A Gift

Last night was my last night of teaching dance in preparation for the Big Hoedown this Friday night at Fremont Library. I have hosted these dance classes every Tuesday night this month teaching traditional square, Virginia reel and Appalachian circle dances.

By the way, it is not necessary to have taken the classes to attend the party! I have loved teaching these dances and enjoyed my 'grown up' students so much.



I was presented with the above book last night as a thank you from Ellen Romans. She said she just knew that I would love it, and I do. I also do not have this in library!

The book is full of photographs and stories of just sitting on the front porches of America whiling away the afternoon or evening in the heat of the day.

I love this book and thank Ellen so much for her thoughtfulness.

In case you need to order, yes I checked it is in print, here is the necessary information:

Out on the Porch, and evocation in words and pictures with an introduction by Reynolds Price, 1992.

Yes, winter is coming and probably not the best of time to sit out on the porch, but Halloween is just around the corner and what better place to watch for ghost and goblins that on your front porch!

Family weekend

Sunday was the perfect family day. We started out early having brunch at Coney Island in Fort Wayne. I think the coney island hot dogs and cokes in bottles are the perfect breakfast foods. Coney Island is such an icon in Fort Wayne. I kept handing out quarters to the boys too play the Juke Box! They are especially fond of the Beatles!

We traveled next to the Museum of Art for their display of the Day of the Dead. There were several exhibits of which were commissioned by local artitists. My friend, Ellen Sauer, had her own table as well honoring her family. It was interesting explaining this custom to the boys. The work was stunning by all of the exhibitors. By the way, there is no entrance fee on Sunday.



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Our next stop was a Spooktacular performance by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Before the show, artists were available to help children try their hand at the instruments. Jonah seemed to take a liking for the violin.

The orchestra was all decked out in costumes as well and shared great pieces with children, including my personal favorite, The Phantom of the Opera.

The day ended with a trip to Atz's Ice Cream Parlor, bringing back memories of my childhood. We always ended the day at Atz's after the philharmonic or days at the museum.
It was a perfect family day, I am so honored to have been a part of their day!

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Autumn in Indiana...stories and memories.

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Carl Sandburg Morning

Last night I sat out in my garden with a friend. It was late. I lit candles on the table and we finished up a bottle of red wine while we talked into the night hours.

I could feel the mist coming down...not like rain...but like a heavy dew. The lights of the neighbors became brighter with rings around them.

This early morning the fog was heavy. This is a photo out my front door down my street. I do think there is a spot on my lens, but it seem metaphoric today.

Enjoy the fog, my friends.



Snapshots from Jonesboro

Voice of Kathryn Tucker Windham  (Click here to hear the voice of Kathryn)

Images of Jonesboro (Jonesborough) still fill my heart and mind as I settle back into my house at White Picket Gardens to do all the catch up work. I don't know how long I have been attending the National Storytelling Festival, but I do know it has been for many years. Next year will be the 40th celebration, so the art of storytelling is beginning to leave a legacy behind and a future to look forward to. I am so honored to be proud of this group of friends of mine that I call 'storytellers'.

The photos are just snapshots to give you an idea of the brilliance of the town. Everyone decks out for this, including alley ways. Folks stay at B and B's, if they can get in. Others (like me and Ellen) drive from Johnson City back and forth each day. Some camp, some stay in their airstream trailers.

Jonesboro, to me, is the heart of story. It is where I began years ago at the old Chester Inn when I took a week long workshop with Kathryn Tucker Windham, may her soul rest in peace; Donald Davis; Doc McConnell, whose voice is still as well; and Ray Hicks, direct from the mountains. He, too, is now gone from us.

Years have passed since that first experience, but I have had opportunities to meet folks, research, travel, write and become even more passionate about my work. Isn't that what our lives are all about? Passion.

So, enjoy these few photos.

Until tomorrow,
Lou Ann

Moon rising over Jonesboro.

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The annual trip to Jonesboro with Ellen to the National Storytelling Festival!!

Snapshot

It is a rainy morning here in Indiana. I took this photo out my back kitchen window (through the screen and glass), thinking it was a lovely site for a Monday morning.

My garden is small, but large enough for folks to gather to have dinner or tea or wine late at night by candlelight. Flowers, red raspberries, and leaves adorn the yard as does the pumpkin growing in the tree. (See yesterday's post!)

The garden is quiet this morning with the cool rain. It is a good day to light candles and work in the studio all day answering emails and writing small missives to publish or to not.

"The Silence of Autumn comes so gradually that we are scarcely aware of it until we hear one lone katydid scratching at the evening, and not a tree cricket making a sound. There is no denying that we are on the verge of October and November."

Hill Country Harvest

Hal Borland

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This week's column with photos from Arizona!

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Early morning sunrise.

Enjoying the cupcakes!

Mountains behind Abe and Kristin's house.

We walked over to see the ponies every day!

Another view from their house.

"Ring around the rosy"....lots of pool games with the girls!

Under the big sun, we spent lots of time learning about

our shadows!

Next stop...Arizona!

A late night flight brought me into Arizona on Friday to visit Abe and Kristin and to care for the girls during his conference.

It is my first time to Arizona since I was a little girl, and I really wasn't prepared for this stark beauty. (And I am visiting at the end of a very hot, dry summer.)

The mountain ranges surround this Mesa Valley which includes a sprawling new area of homes and families. From all directions of their house, I can see the mountain ranges, yet a clear big sky overhead! (Except I brought the monsoon season!)

Abe and Kristin left the cool, damp climate of Portland to experience something new. My kids have always had the wanderlust...traveling, moving...so here we go again.

The house is lovely with a pool to cool away the summer heat.

When Abe lost his job a few years ago, he decided the only thing he could really do would be to start his own company, and that he did.

He is his own President and CEO of the Machaon Company. He hosts two technology conferences a year, at least for now. One is in Phoenix and the other, in the spring, in Houston.

This week is his Phoenix conference. Abe and Kristin were at the convention center yesterday setting up, and today is the big event. I am watching Channel 12 early morning TV here in Phoenix as they are covering the conference.

As to my antics with the girls? That will come tomorrow!!

Abe and Kristin at 4:00 a.m. this morning getting ready to leave.

I got up early to make coffee and send them off! My apologies to Kristin as she didn't want her picture taken without her make-up! (It was too early and she

was going to put it on in the car!)

Chopping down one tree isn't really about chopping down one tree!

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