Winter Windows

winter's aching moon

shadowed behind icy clouds

crescents on my floor

Dear Friends,

It seems as if the bleak mid-winter is definitely upon us. When I arose this morning and went out early to get my paper, I was greeted with the familiar greeting of Jack Frost. The art was splendidly arrayed on all my windows. The only thing I could do was to get my camera for a photo. Each windows pane on my porch was different as is each snowflake, so they say.

When my children were small they used to draw on the winter windows with thimbles. Once I had a salesman call asking me if I needed to windows. He guaranteed there would never be frost or ice on the inside of the glass. I asked him if children could draw on the windows, but again he said no.

I told him that I was not interested. Frost on the windows...a lovely sight for a cold winter's day.

Lou Ann

Perhaps Indiana is in need of an official dance...

Perhaps Indiana is in need of an official dance - KPCNews: Kpcnews

The above photo is my first square dance band, the Grass Creek Band. They have since changed their name to The Jug Huffers. I love to call dances with this band, but sometimes I have to go solo as in this week's column.

Please click on the above site for this week's column about square dancing, which was alive and well on New Year's Eve.

As always, thank you for reading, and enjoy!

Let there be a peace that’s strengthened everywhere -

Let there be a peace that’s strengthened everywhere - KPCNews: Kpcnews

Last night I helped ring in the New Year at Pokagon State Park teaching and calling square dances at Potawatomi Inn. It was a great family night with dancing, music, magicians, artists, movies and even rooms of Bingo! (I won a great prize!)

I loved spending my evening at the park with families and folks who were happy just being together. On my way home this morning I stopped off at one of my favorite places just a mile from my house. I took a short walk on the trail and took my first photo of the New Year.

I wish all of you a happy and safe New Year. I have some dear friends who need a new start so I hope you can write some new chapters for your life.

Here is the link to this week's column on New Years as well. Enjoy. Just click on the above link, and again, Happy New Year.

A Solstice Poem with Lantern Light

Listening to stories by lantern light.



I was sent this lovely poem by a friend of mine for the Solstice, and even though we are a few days past, the darkness penetrates our days and thoughts. I love this photo of my boys listening to stories...nothing is more beautiful to me.

On The Other Side of Solstice
by Carrie Newcomer

The earth turns and we lean out 
Gathering to ourselves 
A little more light each day. 
Yes, it is true, 
That shadow and light 
Walk side by side,
Bowing their heads together in intimate conversation. 
Because the world turns
The darkest days must come,
and the long nights will spill across the floor like water.
And yet, 
There will always be 
That subtle shift
A pivotal moment, 
When we know the deepest dark is done
And the longest night is over,
When we sense something luminous, 
Something clear and unmistakable 
The fulfillment of a promise,
Growing stronger
in regular and trustworthy increments.

Christmas Eve Walker

Marion's Woods

Perhaps my Christmas Eve is less frantic than most. Perhaps my Christmas holiday is less frantic as well. I think I learned years ago to make the most of the season as opposed to just so many gifts. Whereas, I do enjoy a few gifts, I think most of my time and thoughts relate to the music, the trees, the children, family and friends during Christmas.

This morning I took my traditional Christmas Eve hike. This year, since I stayed in northern Indiana, I hiked in our local woods. It was raining quite a bit, but there was a bit of a let up when I took to the woods. It was a lovely morning of reflection.

I thought of poetry, of course, and the poem, The Child's Christmas in Wales, just continued to go through my head. I love Dylan's poem and have pondered quite often at Christmas. If you don't know of the poem, please look it up. You will love it as well, I think.

To you and your family, I wish you the merriest Christmas. If things are tough, and believe me, I know they can me, find a friend to share the day with...drink some eggnog and say a prayer into the holy darkness. Morning will come.

Merry Christmas

Relating Christmas miracles never grows old...

Relating Christmas miracles never grows old - KPCNews: Kpcnews

The above is the link to this week's Christmas column. Enjoy and, as always, thank you for reading.

Here is the youtube version of John McCutcheon's song, "Christmas in the Trenches."

 

Don’t miss a moment of this joyous season...

Don’t miss a moment of this joyous season - KPCNews: Kpcnews

Dear Readers,

It has been a while...a long while. Let's hope I am back on track and you will come back reading! Sorry for the delay, sometimes life just gets in the way!

The above link is this week's story. I love that you read my columns. Thank you so much. The photo is from the horse drawn wagon rides in my home town. These are every Friday night in December. When we came around the mound I just had to take this photo in the fog. I wasn't sure how it would come out, but later on that night in my studio, I found it was beautiful. Hope you love it as well.

Until tomorrow.

Lou Ann

 

Shopping for holiday memories is the easy part...

Shopping for holiday memories is the easy part - KPCNews: Kpcnews

Here is the link to this week's column! Just click on the above site. Also I have included my grandmother's famous sugar cookies. That is part of our Thanksgiving tradition! As always thank you for reading. I hope your Thanksgiving Holiday was as rich and wonderful as mine!

Grandma's Sugar Cookies

2 cups flour

1 and 1/2 t. baking powder

1/4 t. salt

6 T. butter

1/3 c. shortening

3/4 c. sugar

1 egg

1 T. milk

1 t. vanilla

Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat butter and shortening for 30 seconds; add sugar and beat till fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beating till well blended. Cover and chill at least 3 hours. Working with 12 of the dough at a time, on a lightly floured surface, roll to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes or till done. Makes 3-4 dozen.

I make my own icing out of confectioner's sugar, vanilla, and cream. I make several pots of colors for the kids. I also spread newspapers (not my column) on the table before they start!

I love sharing this recipe from my grandmother. It is always an opportunity to tell them about their great-grandmother Louella.

Bon appetit!

The 10 days of Thanksgiving are upon us!

The 10 days of Thanksgiving are upon us! - KPCNews: Kpcnews

Please click on the above link for this week's Thanksgiving story!

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Cinderella Tale

Brookside Mansion in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Photo courtesy of Matthew Anderson Homan.

So, the show went off just great. I was, of course, a nervous wreck before the show, but once on the stage, all the jitters melted away.

It was a delightful evening with faculty members from St. Francis University as well as community members, friends, and family in the audience.

Following the performance a lovely reception was held inside the mansion. There was food in several of the rooms (numbering 33 rooms!) and dancing in the ballroom with a lovely young group of jazz musicians.

I was the last to leave as is usually the case. Perhaps I felt a bit like Cinderella at the ball? I worked very hard on this show and then it was over just like that!

I did not leave my glass slipper behind though, I am still wearing it...for good luck, of course!

An invitation to Brookside Mansion in Fort Wayne, Indiana...

Brookside Mansion in Fort Wayne, Indiana

You are cordially invited to my show, Sandstone and Scholars, at St. Francis University on Friday evening, November 21st at 6:00. This commissioned piece is a collaboration of Storytelling Arts of Indiana, Indiana Landmarks, and St. Francis College about the history of Brookside Mansion, also known as the Bass Mansion.

I told the story in Indianapolis last March at Indiana Landmarks, and this week I get to tell the story at the home of all the characters...Brookside.

There is no cost to the event which is held in the North Campus Auditorium. This also is the night that Fort Wayne lights the lights for the holidays, so make an entire evening of it and come on out. I would love to see you in the audience!

Lou Ann

Memories...

My dad's birthday slides into my own life this week. My dad would have been 85 on Monday. I miss him every day as you know from my writings.

I turn on the lovely red lamp over my piano to play a tune or two, and I think of him. I pick up my Edgar Allan Poe book, and I think of him. I hear Tchaikovsky, and I think of him. I teach a class, and I think of him. 

My amazement at these memories grows stronger as I grow older. How is it that his influence still nurtures my life? And, for the most part, we spent our grown up lives apart from one another.

It gives me great cause to think of my own children and wondering what they will remember five years after my own death? Will poems and stories surface for them? Will something catch their eye such as a sunset or a sunrise, and they will think of me?

Well, it is something to ponder for all of us. How is it for you? How do your memories hold up from those you have loved and lost?

Until tomorrow.

Lou Ann

Matthew and Jonah listening to my stories by lantern light.

You can feel the AHS band show down to your belly...

You can feel the AHS band show down to your belly - KPCNews: Kpcnews

The beauty of living in a small town is that you know most of the folks...the kids...the events.

This past weekend our Angola High School Marching Band went to state competition. On Saturday morning our mound was full of those wishing them well. Today's blog features this week's column about our band, a short video, and a couple of photos.

As always, enjoy, and just click on the above link.