Keep your eye on the goal...

Most of you know my stories, my life...I keep everything pretty much in the open. It has almost been two years since my accident in China which changed alot of things for me.

Without going in to a lot of detail, it has been a long recovery with still much work to be done. I am a believer in doing, however, so I keep working hard on my goals.

This morning a great milestone was reached as I was able to walk 20 minutes on the treadmill without holding on. When I first started working out again after the physical therapy, I held on to the handles for dear life, seriously.

After my trip to Jonesboro in October, I realized that I was still having difficulty walking up the hills to the Tent on the Hill (some of you know what I mean). I discussed this with Carrie, my trainer, when I returned and we began holding onto weights as I walked the treadmill. First the right hand, then the left hand with the other hand always on the handle.

I laughed at Carrie and told her that was exactly how my mother taught me to walk, only with clothespins, not weights.

This morning was my first to walk without holding on. Of course I went slower and was not able to look around just concentrating on my balance. It really was hard work for me. Carrie was working out next to me the whole time. Maybe she was worried or just encouraging, but I wanted to look at her. When I turned my head I lost my balance and fell. Luckily I jumped off fast enough so that no damage was done. We were both very shaken up, but then we laughed about it.
OK, maybe I can fall off and get back on we said.

I got to thinking about my work, my art, my writing. Staying focused has always been a difficult for me and I try to work in small increments because of it. When I stay focused I can get so much done, but when I take my eyes off my work, I lose my balance. Yet on the other hand, there is a lot of scenery when we do look away.

I guess that is what life is made up of...balancing.

Art Out my Window

Here are a few photos from my train window last week. Maybe someone can identify where the first two are located!

Also, my fellow followers, I love all your responses. I realize that they all do not end up on the blog, but on my email. I am trying to remedy that situation. In the meantime, thanks for reading and responding, it makes my solitary writing life a bit more enjoyable!

I think this is Richmond, Virginia?

A train depot from long ago! Please keep restored!

Dancing Crescent Moon out my Window!

Lou Ann

W.B. Yeats

It has been busy and a bit hectic since I returned from Ocracoke with Philip. I have, however, still had a little time to study for my class. We are currently (still) on Yeats. I found one of his poems on utube. It is lovely and moving and brought me to tears. Let me know how you feel about it as well.

Switching gears...

Back to work at the Indiana Studio.

So here I am, one ferry, car, and train trip later. Traveling by train gives me time to adjust to all the differences that my life is made up of. Switching gears. The train whistles and moves forward as I do. The tracks are switched as we changed directions or let other trains pass us in the night.

I have been thinking the past couple of days how my life is indeed like a train...moving, bell ringing, track switching...coming and going. We are all like that really...ready to go when the train shows up on our door or when we are dropped off in the early morning darkness with suitcase in hand watching the sun come up.

The boxes are suitcases are unpacked, work is backed up from a couple of days on the road and weeks away from the studio (the still unnamed studio!)

However, don't be dismayed, there are seashells and sand in the pocket of my winter coat from our last walk on the beach.

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

Robert Frost Reads "The Road Not Taken"

I have been studying Robert Frost with my on-line Yale class. I found this wonderful video of Frost reading his poem, The Road Not Taken. It is truly a treasure that has been saved. I have moved on to Yeats, but couldn't help published this video of Frost.

I am sure you are wondering how the class is going? I love doing the homework and taking the class. I am always on-time and prepared. I am, however, having a difficult time with the professor as he never calls on me! I wave my hand, I shout out, "I know the answer!" He continues to look around the room and no one responds. "Please, please, please call on me!"

We also broke up into discussion groups last week. I was left out of that as well. Could it be because my class was recorded in 2007??

Hmmm...contemplation.



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!

Poetry Passage

Here is another poem from my collection:

Knocking on a Glass Table

Canopied over earth

Sat wings of darkness

Hovering

Dipping

Escaping

But not really.

The wings beat on each door...

One by one

Pulsating out each candle

Pulling the vapor northward

And then returning for the unflamed.



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.

Early morning walk on Howard Street....

It is chilly here today with a brisk wind, nonetheless, nothing like northern Indiana. My early morning walk down Howard Street on Ocracoke produced these lovely photos. There was a slight mist in the air, and no one was about as I strolled down this old historic street with camera in hand. Enjoy this early morning beauty. You can almost smell cedar!

Winter on Ocracoke...this week's column, enjoy!

Just click here for this week's column! Thanks so much for reading!