Childe Hassam

Union Square in 1890 by Childe Hassam, an American painter.

pelting cold raindrops
wash away winter's darkness
wet, damp eyelashes

glaring streets of rain
send families home tonight
meatloaf and brownies

glistening droplets
fall from canopied trees
my hollow footsteps

Haiku by Lou Ann
Welcome Rain

My hometown helps me kindle the passion...

My hometown helps me kindle the passion - KPCNews: Kpcnews



Dear Friends,



Here is the link to last week's column. As always I appreciate you as a reader, a poster, and someone interested in Stories from a Small Town.



Until tomorrow.

St. Patrick's Day

My grandpa Rhoads always planted potatoes on St. Patrick's Day. I remember my sister, Jessie, and I helping out on those blustery cold March days. Grandpa always took the potato pieces out to the garden in a large burlap bag. First he dug a small hole, then he took out his pocket knife and cut out the eye of the potato and planted it in the hole. Jessie and I "hilled" up the cold, wet dirt around the plant. 

By the end of the first row of potatoes, our fingers and toes were raw with dirt and the coldness of March. Our grandma seemed to know just the right time to bring out the thermos of "milk" coffee for us. It was warm milk with just a hint of coffee. It was enough to finish the job.

When we dumped out the last of the potatoes onto the ground there were two silver dollars waiting for us among the dirt and last of the potato pieces.

I always remember this story on St. Patrick's Day and try to honor my grandpa by planting my own potatoes on this day. However, with our long winter, my

garden is still blanketed in snow. The best I can do is to toss the potatoes out onto the snow drift and see what happens.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone. 

Potatoes from the bin at Rural King

Broken bones help one be thankful, really

Broken bones help one be thankful, really - KPCNews: Kpcnews



I just realized I did not post last week's column. I thought I better get this one out before tomorrow's new column.

Just click on the above link.


As always, I appreciate you, my reader.


Until tomorrow,

Lou Ann

Robert Frost

I took this photo from my front porch this morning on my crutches! It is actually the first photo I have taken since my injury.

We received nine more inches of snow yesterday along with below zero temperatures. Ah, but the beauty of winter is still magical. 

Please enjoy a short video on Robert Frost reciting his famous poem, "Stopping by a Woods on a Snowy Evening."

Still snowing?

Sunset in my backyard.

It is early Saturday morning and the flakes are as big as dinner plates as they, once again, show the strength of this winter. They snow is simply covering other snow! I still have foot of snow in my yard, under my clothesline, and my driveway is a sheet of ice. However, under all of this is the sheer beauty of winter. Going through one of my own haiku books this morning (while writing new ones), I found some lovely old pieces. I think you can enjoy them even if the sun is shining where you live!

Today's Haiku

empty streets of ice

longing for summer walkers

all doors frozen shut

bloodlines of winter

run through blue veined lifeless hands

I'm sleeping til spring

roads of sooted dust

swirls with frigid drollness

cold pacidity

Until tomorrow.

Spring in Savannah

Spring in Savannah

Several years ago Philip and I traveled to Savannah, Georgia. It has always remained one of my favorite trips. It was winter, and it was necessary to wear my loden green cape for warm with my black boots.

We dined at the Pink House, celebrated high tea in an afternoon, and spent hours touring side streets and cemeteries.

We took an even ghost tour which was led by a young man from New Jersey. I remember telling Philip that we better get a ghost tour started before he moved to New Jersey. Well, you know the rest of that story!

I bought this photo and tucked it away on a back shelf. Today as I was hobbling past an old cabinet I saw it peeking out. What a great find for a long winter. It was still wrapped in plastic so I took it out and set it up in the living room where I continue to hold court.

Out my windows there are still feet and feet of snow, but a little spring on the inside is good for everyone who visits.

Until tomorrow,

Lou Ann

And the beat goes on...

Yesterday was the day I gave up the wheelchair. I watched from the car as Karen hauled it back into the rental company. I have to admit it was difficult watching it go as we had become the best of friends for almost seven weeks.

I think it is amazing how much we can adjust to our circumstances. 

I broke my ankle in three places seven weeks ago with a following surgery. The first week was learning how to live in my house with the chair and friends coming and going. 

After that time I had my lifestyle in order. I knew what I could do and focused on that. But after one quick Dr.'s visit, it was on to the crutches.

These are more difficult to maneuver. Everything that we put on the lower shelf, now must be on the higher shelf. There is no carrying as two hands are now moving me around the house.

Today is difficult and my entire pattern is disrupted, but I know this is how it must be for healing. 

Dishes are piling up and muscles I had forgotten about are now giving me a holler. This too shall pass.

The beat goes on...

Saylor cemetery tour will be extensive...

Saylor cemetery tour will be extensive - KPCNews: Kpcnews

Click on the above link for this week's column. I have also included YouTube video of John Prine singing "Paradise." Please enjoy.

Until tomorrow,

Lou Ann

Oom Pa Pa - Oliver!

I love Broadway shows, especially musicals. The week before my injury Kathy and I spent a weekend in Chicago to see "The Phantom of the Opera." 



So this morning I awoke and did my menial chores, the ones I can do. I can make coffee, make my downstairs bed, send out the cat and the dog (neither are mine), and other tasks. I can even run the vacuum from the wheelchair.



My world has been just the downstairs of my house for one and a half moons now, and needless to say, I am getting restless. I decided I was in the need of oom pa pa. I often use that word with my students. They look up at me with that "huh" kind of face. Hmmm...I am an oom pa pa kind of person and it is hard to describe. 



So today with plummeting temperatures and the same routine with the same walls, I needed a refresher course in enthusiasm.



I love "Oliver" the book by Charles Dickens, of course, and the musical. Maybe this video will brighten your day as well.



Is it possible to dance in a wheelchair??



Enjoy and until tomorrow,

Lou Ann

Downton Abby from my living room...

It is Sunday evening and Kathy comes over to make dinner with me. She works the oven while I set the table and get other things ready. We drink a great Pinot Noir as we work. It is amazing how many chores can be accomplished from a wheel chair. Earlier in the day I vacuumed and neatened up the house. 

I also cooked the chicken earlier in the day, baking it in orange olive oil from Queens Creek at the Olive Mill. Kathy cut up the left of the winter squash mixing it with onions and potatoes for baking. Salad was a mix of whatever was in my salad drawer.

It is almost 9:00 before dinner is ready so we carry our plates (and wine) to the living room and turn on the television. The music begins for Master Piece Theatre. We will be sharing dinner with Downton Abby.

I find my place on my downstairs bed to eat and watch. Kathy sits on the couch with a small kitchen stool as her table.

The show was splendid. We cheered and jeered, and applauded Mary for throwing away Mr. Bates' ticket. We clapped when Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson held hands in the water. 

So how is it these folks get into our lives? Facebook is full of conversation this morning about the characters who ARE NOT REAL!! But we love them.

Anyway, what a great way to end the season as compared to leaving us with Matthew's death last year. Hurray for the writers of Downton Abby. We will be waiting for January of 2015 to start all over again. 

Until tomorrow,

Lou Ann

Olympics rekindle skating memories with friends...

Olympics rekindle skating memories with friends - KPCNews: Kpcnews



Here is the link to this week's column. I loved ice skating as a kid and knew I would be a famous skater one day! I hope this story brings some memories for you as you read!



Until tomorrow,

Lou Ann

"I'll Tell You How the Sun Rose"...Emily Dickinson

Indiana sunrise by Bethany Hasselman

Indiana winter sunrises are spectacular. This photo was taken by Bethany Hasselman. Bethany and her husband, Curt, have taken to the land with their children. They raise chickens and beef...vegetables and fruits...and children, of course. Bethany cause much reflection in my own life remembering the farm days with my own children. It is much work to live off the land. I miss it every day. Until then, I keep a small farm in my own backyard...minus the chickens, of course.

This photo makes me think of the lovely poem, "I'll tell you how the Sun Rose," by Emily Dickinson. Enjoy.

M

I'll tell you how the sun rose

A ribbon at a time

The steeples swam in amethyst,

The news like squirrels ran.

The hills untied their bonnets,

The bobolinks begun.

Then I said softly to myself,

"That must have been the sun!"

But how he set, I know not.

There seemed a purple stile.

Which little yellow boys and girls

Were climbing all the while

Till when they reached the other side,

A dominie in gray

Put gently up the evening bars,

And led the flock away. 

Emily Dickinson