain and struggling against the rain when I looked up.

There she was right in front of me, Our Lady, Columbia. Needless to say I pulled my bike over and took out my camera.There is something wonderful about Columbia in all types of weather, and I believe I have photographed her in all elements.

She is always beautiful no matter what.

This is the Civil War Monument put up in Angola during the first world war. Up until that time there was a small lake and a place for horses to be tethered while folks did their shopping on the square. Now she proudly holds court in my small town.

Until tomorrow.

Arbor Day Weekend

Nothing is as lovely as a tree - KPCNews: Kpcnews

Please click on the above link for this week's column and leave me your own "tree climbing" story!

Here are some of my favorite guys at the Adopt-a-Tree Festival: Matthew, Art Eberhardt, Aaron, and Jonah.

Again, favorite folks: Lee, Bonnie and Jonah

This is my favorite photo of all: Aaron, Matthew and Jonah sitting on the Aldo Leopold bench at Wing Haven. When my children were young, they sat on the same pier.

I am going to become a hiking fool now that my recovery is going well!

"I think that I shall never see...."

Marion's Woods

My hometown is known to be a City of Trees. This past week has proved to be no exception.

There were trees given away at the Adopt-a-Tree festival on Saturday. I chose a black gum tree to be planted on my side yard. Aaron took home dozens of white pine for his new house to use as a wind and snow buffer.

Yesterday, day of caring, I helped bag up 500 trees to be given to all the fifth graders in the county. This was attended by a high school class and the Trine group, S.P.E.A.K.

Today the sixth grade students are out and about planting trees in yards. Another one is coming my way today. They tag the tree and everyone signs it; I am just sorry I will already be at school when they arrive. They are energetic and great fun to be with!

I took the above photo during a hike at Marion's Woods last fall. This is a small wooded area in town that is now in preservation. It was a long struggle to save this woods, but there are many good people in this town.

It was named Marion's Woods after Marion Eberhardt who was one of the founders of our land trust organization, Acres.

How nice it is to get on the bike and ride over to a small woods to spend a few moments in solitude with nature.

I loved this poem by Joyce Kilmer as a child, I hope you enjoy it as well. 

Trees

I think that I shall never see 

A poem lovely as a tree. 

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest 

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast; 

A tree that looks at God all day, 

And lifts her leafy arms to pray; 

A tree that may in summer wear 

A nest of robins in her hair; 

Upon whose bosom snow has lain; 

Who intimately lives with rain. 

Poems are made by fools like me, 

But only God can make a tree. 

Joyce Kilmer

Happy Birthday Shakespeare!

Here I am rehearsing Shakespeare for our Sonnet-a-Thon last week.

Now that I am out and about once again, there is so much to do and so much to write about.

Today is the 450th birthday of The Bard, aka Shakespeare. Last week we celebrated his birthday by reading all the 153 sonnets. It was such a fun day on the campus with folks buzzing about discussing sonnets and such. In my speech class each student read a sonnet. They all dressed up and were so professional. How could I not give A's all around? I offered extra credit for anyone coming in Shakespearean costume, but I was the only one.

I am rehearsing in the above photo in the gallery!

Today also marks the national Day of Caring. I will be bagging up trees over at the park today and sending them off to be planted. Luckily I won't have to plant all the trees myself.

Tonight is World Book Night. Currently this event is celebrated in many communities, especially on college campuses. We will be celebrating at Trine University from 6-9 tonight. Bring books to exchange for other books! I have already send a box over from my library.

So, without further adieu, it is time to hop on my bike and participate in all the lovely activities in my small town.

Until tomorrow.

End of winter...

End of winter in my backyard.

Signs of spring are poking up through the ground, but our northern trees still look like it is the dead of winter.

I took this photo of my backyard to show we just are taking our time getting to spring this year.

The Easter weekend was stunning with warm sun soft breezes. There were so many events in my hometown from the Adopt-a-Tree festival to the Beatles to the Easter egg hunts.

Today I was able to prune my raspberry bushes and my roses. Oh, I never wish to be anxious for another day, but I am looking forward to leaves on those trees. 

Until tomorrow.

Blackbeard and crew appear in 10th Hendry Park production - KPCNews: Home

Blackbeard and crew appear in 10th Hendry Park production - KPCNews: Home



Dear Friends,



Yes, Blackbeard and the Pirates have arrived in Angola, Indiana for this week. Missoula Children's Theatre is here and has worked with the students of Hendry Park for the past week. It has been a great week and a fun week as the directors, Daniel and Coryn, are staying with me.



Here is a short video of one of the earlier rehearsals. There is more to follow including my Saturday column!!



Lou Ann



P.S. Jonah is the last one on the left with the Beach Bums!

Take Back the Night

Last night was the nation wide "Take Back The Night". In our town this event is celebrated at Trine University.

The event is to bring awareness to sexual assault to men and women. The boys' football team came to the event wearing high heels to represent walking in the footsteps of the young women.

It was a beautiful spring night and the campus was full of students and community members participating and pledging in this event.

We walked to the mound, circled around and came back to the campus. The streets were closed for that short amount of time to allow for the students to march and chant.

I think the event left us feeling stronger and safer in my small town.

How was the event in your town?

Until tomorrow.

It is indeed April, with all its elements...

It is indeed April, with all its elements - KPCNews: Kpcnews

My back yard.

The day I wrote my column we had two inches of rain followed by very high winds. I took this photo in the early morning while the world was still covered with fog.

This week's column is a mix-match of lots of stories...Farmers Almanac, King Lear, Edna St. Vincent Millay...and the list goes on.

I hope you enjoy this column and my back yard. Just click on the above link.

I will keep you posted as the world begins to dry out.

Until tomorrow.

Pen Pals

Every once in a while I get a package from France in the mail. The package is from my pen pal, Micky Mireille, who lives in a small village in France.

Our acquaintance began on Facebook and we have never met in person. Even though I have never sent a package to her, I love I continue to receive small bits in the mail from Micky.

Her writing is flowery and curvy much like a French garden must be. Micky shares family details, weather, along with her mastery of cooking and gardening.

This last month she enclosed a copy of a watercolor of the village where she grew up, Aubenas in Ardeche. I love her stories of primary school where her mother was the only teacher and then moving on to secondary school.

Micky's words are like music and her invitation to visit is intriguing and is being considered.

I love having pen pals at any age. I think maybe they are wasted on our fourth graders. So, Micky, watch the mail because one of these days you will receive a small bit of mail from Indiana.

Until tomorrow.

Warm Showers

Anna's video

As most of you know, I belong to a group called Warm Showers. This is an organization that hosts bicyclists who are traveling across one's area.

I am on a well-traveled route and host many of these folks during the warmer months. I provide a bed, shower, supper, breakfast and lots of conversation. Even when I am not here, my house minder takes care of these cyclists.

The folks come from everywhere and every country. This past Autumn I hosted a young lady from London, Ann McNuff. She was bicycling across America hitting every fifty states.

When she returned home she made this video. It is a wonderful short video about her travels. 

Please just click on her name and the video will appear. It is a wonderful compilation of her travels.

I am looking forward to another season of bicyclists as soon as the snow is gone!

Until tomorrow.