Easter Morning Sunrise

It is such a lovely day in Northern Indiana. Spring is slow in coming, but I like seeing it spread inch by inch. It was the perfect morning to go to Pokagon State Park for an early morning Easter walk. It was still chilly enough for a scarf and warm jacket, but I left the gloves at home! With Fred Wooley's binoculars (he led the hike) and my camera, I was more than ready for the early hike. We saw over 30 species of birds and most were singing away in the morning shadows.

For an hour and a half we enjoyed the holiness of nature on this Holiday. If you haven't been to Pokagon for a while, you need to get a pass and spend some great quality time there.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor is a teacher, a writer, a storyteller and an actress. She lives in Angola, Indiana where she can be found meandering around looking for a great story or just writing late into the night by the light of her red frayed lamp. She also is the co-author of the new blog, voiceofangola.blogspot.

My hometown at dusk.

On Wednesday evening I participated in Take Back the Night, a nationwide event against sexual violence. (See this week's column in the Herald!!) The moon was so beautiful rising over the Herald Republican, and I had forgotten to take my camera. So, Kathy and I went walking at 8 last night to wait for the full time to rise for a photo shoot. We walked around the square so many times I thought the police would pull me over for questioning, except I know all of them and they know me, so alas.

I took this photo while waiting for the moon to rise. I think it is a spectacular picture of my hometown at dusk. It was good I took the photo as the sky grew cloudy and covered the beautiful full moon. I never did get that picture, but then again photography is often about surprises!

A little trivia from The Farmer's Almanac. The April Moon is also known as the Pink Moon referring to the wild ground phlox cover that is the first of the wild flowers to bloom. It is also known as Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon and Fish Moon.

Whatever you call it, I hope you were able to see it from your little spot in the world!

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor is a teacher, a writer, a storyteller and an actress. She lives in Angola, Indiana where she can be found meandering around looking for a great story or just writing late into the night by the light of her red frayed lamp. She also is the co-author of the new blog, voiceofangola.blogspot.

Ping Pong Tournament

It was a great way to end the week end! After performances and events and script writing, it was great to have dinner (pot luck) at Lee's and pair off for the weekly ping pong tournament.

Lee moved out his dining room table this winter thus paving the way for the neighborhood tournaments. There is much laughter and camaraderie as we pass that little ball back and forth. Who knew we were all so competitive??? (laughter here!)

Dinner was great, conversation always stimulating at these pot lucks and the cheering section brought life to this event. A little like Wimbledon??

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor is a teacher, a writer, a storyteller and an actress. She lives in Angola, Indiana where she can be found meandering around looking for a great story or just writing late into the night by the light of her red frayed lamp. She also is the co-author of the new blog, voiceofangola.blogspot.

Too wonderful not to pass on.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq6b9bMBXpg

Truly a great piece for the human spirit and soul!!

International Night at Trine

Last night was International Night at Trine University. It is the 41st annual event. The hallway of the student union building was full of displays, traditional foods and demonstrations.

I was able to take one of my sixth grade students from school to help out at the Japanese booth doing origami. We spent time with Japanese culture this year in one of my classes and she was a star who rose to the top actually teaching me about origami.

It was a family event as well as Lee drew caricatures, his girls roamed around, Mengting showed folks (and let them do experiment as well) their names. I took photos most of the time waiting for someone to come to storytelling, but it wasn't exactly the most quiet venue for that art form!

The evening culminated with a wonderful program with students from 19 countries sharing music, dance, and well done film pieces. The last piece of the program was a performance of the Chinese lion dance. It was absolutely fascinating and represents good luck in Chinese culture. I spent time talking with the men after the performances as they shared the history of this dance and their day time jobs as well...teacher, principal, architect, etc.

The evening didn't close until midnight as several of us sat around sharing stories of the evening and emptying a bottle or two of wine.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor is a teacher, a writer, a storyteller and an actress. She lives in Angola, Indiana where she can be found meandering around looking for a great story or just writing late into the night by the light of her red frayed lamp. She also is the co-author of the new blog, voiceofangola.blogspot.

With a do-si-do...

It was the first day back after Spring Break and the first day to teach dance to the fifty some little first graders. They knew it was coming. We talked about it all year, yet when the today arrived, they were all a little squeamish. I mean, the thought of touching a girl (or a boy) is really too much.

My colleague and friend in crime/dance, Roy, and I sat them down on the gym floor. We talked about respect. I mean what if I pulled my sleeve down over my hand so I wouldn't really have to touch a boy? We talked about the proper way to ask a boy/girl to dance with one hand extended and a little bowing added in. (Are we teaching chivalry here?)

With the speech finally over, we had a group of 8 pave the way by demonstrating for the first grade what we wanted. They made the first square, bowed to their partners, their corners and learned how to circle up and do-si-do.

We had the whole first grade do-si-doing before the period was up. We never did get to music...that will come next week. Now we shall just wait and see how many will be absent next Monday?

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor is a teacher, a writer, a storyteller and an actress. She lives in Angola, Indiana where she can be found meandering around looking for a great story or just writing late into the night by the light of her red frayed lamp. She also is the co-author of the new blog, voiceofangola.blogspot.com.

Earth Hour and The Game of Love and Chance...

Saturday night
Earth Hour

By 7:00 in the evening, I shut off all the lights in my cozy house including the small little window lights and gently soften the midnight hour. I wanted to participate in this event right along with the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge!

The only problem awaiting was the fact that I was leaving during the appropriate time. After shutting down the electricity, I picked up my umbrella and walked to Trine for the spring drama of The Game of Love and Chance. The event was held in the small Wells Theatre seating a hundred of so.

I took a seat in the front row leaving the duo seats for couples. (Does everyone come in couples these days??)

The show was wonderful including the open windows that boasted the oncoming storm and rattled the old windows.

I was so close that my knees were actually touching the stage! After giving my congratulations to the cast and crew, I took to the darkened streets.

I arrived home to a very dark house. I lit a few candles, took a photo or two and decided that the hour was past (well, it was almost ten) and turned on the lights. The evening gave way to heavy storms during the night which did, indeed, blink those lights a few times, but sleep finally gave way.

Today the snow covers my crocuses, but alas, tomorrow the sun will shine.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan-Saylor is a teacher, a writer, a storyteller and an actress. She lives in Angola, Indiana where she can be found meandering around looking for a great story or just writing late into the night by the light of her red frayed lamp. She also is the co-author of the new blog, voiceofangola.blogspot.com.