Art Out My Window

This Monday the Art Out My Window is the window looking out from Philip's shower on Ocracoke. This is definitely my choice of shower...outside under the cedars and yaupons. I have to admit that I only use it in summer, but Philip showers every morning, even in winter, outside mixing steam and frost in the early morning air.

One morning I was looking out the window in the kitchen and the sun was streaming in the beautiful stained glass window through the outside shower, and I knew this would be my favorite picture of the week. Enjoy!

Farewell to Ocracoke

Today my suitcase is packed, my laptop and camera are securely in place in their bags, and today I say Farewell. A long journey by ferry, car, and eventually the train in Virginia to carry me back to the Midwest.

This January has been my first winter month to be here on Ocracoke. It was much more wonderful than even I had expected. I will miss the beauty of winter on this island, my friends, activities, and I will miss Philip. This photo was taken on our beach walk last night at Southpoint. It was brilliant.

Farewell until Spring.

Edgar Allan Poe party on Ocracoke!

Click here for this week's column on the Edgar Allan Poe party!

My annual Edgar Allan Poe party was held on Ocracoke this year. I hope you enjoy the article! We had such a great time. Here are just a few photos from the evening!!

Thanks to my Ocracoke friends for coming to the party, wearing black and participating in the discussion and readings. Thank you are well for making me feel so welcome during this winter month.

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore!"

Lida and Sundae



Bill, David and someone else?

Gary and Leonard



Don, Betty, Chris

Philip and I

Philip, Merle and Jim



Emmet with his dad, Rob

101 Things I Learned While Sailing

The other day Philip received a packet in the mail. Inside was a mini-manuscript from a fellow he met on Ocracoke. This man and his wife were sailing through and stopped here to visit. Quickly he and Philip became friends and actually went clamming.

The mini-manuscript was titled, 101 Things I Think I Learned While Sailing. There was a bit more, but I will leave all names out of this piece!! (I didn't really ask for permission.)

I found this fascinating to read, as well as thinking...hmmm...we should all write down the 101 Things I Think I Learned While.....you fill in the blanks!

Here are a few of theirs, just enjoy them! (Don't worry, I did not copy all 101 things!)

3. Your dinghy is your car and becomes your lifeline to civilization.

11. When in question whether or not to stay put, and you are in a safe harbor, stay put.

15. James Michener bought a house on San Domingo Creek in Maryland and lived there for two years while he wrote his epic novel, "Chesapeake."

18. Piracy is alive and well!

33. Meltdowns happen.

37. Everything tastes better on the boat.

46. Boats leak.

51. Attitude IS the difference between an ordeal and an adventure. It's all up to you!

58. Always have a spare everything. Everything.

60. Listen to Elvis.

65. If you don't have what you need, make something else work.

88. Nine-and-a-half million bricks were used to build Fort Macon, North Carolina.

89. I feel comfortable in my sarong.

98. Dreams do come true and miracles do happen every day.

100. "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." Friedrich Nietsche.

101. Blackbeard the Pirate left behind no buried treasure.

Thanks to the Mullen family for taking the time to write up what they have learned...now it is our turn!

Art Out my Window....

Philip and I went on an Ocracoke cottage tour this weekend. We strolled the old pathways, climbed over  tree roots, and found ourselves peering out of dusty windows. All of the photos are from inside these old cottages. All are similar to Philip's cottage and were built between 1860 and 1880.

The quietness and beauty spoke volumes as we gingerly walked where those have walked before. In that dusty placidness, we listened to the echo of their voices and once-upon-a-time music upon the hearth.

Hurricane Irene

Hi Folks,

I have been asked by several people to keep them updated on Hurricane Irene. I decided to just post Philip's blog. He will keep everyone updated for as long as he can. Tourists left today and many local families with children will be leaving tomorrow. Philip will not be leaving. I am in the middle of the IndyFringe, but I am thinking of Philip and Ocracoke. I know this sounds strange, but I wish I could be there with him now. Thanks for all your thoughts. Please check his blog for the most current information.

Ocracoke has become a wonderful place for me and for my readers as well.

Thank you.

Lou Ann

Just click on here:  Philip's Blog for Hurricane Updates

Becoming a Hoosier Gypsy!

This week's column! (Just click on the site!)

Enjoy this week's column published on Saturday by KPC publishing company!

The Studio

My mom spent the last three days with me here at White Picket Gardens. She was here for the 'retirement festival' and then spent the rest of the summer with my sister's family in Fort Wayne. I was glad to have her to myself for just a few days.

We were extremely busy gallavanting around to parties and get-togethers. It is nice to know that I can pick up exactly where I left off in the early summer.

I left the door to my studio closed, even though I have work to do. The truth is, with all the events of the spring, it became a catchall. The studio was full of well wishing cards, unpacked clothes from Ocracoke, supplies to take to the Fringe, Matthew and Jonah's last day of school papers! OK, you get the picture.

Wow, I thought, this is my new place of employment and I never let it get like this messy! I also thought it needed a quick, cheap make-over to start me off in my gypsy life. 

I brought over Lee's sister, Ellen, who gave me some advice. She is an artist and I really appreciated her thoughts. So, yesterday morning, my mom and I tore into the studio...moving furniture, sorting out stuff, changing curtains. My mom was really into this as she tied Mardi Gras beads on the new red satin curtains. Most of the items on the desks remain...a photo of my dad when he was an actor in Fort Wayne, a jar of marbles, a jar of sea glass, notebooks, baskets of pens and pencils. The walls are blue/gray, the art is all black and white. Bookshelves are brimming with poetry, references, Harry Potter, children's literature books, book club books...well you get the picture on that one.

The studio, with just a few hours of work, has been transformed into my new gypsy space. I am fortunate to have two spaces...one here and Mad Mag's on Ocracoke.

I, however, do not know what to name this space. The Scarlet Library, Ex Libris,

the Sacred Space, The Gypsy Room, The Studio.

I am hoping you bloggers and readers might have some ideas. You know me well by now, what ideas do you have? I think names are important and I want to get this one right.

So, be bold bloggers. Share some ideas!

Lou Ann

Getting ready to say goodbye...

Click here for article.

The time has come to start saying goodbye and packing up, yet I am still enjoying each one of these last few days. The weekend was for reading and friends.

This morning was an early morning scud out in Philip's boat. It was beautiful in the harbor as the sun was coming up and still cool breezes before the heat of the day.
We had breakfast with Jude at the Castle as her guests and a tour as well. The history of the Castle is colorful built by an eccentric man, Sam Jones.


My studio finally looks like 'home'. There are books and notes and bracelets and electronic cords strung all over. I have loved working in Mad Mag's studio all summer...I think she is my muse, at least while I am here.

So my next two posts might be a bit sad as I pull away from my Ocracoke life to resume the other.

Enjoy the article and build community wherever you are.

Looking up!

Taking a shower outdoors is one of the many pleasures of living on Ocracoke. When I first visited years ago, I shared a rental house with several girlfriends. With the heat and the humidity, the bathroom was always steamy and damp. I found the outdoor shower a few days later and moved into it. I couldn't get anyone to do so, but that was great as I had it all to myself. There was a small shelf for shampoo and conditioner and a bar of soap.

Philip has the best outdoor shower of all. It is large and roomy with a stained glass window so showering at night is like being in a fairy land. The picture is the view looking up for the morning shower.

This is one of the hardest adjustments of moving back to Indiana. I do so miss this shower. However, building an outdoor shower in Indiana would probably be impractical with six months of snow!

I found this quote earlier this week in my readings and wanted to share it as well! In the meantime, happy showering!


Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the mountains and the stars up above. Let them look at the beauty of the waters and the trees and flowers on earth. They will then begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education.
- David Polis

Just another day at the grocery!

I have to admit I do not miss driving a car here on Ocracoke. I ride my bike everywhere I go, along with my hobo bag slung over my shoulder. My camera is often in that bag as well. I usually frequent the Community Store every day for grocery shopping, finding out the news and gossip and just spending some time at the harbor. Sundae and Rob have a shop on the water and I often sit around and visit on their porch as well. I prop my bike up on the old fence as I meander around. I thought it looked beautiful in the morning light one day this week, so here is my means of transportation. Should I just sell the old Jeep???

This week's column on Alice Bell, an Ocracoke treasure!

Alice Bell, an Ocracoke treasure! (just click on the link!)

A writer friend of mine in England recently posted that she does not even open her computer on the weekends. I have tried this for a few weekends in a row now, and I find it very refreshing  I hope I can continue this habit. It makes getting back to work on Monday morning busy, but fun to catch up on all the news, yet letting my weekend speak of reading and friends and enjoying each moment of life!!

Enjoy this week's article on Ocracoke's Alice Bell. I loved meeting her!

July's full moon rising on Ocracoke Island



Last night was the rising of the full July moon, actually it was in the wee hours of today, but last night was close enough. We took Philip's children and grandchildren, who are visiting, out to the beach to celebrate this beautiful night. The July moon is also known as the Thunder Moon, because of the many summer storms, and as the Deer Moon, as the deer begin to grow antlers during this month. It was a wonderful evening as we all celebrated in the beauty of the earth.

The rising July moon over the Atlantic.

Moonstruck!

Philip carrying the moon on his shoulders.

Philip and Amy playing catch with the moon.



A stunning view of the sun setting while the moon was rising!

An Ocracoke Sunset

I usually work in the evenings telling stories through haunted graveyards, Bawdy Stories, and the Opry so it is a rare night that I am able to enjoy an evening off. Such was the case on Monday night. I spun out onto the sandy lane with my bike to enjoy the salty night air and to photograph some sunset photos. I was able to enjoy early evening kayakers and the sounds of the night. There was one couple that was trying to take photos of each other against the darkening sky. I asked if I could take their photo for them, and here they are. I don't know their names, but if you recognize them from vacationing here, let them know about this lovely photo from Ocracoke Island!

Night Blooming Cereus

Last night I was invited to a Night Blooming Cereus Party. The evening's event did not start until after 10:00 to make sure this gorgeous flower would begin blooming.

This night blooming plant only sends off a few blooms (after waiting seven years for the first bloom!) and it should not be missed. A friend of mine, Jude, called to say that last night would be the night. Everyone scurried with evening work. I had a ghost walk, there were other events on Ocracoke as well. I wore a white sundress to celebrate this occasion.

When Philip and I arrived, the plant was still just in bud. Everyone was disappointed, but sat out on the patio with a nice cold white wine and chatted until the midnight hour. As we began to leave, we noticed the three blooms were beginning to open. We stood literally watching as each petal opened up before our eyes. I took this photo in the wee hours. I understand that by daybreak, the bud would close never to be opened again. None of us stayed around that long, but what a wonderful event.