Bees and flowers and butterflies and Emily Dickinson, who else?

Knock-out Roses

Have I neglected my Indiana garden this August? Today I meandered around the garden noticing a few more weeds than average and perhaps a little watering should be done as well. In spite of that, the flowers bloom, the bees buzz and the butterflies are everywhere.

It is good to spend a day at home after so much preparation and work and then shows at the IndyFringe. Tomorrow I head back to the stage, but for one day, let the weeds grow and the sun shine as I will just spend the day whiling away in my garden.

THERE is a flower that bees prefer,
And butterflies desire;
To gain the purple democrat
The humming-birds aspire. Emily Dickinson

Black-eyed Susie I do not know the name of this lily, but they are all over my garden This is an orange Cosmos.

On with the show! Let the stories begin!

On with the show! Let the stories begin! - KPCNews: Kpcnews

Another Saturday morning and another Saturday column. My first Fringe show was last night, and as always, I truly am a bundle of nerves....until I take the stage.

There is something so magical about telling stories. I think the roof could cave in and I would still be standing there telling stories. One time I was in a school and the fire alarm went off, and I seriously did not hear it. The principal had to come up on stage and stop the show.

Tonight my show in IndyFringe is at 10:30. We shall see how that goes!

Tomorrow I will be at Chautauqua Days as Gene Stratton Porter in Rome City at the historic site. This will be a lovely event (all kinds of events) for the entire family including a birthday cake for Gene. Come on out and say hello and enjoy a family day.

Today's column is at the top of the page, just click on and enjoy. As always, I thank you for reading.

Until tomorrow.

Hoosier Roots and then some...

Morning glories around my old fence.

Tonight at the IndyFringe I will be performing a new piece. When I say "new piece" I actually mean new to the stage. I have been telling my homesteading stories for years.

For those of you new to my life, my family and I went to the land to homestead years ago. We went without indoor plumbing and electricity and made our living selling goat's milk, eggs, and vegetables. It seems a million years ago, yet it was not that long ago. 

We made this huge decision and went for it full time. I will publish this week's story about that process.

I love telling those stories. Perhaps I want to re-live them or encourage others or just like to hear myself talk. (That is always a possibility.)

I do not live like that anymore, although I have taken a lot of those ideas and values and use them in my every day life. Those of you who follow my blog know that I always hang out my laundry, compost everything possible, use a rain barrel, garden, and make do.

My carbon footprint gets out of shape because of the way I travel and that I live alone in my lovely old house.

Be sure to tune in this week end for the column, and if by chance you are in Indianapolis, stroll on by to take a look at my show. 

Until tomorrow.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my twin son, Aaron and Adam.

Today is the birthday of my twin sons, Adam and Aaron. This photo was taken a few years ago (quite a few years ago) when we were going through some big life stuff.

The twins have been close all their lives and, even though, they do not live close to each other geographically they talk every day.

Aaron was diagnosed with testicular cancer his senior year of college. This photo was taken a couple of years later when he and Adam moved to Florida after college graduation. Adam was Aaron's caregiver during all that time putting his own studies on hold.

As things often do, my marriage took a turn for the worse then and this photo was taken just a few months after my divorce.

How do we survive and manage is always the question. But we did. I also have a younger son who came along two years later. All are now grown with their own families.

As I look at this photo I think about all the things that happened to us and how our adults lives have evolved, mine included.

Happy Birthday to these sons of mine. They are my rock. The following photo was taken of all three of my sons on Ocracoke!!

 

Until tomorrow.

"Dead Poet's Society"

I would be remiss not to speak of Robin Williams. The news is everywhere and Facebook is full of comments, quotes, and video clips.

He was, in my opinion, the most talented man in Hollywood. It seemed as if he could do anything and that he was bigger than life. I guess no one is bigger than life when it comes down to it.

As a romanticist and a poet, my favorite is "Dead Poet's Society." I think I patterned much of my teaching and my life after that movie. I didn't realize it until last year, my second year of teaching at the University. I begin each class with a poem, although I did not stand on the desk.

One day last year I forgot to start the class with a poem when one of the freshmen students raised his hand. "Professor Homan," he said, "you forgot to read us a poem."

At the end of each semester I take my students outside and tell them we are having a dead poet's society. I read poetry to them and then send them on their way. Last year at the end of the first semester it was dreadfully cold, and college students do not always dress for the weather. They stayed with me though listening to each word.

Oh, how lonely our world will be without Robin Williams in it.

Until tomorrow.

IndyFringe 2014

 

NEED I SAY MORE???

 

 

 



Come, sit a spell.

 

 Working on stories is a labor of hard work and of love, of course. This past weekend I spent most of my time in the studio putting the final touches on my new show, "Hoosier Roots." I can sit at the laptop for an hour at a time lost in thought and then the need to stand or move calls me out into the open. During those times I peruse the garden or even lift a few small weights just for a break!

 

During one break I meandered over to Aaron and Karen's new house. They purchased the old Hendry home in Angola this past year and are still in the midst of a complete restoration of the home. I will do a story later on when they move in with photos to show you what this young couple has accomplished.

 

The porch had been enclosed but they tore it off to bring it back to its original state. It is stunning. I took a few moments to reflect on their porch on Saturday. It was wonderful to sit in the rocking chair thinking about their old house wondering about all that happened there since 1876. I am proud of them for keeping the integrity of this home for themselves and for our community.

 

So, back to the microphone for me.

 

Until tomorrow.

The road takes me back home to Indiana...

The road takes me back home to Indiana - KPCNews: Kpcnews

 

 

As you know, I am back home again in Indiana. Just click on the above link for this week's column! I think you will enjoy it! I took the photo below last year when I arrived home. This woods is a short bike ride from my house, and we all love to go there. Marion's woods was named after Marion Eberhardt, a beloved naturalist and gentle woman in our community.

 

Until Monday.



 



 

 



Mother Earth Meets City Girl!

It is time to switch gears, and what better way to do it than get ready for the IndyFringe! This is my third year to particpate, and I have a new show, of course.

 

This year's show, "Hoosier Roots,"  is a show that captures the essence of my homesteading years. It is funny and poignant and I would love to see all of you in the audience!!

 

The IndyFringe runs from Friday, August 15 until August 24. My shows are as follows:

Friday-Aug 15-6:00pm

Saturday-Aug 16-10:30

Tuesday-August 19-9:00

Thursday-August 21-7:30

Saturday-August 23-9:00

Sunday, August 24-3:00



 

 

All performances are at the Frank and Katrina Basile Theatre in the Phoenix in downtown Indy. I hope to see you there smiling away in my audience!

 

More on the Fringe as the week progresses.

 

Until tomorrow. 







What a difference a day makes!

Pumpkins in my pumpkin patch at the Community Gardens.

Just a day of travel brings me back to the Midwest. It was, I must admit, a long day of travel...car...ferry...car...flight...flight...car. Sigh.

 

The weather was cool when I arrived home at Midnight, but the sky was clear. It was great fun perusing my gardens by the light of the waxing moon. I believe I slept the sleep of the dead that night and woke to early morning fog and drizzle.

 

By noon I knew it had cleared enough to take a hike out to the Community Gardens to check on my pumpkin patch. I don't know what I was expecting, but the gardens were huge and beautiful. Pumpkins everywhere!! It will be a grand Halloween at this old house this year.

 

So, in a few days I will be back in the swing of things here. For now...still some sand in my shoes and a few tears in my eyes.

 

Until tomorrow.

And just like that...

Cedar Island Ferry leaving Ocracoke.

When I arrived on Ocracoke on June 4th, it was as if I had so much time of me. It never works like that. Today, August 4th, I am back here at the airport on my way to Indiana.

Days and weeks stretch out in front of us like jewels, and certainly mine did. It was a wonderful summer and my 12th summer with Philip. It was filled with activities, friends, family, and everything that makes life sweet.

I travel home to eight weeks of unopened mail, gardens to weed, stories to tell, and classes to teach. It is how it is done...at least for now.

Just because I leave Ocracoke, does not mean I leave my blog. There are lots of exciting possibilities ahead of me which means we share them together.

To tomorrow I write from northern Indiana where I will settle back into the "other" life. Ocracoke will be missed and so will Philip.

Until tomorrow.

This island girl's head is filled with sea songs...

This island girl's head is filled with sea songs - KPCNews: Kpcnews

As you can tell by this week's column, this week was all about music. Please click on the above link for the column. I took the video below at Rob and Sundae's porch on the harbor. My thanks to all the musicians involved.
Enjoy and, as always, thank you for reading and watching!

Until tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Philip!

Happy Birthday, Philip and Lachlan,

Today is Philip's birthday along with his grandson, Lachlan. 

This is a very special day for Philip and I would love for you all to wish him happy birthday!

I know most of you read his blog about island life. He is our historian and well  known as a valued community member on Ocracoke Island.

To me Philip is a wonderful friend and companion. 

I am wishing him many more years of good health and good stories.

Until tomorrow.